If you're looking for a good ghost story, not only does Austin have some ghoulish ones to tell, the city is also full of festive ways to celebrate Halloween. From scary movies, haunted houses and parties at your favorite local bars to kid-friendly events like corn mazes and Boo at the Zoo, here are some favorite festive events, activities, and things to do for Halloween in Austin this October.

Halloween Parties and Events

10/1-31/23
Nightmare on Gibson Street
Gibson Street Bar
One night of Halloween just isn’t enough and Gibson Street Bar is making sure you get your fix all month long at Nightmare on Gibson Street. Come get BOOzed up with cocktails (plus dry ice punch and DJs on weekends).
gibsonstreetbar.com

10/1-31/23
Lefty's Shop of Horrors
Lefty's Brick Bar
Lefty's Brick Bar is completely transforming itself during October. Grab something eerie off the themed food & drink menu and get a picture in front of one of the multiple unique Instagrammable backdrops throughout the bar. In addition to transforming for Halloween, Lefty's is also hosting a variety of haunting happenings throughout the month so stop by for the Scream Queen Drag Show, Howl-O-Ween, Murder Mystery Party or the resident tarot card ready every Wednesday.
leftysbrickbar.com

10/1-31/23
Moxy Halloween
Moxy Austin
Get into the witchy spirit this Halloween at the Moxy Austin's Pop-Up bar open all October. Stop by and watch the 'Sunday Scaries' movie night every Sunday, free tarot readings, specialty themed cocktails and more. 
moxy-hotel.marriot.com

10/9-31/23
Black Lagoon Pop-Up Bar
King Bee
Black Lagoon, an international Halloween pop-up bar, is coming to Austin this spooky season for the first time. This goth, horror inspired bar will feature corresponding furnishing and entertainment as well as an extensive themed cocktail menu with drinks names like Book of Blood, Death Rattle and the Night Crawler.
blacklagoonpopup.com

10/13-23/23
Panic at the Paramount
Paramount Theater
For those who love classic Halloween movies and horror thrillers alike, you have to catch a flick at the Paramount this spooky season. Over five select dates, the theater will screen nine themed movies from cult-classics like Friday the 13th and Texas Chainsaw Massacre to flicks for the whole family like Hocus Pocus.
austintheatre.org

10/13-31/23
Moe's Tavern Pop-Up
Nickel City
East Austin bar, Nickel City, is transforming into The Simpsons Moe's Tavern for Halloween. The pop-up will include Simpsons themed cocktails and even a meet-and-greet with former Simpsons writer Bill Oakley on October 19th & 20th. 
nickelcitybar.com

10/24-31/23
Ghoul at Azul
Azul Rooftop
Order a Halloween drink at Azul Rooftop between October 24 and October 30, and get a drink coupon to use at their Halloween Party on October 31. Party goers can enjoy spooky themed drinks, a live DJ, costume contests with prizes and more. 
azulrooftopatx.com

10/27/23
Spooky Silent Disco
The Belmont
Don't miss the Spooky Silent Disco at The Belmont with Quiet Events. Join party-goers decked out in their Halloween best singing, dancing and drinking with 3 DJs battling for your attention all-night long.
thebelmontaustin.com

10/27/23
Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner Party with Dinner Detective
Hotel Viata
Spend an evening immersed in secrets and suspicion as you try and uncover this classic Whodunit mystery, all while enjoying delicious cuisine. Hosted at Hotel Viata, the renowned Dinner Detective Troupe will take you on a sleuthing adventure that will get you in the spooky Halloween spirit and have you questioning, “Who did it?”
hotelviata.com

10/26/23
Moxy Halloween Party
Moxy Austin
If you're near the University of Texas you have to stop by Moxy Austin for a hauntingly good time. Grab a free tequila tasting, get a free tarot reading from Sound Sight Tarot and settle into the couch and watch a screening of Scream 1 & Scream 2. Costumes are encouraged, for you and your furry friend.
eventbrite.com

10/26-28/23
UNDEAD: Haunted House of Dances
Factory on 5th
Ventana Ballet returns this year for a spooky reimagining of the classic ballet Dracula. With two showings each evening, and a variety of seating options, all are guaranteed to have a haunting experience at this adults-only show.
ventanaballet.com

