These 10 Halloween Events in Houston Will Put a Spell on You
- ArBOOretum at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
- 2. Zoo Boo at Houston Zoo
- Galaxy Frights at Space Center Houston
- Houston Scream Fest
- Experience Meow Wolf
- Boo on the Boardwalk
- Houston Terror Dome
- 8. Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green
- 13th Floor Haunted House Houston
- Creepy Hollow Haunted House
Halloween in Houston has always been one of my favorite times of the year. When I was a kid, I went trick-or-treating in my neighborhood, always on the hunt for the houses that gave out full-size candy bars (because the tiny ones just weren’t enough).
As I got older, I traded candy for scares and started going to haunted houses instead. That’s when I learned that paying to be chased by a guy acting like a zombie is weirdly fun.
I’ve spent decades enjoying Halloween. Now, as a parent to a small kid, I’m the one handing out the candies and watching my kid enjoy wearing costumes and saying “twick ow tweet”!
But just because I’m on the other side of the candy bowl doesn’t mean I’ve outgrown the fun. I’ve got you covered with the best Halloween events in Houston—you’re in for a treat!
1. ArBOOretum at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Media Credit: houstonarboretum
Website: https://houstonarboretum.org/
Address: 4501 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-681-8433
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 6 PM
The ArBOOretum at the Houston Arboretum transforms into the ultimate creepy fun zone for families during Halloween! Kids can wander down the Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail, collecting candy like they’re pros!
We had a blast decorating pumpkins (whether we turned ours into a masterpiece or a mess remains to be seen), got to meet live animals (none of them tried to steal our treats, thankfully), and had a blast on carnival swings and train rides!
And don’t miss the Halloween Market–we grabbed a quick bite from the food trucks and picked up some Halloween-themed goodies. After all, who can say no to Halloween snacks?
Just make sure to wear a fun costume and comfy shoes, or your feet might “ghost” you after all the walking!
| Pro Tip: This event happens rain or shine, so make sure to prepare a sunny day, a surprise downpour, or a random Texas weather mood swing! |
2. Zoo Boo at Houston Zoo
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Website: https://www.houstonzoo.org/
Address: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-533-6500
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM
Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo is where Halloween gets wild!
The zoo goes all haunted and spooky for the season. We enjoyed attractions like the lantern tunnel (and, honestly, it’s so photogenic, we might’ve snapped a few too many pictures) and the Spooky Forest, which only opened after the zoo’s opening hours, making everything extra eerie.
(Let’s just say we may have started hearing things…like our stomachs were growling for dinner.)
If you’re feeling brave, the Ghost Town is sure to give you the creeps. But if you’re not that brave, the new pumpkin animatronics and talking pumpkins are way less likely to haunt your dreams. They’re more silly than scary, so you won’t lose sleep!
And here’s a fun fact for you: the zookeepers let the animals get in on the Halloween spirit too by giving them pumpkin treats!
| Pro Tip: Parking can be a nightmare around this time at the zoo, so skip the broomstick and avoid the parking lot horror by going for something more practical, like rideshare, carpooling, or METRORail. |
3. Galaxy Frights at Space Center Houston
Media Credit: spacecenterhou
Website: http://spacecenter.org
Address: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 281-244-2100
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 10 AM to 5 PM; Saturday to Sunday – 10 AM to 6 PM
Galaxy Frights at Space Center Houston is the ultimate Halloween event for anyone who loves space and candy. It takes place over two weekends and—best of all—it’s included with general admission, so no extra tickets needed!
The trick-or-treat stations are the real MVPs–kids (and some adults) got to stock up on candy like it’s their mission. The Space Center got a spooky makeover, making it look like Halloween crash-landed in Houston—so naturally, it’s a good spot for Instagram-worthy photos.
There are special guests too, like a “living” astronaut statue (not good for jumpy types of people) and the Space Center’s beloved mascot, Commander Quest!
On Saturdays, there were actual NASA astronauts, engineers, and flight controllers who told their scary stories on the job–nothing says “Happy Halloween” like real-life horror stories in outer space…where no one can hear you scream.
| Pro Tip: Planning to wear a costume? It should be fun, family-friendly, and most importantly, easy to move in. You don’t want to trip over a cape while running for candy! |
4. Houston Scream Fest
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Website: https://www.thehoustonscreamfest.com/thehoustonscreamfest/
Address: 1500 Elton St, Houston, TX
If haunted houses aren’t enough for you, how about a haunted festival? Houston Scream Fest is where you can scream and laugh all night long. It’s the biggest Halloween event in Houston, packed with haunted houses, live music, carnival games, and free drinks (yes, even beer).
