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21 Best Things to Do in Houston October 2023 with Kids: Zoo Boo, Texas Renaissance Festival, and More

Houston is full of Halloween events this October. Scream on the Green photo courtesy of Discovery Green
Houston is full of Halloween events this October. Scream on the Green photo courtesy of Discovery Green
9/29/23 - By Rachael Cherry

Get ready to get busy, because our calendar of events is loaded with fun things to do in Houston in October with kids. Fall festivals are in full swing, pumpkin patches are popping up everywhere, and Houston's Top Halloween Events are taking center stage and making for a candy- and costume-soaked October. 

It's no secret that we are huge fans of Zoo Boo, and you can check it out daily in October. This popular event is always packed with fun activities, and we are all about any and every excuse to get a little extra use out of those costumes. For a little symphony action, we recommend going to Hocus Pocus Pops, to enjoy classic Halloween music and other spooky tunes. Add in the Bayou City Art Festival, Wings over Houston, the Texas Renaissance Festival, and Galaxy Frights, and it's abundantly clear that a Fall Bucket List is nothing short of necessary.

We are also always updating our activity calendar with even more things to do in Houston in October with kids, so be sure to bookmark that page for easy perusal, and our Fall Activities Guide is packed with ideas that will keep every weekend full of fresh, fun seasonal activities. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get all the best of Mommy Poppins delivered directly to your inbox.

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Texas Renaissance Festival is one of our top things to do in October. Photo courtesy of the Texas Renaissance Festival via Facebook
Texas Renaissance Festival is one of our top things to do in October. Photo courtesy of the Texas Renaissance Festival via Facebook

Best Activities in Houston in October 2023

Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo

Fri Sep 29 - Tue Oct 31, 2023 (Daily) - Museum District
Celebrate fall festivities at the Zoo during Zoo Boo. Costumes are encouraged, and guests will have plenty of favorites to experience including Pumpkin Lantern Tunnel, the spooktacular Scary-Go-Round, photo ops all over the Zoo, and much more. READ MORE

The Original Greek Festival

Thu Oct 5 - Sat Oct 7, 2023 - Montrose
Opa! The Original Greek Festival has been bringing a host of festivities to Houston for over 50 years and includes children's activities, live music, dancing, food, shopping, and more.  READ MORE

Peppa Pig's Sing-Along Party at Smart Financial Centre

Sat Oct 7, 2023 - Sugar Land
Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, and Daddy Pig are throwing a Sing-Along Party, and you are invited! READ MORE

Korean Festival Houston at Discovery Green

Sat Oct 7, 2023 - Downtown
Free
Korean Festival showcases the best of Korean food, music, performing arts, and culture. READ MORE

Texas Renaissance Festival

Sat Oct 7 - Sun Nov 26, 2023 (Sat and Sun) - Todd Mission
It's the 49th season of North America’s largest Renaissance theme park. Join other Renaissance fans to celebrate all the fun, food, music, shopping, and entertainment that the Texas Renaissance Festival is known for bringing. READ MORE

Katy Rice Harvest Festival

Fri Oct 13 - Sun Oct 15, 2023 - Katy
Located in Historic Downtown Katy, the annual Katy Rice Harvest Festival is three big days of excitement and family fun with live entertainment and music, craft and food booths, a carnival and more. READ MORE

Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival

Fri Oct 13 - Sun Oct 15, 2023 - Conroe
The family-friendly event features live music, food vendors offering festival and Cajun favorites, arts & crafts vendors, a professional carnival, assorted community and educational exhibits, and an annual Catfish Pageant. READ MORE

Johnson Space Center Open House 2023

Sat Oct 14, 2023 - Southeast Houston
Free
NASA’s Johnson Space Center will open its gates to the public to celebrate NASA’s 65th anniversary, the International Space Station’s 25th anniversary, and the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. During the open house, visitors will get a free, behind-the-scenes look at some of the agency’s most historic accomplishments. READ MORE

Wings Over Houston Airshow

Sat Oct 14 - Sun Oct 15, 2023 - Ellington
One of the top air shows in the United States, this premier Houston event is dedicated to showcasing vintage World War II aircraft, along with the thrills of modern aviation. READ MORE

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown

Sat Oct 14 - Sun Oct 15, 2023 - Downtown
As one of the top art festivals in the country, the outdoor gallery provides patrons with the opportunity to meet artists, view original works, and purchase one-of-a-kind art, world-class paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, and functional art, and participate in hands-on art activities for all ages. READ MORE

Hocus Pocus Pops at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Fri Oct 20, 2023 - The Woodlands
Free
Grab your people, get costumed up, and head to Hocus Pocus Pops to enjoy the music of the Houston Symphony as they play Halloween classics and other spooky tunes.  READ MORE

Halloween in the Hangar at Lone Star Flight Museum

Sat Oct 21, 2023 - Southeast Houston
Get ready for some spooky fun at Lone Star Flight Museum! Kids can trick or treat in the hangar, participate in a scavenger hunt, or create some spooky crafts for a frightfully good time.  READ MORE

Monster Jam at NRG Stadium

Sat Oct 21, 2023 - Southwest Houston
It's time for Monster Jam at NRG Stadium, with fan favorites such as Grave Digger, Gas Monkey Garage, and more battling it out around the track and performing crash-worthy stunts and freestyles. READ MORE

Texas Independence Day Celebration at George Ranch Historical Park

Sat Oct 21, 2023 - Richmond
Come out to the Ranch and celebrate our State’s Independence Day! Visit the 1830s Jones Stock Farm for camp life demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, firearms and canon demonstrations, and a reading of the Texas Declaration of Independence. READ MORE

KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou

Sat Oct 21, 2023 - East Downtown
Free
Kids Day is a free annual event for the entire community. Children and their families will gather at Tony Marron Park in the East End to experience a full day of fun. READ MORE

Houston Energy Day Festival

Sat Oct 21, 2023 - Downtown
Free
Energy Day is Houston’s largest free family festival showcasing exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). READ MORE

Scream on the Green at Discovery Green

Fri Oct 27, 2023 - Downtown
Free
Scream on the Green returns, with a costume contest, music, and a screening of Hocus Pocus. READ MORE

Island Oktoberfest in Galveston

Fri Oct 27 - Sat Oct 28, 2023 - Galveston
Free
Don your German costumes, grab your bier steins, and head to Galveston's Island Oktoberfest, an annual event that is packed with two days of music, dancing, authentic German food, a children's activities area, and more.  READ MORE

Gators and Ghosts at Crocodile Encounter

Sat Oct 28, 2023 - Angleton
Watch crocodile feedings along the haunted trails at the Gators and Ghosts event at Crocodile Encounters. READ MORE

Halloween Spooktacular for Kids at the Houston Symphony

Sat Oct 28, 2023 - Downtown
Put on your favorite costume and trick-or-treat yourself to a morning of all-ages musical fun.   READ MORE

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