Houston’s Halloween Guide

Halloween is stressful enough with trying to pick out the perfect costume. Finding a worthy Halloween destination or spooky foodie perk shouldn’t add even more angst. Houston’s overflowing with killer Halloween deals, from Uptown to Downtown and every place in between. Go North — to The Woodlands — and you’ll get even more,

Grab the family, gather your girl squad, or fly solo — and remember your costume. Here are some great last-minute Halloween ideas:

— Halloween Downtown: Going downtown makes a lot of spooky sense. It’s one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Houston, there is incredible bar density and a real diversity of concepts with 30 different bars and restaurants to choose from.

— Halloween Adult Summer Camp: Camp Trick Or Treat! This event runs from October 27-30 in Trinity, Texas with free buses running from Houston, Austin and Dallas. It puts a scary twist on all the traditional summer camp activities. There’s a costume contest and theme party, haunted movie night in the woods and Zombie themed outdoor escape room games. You can also stay in the camp’s cabins — and enjoy some non-Halloween treats.

Water sports, field games, zip lines, ropes courses and archery headline that list.

— Orange Show Pumpkin Carving Contest & Trick or Treating

The Orange Show gets into Halloween in a major way every year and this time the big day takes advantage of the new Smither Park. Expert pumpkin carvers share their secrets and tips. At dusk, the trick or treating starts. The whole event runs from 5 to 7:30 pm.

Bringing your own pumpkin is encouraged. Only a limited number will be available for sale.

— Halloween Night (Monday): Night of the Living Dead screening
Come get your scare on at Miller Outdoor Theater — and avoid all those trick or treaters. The classic horror film starts at 7:30 pm. The hill will never be more frightening.

— Free Krispy Kreme Donuts on Halloween
Anyone who comes into a Krispy Kreme dressed in a costume, gets one free donut of their choice.

— Free milkshakes on Halloween

Kids in costumes are treated like sweet royalty at Jerry Built Burgers.

— Free Pancakes at IHOP

All Halloween, (at least 7 am to 10 pm), kids under 12 get a free scary face pancake.

— Cheap Tex-Mex at Chipotle

Wear your costume to Chipotle and you’ll walk away with cheaper food. Get a burrito, an order of tacos or a bowl for $3, more than 50 percent off the regular price.

High-Class Treats 

Radio Milano

Through Monday, October 31, CityCentre restaurant Radio Milano hosts a weekend long Halloween celebration, which features a ghoulishly good six-course Halloween menu —  A Cannibal’s Feast, which will run you $80.

Enjoy offerings such as the Pumpkin Witch’s Cauldron, a pumpkin soup made with pumpkin seeds and spaghetti squash; Bloody Duck, an oven roasted duck blood sausage served with polenta and carrots; and Spooky Black Spider, amedei chocolate mousse with pistachio brûlée.

The Westin at the Woodlands
2 Waterway Square Place, 281.419.4300, westinthewoodlands.com

Head to the newly opened The Westin at the Woodlands for devilishly delicious treats. The hotel’s restaurant Current and bar Sidebar both have special deals.

At Current, start your fall feast with butternut squash soup with cinnamon crème fraiche and spicy pumpkin seeds. Next sink your fork into braised lamb shank with Texas root vegetables and red wine sauce; grilled Florida cobia with sweet potato puree and Texas pecan pesto butter sauce; or grilled yellow fin tuna with baby bok choy, pomegranate molasses, ginger soy butter and cilantro oil. Complete your meal with a warm sweet potato bunt cake topped with a local honey glaze and candied pecans.

Enjoy spooky cocktails and get in the Halloween spirit at The Westin at The Woodlands’ SideBar. Frightfully festive offerings include Death and Brimstone made with Laphroaig 10-year-old Scotch, Cointreau Orange Liqueur, Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters, house black syrup and smoked saline solution; and Date with a Witchdoctor made with Kappa Pisco, Strega Liqueur, house medjool date and turmeric syrup, fresh lemon juice and egg white. Other seasonal drink specials include Tuber and Root with Boyd and Blair Potato Vodka, Fruitlab Ginger Liqueur, house sweet potato puree, house piloncillo syrup, fresh lemon juice and Fever Tree Ginger Beer topped with a vanilla bean toasted marshmallow.