Most haunted houses make you pay, get scared, and leave. Not this one! At Scream Fest, you go through the haunted houses as many times as you want. In fact, we went in so many times that we started recognizing the ghosts and ghouls.
If you need to take a breather, go watch a live band, grab some food (the funnel cakes are awesome), or play carnival games (we may or may not have spent way too much time trying to win a stuffed animal).
Now, if regular scares aren’t enough, you can also play H-Town Paintball for some heart-pumping adrenaline with your pals! Just make sure to bring some cash, because you’ll need to pay for the paintballs–maybe more if you keep missing your target (we don’t judge).
Oh, and here’s something cool—there are air-conditioned bathrooms! That’s right, no nightmarish porta-potties here!
| Pro Tip: Don’t wear fancy shoes unless you want them to end up as Halloween decorations by the end of the night. |
5. Experience Meow Wolf
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Website: https://meowwolf.com/visit/houston
Address: 2103 Lyons Ave. Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 866-636-9969
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 12 to 8 PM; Friday – 12 to 10 PM; Saturday – 10 AM to 10 PM; Sunday – 10 AM to 8 PM
Admission Costs: Start at $40
Radio Tave in Houston’s Fifth Ward is like stepping into a dream where everything’s a little (okay, a lot) stranger than usual. Created by Meow Wolf, this place is less “haunted house” and more “haunted mind.”
There are neon lights, hidden doors, and enough weirdness to make you think you’re in a haunted house…or you’re just slowly losing your mind.
This isn’t like a regular museum where you just look at paintings. We got to touch things, press buttons, and open doors that lead to places–some strange and some normal. Instead of ghouls jumping out, we felt our minds being messed with–in a trippy but fun way!
From the moment you enter, it’ll feel like another dimension–spooky lights, hidden paths, and strange things that seem to move when you’re not looking.
If you need a breather from all the weirdness (we definitely did), there’s a bar and restaurant where you can sip a drink and check if your sanity is still intact.
| Pro Tip: It takes around 2 hours to enjoy the experience, so take your time! Some of the best details are hiding in plain sight, so slow down and channel your inner Sherlock Holmes. |
6. Boo on the Boardwalk
Media Credit: kemahboardwalk
Website: https://www.kemahboardwalk.com/
Address: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX
Contact Details: +1 281-535-8100
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 12 to 7 PM; Friday to Saturday – 12 to 10 PM; Sunday – 12 to 9 PM
Every October, the Kemah Boardwalk goes full Halloween mode with Boo on the Boardwalk, and let me tell you–it’s a spooky season done right!
For the little monsters, there’s the Little Boo Haunted Fun House–it’s a fun Halloween house without the lifelong nightmares. It’s just the right amount of spooky for kiddos who want to feel spooked without losing sleep.
But the real fun happens at the Boardwalk shops, where kids can score free candy! Sounds great, right? Well, just wait until bedtime when all the sugar kicks in and the real horror story begins (good luck, parents).
Now, if you’re feeling brave, the Phobia Haunted House at the Boardwalk was so terrifying that we may have grown our first strand of gray hair from all the scares. The actors were so passionate about their job that we questioned if they really were just acting!
When you’re done hiding from monsters, you can chill with live music, spooky crafts, and balloon artists who can create shapes you definitely didn’t think were possible!
| Pro Tip: Get a combo ticket for both haunted houses and an all-day ride pass. Why choose between horror and fun when you can have both and save money? |
7. Houston Terror Dome
Media Credit: https://www.instagram.com/houstonterrordome/
Website: https://www.houstonterrordome.com/
Address: 16030 E Freeway Service Rd, Channelview, TX
Contact Details: +1 281-864-9686
If you’re in Houston and looking for one of the best Halloween experiences that’ll leave you sleeping with the lights on, Houston Terror Dome is the place to be. It’s not just a haunted house—it’s a haunted theme park where your nightmares come to life.
The haunted house–or as I like to call it, “the place where I lost my dignity”–is not for the faint of heart. This haunt is upgraded every year to make sure you’re still getting freaked out, so even if you’ve been going there as a kid, you’ll still scream like it’s your first time (I definitely did).
