Kid-Friendly Halloween Events Near Austin (2025 Edition)
Fall is back, the air is crisping up (kinda...), and Austin is full of festive events perfect for kids and families.
Not gonna lie - Halloween and fall events in Austin have gotten EXPENSIVE! If you're going with a family of 4, expect to spend $100 on admission alone. Here are a few of my personal favorite events in Austin that I think are absolutely worth the cost.
Whether your little ones love pumpkins, costumes, magic light displays, or gentle spookiness, here’s a roundup of some of the best Halloween-adjacent offerings near town.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.
Kid-Friendly Halloween Events In Austin
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
Where? Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Dates: September 25 to November 30, 2025
Austin is one of only two U.S. cities hosting this immersive light trail! Bring the kids on a moonlit walk through illuminated scenes that fuse Halloween Town and Christmas Town, complete with iconic characters like Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero, plus video projections, LED lighting, and environmental effects.
The trail runs Wednesday through Sunday evenings (dusk until ~10:15 p.m.)
Tickets start at around $31 (children) and $41 (adults) for timed entry; there’s also a “flex” entry option.
Events at the Wildflower Center are personal my very favorite! There's so much space to run around, they rarely feel crowded like most fall festivals, and the scenes are just so cool to see!
GET TICKETS HERE | 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms
Where? Pioneer Farms
Dates: September 18 through October 31, nightly (except Tuesdays)
Stroll through ten little zones of pumpkin installations, each with its own theme. It's all made of thousands of carved or illuminated pumpkins, which is pretty epic!
The walk is about a half-mile, on dirt/gravel and farm paths.
Doors open generally at 6 p.m. (earlier in the season) and later on weekends. Trail and event hours vary slightly by day.
Ticket prices for adults typically $22–$36 (weekend vs. weekday rates), kids (4–12) $16–$26; children 3 and under are free. Parking is $10.
GET TICKETS HERE | 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr, Austin, TX 78754
Boo at the Zoo
Where? Austin Zoo
Dates: Friday and Saturday nights in October
Boo at the Zoo is a really sweet one for younger kids and toddlers who might get scared easily. It's just gentle and sweet!
Dress your kiddos in their favorite Halloween costumes and enjoy a stroll through the zoo, decorated for the season.
The event includes a haunted train ride, a haunted house, and special night-time experiences with the zoo’s creatures
Tickets are $24 each for attendees. Advance reservations are required.
GET TICKETS HERE | 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin, TX 78736
Austin Symphony Halloween Kids Concert
Where? Long Center
Dates: Sunday, October 26, 2025 3:00PM
Full disclosure: I've never taken my kids to the Austin Symphony Children's Concert, but I've played in it as a violinist! So I've been able to see the absolute delight on the kids' faces from my perspective on the stage!
It's a fun, quick, kid-friendly way to expose your kids to the symphony. And there are plenty of spooky little delights sprinkled into the concert. 🙂
Tickets are $10-$53.
GET TICKETS HERE | 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
There are SO MANY fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and local events in Austin during the month of October.
I know it can get a bit overwhelming, so I just included a few of my all time favorites here that are worth considering when you're looking for kid-friendly Halloween events.
If you're looking for more, here's my guide to some of the best pumpkin patches and fall festivals in Austin!