10/27/23
Freaky Floats
Austin Motel
Get freaky this Halloween with a poolside, sundown screening of Beetlejuice! at Austin Motel.
bunkhousehotels.com

10/27/23
Murder On The Rooftop: A Halloween Murder Mystery Party
Gin Bar
This quintessential whodunnit thriller is the perfect way to kickoff Halloween. An evening full of mystery and murder will leave you looking over you're shoulder all night wondering who the killer's next victim might be. 
eventbrite.com

10/28/23
Upstairs at Scareoline
Upstairs at Caroline
Halloween is here at Upstairs at Scareoline. Guests can enjoy a spooky cocktail menu and themed decor throughout the October, but the real party kicks off on October 28th with a live DJ, drinks, costumes, and haunting Halloween vibes. 
carolinerestaurant.com

10/28/23
St. HELLmo Halloween Party
St. Elmo Brewing Company
Join the all day Halloween party at St. Elmo Brewing in South Austin. This party has something for all ages to take part in, bring the kids to enjoy the costume contest, trick-or-treating, face painting and crafts from noon to 6 p.m. The adults-only party starts afterward with horror movies all night, karaoke, drink specials and more. 
eventbrite.com

10/28/23
Area 54: Halloween Alien Disco
Distribution Hall
Like Halloween, aliens and disco music? Then this is the party for you. Distribution Hall will be transformed into an intergalactic discotheque for aliens and humans to get groovy on the dance floor. 
eventbrite.com

10/28/23
Kalahari Spooktacular Halloween Event
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Dress up the family and head North to Kalahari for a spooktacular fun night filled with trick-or-treating, Halloween Build-A-Bear pop-up, hay maze, live music and more. 
kalahariresorts.com

10/28-29/23
Freaky Deaky Fest
Travis County Expo Center
Celebrate Hallow’s Eve with a dance on the dark side at Travis County Expo Center. Experience a mix of EDM, house and techno genres at this haunting two day music festival.
freakydeaky.com

10/29/23
Boo Bash 2023: A Spooktacular Character Extravaganza
Hotel Viata
Looking for something a little less scary and spooky for your little ones? Hotel Viata bringing your kids favorite character's to life. Get a sparkly glitter tattoo from Tinker Bell, find the perfect pumpkin with Rapunzel, or dance the night away with Cinderella. 
hotelviata.com

10/29/23
Spooky Drag Brunch
Electric Shuffle
Get your Halloween celebration started early with a spooky themed drag brunch at Electric Shuffle. The morning will feature iconic performances from local queens, costume contests, giveaways, DJ sets and more.
electricshuffleusa.com

10/29/23
Halloween Drag Brunch
Fairmont Austin
Spice up the spooky season with a festive drag show over delicious brunch at the Fairmont Austin’s Rules and Regs.
opentable.com

10/29/23
ZaZa Boozy Halloween Brunch
Hotel ZaZa
Take your Sunday Scaries to Hotel ZaZa for a spine-tingling Boozy Brunch hosted in the Gold Standard Ballroom. Guests will enjoy dining on the lavish buffet brunch, sipping on free-flowing drinks and getting down to the live DJ.
eventbrite.com

10/31/23
Surrealist Ball
Devil May Care
Skip the typical this Halloween and instead stop by the Surrealist Ball inspired by the surrealist, Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. Come dressed to kill in black tie, long dresses and surrealist heads are a must. Enjoy light bites and specialty cocktails in the captivating underground lounge.
devilmaycareatx.com

Haunted Austin

Tour the city in style and take a ride in the Haunted ATX Hearse Limousine to check out the landmarks in Austin that have officially been deemed haunted; such as the Clay Pit and the Littlefield House at the University of Texas.

For a supernatural experience year-round, Austin Ghost Tours offers small group, guided walking tours to some of the city's most haunted places, turning an evening stroll into a walking ghost story. Join the investigation to discover who is lingering among the streets and alleyways of historic, downtown Austin.

Even more spooky options are about with Austin Ghosts, offering nightly walking ghost tours through the Capital. Or, if you’d rather get your frights from home, try their Ghostflix, a live streaming ghost tour through Austin and other haunted sites around the country.

