Spooky Season in Downtown Houston: Halloween Events, Día de los Muertos & More
Something spooky is stirring in Downtown Houston!
From pumpkin-filled adventures beneath the skyline and ghostly boat tours along Buffalo Bayou to Broadway shows, Halloween parties and Día de los Muertos celebrations, Downtown is serving up plenty of ways to get into the spirit.
Whether you're planning a family outing, a date night or a reason to get the group chat together, here's your guide to spooky adventures, family-friendly fun and fall celebrations across Downtown Houston.
Spooky Season at a Glance
Mark your calendars! Here's a quick look at the Halloween events and Día de los Muertos celebrations happening across Downtown.
Ongoing
- Through Oct. 31 — Drunk Dracula
- Through Nov. 8 — Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green
- Oct. 16 - Nov. 3 — Illuminated Calacas on Main Street Promenade
- Oct. 23 - Nov. 1 — Spirits of the Bayou Boat Tours (select dates)
- Nov. 3 - Nov. 8 — Beetlejuice: The Musical at Hobby Center
Select Dates
- Saturday, Oct. 17 — Beetlejuice Beetlejuice outdoor movie at Discovery Green
- Sunday, Oct. 18 — KBR Kids Day at Buffalo Bayou Park
- Sunday, Oct. 25 — Trick or Read at Houston Public Library
- Wednesday, Oct. 28 & Thursday, Oct. 29 — The 4th Witch at Wortham Theater Center
- Thursday, Oct. 29 — Blanket Bingo: Halloween Edition at Market Square Park | Ghostbusters at POST Houston
- Friday, Oct. 30 — Scream on the Green at Discovery Green | Una Noche en Downtown | Coco at Trebly Park | Murder Mystery Dinner at Vic & Anthony's | Nightlife at POST
- Saturday, Oct. 31 — Boos & Brews at Saint Arnold | Halloween Foam Party | Club Shugga Halloween | POST Apocalypse Party
- Sunday, Nov. 1 — Día de los Muertos at Discovery Green | Lucha Libre at POST
- Saturday, Nov. 7 — Día de los Muertos Festival & Parade at Sam Houston Park
Explore the experiences below for event details, tickets and more ways to celebrate.
Frights, Flicks & Family Fun
Grab the kids, pack a blanket and make some Halloween memories!
Fall fun is in full swing at Discovery Green's Houston Pumpkin Festival, where pumpkin-filled displays, a hay maze, carousel rides and a towering slide bring a little countryside charm to the Downtown skyline.
And when Halloween weekend arrives, Scream on the Green takes over Discovery Green with a free evening of costume contests, spooky music and family fun. It's the kind of Halloween tradition worth dressing up for!
For a spooky movie night, catch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at Discovery Green or enjoy Ghostbusters under the stars at POST Houston's Skylawn.
Don't miss Blanket Bingo: Halloween Edition at Market Square Park, either! Bring your blanket, gather your favorite people and settle in for a Halloween-themed night of friendly competition.
Little ones can also get in on the fun with Trick or Read at Houston Public Library, KBR Kids Day at Buffalo Bayou Park and POST's Halloween Foam Party.
Something Wicked After Dark
When the sun goes down, Downtown takes on a whole new personality.
Discover Houston's mysterious side aboard Buffalo Bayou Partnership's Spirits of the Bayou Boat Tour or gather your favorite amateur detectives for Vic & Anthony's Murder Mystery Dinner.
On Halloween night, Saint Arnold Brewing Company's Boos & Brews Halloween Festival brings live music, costume contests and trunk-or-treating to the Beer Garden. Admission is free, all ages are welcome and even four-legged friends can join the costume fun!
Looking to keep the night going? POST Houston is bringing the Halloween energy with Club Shugga Halloween, DJ Night with Jamback and the POST Apocalypse Party.
For something a little unexpected, try Glitch: A Glow in the Dark Yoga Experience at POST.
A Hauntingly Good Show
Trade the haunted house for a night at the theater!
Broadway's Beetlejuice: The Musical at the Hobby Center brings everyone's favorite mischievous ghost to the stage, while Manual Cinema's The 4th Witch at Wortham Theater Center offers another theatrical take on spooky season.
Prefer your vampires with a side of comedy? Drunk Dracula puts an unpredictable spin on the classic tale, with one actor taking five shots before attempting to perform the story alongside a cast of sober performers.
Pair a show with dinner at a nearby restaurant, and you've got yourself a Halloween date night.
Día de los Muertos Across Downtown
Beyond the costumes and candy, Downtown Houston comes together to celebrate Día de los Muertos, honoring the lives and memories of loved ones through music, art and cherished traditions.
Experience Una Noche en Downtown at Market Square Park and Main Street Promenade, enjoy a family screening of Coco at Trebly Park or stroll past illuminated calacas along Main Street.
At Discovery Green's signature Día de los Muertos celebration, families can contribute to a community ofrenda and enjoy cultural performances, music and more.
The festivities continue with Día de los Muertos Lucha Libre at POST and the annual Día de los Muertos Festival & Parade at Sam Houston Park.
Whether these traditions are familiar or new to you, there's a place for everyone to gather, remember and celebrate.
Explore our full Día de los Muertos guide for event details and more ways to celebrate.
Downtown Gets Dressed Up
The spooky spirit doesn't stop at events!
Downtown businesses are joining the fun with the Fall Storefront Décor Contest, transforming their windows and storefronts with creative Halloween and Día de los Muertos displays.
Take a stroll, discover a new favorite business and vote for the display you love most to help crown the People's Choice winner.
It's one more reason to explore Downtown and support the businesses that make it special.
Round up your favorite people, make your plans and come experience spooky season in Downtown Houston!