Are you looking for a fun and free way to celebrate Halloween with your family in Austin, Texas? Then look no further! In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the many free Halloween activities and events that are taking place around Austin this October. From spooky downtown tours to pumpkin patches and costume parades, we have plenty of ideas to help make your family’s Halloween season extra special. So grab your favorite witch hat and join us as we explore all the free Halloween events and activities Austin offers!
Arboretum Boo & Brew
10000 Research BLVD
Austin, TX 78759
The Arboretum invites families to join their free Boo & Brew celebration on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 4 – 6 pm. Attendees can look forward to many fun activities, including a trick-or-treating candy crawl, a DJ and live music from Matt Creaton, face painting, balloon art, and a hay maze. Additionally, there is an exciting raffle for gift cards to Arboretum businesses. Adult guests can also sample drinks provided by Beerburg Brewing, Big Country Hard Seltzer, Meridian Hive, Soco Ginger Beer, Starbase Brewing, and Watertight Cocktails. Please ensure you reserve your spot ahead of time for the full experience. thearboretum.com
Doc’s Drive-in Haunted Marketplace
1540 Satterwhite Rd
Buda, TX 78610
Doc’s Drive-in Theatre is thrilled to host the 5th Annual Haunted Marketplace on October 21, 2023! From 10am to 5pm, enjoy a day full of free festivities and activities for all ages. Dress to impress as you participate in our costume contest and explore over 25 local vendors. Along with live music and art stations, your little ones can get into the spirit of Halloween with goodie bags just for them. Plus, plenty of great food and drinks will keep you going. And don’t forget to check out our underground 1920s speakeasy! So join us and bring the whole family, even your furry friends – we look forward to celebrating this spooky season with you! eventbrite.com/e/docs-drive-in-haunted-marketplace
Fall Fun Festival
3300 Palm Valley Blvd.
Round Rock, TX 78665
On Tuesday, October 31, from 9 – 11:30 am, enjoy Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Fall Fun Festival! This year, we’re bringing the theme of Old MacDonald to life with exciting activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents alike. At this farm-themed fun day, you can expect petting zoos, hayrides, snacks, and many family-friendly games and activities.
Don’t forget to bring a canned good to donate to the Round Rock Food Pantry! Your donation will go a long way in helping support those in need in our community. Wear your best costumes and bring a can of food to share – we’ll see you there! roundrocktexas.gov/event/fall-fun-festival/
Halloween Carnival 2023
2310 San Gabriel St
Austin, TX 78705
Enjoy a festive afternoon of fun and activities at the Neill-Cochran House Museum this Halloween! Put on your comfiest autumn costume or clothes and go to the museum. You can participate in Trunk-or-Treat*, a bouncy house, scavenger hunts, and more. Plus, Latinitas will host an Ofrendas workshop to commemorate Día de los Muertos by honoring those who have passed away.
The event is free and open from 11 am to 3 pm. Feel free to drop in anytime throughout the day. The Neill-Cochran House Museum is also available for tours, with no entry fee for kids under 12. Free parking is also available behind the museum. Don’t miss out – join us this Halloween for a spooktacular fun afternoon! nchmuseum.org/nchm-events/2023-halloween
Halloween Trick-or-Treat
12700 Hill Country Blvd
Bee Cave, TX 78738
Head to the Hill Country Galleria this Halloween on Saturday, October 28th, from 12 to 3 pm to celebrate the year’s spookiest holiday! Beat the crowd and arrive early so you can pick up your festive pumpkin bag from the Central Plaza—it’ll help hold all the treats you’ll be collecting from our retailers along Hill Country Boulevard. No reservations are needed – just come ready to have some fun! hillcountrygalleria.com
Kids Ball 2023
4001 North Lamar BLVD
Austin, TX 78756
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate Halloween in a fun and sustainable way! On Saturday, October 28th, from 5–7 pm, join us for a festive gathering of music, dancing, creative activities, and friendly competitions. You’ll have the opportunity to make your costume using recycled materials at our costume-making stations, pose against our photo BOOth backdrop, participate in three-legged races and a pumpkin rolling contest, and enjoy live music from White Ghost Shivers. So join us as we embrace the spooky season in style! eventbrite.com/e/kids-ball-2023
Spooktacular
1800 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
Join the Bullock Museum and Girlstart for our annual Halloween celebration on October 27th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm! Enjoy many fun, family-friendly activities designed to spark creativity and ignite imaginations. Discover the mysteries of dry ice fog with Boo Bubbles, spin your own Spider Web Plates, craft an LED Wearable, write hidden messages, bewitch a Spooky Sphero, engineer Candy Corn Cannons, and create eerie Blood Slime.
Rock out to tunes from School of Rock Austin’s house band, The B Team, during their 5:30 pm and 6:45 pm performances. Afterward, explore the Museum’s exhibitions during our spooky scavenger hunt. Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite ocean-themed costume for a chance to win prizes—including Museum memberships—at Dragon’s Lair’s “Under the Sea” costume contest! thestoryoftexas.com
StrawFest 2023
605 Azie Morton Rd
Austin, TX 78704
Join us at the UMLAUF for a fun-filled day of activities for the whole family on Sunday, Oct 29, 11:00 am – 4 pm! Besides our signature Bird of Prey show, we offer an array of attractions such as a straw pit, spider web maze, delightful storytime performances, and face painting. You can also meet H-E-Buddy and adopt a puppy from Austin Pets Alive or learn more about our beloved flying mammals at the Austin Bat Refuge.
Admission to StrawFest is free! If you wish to participate in some of our special activities like pumpkin decorating (take it home!), Face Painting, and Straw Pit, you may purchase activity tickets at $1/ticket either in advance online or at the door. Don’t miss this chance to make wonderful memories with your loved ones. umlaufsculpture.org
Trick or Treat Trail
445 E Morrow St
Georgetown, TX 78626
Georgetown Parks and Recreation presents a free Halloween event for the whole family on Thursday, October 26, 2023! Get out your costumes and join us for candy, activities, food trucks, and a screening of the movie Coco at Legacy Pavilion. The trick-or-treating will occur from 5 – 7 pm. Feeling hungry? Sugar and Spice, Zydeco Ice, Kona’s TX BBQ, and Lil Nicky’s Wings & Things food trucks will be available. Celebrate the spirit of Halloween with us. parks.georgetown.org
Witches Ride
105 Cross Creek
Lakeway, TX 78734
Lakeway Parks & Recreation will host their annual Witches Ride Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 21, 6 – 9 pm. Participants are invited to join the parade and ride their decorated bicycles, tricycles, unicycles, skates, scooters, wheelchairs, golf carts, wagons, or spooky feet from the Live Oak Golf Course parking lot to the Lakeway Activity Center. Upon arrival at the Lakeway Activity Center, participants can enjoy refreshments from local vendors, balloon animals, jugglers, battle axe, a bookmobile, and more.
Additionally, those interested in participating in the witches flash mob dance are encouraged to sign up for a dance lesson the Sunday before the ride. Those who choose not to join the parade can still participate by lining up along Lakeway Drive to cheer on the witches and collect candy. lakeway-tx.gov
Austin offers something to suit your family’s needs no matter what type of Halloween fun you’re looking for. From attending thrilling haunted houses to participating in festive costume contests, there are plenty of free Halloween events in Austin to get you into the spooky spirit. Make sure to plan as many of these events require advance registration or, due to pandemic restrictions, have limited capacity. Whatever Halloween event you decide to attend will be a memorable experience for everyone involved!
