Spooktacular 2024
Friday 25, Bullock Museum
So your kid wants a little more to do than just ringing doorbells and getting candy – or maybe mom and dad are the ones seeking a little more spooky substance to this Halloween season. Whatever the case may be, local family hot spot the Bullock provides a perfect spot for mildly frightening fun. With activities like STEM fun and spooky science projects provided by Girlstart and Daniel G. Benes Science Shows respectively, plus tunes from School of Rock’s the B Team, this’ll make all previous holidays look Hallo-weak. – James Scott
Power Tool Pumpkin Carving Workshop
Friday 25, Thinkery
Hearing the words “power tools” in conjunction with Thinkery, the children’s museum, may rightfully raise an eyebrow, but fear not: This one’s for grownups! “Thinkery21” means adults 21 and up can unwind with drinks and explore their creativity by carving pumpkins with rotary carvers, drills, and saws, all under the supervision of experienced staffers. Awards will be handed out for spooky superlatives, and grab a pic with your creation in front of a bewitching backdrop to capture how you let the gourd times roll. – Kat McNevins
The Austin Séance
Friday 25 – Saturday 26, Neill-Cochran House & Wednesday 30 – Saturday 2, the Vortex
Halloween is when the walls between the realms of the living and the dead are at their thinnest, they say – not that the Austin Séance would ever suggest that they are summoning spirits. A. Lucio and Jake Cordero are simply experts in the long tradition of spiritualism in America, from talking boards to prophetic mediums, exploring and explaining their methods and mysteries through reviving their techniques and mysteries. Join them across this whole week for lectures, séances, and demonstrations. And if you happen to hear, see, feel, or even smell something uncanny, then it’s up to you to discern its mysteries. – Richard Whittaker
Spooky Arts Festival
Friday 25 – Sunday 27, Cabana Club
Two things Austin loves: Spooky season and arts festivals. Presented by the Martian Arts Collective, this free, three-day romp promises interactive art installations and vendors selling handmade jewelry, artwork, and apparel, all soundtracked by live performances across rock, reggae, house, hip-hop, and bass, with after-dark silent discos to boot. New East Seventh bar Cabana Club boasts a lengthy menu of creative cocktails and an expansive patio (with a pool!) – perfect for our inevitably warm Halloween. – Carys Anderson
Tits-or-Treats Burlesque Show
Saturday 26, Come and Take It Live
Strike fear into your heart – and perhaps other organs – at this Halloween edition of local burly-q purveyors Bat City Bombshells’ 15th annual spooktacular. All your favorite bombshells are on tap, including Sherry Bomb, Roc Gaude, Jack Potts, and host Nico De Gallo – among many others. Dress to impress for the costume contest, and you just might win a free drink. – James Scott
Screen on the Green: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Saturday 26, Fareground
Forget the old argument about whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie: Is Tim Burton and Henry Selick’s stop-motion masterpiece a Christmas movie or a Halloween flick, or both? Well, whatever the weather, it’s always the perfect time to relish Jack Skellington’s misadventures as the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown. Enjoy seasonal cocktails and complimentary popcorn, but Halloween is for everyone, so bring the kids in costumes for trick-or-treating. – Richard Whittaker
Phantom Fest
Saturday 26 – Sunday 27, Sagebrush
Austin’s own Halloween festival bursts from the crypt with debates, trivia, live podcast recordings of Paranormal Putas and the Best-of-Austin-winning The Night Owl, plus special immersive screenings of John Carpenter’s They Live and Ari Aster’s Midsommar, and an incredible chance to see the work of local short horror maestro and gross-out comedy king Chris McInroy. And what’s Sagebrush without a little music? Join crooning cow punks Gilded Lows for a Haunted Honky Tonk party and costume contest. – Richard Whittaker
The Haunting of Hill House
Through October 27, Bottle Alley Theatre
