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Pint-sized Wonder Woman Eva Robinson holds the rubber duck she chose at one of the party games at the Greater San Marcos Youth Council's annual Halloween Carnival last year. Daily Record file photo by Denise Cathey

Halloween in San Marcos

Friday, October 26, 2018

Halloween is almost here and San Marcos businesses and organizations are rolling out the celebrations citywide.

Everything from puppet shows, trunk or treats and carnivals for the little ghouls and ghosts, to costume contest, Halloween shows, fun runs and drink specials for the grown ones. 

Here’s a roundup of fun Halloween events for both the young and young-at-heart in San Marcos, where you’re sure to get your fill of tricks and treats.

Frightening Friday 

Starting today, the San Marcos Public Library will be hosting their puppet show “Big Pumpkin: A Halloween Story.” There are two shows, one at 10 a.m. and one at 11 a.m. Costumes are encouraged. Call the library at 512-393-8200 for more information.

The city of San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department invites community members and visitors of all ages to join them today from 6-9 p.m. at City Park, 170 Charles Austin Drive, for the annual Farmer Fred's Harvest Fall Carnival. This beloved community tradition is free to the public and features free carnival games, a variety of activities and a children’s costume contest. There will be a haunted hayride for $1, along with train rides and concessions for a small price. 

Splash Coworking will be hosting Monster Mash 2 today from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. with live music from the Stoop Queens, The Cold Tonys, Rusty Dusty, HYAH! And Kairos as well as DJs, costumes, a keg and free drinks. There will be a $5 Cover that directly funds the lineup.

Spooky Saturday

The entire family can participate in the Dia De Los Muertos 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run on Saturday from 8 -11 a.m. at Hernandez Elementary, 333 Stagecoach Trail. Come on out to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the Sixth Annual morning 5K Run/Walk. Wear your favorite Day of the Dead running costume and face painting will be provided for early arrivals. Music will be by DJ Jesse Cruz/Jammin X-Press and there will be door prizes and multiple chances to win trophy prizes. Register before the event at https://bit.ly/2ORD1tv or the day of the event at Hernandez Elementary.

Follow up the Fun Run Saturday with the Día de los Muertos Fun Day starting at 10 a.m. and going to 12 p.m. at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, 211 Lee Street. There will be free crafts, food and fun at Centro. For more information call 512-878-0640.

The Fall Story Festival, starting at 10 a.m. and going to 11:30 a.m., at the San Marcos Public Library will feature stories, crafts and face painting with students of the Texas State Reading Council. All are encouraged to come in costume.

Grab your monster masks and fairy wings and head downtown for the annual Downtown San Marcos Trick-or-Treat on Saturday from 12- 3 p.m. With multiple candy stops along downtown, there will be plenty of fun for the whole family. Kids can trick-or-treat for their candy at local shops, play games and face their fears in Spooky Alley. This event is free for all age groups. In addition to trick or treating, kids will enjoy a variety of activities like temporary tattoos, a bone dig, a bounce house, face painting and karaoke hosted and sponsored by various businesses and groups throughout downtown. 

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, 201 San Marcos Springs Dr., is hosting a Halloween celebration with games and crafts for the whole family at their Spooky Family Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. This event is free and open to the public.

Wake the Dead Coffee House will also be hosting their own spooky gathering Saturday from 3-6 p.m. Come out to Wake the Dead for a free celebration with a costume contest, face painting, musical chairs, decorating cookies and much more.

Wicked Weekdays 

AquaBrew will be celebrating the wizarding world and the Rattler Orchestra this Halloween with a Harry Potter Halloween Extravaganza on Tuesday from 6 -11 p.m. Arrive at Platform 9 3/4  – or Studio San Martian located at 142 S. LBJ Dr. – to get a "Visibility Wristband" so servers know you're not a muggle – or underage – then proceed to AquaBrew next door. All the funds from the wristbands will help raise funds for the upcoming Rattler Orchestra trip to New York City. The Rattler Orchestra will be performing a special showcase of Harry Potter theme music for the audience. There will also be a costume contest, a sorting hat and the Texas State Quidditch team will be making a special appearance. There will be a Butter Beer special, only offered this one night. Kids arts and crafts and other activities will be taking place as well.

Wonder World Cave & Park, 1000 Prospect St., announced their first annual Halloween Festival from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday. Join them for a night of family and fun. There will be carnival games, a costume contest, hayrides, a haunted anti-gravity house, food and more. This is a free event and tickets for the hayride and haunted house are $5 or $7 for both.

First Baptist Church San Marcos, 325 W. McCarty Ln, will be hosting their free Fall Festival from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. There will be carnival booths, inflatables, a barrel train, hot dogs, popcorn, lemonade and candy.

Zelick's will be hosting their annual Halloween party on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. for the older ghouls and ghosts. Come in costume on Halloween for scary good drink specials, live music from the Ooey Gooeys, a guest DJ to help shake them bones, a special selfie booth and games for spooky prizes. Best costume will be awarded a prize.

Trick-or-treaters make their way down LBJ Drive during the 2017 Downtown Trick or Treat. Photo by Christopher Paul Cardoza

Ghosts, goblins and firefighters too, come join the South Hays Fire Department Station 13, 3300 Hilliard Rd, on Wednesday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. for Halloween at the Haunted Hill. There will be a costume party for kids and adults with fantastic prizes. There will also be treat bags to take home, bobbing for apples with a camera underwater showing a live feed, fire house tours, a slime station, a bouncy house and haunted train rides.

Come celebrate All Hallows' Eve at Patio Dolcetto from 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday. There will be drink specials including a Bloody Orange Martinis, Spooky Sangrias and Undead Mexican Martinis.

Unfortunately the body cannot survive on candy alone, so put on your spookiest outfit and join

Pie Society, 700 N. LBJ Dr., from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate Halloween with devilishly delicious specials all day. They'll be serving a delicious pie of the day "The Devil in the Dancehall" featuring black garlic, mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, goat cheese, bacon and truffle oil. Pair that with a Devil's food cupcake from Steger's Chiffonade and wash it all down with a Stone Brewing Idolatrous IPA or blackberry margarita and you've got fuel for all the tricks, treats and mischief.

For more events that celebrate Halloween with mischief, tricks and treats this, check out the Daily Record’s Community Calendar.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666