Halloween might be on a Wednesday this year but Austin is definitely getting started on the weekend of the 27th.
SEE ALSO: Hosting a Halloween party? Try this Spooky Halloween Punch Recipe!
I’ve rounded up the spookiest and coolest Halloween Austin events including costume parties, ghost tours, and haunted houses!
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HOUSE OF TORMENT
House of Torment, a pioneer in “haunted” entertainment, has spine-tingling themed attractions for the 2018 Halloween season featuring an otherworldly indoor/outdoor full-service bar with a VIP lounge, as well as new, immersive experiences onsite. This year’s attractions will offer more terrifying storylines, all-new outdoor games, an expanded store with a Kreepsville 666 clothing line pop-up shop, a revamped food menu and enhanced safety features.
I’ve lived in Austin for 11 years now and I’ve always been too scared to go to House of Tourmet. This year I finally did a baby preview and it was TERRIFYING. Everything from the scene set-up, sounds, smells (yep, they have a room that smells like cat pee), and actors – House of Tourmet is the ultimate Halloween experience.
Dates: now – Nov 3rd, 2018
2632 Ridgepoint Dr, houseoftorment.com
Craftsman’s Boo!zery Halloween Takeover
For thrill seekers and Fright Night fans, Craftsman is (literally) bringing the Halloween spirit to life in Austin with “THE BOO!ZERY”.
For two weeks only, they are completely transforming the bar into a haunted house from the décor to a special themed cocktail menu and plenty of surprises and scares in between. Stop in from October 17 through Halloween if you dare.
Date: October 17 – 31, 2018
Craftsman, 2000 E Cesar Chavez
HALLOWEEN ON 6TH STREET
Austin’s biggest Halloween party every year takes place right on dirty 6th St. Put on a Halloween costume and head to 6th Street to see all the incredible Halloween costumes!
Date: Oct 27 – 28, 2018
6th Street, Austin, TX
A Cosmic Howloween
Cosmic Coffee is hosting a party dubbed ‘A Cosmic Howloween’ in partnership with Tito’s Vodka for Dog People. Guests are invited to bring their pups on Saturday, October 27, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. to play in a cosmic pumpkin patch. The first 100 dogs on site will receive complimentary treat bags from Poochie Trends Pet Boutique and Bakery. The afternoon will feature pumpkin patch portraits with your pups, a dog costume contest at 1 p.m., Vodka for Dog People giveaways, and a “build your own adult lemonade” stand with Tito’s Handmade Vodka that will benefit Austin Wildlife Rescue.
Date: October 27, 2018
Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden, 121 Pickle Rd, event info
Ghost Stories on the Lawn
Come to Domain NORTHSIDE as part of the NORTHSIDE Next series on Saturday, October 27, for the first annual Ghost Stories on the Lawn event. Domain NORTHSIDE is partnering with Capital One and Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow to show Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice on the big screen! Prior to the movie, Amazon Books will be reading short ghost stories to the audience. This event is open to the public and free for all ages.
Date: October 27, 2018
Domain NORTHSIDE, 11700 Domain Blvd, event info
Photo by Claire Wooldridge
Sotolber Fest
Desert Door is celebrating all things fall with the first annual Sotolber Fest. Bring out the family for hot apple cider, costume competitions, custom trick-or-treat bag-making by Cafe Monet Art Studio, live music and of course sotol!
Date: October 27, 2018
Desert Door Distillery, 211 Darden Hill Road, Driftwood, Texas, event info
Ella’s Haunted Mansion
On Sunday, October 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hotel Ella will turn into Ella’s Haunted Mansion for a day full of spooky fun, brunch + drink specials, and live music. After brunch, all are invited to Hotel Ella’s front lawn for free face painting, sack races, pumpkin decorating, apple grabbing and other fun Halloween-themed activities. Guests can choose to participate in spooky mansion tours every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; local band Shivery Shakes will also be playing monster mash-worthy tunes.
Date: October 28, 2018
Hotel Ella, 1900 Rio Grande St, event info
Whisler’s 3rd Annual Hallway of Horrors
Whisler’s will celebrate Halloween this year with their Annual Hallyway of Horrors! The outdoor bar turned haunted house returns to terrify their patrons with 60 SECONDS OF TERROR!