If you’re not into screaming your face off, don’t worry–there’s still plenty to do! There’s axe throwing and the Paintball Massacre where you can shoot at scary targets (or shoot and miss, just like me).
There’s also an escape room for those who’d rather enjoy the thrill of solving puzzles against the clock–nothing like a ticking timer to add stress to an already stressful night, right?
And if you love a good photo op, the creepy pumpkins at the Pump Patch of Souls is a good spot to take pictures! But if you really love Halloween and want to do a full-blown shoot, the Nightmare Alley Selfie Saloon gives the perfect setting with matching props!
| Pro Tip: Get the Terror Combo with the Express Line to skip the lines and get into the terror faster—the only thing scarier than the haunted house is waiting in line for it! |
8. Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green
Media Credit: discoverygreen
Website: https://www.discoverygreen.com/
Address: 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: +1 713-400-7336
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 6 AM to 11 PM
If ghosts and ghouls aren’t your thing and you prefer your Halloween cozy and not creepy, then the Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green is perfect. This month-long fall event turns downtown into a pumpkin wonderland, where the only scary thing is how hard it is to pick a pumpkin!
And trust me–there are options! We found out that there were over 45 pumpkin variants all waiting there. I tried to pick my favorite, but it took me over 30 minutes of just looking and comparing and I just gave up–I liked them all!
If pumpkin picking isn’t your thing, there’s a train ride that little pumpkins (and parents) can enjoy. There’s a kayak too, but if that’s too exhausting, you can check out Cinderella’s Carriage and channel your inner princess or prince (or fairy godmother).
There’s also a giant corn pit to dive into (yep, a corn pit). Nearby, the Pink Tree of Life, with the white seats hanging from the branches, and the famous Pumpkin Church are great spots for taking pictures!
| Pro Tip: The early bird gets the best pumpkin, or at least fewer people in their photos! Beat the crowd and claim your spot in the pumpkin patch before it turns into a free-for-all. |
9. 13th Floor Haunted House Houston
Media Credit: 13thfloorhouston
Website: https://13thfloorhouston.com/
Address: 7075 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W Ste 20, Houston, TX (in Megacenter Self-Storage & Office Suites)
Contact Details: +1 281-816-5054
Operating Hours: Friday to Saturday – 7 to 10 PM; Sunday – 6:30 to 9 PM
If you’re looking for a Halloween experience in Houston that will have you screaming louder than a horror movie extra, the 13th Floor Haunted House is the perfect spot.
This haunt does not hold back–there are three terrifying attractions that made us hesitate turning the lights off during bedtime for at least a week.
In the Blackthorn Falls attraction, we entered a manor so eerie, only to find that someone opened a Pandora’s Box (we could only ask why). The result? Chaos! I walked in not expecting much and walked out clutching a friend for emotional support.
In Sanguis Rex, we witnessed the resurrection of a powerful sorcerer who wanted to destroy the world. The only thing more terrifying than him was not finding the exit fast enough.
And finally, in The Whispering Cemetery, we met Lilith the lonely ghost, who tried to trap us in her graveyard forever. We found her too clingy, but unfortunately, we realized it in a terrifying way.
| Pro Tip: Buy your tickets online and sign your waiver before you go. There’s no ticket booth, and the only thing worse than the scares inside is getting stuck doing paperwork while everyone else is having fun. |
10. Creepy Hollow Haunted House
Media Credit: creepyhollow
Website: https://creepyhollowhauntedhouse.com/
Address: 12872 Valley Vista Dr, Rosharon, TX
Contact Details: +1 800-357-3323
Creepy Hollow Haunted House isn’t just a haunted house experience–it’s a horror movie and you’re the main character. This place has been voted the best haunted house in Texas and it was easy to see why!
You get to access different attractions with your ticket, each designed to test your bravery (or the lack of it).
In 288 Scare Factory, there’s a zombie outbreak and it made us realize that we may not survive one if it actually happened (we barely survived without tripping over each other).
Then there’s the Dark Woods Swamp, a haunted forest where every rustling sound had us clutching a friend’s arm and screaming.
Finally, there’s Pitch Black, which is exactly what it sounds like–a pitch black labyrinth where our childhood fear of the dark became reality. If you’ve ever wondered how quickly you’ll start panicking in total darkness, this is your chance.
| Pro Tip: Veterans enter free—because after real-life scares, this is just a warm-up. Perfect for military families to test their survival skills! |
