Ultimate guide to Halloween in Austin: Movies, haunted houses, events and more in Texas

Statesman staff
Updated ·4 min read

It’s finally October! It’s time to start planning some scary good fun in the Lone Star State.

Halloween has been celebrated on the same date, Oct. 31, since its creation over 2,000 years ago during the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, according to the History Channel.

There are a lot of haunted places in Texas and plenty of Halloween-y things to do.

Enjoy a walk through Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms in Austin or enter your dog in the 6th annual Ugly Dog Contest at Jo's Coffee. There are also plenty of horror films and TV series based in Texas to binge-watch all month long.

Here is all of our Halloween coverage in one place:

Halloween-ish events in Austin:

Pumpkin Nights, a Halloween-themed walking trail featuring more than 5,000 real and synthetic pumpkins carved by artists, opened Thursday, Sept. 21, and runs through Oct. 30, according to a news release. It’s held at Pioneer Farms, located at 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive in northeast Austin.

6th annual Ugly Dog Contest: While some may claim beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, at Jo's Coffee, they believe the uglier, the better when it comes to your dog.

Looking for something Halloween-y to do this month? Check out these 10 events in Austin.

Haunted places in Austin and around Texas:

Before 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre" became the horror franchise that's terrified generations of viewers, the original was made by an Austin native and University of Texas alumnus in his backyard.

Looking for a scare this Halloween? 10 haunted spots in Austin and around Texas

Check these out: 19 of the most haunted places in Austin

Halloween bucket list: 13 haunted places in Texas that you should visit

Binging scary movies? Here are some recommendations

Texas was ranked the second most popular state to film a horror movie in the United States, according to new study. There have been roughly 1089 horror films set in the state.

What scary movies are set in Texas? State is 2nd most popular location for horror films.

Austin Film Society expert: His 5 favorite horror movies

SXSW review: ‘Evil Dead Rise’ is the mother of all horror movies

From 'Saw X' to 'The Exorcist: Believer' Peep these 20 new scary movies for Halloween

Want something not so scary?

Fall concerts: From massive tours featuring chart-topping stars at the Moody Center to smaller club shows where you can get up close and personal with tomorrow's big thing, there are plenty of touring acts and big shows coming to Austin this fall.

Austin's fall coffee craze: Austin Coffee Festival will take place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, and the Espresso Martini Fest will follow from Oct. 9-15.

ACL Fest 2023 guide: As our Longtime Austin City Limits Music Festival-goer and lifelong music fanatic, Deborah Sengupta Stith is your ACL Fest concierge — here to help you plan your ACL experience.

Dollaritas are back! Get a $1 margarita at Applebee’s this October — for a limited time

Halloween costumes and more:

The Halloween Spirit: How the retailer shows up each fall in vacant storefronts nationwide

Dress up without ever leaving your home: The 10 best places you can buy Halloween costumes online

The Little Mermaid, Barbie, and AI: Celebrate the year’s most iconic moments in pop culture with these costumes.

Halloween safety tips:

  • Avoid costumes that drag on the ground and create a tripping hazard. Avoid costumes that block your peripheral vision — which is another reason to ditch the costume masks.

  • Discourage kids from running because they could trip and fall and break a bone or dart out into traffic.

  • Cross at a corner, and look both ways. Do not walk between cars, where drivers can't see you.

  • Use glow sticks, glow bracelets, reflective tape on a costume or a flashlight to help drivers see you.

  • Drivers also should watch for kids and drive slowly.

  • If the costume causes you to have to loosen a child's car seat, then that car seat might not be as safe. Take the costume off your child for riding in the car and put it back on once you arrive.

  • Have a plan in case your family gets lost or separated.

  • Pack a small first-aid kit.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Halloween Guide: Movies, things to do and more in Austin