Houston’s Best Halloween Events — 9 Must Dos That Scare You Right

Halloween may fall on a Wednesday this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until that weekday to celebrate.  This year in Houston you’re in for a scary good time, whether it’s parading your pirate costume at Discovery Green or sneaking down the psychiatric unit of a haunted house.

Space City’s hosting a bevy of chilling and thrilling events across the city. Some are family-friendly, while others put the boo in booze.

PaperCity has rounded up Houston’s best Halloween events. Some are annual favorites, and with others you’re in for a surprise. Read on to find out how you can shake things up with skeletons or party on with pumpkins.

The Houston Zombie Walk: Houston Halloween Fest

October 20th, 5 pm to 10 pm

 19th Street in The Heights

Walk on over to the 19th Street for the annual epic Houston Halloween Fest — of course, you can amble like a brain-eating zombie or pick up the pace at a human speed. Entry is just $10 for this blocks-long extravaganza.

Expect hours of throwback tunes from 1980s cover favorite The Spazmatics, decked out in their typical geeky getup.  You can stroll and sip on brews from the beer garden and browse artists and vendors, food trucks— for those of you not chowing down on human flesh — and even take your little ones to the Kids Zone. 

Scream World

Now through October 31st

2225 North Sam Houston Parkway

Scream World takes the idea of a haunted house to new extremes that’ll make you, well… scream. There are more than five chilling attractions, and they’re not for the faint of heart. Think a Voodoo Swamp crawling with marsh monsters, Jake’s Slaughterhouse where meat processing meets dead meat, a Maze of Maniacs with clowns creeping down darkened corridors, and so much more.

Tickets start at $19 and go up to $34, depending on if you go on a discounted night, regular night or popular night. No matter which evening you choose, be ready to jump out of your skin.

Scream on the Green

October 26th, 6 pm to 10 pm

Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney

Discovery Green throws this creepy and cute citywide costume contest. The Halloween celebration is fit for the whole family, and the park doesn’t play around with the prizes. There are tons of costume categories, from best infant to eight years old to best family and best dog. This event is free.

If you’re the type to go a little more low-key — say, you wear a sheet with two holes cut in it — you can enjoy performances by Cirque La Vie, fortunetellers (if you can handle the truth), live music and a screening of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial at 7:30.

No word if dressing up like the iconic alien gives you bonus points.

Tha Carter 5 Halloween Costume Bike Ride

October 26th, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

2301 Elgin

This bike ride’s one for the history books. Imagine cycling from 3rd Ward Tours on to a destination like Discovery Green, Midtown Park, the Museum District or EaDo — all while blasting Lil Wayne’s newest album. Tickets start at $11 if you want to bring your own bike, and go up if you rent. Roll on.

Halloween Pub Crawl

October 27th, 3 pm to 8pm

Downtown

The Saturday before Halloween, Downtown Houston becomes your playground. The costume-heavy crawl can take you down blocks bustling with bars, where you’ll be treated with drink specials. Tickets are $10.

The participating bars aren’t listed quite yet, but with more than 50 bars within walking distance from each other, we’re sure there will be plenty of cool, convenient picks. Bubbling brews and potions await.

Spirits & Skeletons

October 27th, 8 pm to 12 am

Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Drive

It’s an unforgettable night at the museum when you can cozy up to coffins and get up close and personal with pterodactyls. Roam the halls with ghouls and ghosts and get some education on the way.

The whole museum opens up for one raucous party with two DJs and five food trucks. Tickets are $25 for members and $50 for non-members. But be warned all ye who enter here. There’s something truly scary at the museum — cash bars only.

Station Theater’s 6th Annual Halloween Improv Show & Costume Contest

October 27th, 8 pm to 9:15 pm

Station Theater, 1230 Houston Avenue

Expect the unexpected at Station Theater’s yearly spooky Halloween improv show. The joke’s on you if you can’t make it. The comedians will have you spellbound with their off-the-cuff creativity, and the costumes and cash prizes don’t hurt either.

It’s $50 winnings for Best Individual and $100 for Best Group Costume. Against an $8 entry fee, that’s not too shabby.

It’s a Halloween Pawty & Costume Contest

October 27th, 2 pm to 5 pm

Axelrad, 1517 Alabama

Everyone’s favorite hammock bar is swinging into Halloween with a celebration perfect for your pooch. It’s an unconventional take on the costume contests, with prizes awarded to your pups. You can go on the nose with a wiener dog as a hotdog, or go for something a little more daring.

And you can feel good about yourself while you sip beer and settle into a hammock — this event is for charity, Greenwalds Service Rescue, to be exact.

Texas Renaissance Festival All Hallow’s Eve

October 28 and 29

Texas Renaissance Festival, 21778 Farm to Market 1774

Come one, come all to the Ren Faire on All Hallow’s Eve. Kings and queens spice up the evening with a throwback celebration — a mash-up of modern monsters and maidens from ye olden times. Everything comes together this one day and night, with all the fun of the Renaissance, a costume contest with spooktacular prizes and even trick-or-treating for the little ghouls and goblins.

Expect costumes with everything from clown makeup to corsets. And don’t forget a trip to the terrifying Slayer’s Castle  — if you dare.

Murder Mystery Costume Party

October 31st, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Maggiano’s Little Italy, 2019 Post Oak Blvd

This little slice of Italy promises calamari and candlesticks, lead pipes and profiteroles, and rope and rigatoni. Maggiano’s and Keith & Margo’s Murder Mystery Troupe bring the night of costumed crime. It’s a little macabre for Nancy Drew but hey, that’s what Halloween’s all about.

Tickets are $75 per person and include the family-style dinner, entertainment and costume raffle.