Halloween in Austin 2026 - Hannah Edwards Real Estate

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means Austin gets a full spooky weekend: costume crowds on 6th Street, rooftop parties, haunted houses, and the city's biggest Día de los Muertos celebration the weekend before.

As an Austin agent, I spend October driving through neighborhoods that go all out, and I get asked every year where the fun is. Here's my guide, whether you want a big night out, a good scare or something the whole family can enjoy.

Is 6th Street busy on Halloween, and is it safe?

Yes, 6th Street is packed on Halloween. It turns into one of the largest outdoor costume parties in Texas, and it's free to walk. Austin police close the street to cars and add officers for the night, so it's generally a well-managed crowd, but it's still a big, late, alcohol-fueled crowd.

Last year, police closed 6th Street between San Jacinto Boulevard and Red River Street to cars on Halloween night until 4 a.m. In earlier years the closure ran from Brazos Street to I-35, with cross streets closed between 5th and 7th. APD usually announces the exact plan a day or two before, so watch for it the week of the 31st.

How I'd do it safely:

• Don't drive. Cars parked on 6th and the cross streets get towed once closures start, and APD has run no-refusal DWI enforcement on Halloween night. Use rideshare or a party bus.

• Watch your drink. Never leave it unattended, watch it being poured, and skip drinks from strangers.

• Skip the props. Costume weapons are a bad idea, and real weapons can get you arrested.

• Go early with kids, or not at all. The street is family-friendly in the early evening, but it turns adults-only late. Have teens home by 11 p.m.

• Pick a meeting spot. Phones die and groups split up fast in that crowd. Find a uniformed officer if you need help.

Where are the best Halloween parties in Austin for adults?

For a big night, I'd pick the Haunted Rooftop at the Fairmont for views, or a bar crawl if you want to hop around downtown. If crowds aren't your thing, Austin's themed pop-up bars run all month.

Party	Where	When	Cost
Haunted Rooftop Party	Fairmont Austin, 101 Red River St.	Sat, Oct 31, 9 p.m.–2 a.m.	From $37
Park & Scream at P6	The LINE Austin, 111 E. Cesar Chavez St.	Sat, Oct 31, 7–10 p.m.	Free
Official Austin Halloween Bar Crawl	Bars around downtown	Sat, Oct 31, 4 p.m.–midnight	$20
The Bloody Ball: Creatures of the Night	The Vortex	Sat, Oct 24	$45 GA, $80 VIP
Undead: Haunted House of Dances (adults only)	Ventana Ballet, East Side Performing Arts	Oct 22–31, evenings	Varies
LEVITATION Halloween Freakend	The Far Out Lounge	Halloween weekend	Varies

The pop-up bars are my favorite low-key option. Black Lagoon returns to King Bee on the East Side with horror-themed cocktails through October 31, and Moe's Tavern is back at Nickel City (1133 E. 11th St.) for the Springfield fans.

When is the Día de los Muertos parade in Austin?

The Viva la Vida parade is Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at noon at 4th Street and Congress Avenue downtown. It's free and family-friendly.

Mexic-Arte Museum hosts it every year, and this is the 43rd. It's Austin's largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos celebration.

• Grand Procession: noon to 1 p.m.

• Festival: runs until 6 p.m., with hands-on art activities, traditional food, local artists and vendors, a lowrider exhibition and live performances

• Where: around Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave.

Día de los Muertos itself is November 1 and 2. If you want more after the parade, step inside Mexic-Arte or visit the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center for their Día de los Muertos exhibits and ofrendas.

What are the best haunted houses near Austin?

House of Torment is the one I'd pick if you only do one. It's in Austin, it's nationally known, and one ticket gets you three separate haunts. For a full night out, Scream Hollow in Smithville is worth the drive.

Haunt	Where	2026 dates	Good to know
House of Torment	2632 Ridgepoint Dr., Austin (near 183 and 290)	Sept 12–Nov 8, select nights	Three haunts for one ticket, from $19.99; buy online; ages 12+ recommended
Scream Hollow	149 Split Rail Ln., Smithville	Fri–Sun, Sept 18–Nov 1	Five attractions, a haunted hayride, bars and live music on 20 wooded acres; ages 12+
Fear Fair	Sign Bar, 9909 FM 969, Austin	Through Nov 1	Live-actor maze for $14.50; the bar is 21+ after 7 p.m.

Halloween is a Saturday this year, so the haunts will be at their busiest that weekend. Buy timed tickets ahead, and go on a weeknight if you can.

For the kids, skip the haunts and try Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms, an outdoor festival of carved and lit pumpkins running through October 31.

What's the weather like in Austin in late October?

Late October in Austin is usually warm days and cool nights. By Halloween, the average high is about 77°F and the average low is about 55°F, so you'll want a layer once the sun goes down.

Rain is possible but not usually heavy. Austin averages about 3 inches over the whole month, and a passing cold front can drop temperatures quickly. Check the forecast the day of, and plan a costume that works for both a 75°F afternoon and a chilly walk home.

Happy haunting

Some of my favorite Halloween memories in Austin are just walking neighborhoods like Travis Heights, where porches turn into full-blown sets. Whatever you choose, have fun and get home safe.

If you find yourself falling for one of those neighborhoods, I'd love to show you around.

— Hannah Edwards, Austin real estate agent and licensed general contractor