If you need a little liquid courage to face all the spooks and frights, join the Haunted Pub Crawl though the capital city's most haunted pubs and restaurants. Hear the terrifying tales of Austin's "old west" days, all while celebrating Austin's wild and weird history.

Fall Family Fun

Bring the kids in full costume to Boo at the Zoo (Saturday and Sunday from October 7-29, 2023), where they can experience the Austin Zoo in a whole new way: in the dark. A stroll through the “haunted zoo” will certainly scare, so ghosts and goblins of all ages enter if you dare. Limited tickets are available, so reserve your spot in advance today!

Back by popular demand, The Austin Symphony will be performing their annual Halloween Children's Concert on October 22, 2023. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy the boo-tiful music for young eyes and ears!

Stop by The Thinkery children’s museum for the Halloween Hootenany on October 27, 2023. The little ones will stay busy with a packed lineup of spooky events and activities like Mummy Wrapping, Franken-Toys, Pumpkin-Drumkin, Freaky Flyers and more. Or, visit The Thinkery the two days prior for Power Tool Pumpkin Carving from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and create the jack-o-lantern of your dreams.

Celebrate local makers  this season with a free family fun Boo! Bash at Parker + Scott on October 28, 2023. The first 100 kids can decorate their own Halloween tote bags. While you're there, get started on your holiday shopping with some great local-made items in store.

Whether families are looking for a kid-friendly candy crawl or, a new way to experience Halloween, The Arboretum will offer a variety of onsite events throughout October, including trick-or-treating, face-painting, live music, vendor booths and more. On October 28, 2023, they will host their annual Boo & Brew.

Throw on your family costumes for the Halloween Carnival at the Neill-Cochran House Museum on October 29, 2023. Kiddos can enjoy crafts, trunk-or-treating, a bouncy house and more (for free!).

October brings a variety of Halloween-themed events to Austin. All things scary will be featured at the family friendly Pioneer Farms Pumpkin Nights, through October 30, 2023. The event will include a festive walking path featuring spectacular sights like 10-foot tall jack-o-lanterns, the world’s largest pumpkin guitar and more fun surprises designed and carved by artists. Throughout the month, you can also visit the historic living museum for daytime events like spooky ghost tours, pumpkin-carving demonstrations, a Dia de Los Muertos exhibit, and more. Buy your tickets in advance to reserve your spot!

If you're looking for a low-key autumn experience with plenty of room to explore, head to Sweet Berry Farm through November 6, 2022 (closed Wednesdays) for the annual Harvest of Fall Fun. Kids and adults alike will love the hayrides, Candy Corn Kid Maze, pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing, face painting, crafts and more!

Get Your Screams

Scare enthusiasts looking for real fright should visit Scream Hollow just south of Bastrop. This October, experience 20 acres of outdoor frights and stroll through the Mansion of Terror Coven, take on the zombies in Lost Pines Asylum or creep your way through the Wicked Darkness Maze. No matter the route, be prepared to be genuinely scared. Groups are limited so plan your trip in advance.

Like a trip through a modern horror movie, terror is felt throughout the season at House of Torment. The horror destination features even more ghoulish attractions this year. Prepare to scream as you journey through elaborate sets and come face-to-face with monsters, zombies and ghoulish characters.

Día de los Muertos

From November 1-2, 2023, celebrate Día de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday that remembers loved ones who have passed. Several different cultural events throughout the month will feature a lineup of music performances, art exhibits and more.

The Mexic-Arte Museum will host their annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition on display throughout the fall and winter season. This year's exhibition, 40 Years of Dia de los Muertos exhibit, on display from September 22, 2023 - January 7, 2024, highlights imagery inspired by the holiday including ofrendas and works from hispanic artists.

The museum will also host its 40th Annual Viva la Vida Parade, Austin's largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos event on October 28. The event will feature hands-on art activities and artist demos, traditional foods, local artists and retail booths, a low-rider exhibition and live performances all day long.                      

For even more October happenings, check out our events calendar and check out our Ultimate Austin Fall Bucket List.