Houston’s weather has dropped 10 degrees, so it must officially be fall! After a tumultuous few months, our beautiful city is eager to have a bit of stress-free fun. That means Halloween parties!
It can be difficult, however, to find family-friendly events. While terrifying ghouls and ghastly haunted houses sound fun, those events aren’t always best for the little ones. So what’s going on in Houston where you can bring your toddlers and tots, and have some family-friendly fun?
The Heights Blog has put together a list of our favorite Top 13 Inner Loop Family-Friendly Halloween Events!
1. Houston Zombie Walk
When: October 21, 8:00 pm
Where: 350 W 19th Street, Houston, Texas 77008
What: The festival will feature entertainment and activities for the entire family including live music, beer gardens, artist & business vendors, food trucks, a costume contest and a large Kids Zone for our youngest ghosts and ghouls. The kid’s zone will include a pumpkin patch, magician & juggling performances, carnival games, spin art, Halloween arts and crafts, kids cartoon characters, face painting, trick or treating, a kids costume contest and much more! The festival provides a fun and safe community environment for Houston families to celebrate Halloween.
All proceeds from this amazing event support our 2018 ‘Too Ghoul for School’ Scholarship Fund. We are giving $25,000 worth of scholarships away this year from the funds raised in 2016. For more information on the scholarship fund, click here.
2. The Monster Bash Fall Festival
When: October 28, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Travis Elementary, 3311 Beauchamp Street, Houston, Texas 77009
What: With games, rides, and more candy than you can shake a stick at, the Fall Carnival is fun for the whole family. In addition to raising money to support the school, the carnival is a great Halloween activity for those with kids too young to stay out late trick or treating or who are unable to celebrate on a weeknight.
Monster Bash admission is free and you can purchase “monster bucks” or wristbands for carnival games to skip the lines. Monster bucks can be used for food, drinks, and activities and a book of 20 costs only $10. Buy them at the entrance at the event!
3. Flicks on the Lawn
When: October 20, 8:00 pm
Where: GreenStreet, 1201 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77002
What: Friday Flicks on The Lawn presents a fun lineup of date-night friendly movies! Enjoy a viewing of Ghostbusters (2016) for this Halloween-themed event! Catch the flick and feast out at the snack bar. Free event! Blankets and lawn chairs are all welcome.
4. Fall Festival Under the Radar
When: October 22, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: Under the Radar Brewery, 1506 Truxillo St Houston, TX 77004
A fall celebration you won’t want to miss! Join us at Under the Radar Brewery to enjoy local beer, food trucks, live music, a raffle, kid’s activities, costume contests, and more – all to benefit Houston’s Amber Alert Provider, Texas Center for the Missing.
This year’s event will be honoring the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation as the 2017 Houston’s Amber Alert Partner Award Recipient! Dog Friendly.
5. Family-Friendly Haunted House & Car Festival
When: All October, Monday through Friday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: National Museum of Funeral History, 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, Texas 77090
What: All month long you can get into the Halloween spirit and be “scared to death” at this family-friendly haunted house designed to give goose bumps to young and old alike while taking a light-hearted view of a usually very serious subject.
The house is rated PG-13 and is recommended for children ages 12 and up. Children under 12 are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to the haunted house is half off when you purchase admission to the Museum. Bring the whole family and make a day of it! Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for kids 11 and under; tickets are HALF PRICE when purchased with Museum admission. Free parking is available throughout the area.
And don’t miss the Car Festival!
When: October 28, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: National Museum of Funeral History, 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, Texas 77090
What: Come out and see more than 150 cars from classic to contemporary, from motorized to hoof, while helping to support local charities. Children are encouraged to come in costume. Enjoy the fall festival atmosphere with face painting, arts and crafts for the kids, great food from local vendors, a live DJ, silent auction and more.
Costume Contest at 12 p.m.! And – for those who want to enter their car in the show, pre-registration is recommended. Remember – anyone can enter! Contact Charles at 281-804-0355 or email halloweencarshow@yahoo.com.
Proceeds from the event benefit to Star of Hope, DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston Food Bank, The Shriner’s Burn Hospital, The USO, Morning Glory Ranch and others.