Ghosts don’t live in shadows. They live in the spaces between, the places where we are not sure whether we have seen something or if our eyes have simply played tricks on us. Shirley Jackson’s peerless 1959 Gothic novel The Haunting of Hill House has inspired films and TV shows with its soul-piercing ambiguity, and now Bottle Alley goes back to the source material for a theatrical version of the doom that befalls a quartet of psychic researchers, of skeptics and true believers, as they become part of the house’s history of death and strange occurrences. – Richard Whittaker
Haunted Mansion Halloween
Sunday 27, Commodore Perry Estate
There are few residences in Austin with a history so strange and mystical as the Commodore Perry Estate, a place that by turns has been a luxurious home, a school, home to an Indian mystic, and a hotel. Become part of that lineage as the gates to the manicured gardens and buildings that would make Gatsby swoon open for an afternoon of music, palm readings, scavenger hunts, and more. – Richard Whittaker
Halloween Pet Portraits & Fundraiser With Austin Humane Society
Sunday 27, Precision Camera & Video
As a black-cat mom, I never had to do much to get in the Halloween spirit. She was just made for it! But that didn’t stop me from dressing her as a pirate, vampire, bunny, or what have you for just a moment to take a blurry picture before she ran off. Hopefully your pet is more cooperative with costume time and will sit for photos from a purr-fessional photographer at this unique fundraiser for Austin Humane Society. You might even add a furry friend to your boo crew, as AHS will bring some adoptable pets to meet! – Kat McNevins
Halloween Carnival
Sunday 27, Neill-Cochran Museum
You’ll be hard pressed to find an activity not happening at this historic house, as kiddos and family can enjoy trunk-or-treat, scavenger hunts, and even a few arts and crafts. Maybe last Halloween brought lots of candy, but this year you could be bringing home handmade keychains and friendship bracelets – as well as the the experience of making ofrendas, courtesy of event partner Latinitas. And it’s all free! – James Scott
Meowlloween
Sunday 27, BookPeople
Black cats are a Halloween staple, but do you ever wonder if other kitties feel left out? Austin Pets Alive! and BookPeople certainly do, and they’re hosting a cat costume contest and adoption drive. This event is free, open to everyone, and purrfect for all kitty lovers and prospective kitty lovers. Enjoy cat care demos, storytime breaks, and felines strutting the catwalk in their spooky finery. Will you be bringing home the Furrankenstein, Catula, or Pawrate? – Amaya Austin
Freaky Floats: Beetlejuice
Sunday 27, Austin Motel
People who live in places with seasons are watching the leaves change and bundling up in cozy sweaters by late October, but down here we’re still planning pool hangs. Throw on your most goth swimwear or poolside costumery and head to Austin Motel’s iconic pool to take in the original Beetlejuice that inspired this summer’s 36-years-later sequel. Surely they’ll have special boo-verages available, but during scary season, a Bloody Mary is always a good option! – Kat McNevins
The Little Gay Shop of Horrors
Sunday 27, the Little Gay Shop
Use this gay little shopping trip as a chance to purchase all the creepy cute items your heart desires – or get a head start on holiday gifting! With the over 20 local vendors TLGS has curated for their fourth Halloween market, you’re sure to find a li’l something something for everyone in your life – and afterlife! – James Scott
Terrifying Tuesday: Halloween
Tuesday 29, Double Trouble
What better way for the North Loop coffee bar to wrap up its October horror programming than with the original seasonal scare fest, with Laurie Strode going toe-to-toe (or, more accurately, carving knife to wire hanger) with the Shape, the most implacable slasher in horror history? Come early for a special intro from Michael Rae Jepsen, free popcorn, and the best free seat in the house for the movie that we may not remember as well if they’d stuck with the original title of The Babysitter Murders. – Richard Whittaker
The VVitch With Goats
Thursday 31, Jester King
