Things to Do

Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts

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Tony Maples Photography

 

San Antonio knows how to kick off the All Hallows Eve season! What better way to spend it than taking the kids out for some spooky experiences or letting your inner child do some tricking and treating of its own? Here are the Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts for all types:

1. River Walk Halloween Fest

Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts

Photo: thesanantonioriverwalk.com

The River Walk is always a great place to see and be seen, so why not do it in a Halloween costume on Oct. 31, 2015? Your night to ‘dismember’ includes a $1,000 wicked costume contest that could fill your treat bag with so much more than candy! It’s a free party from 7-10:30 p.m. on the River Walk, featuring music, an eerie river parade and of course adult beverages, and the local bars and restaurants keep the party going into the night.

2. 13th Floor Haunted House

Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts

Photo: 13thfloorsanantonio.com

If “scared out of your wits” is more up the dark alley you were looking for, then look no further! Created by nationally recognized haunted house designers as an intense, graphic horror ride, the 13th Floor is the longest and largest Halloween hotspot and haunted attraction in San Antonio. With two haunted houses at one location, for one price (13th Floor and Groundup) you’re sure to get your money’s worth – and you might need it to buy a new pair of underwear. This attraction runs select dates throughout the month of Oct. and into Nov. and is not recommended for anyone under the age of 12.

3. Six Flags Fright Fest and SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream

Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts

Photo: Six Flags

Scare zones, haunted houses, and blood-curdling rides and attractions that leave you blissfully unaware of who or what could be creeping up behind you! During the month of October, each operating day after 7 p.m. at Six Flags San Antonio and on select nights in October at SeaWorld San Antonio, these fun-filled family playgrounds turn into over-the-top frightening nighttime experiences. Be careful around your fellow ride warriors…they might be tempted to bite, drink, and be scary.

4. Nightmare on Fright Street

Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts

Photo: Traders Village (Facebook)

For something more family-friendly, Traders Village hosts an annual haunted house open on weekends, Oct. 17-31, 2015 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. The event boasts a scary maze, spooky characters and sounds, kids activities (including face-painting and a magician) and vendors with candy for trick-or-treaters. This same location will hold a Dia de los Muertos parade on Oct. 24th starting at 1:30 p.m., and its annual Boo Bash Parade on Oct. 25th starting at 1:30 p.m.

5. Espiritu de la Noche Masquerade Ball

Top 5 San Antonio Halloween Hotspots and Haunts

Photo: visitsanantonio.com

Is mysterious and sultry more your cup of tea? On the bank of the Salado Creek sits the world famous Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, which is listed as one of the top 10 most haunted places in the state of Texas, and plays host to a Halloween masquerade ball on Oct. 31st. Formal costumes are a requirement, with music, food, and possibly mischief being an added bonus. But beware of making any distinctions between actual party-goers and full-body apparitions.