Halloween events, haunted houses, fall festivals and pumpkin fun in Abilene, Big Country

Laura Gutschke, Abilene Reporter-News
·4 min read

Halloween can be celebrated all month with the many festivals and events planned for the weeks leading up to the spooky day.

From family-friendly to frightful, there are plenty of opportunities to don the costumes and scare up some treats.

Here's what's on the schedule for the Big Country:

Haunted Houses

∎ BAIRD — 13 Vultures Haunted Estate, 3515 I-20 West (exit 303), open every Saturday in October and Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m.-midnight. Admission is $15. Includes animatronics, live action, haunted house, butcher shop and grave yard.

∎ Play Fair Park Haunted House, 8:30-11 p.m. Oct. 20-22 and 27-31, 2300 N. Second St. Admission is $10, and includes miniature golf. In addition, "Rocky Horror Picture Show" will be screened at 11 p.m. Oct. 22.

∎ 12th Armored Division Haunted House and Carnival is 8-11 p.m. Oct. 28-29, 1289 N. Second St. Three floors of terror are planned. A scare-free carnival will have World War II and Halloween games, prizes and crafts. Admission to the haunted house is $15 for adults, $10 for children 12 and younger and $12 for students/veterans. There also are pricing breaks for families and packages for the haunted house, carnival games and future admission to the museum.

Trunk-or-treat

  • Abilene Police Department: Members of law enforcement, first responders and other organizations will distribute treats in the police station parking lot, 4565 S. First St. at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian and are encouraged to wear a costume. The parking lot will be dark, so clothing should be reflective, or bring a flashlight. Free hot dog meal courtesy Abilene Police Foundation and Operation Blue Santa.

Boo at the Zoo

The Abilene Zoo's annual affair is scheduled for Oct. 22, 29 and 30. Times are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the zoo is in Nelson Park, in east Abilene.

Trick-or-treat stations will be scattered throughout the zoo, with themes such as Fiesta de Animales, Medieval Legends, Reptile World, Zoomanji at Madagascar and Pirates of the Caribbean Cove. Hay maze, pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating and fall-themed photo ops are at Pumpkin Country.

There will be live entertainment - including the Bubble Lady - animal encounters, costume dance parties and more throughout the day.

Admission is $10, or $5 for zoo members, and free for children age 2 and younger. Tickets can be purchased in advance at abilenezoo.org.

Daytime fun, nighttime thrills at Denton Valley Farms

Weekend fall activities, including zombie paintball course and spooky forest, have returned to 160-acre Denton Valley Farms, 8750 County Road 224 south of Clyde, or about 20 miles southeast of Abilene.

Pumpkin patch, hay rides, train rides, maze, bounces, slide and paintball shooting range are offered Fridays 4:30-11 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pony rides are available 5-7 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays.

The Forgotten Forest walking trail also is open during the day for the entire family with one-of-a-kind props and structures to see. At night, the forest comes alive with actors and special effects.

Zombie paintball ride is available during the day, with actors added at night to the course to elevate the scare factor.

Tacos with farm-raised beef, homemade ice cream, apple cider slushies and more are available for purchase. The farm store with gifts, canned goods, meats, eggs, milk, honey and more will be open.

Admission to the farm is free, and fees for activities range from $3 to $15. See Denton Valley Farm Facebook page for latest updates, or visit dentonvalleyfarms.com.

Mall-O-Ween at Mall of Abilene

Mall of Abilene's Mall-O-Ween 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27 features costume contest, games, candy and community organizations. The costume contest is open to children ages 0-12 and requires registering at 6-6:45 p.m. Contest starts at 7 p.m.

Halloween in the park

Trick-or-treating will be open 6-9 p.m. Oct. 29 at Abilene State Park, 150 Park Road 32, Buffalo Gap. Park admission is $10 per car. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Abilene State Park.

Demon Hunter Expo

Demon Hunter Expo will be open 7 p.m. to midnight each Saturday in October at 1150 Rainey Creek Ranch Road.

Participants are loaded on a "battle wagon," with each person armed with a nitrogen-charged paintball gun with 150 rounds to shoot zombies and demons.

Tickets are $25, with all proceeds going to Rise Discipleship Home. For tickets or information, go to demonhunterexpo.com.

Paramount Theatre Halloween film

Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St., presents Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 for its annual Halloween screening. The movie released in 1960 nixed the horror film formula, and it continues to terrifying new generations.

Tickets are $7. For tickets, go to paramountabilene.com.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Halloween events, fall festivals pack October in Abilene, Big Country