Wouldst thou like the taste of butter? How’s about a Wytchmaker, or Ghost Cannon, or Bitter Death, or any of the signature ales from the brewmeisters of Jester King, as you enter their goat pen for a special screening of Robert Eggers’ Puritan nightmare. Black Phillip may not be summoned, but bring your blanket for a uniquely “horny” screening of The VVitch, surrounded by the brewery’s resident four-hoofed and square-eyed guardians. – Richard Whittaker
Trick or Read 2024
Thursday 31, BookPeople
Calling all little ghouls and goblins seeking a fun and unscary good time! Junior trick-or-readers will be treated to free Halloween-y books (while supplies last), free goodies from Amy’s Ice Creams, a sing-along storytime with Amber Blue (5-5:30pm), and a raffle. Stop by all the info desks to pick up candy, coupons, and stickers, and explore the wonderful worlds offered by the bounty of books at BookPeople. – Kat McNevins
We Luv Video Halloween Pop-Up
Thursday 31, Oddwood Brewing
You know, sometimes the first movie is the best one in a franchise. Nightmare on Elm Street combines stomach-churning special effects with a surprisingly potent plot about trying to both protect and empower your kids in a world dead set on hurting them. We Luv Video screens the slasher staple at Eastside brewmeisters Oddwood, bragging both DJs and free popcorn all night. – James Scott
Haunted In Love
Thursday 31, Firehouse Lounge
A collabo from local event org the Living Room, sapphic party people the Afters List, Black & queer event-iers Pride in Black ATX & ATX Choclit LGBT, and effects expert Gothess Jasmine aka Amazing Aeffects. Expect delicious drinks, sultry space-setting sounds, and exceptional dancers – all offered for free. Just make sure you wear your “darkest and dreamiest costumes,” as Gothess advises. – James Scott
Sister Fisters Presents: Fresh Meat
Thursday 31, Cheer Up Charlies
Rumored to be the final freakfest from local Hallo-heroes Sister Fisters, this all-out gore fest features live music by Ladi Earth and She 23, DJ sets from Amarji, BabiBoi, and Xoy, and drag hosted by the one and only Honey Baby. Help these sisters celebrate their “666” anniversary by dressing up and showing out. A portion of your ticket price also goes to hurricane disaster relief funds. – James Scott
Bat City Scaregrounds
Through November 2
One part haunted house, one part fun fair, and one part amusement park, Bat City Scaregrounds covers every inch of its 15-acre domain with shrieks, squeals, and a rockin’ good time. New to the twisted map are retro trash punk shriek-o-rama Slaughter Mall, while the history of horror within Ancient Evil returns to ravage your brain before the vampires of the epic Castle Orlok take your blood and your breath away. Your heart won’t even slow down with the music and sideshow-style performers on the center stage. – Richard Whittaker
Malum Malus Burlesque
Through November 9, The Vortex
Austin’s occult burlesque troupe blurs the lines between the exotic and the esoteric with their performances that mark the three great celebrations of the ancient calendars: Lamas, Beltane and, of course, Samhain. Blaise Ricin has sent the call to artists sacred, profane, and a little bit of both to mark this most scandalous of seasons. – Richard Whittaker
House of Torment
Through November 9
The big bone daddy of Austin haunted houses has sat on its throne of skulls and scares for 23 glorious Samhains. This year, it’s throwing open the gates to three attractions around the cursed town of Blackthorne: Beware the insectoid invaders of the Arrival before coming face-to-snarling-face with the Frail One, the keeper of a mysterious and malice-filled chest at the heart of the Abandoned. For retro chills, Torment ’99 brings back both your VHS faves and the black-and-white classic monsters for double the old-school scares. If that sounds a little too much for your nerves or the kids under your watchful eye, then come by 11am-2pm on Sunday, Oct. 27 for the lights-on Trick or Treat tour, complete with candy stations and monsters that only want to make you happy. – Richard Whittaker
Want to see all of our listings broken down by day? Go to austinchronicle.com/calendar and see what’s happening now or in the coming week.
This article appears in October 25 • 2024.