Date: October 31, 2018 from 8pm – 11:59pm.
Whisler’s, 1816 East 6th Street, event info
Nightmare on Gibson Street
Gibson Street Bar is making sure the spooky spirit is ever present as it transforms for the entire month of October. The bar is featuring its signature over-the-top Halloween décor with a few extra surprises this year including an entrance that would petrify Freddy Krueger himself. While guests are encouraged to come for the sights and frights throughout the week, DJs, dry ice punch bowls and deadly cocktails will be served up on Fridays and Saturdays.
Date: October 24 – Nov 1, 2018
Gibson Street Bar, 1109 South Lamar, event info
Tequila de los Muertos
El Alma is partnering with Playa Real Tequila to host a “Tequila De Los Muertos” Chef Dinner on the rooftop patio this Halloween. Starting on October 31st, guests will enjoy a 4-course prix fixe menu featuring Playa Real Tequila-infused dishes and craft cocktail pairings created by Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas. Only 20 seats are available for this exclusive event, so get your tickets soon!
Date: October 31, 2018
El Alma, 1025 Barton Springs Road, tickets
Grizzelda’s Halloween Spooktacular
Grizzelda’s is hosting our First Annual Halloween Party Wednesday, Oct 31 from 6-10pm with $5 Feature Margaritas, Appetizer Bar including Chips Guac Queso & Tostaditas, and we’ll also have $100 Grizzelda’s Gift Certificate Prizes for the Spookiest Costume as well as the Best Couple Costume!
Date: October 31, 2018
Grizzelda’s, 105 Tillery, event info
Lala’s Zombie Christmas
The year-round Christmas bar brings the holiday spirit to Halloween with their annual Zombie Christmas party. There will be a costume contest at 10pm with prizes. Lala’s will be partnering with Celis Brewery and Karbach Brewery as well as offering $5 Tully and $5 El Jimador specials all night.
Date: October 31, 2018
Lala’s Little Nugget, 2207 Justin Ln, event info
Halloween at Malverde
From 8 p.m to midnight on the evening of Halloween, La Condesa’s private event space Malverde will be open to the public for a night that includes a costume contest, a cash bar with specialty Halloween drinks, and tunes from DJ Ariel Quintans and DJ Chicken George.
Date: October 31, 2018
Malverde at La Condesa, 400 W 2nd St A, event info
Halloween at Güero’s Taco Bar with Sun Radio
Güero’s is creating a public altar (ofrenda) at the foot of the stage, inviting the public to bring pictures and memorabilia to honor their loved ones who have passed. The night will be for those to celebrate the lives and music of artists who have touched our hearts and left a legacy in music from Patsy Cline to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Townes Van Zant to Johnny Cash and Selena. David Beck’s “Tejano Weekend” will start the show at 6 PM and Urbina Jones will perform starting at 7 PM.
Date: October 31, 2018
Güero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S Congress Ave, event info
Halloween Night at Barley Swine
Join the Barley Swine team Wednesday, October 31 and celebrate Halloween in style. They will be offering some not-so-spooky deals all night, including $30 off the tasting menu and half off select a la carte items. Drink specials will only be available during Swine Time, so stop in from 5-6:30 p.m. so you can enjoy an extra treat!
Date: October 31, 2018
Barley Swine, 6555 Burnet Rd #400, barleyswine.com
COVER 3 Downtown’s 4th Birthday
On Wednesday, October 31 COVER 3’s Downtown location will be celebrating its 4th Birthday (opened in 2014). In celebration COVER 3 is offering 13% off of customers’ total bill if they wear a costume (does not apply to alcohol).
Date: October 31, 2018
COVER 3 Downtown – 1717 W 6th St, cover-3.com
Halloween Happenings at Austin Java
On October 31, all kids in costume under the age of 8 can eat free from the kids menu at the Met Center, Dripping Springs, and City Hall locations. Additionally, Austin Java is running a #barksideofaustinjava Instagram contest from 10/26 – 10/31 in which people can post of photo of their costumed pup with the #barksideofaustinjava hashtag for a chance to win a $50 gift card.
Dates: 10/26 – 10/31, 2018
Met Center, Dripping Springs & City Hall Austin Java locations, austinjava.com