6. Día de los Muertos
When: October 27 – November 2, 2017
Where: Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street Houston, Texas 77002
What: Lawndale Art Center is pleased to present its 28th Annual Día de los Muertos events, a celebration of the art, music and folklife of Mexico. For more than 20 years Lawndale has presented an annual open call, non-juried exhibition that celebrates the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos in a contemporary context
7. Zoo Boo 2017
When: Every Friday in October, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm; Every Saturday & Sunday in October, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: The Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030
What: A pumpkin patch, candy corners, “Howl”-ereen Adventures with Zoe the Zookeeper, festival games, kid-friendly mazes, a “Spooky Stamps” station, and a monster mural—the Zoo is the best place for family-friendly Halloween fun in Houston! Zoo Boo activities are included with your paid Zoo admission.
8. Halloween Monster Mayhem
When: October 10 – 31, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm on weekdays and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Thursdays and weekends
Where: Children’s Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz, Houston, Texas 77004
What: Magic, mystery and… MONSTERS! Have taken over the Children’s Museum of Houston as pandemonium is unleashed for three weeks during the “Halloween Monster Mayhem.” Have a spine-tingling experience trick-or-treating, experimenting with monstrous matters, or participating in spirit-lifting activities. Guided by the dim lights of gaudy candelabras, wander through nerve-wracking havoc in search of goblin goodies, terrifying trinkets and more!
9. Halloween Monster Mash Bash
When: October 31, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Children’s Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz, Houston, Texas 77004
What: Howl at the moon while you bask in Houston’s ultimate Halloween party for kids. Let the ghoul times roll as you boogie to the hauntingly hip tunes of a wicked DJ along with monstrous characters during the Monster Mashup at 4:30 p.m. Move your bones in the Thriller Dance Party at 5 p.m. Encapsulate Glow in The Dark Monster Slime. Then, trick-or-treat the night away. Be sure to come dressed in your most boo-tiful or frightfully freaky costume!
10. BoA Screen on the Green
When: October 27, 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Discovery Green, Fondren Performance Space, 1500 McKinney, Houston, Texas 77010
What: Watch the move Hotel Transylvania 2 for free with the entire family! You are welcome to bring blankets, and chairs to view from the hill. Food, beer and wine are available for purchase at the Lake House. No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages, please. This event is part of the Xfinity Entertainment Series. Leashed dogs welcome!
11. Trunks ‘n’ Treats
When: October 31, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Trinity Lutheran Church, 800 Houston Avenue, Houston, Texas 77007
What: This is an event where we fill the parking lot of our Education Center with the trunks of our vehicles decorated in Fall fun themes ready to give out candy and treats! There will be bouncies for the children to play in, games of all kinds for fun, hot dogs and chili and Frito pie. Don’t forget the nachos, popcorn and snow cones! There will be a Prayer Tent, face painting, a first aid station, and information tables on our shared ministries.
12. St. Luke’s Fall Fest
When: October 25, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027
What: Join your community for a fun party for the whole neighborhood! Teenagers and kids can play on bouncy houses, climb a rock wall, and play classic fair games. Parents can learn more about community services, like Legacy Community Health and Houston Center for Literacy.
Also, don’t miss St. Luke’s pumpkin patch!
When: Every Saturday in October, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027
What: The Pure Sound Pumpkin Patch at St. Luke’s Methodist Church opens October 7th at noon. After that it is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m to 6 p.m and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Make sure you bring your camera and share your photos with them on their Facebook page.
13. Toddler Tuesdays: If You’re a Monster and You Know It
When: October 31, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Where: Discovery Green, Cullen Veranda, 1500 McKinney Street, Houston, Texas 77010
What: Every kid loves to play dress up, especially at Halloween. Enter our Toddler Tuesday costume contest on-site. Children will also get to participate in a Halloween costume parade through the park. Special appearance by Monsters Inc characters Sully and Mike courtesy of Kikks & Giggles!
Let us know which events you’re planning to attend this year with your families!
Featured image: Homemade costumes worn by Marinee Cowan, 10, Sabrina Hewitt, 8, and Markeith Jackson, 6, at The Children’s Museum of Houston. Source: Houston Chronicle.