Days are getting cooler, nights are getting longer and it is time to start celebrating all things fall. In Texas, one of the biggest fall celebrations is that of Halloween. There are a wide variety of ways to celebrate Halloween around the state from ghostly adventures to Dia de Los Muertos to staying in haunted hotels. See what you can do for Halloween.

Jefferson

Jefferson has so much going on that you may want to book a Halloween weekend getaway. Jefferson, for those that don’t know, is the bed and breakfast capital of Texas with over 60 in this small town. Starting Saturday, October 2nd, and every Saturday till the end of the month you can ride Jefferson’s antique gas-powered locomotive while listening to stories from “Monsters From The Deep”. This family-friendly, 40-minute excursion, is very suitable for the youngster crowd as it meanders through forests and swamps.

Another very fun activity is the Shady Ladies Witch Dances which happen every Friday and Saturday night in October at the Made In The Shade courtyard. These witchy ladies dress in bright and colorful costumes (think Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus) and dance for the sheer joy of it. 

For something a bit more on the ghoulish side check out renowned local historian, Jodi Breckenridge’s Ghost walk to learn about the mysteries of Jefferson’s haunts and legends. Or take a tour of The Grove, one of Jefferson’s historic homes that have remained nearly unchanged since 1861. It is rumored that The Grove is one of the most haunted locations in the state of Texas with ghost stories and sightings going back to the 1880s.

You won’t find this in other parts of Texas, the annual Texas Bigfoot Conference gathers in Jefferson on October 15 & 16, 2021 to track and hunt for the elusive Bigfoot as it supposedly walks through the woods surrounding Caddo Lake. Near the trail entrance of “Bigfoot Alley” at the Port Jefferson History and Nature Center there is a large Bigfoot statue. Hidden along the trail are four more Bigfoots waiting to be discovered.

Stay at a haunted hotel for Halloween

Test your grit and see if you have the courage to stay a night in a haunted hotel, Texas has many. These are just a few of the hotels with highly active paranormal entities that wander halls, cry in the night, or try to grab unsuspecting guests. 

San Antonio 

The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio is home to many paranormal experiences and is famously haunted. The luxury hotel opened in 1909 still proudly displaying its old-world glamour. Listed as a national historic site, St. Anthony was the first purely luxury hotel in Texas. There are several entities that have made the hotel their home. Most notably, the Lady in Red, a mysterious guest who wanders the halls and restrooms. She checked in but did not check out.

Galveston

Spend a night at the Galvez, and you just might see the distraught bride who took her own life when she thought her seafaring lover had perished when his ship sank in the 1950s or that of a young girl bouncing a ball in the lower level of the hotel.

Mineola

Built in the 1880s, the Beckham Hotel in Mineola has had several reported apparitions by guests. The most frequent is Elizabeth who wears a long gown and carries a parasol and supposedly met her demise when she fell down the stairs.  There is also a young girl that peeks through the glass doors into the restaurant and a gambling man who was killed for cheating during a poker game in the 1930s. So, if you feel like someone is watching you while you are having dinner, don’t be alarmed. She won’t eat much. 

Bastrop

If you are a fan of horror films or the pop culture slasher film Texas Chainsaw Massacre this destination may be of particular interest to you. The Gas Station from the original movie released in 1974 is now a bbq joint complete with a memorabilia shop. Get your brisket and Leatherface among other horror film trinkets. 

Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park

This hauntingly wicked festival village sits on 20-acres with four separate haunted houses. The park is home to the only vampire-themed bar in Texas. Live music, bonfires, vendors, and haunted hayrides are all available for an evening agenda. During the Christmas season, the wicked Halloween park turns into Twisted Christmas with Krampus, darker Christmas traditions, and Christmas haunts based on historical legends and lore of Krampus.

Halloween Orchestra in a Cave

Boerne is home to the living cave by the name (ironically) The Cave Without A Name. Living caves are caves where the formations are still growing and changing from mineral-rich water dripping inside of the cave. The Cave Without A Name hosts a special musical performance on Saturday, October 30 by the comedic musical group Rahim Quazi Trio. Live music in the Throne Room is scheduled throughout the year with various performers.

Denton

Each year during Halloween weekend the artist community in Denton comes together to host Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival with a blend of eclectic art and music to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, Halloween, and all things fall. The festivities include coffin races, a twilight lantern parade, costume contest, and Cirque du Horror theatrical performances that boast spooky poetry and graveyard-worthy creepy stories. Prepare to be entertained.

Regardless if you enjoy heart-stopping horror or something that won’t make you scream with fright there are plenty of spooktivities in Texas to make this Halloween memorable in a boo-tiful way.