Getting into the Halloween spirit isn’t a difficult task in San Antonio. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of horror or more family-friendly spooks, there is definitely an activity for everybody.
Trinity University’s campus has certainly dressed up for Halloween this year. From the showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show to ghost decorations on the ceiling of the package center to orange lights in Elizabeth Huth Coates Library, a spooky atmosphere has covered Trinity this October. However, if you are looking for activities outside of Trinity’s boundaries, San Antonio has a lot to offer.

For those with a taste for the finer things in life, listening to a live orchestral quartet would be the perfect outing. Luckily, the Josephine Theater located in downtown San Antonio is home to Candlelight concerts, and this October is hosting “Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics,” presented by the events platform Fever. With this experience you will be seated in a candlelit theater while an orchestral quartet performs iconic Halloween themes. With “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, the Stranger Things Theme by S U R V I V E and the Ghostbusters Theme by Ray Parker Jr., this is a sure way to get into the Halloween spirit without the fake gore of other attractions.

A Halloween event for those with a more artistic side is the “Spooky Artwalk” by Brushworks Studio & Gallery. This event will feature artists local to the San Antonio area and their spookiest pieces of artwork, featuring subjects such as skeletons, ghosts, villains and heroes. While the artists showcase and sell their works to adults, little kids are welcome to dress up and go trick-or-treating from booth to booth.

If volunteering or participating in trunk-or-treats is more of your style, then San Antonio has you covered. Carvana hosts a trunk-or-treat yearly, the martial arts school Submission Concepts has arranged their very first trunk-or-treat this year and the Endeavors Veteran Wellness Center is hosting one with additional activities such as pumpkin decorating and face painting.

A Halloween event that you can attend while simultaneously giving to a good cause is the Radiating Hope Costume Charity Bash. All of the proceeds made from this event will be donated to Radiating Hope, a Radiation Oncology center. This bash will include a Roaring 20’s costume theme, karaoke, Live Trip auction, a 50/50 raffle and a chance to win a trip to Thailand.

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Secular Student Alliance is holding a Halloween masquerade ball open to anybody over the age of seventeen. Any type of costume is permitted, but attendees are encouraged to dress up as mythical figures such as dragons or fairies. Two games are included, one being a treasure hunt, and the other being a werewolf mystery game. There will be ten different awards given out in a costume contest. This masquerade ball is on October 31 at 7 p.m.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas provides two festivals for two different audiences. The family-friendly attraction is available during the daytime and is titled “Boo Fest.” It features “Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger,” the “Trick or Treat Trail” and the “House of Curiosities.” The scarier attraction is known as the “Fright Fest” and features the ride “Poltergeist.” Six unique haunted houses can be found as well: “Trapped,” “House of Houngan,” “Rockkill High – Homecoming,” “Slaughterhouse 6 Xtreme,” “Buried Alive” and “CarnEvil 3D.” After experiencing all the Halloween scares that Six Flags has to offer, the Oktoberfest Food Festival and the 30th Anniversary Celebration should also be explored. No matter your preferred fright level, Six Flags Fiesta Texas provides an attraction for everybody.

One of the most famous Halloween scares located in San Antonio is the 13th Floor Haunted House, which sports three brand-new houses this year. One is titled “All Hallows Eve” with the premise being that zombie trick-or-treaters grow in number to scare guests. The second is called “Outcast Carnival” and is home to rabid circus performers. The last house is named “Asylum” and is described as entering a mental asylum where deranged guests live. Some important rules to consider before visiting the 13th Floor Haunted House is that only clear bags are allowed in, and costumes, facepaint and props are prohibited.

An event for Trinity students over 21 is San Antonio’s “Halloween Bar Crawl,” which is hosted at five different locations such as Pat O’Brien’s Bar downtown. Check in is from 4-6 p.m., with an afterparty from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. This event includes professional photos, two drinks and a costume contest with a $1,000 prize. Even if you can’t make the Halloween version of San Antonio’s Bar Crawl, “Crawl With Us” hosts many other events throughout the year, including the “Onsie Bar Crawl” and “Whiskey & Wings”.

Also for those of drinking age, there are two Halloween parties available in San Antonio that offer drinks and other Halloween activities. Howl at the Moon organizes a Halloween party yearly, and includes live music, a costume contest with three different prizes and cocktails. The Haunted Mansion Gala is a costume party and is hosted at the historical mansion known as Rosemont Denman Estate. This party incorporates costume prizes, a food station, food truck and spooky-themed cocktails.

Whether you are looking for a more low-key family friendly event, a high-stakes horror outing or a mixture of Halloween and the fine arts, San Antonio offers an array of fantastic Halloween celebrations.