Best Halloween Parties

Procrastinator's Guide to Halloween: 10 spooktacular parties that promise a ghoulish good time

With Halloween on Friday night this year, the party scene is expected to be extra special, so get your costumes ready for an evening of spooktacular fun. If you haven't made plans yet, there are still plenty of last-minute opportunities to have a ghoulish good time. Here's a rundown of 10 enchanted Halloween happenings around town.

VooDoo Mystere

Details: That old black magic will have you in its spell at this New Orleans-themed haunted soiree. Tempting treats include an open bar, candy bar, late-night bites, an Absinthe bar, vodka soaked worms, Jell-O martinis, a photobooth, door prizes and a costume contest. Pay your final respects to the Petroleum Club at its current location in the ExxonMobil Building. As its beating heart here fades, a resurrection is slotted for early 2015 at Total Plaza. Abracadabra.
Locale: The Petroleum Club of Houston
Time: 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Price of Admission: $110 per person

Halloween Freak Show

Details: Even Twisty the Clown would approve of the Halloween Freak Show at Hotel ZaZa. The Museum District hotel presents the creepy sideshow-themed occasion, complete with specialty drinks, bites and entertainment by Lady Bunny.
Locale: Hotel ZaZa
Time: 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Price of Admission: $75 per person

La Griglia Halloween

Details: Mingle with see-and-be-seen stylish ghouls and goblins at this ritzy River Oaks bash. The line-up for the evening features a special menu of spooky fare, plus extra bars set up throughout the venue for your drinking pleasure.
Locale: La Griglia
Time: 6 p.m. - closing
Price of Admission: Free

Boo Bash Halloween Party

Details: Boo bites, potent potions and haunting tunes ensure a scary good time at both locations (CityCentre and Highland Village) of the sushi hot spot. Go all out for best costume and walk away with a serious treat like a Ra Sushi gift certificate.
Locale: Ra Sushi
Time: 11 a.m - closing
Price of Admission: Free

Mr. Creetures

Details: Dig your fangs into tasty snacks, smile and show off your jagged smile at the photobooth, catch a screening of a horror flick and groove to beats by resident Roxbury Hollywood DJs, The Duffle Bag, at this second annual soiree. There's also a serious costume competition. Judging from last year’s photos, the group collaborations were tops, so gather up your friends and go normcore.
Locale: Mr. Peeples
Time: 9 p.m. - closing
Price of Admission: $25 in advance; $35 at the door

Haunting of the Americas

Details: The fundamentals of a standout Dia De Los Muertos celebration are all here: Live music and dancing, frighteningly good food and drinks and first-rate costumes.
Locale: Americas River Oaks
Time: 8 p.m. - closing
Price of Admission: Free

Juan Carlos' Halloween Party

Details: Come dressed as Houston’s favorite rollerblader, Juan Carlos, for a look-alike contest and win a monstrous prize, a $100 gift card to Boheme. Prepare yourself for some tough competition, and even tougher judgment, as Juan Carlos, himself, will decide the winner.
Locale: Bar Boheme
Time: 8 p.m. - closing
Price of Admission: Free

Saints and Sinners

Details: Join an array of monsters, ghosts and the likes for a magical night of live music and DJs, and an open bar at this grownups-only party. VIPs will also receive late-night nourishment and bottle service.
Locale: Silver Street Studios
Time: 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Price of Admission: $100 - $2,500

Love Street Art Ball Halloween Bash

Details: Get the party started early and be ready to go all night. From 6-9 p.m., ghouls of all ages will enjoy exploring the Love Street art exhibit and a Halloween-themed coloring station for the little pumpkins. When the clock strikes 9, the celebration moves to Mkt Bar and switches gears to the adults-only Love Street Art Ball, a '60s mod fashion-themed party and costume contest.
Locale: Phoenicia Specialty Foods
Time: Halloween Bash 6 - 9 p.m.; Art Ball 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Price of Admission: Free, but RSVP

Zombie Prom: A Night to Dismember

Details: Hoards of the undead will file into this downtown bash for a night of All Saints' Eve shenanigans hosted by 94.5 The Buzz's Theresa and 2014 Playboy Cybergirl of the Year, Elizabeth Marxs. Get a zombie makeover from a team of professionals. Rock out while you rot out a DJ spins monster mash-ups, and musical talent Thunderpants performs.
Locale: Bayou Music Center
Time: 8 p.m.
Price of Admission: $15 per person

Note: The Houston Ghouls Ball at the JW Marriott Houston Downtown has been canceled.

Did we miss your favorite? Add it in the comment section.

The Halloween party at Mr. Peeples has become a Midtown tradition. This photo is from the 2013 party.

1 Paula Ferriera, from left, Fatima Fernandez, Paula Rodriguez and Brittany Do at the CultureMap Halloween party at Mr. Peeples October 2013

Photo by © Chinh Phan CultureMapSNAP.com

The Halloween party at Mr. Peeples has become a Midtown tradition. This photo is from the 2013 party.

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a new record

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo commits over $30 million to education

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle exhibition

Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The money supports studies in fields such as animal husbandry.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues its annual tradition of breaking its own record when it comes to educational endowments. On Giving Tuesday, the organization pledged to disburse $30,353,380 in 2026 in the form of scholarships, grants, and other funding.

“This milestone moment of reaching $30 million in a single year highlights the Rodeo’s unwavering dedication to Texas youth and education,” HLSR president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “Thanks to our loyal donors, sponsors, more than 36,000 volunteers and dedicated attendees, 2026 will reach historic heights in supporting the next generation of leaders, agricultural professionals and organizations that share the Rodeo’s mission.”

This brings the total of education funding provided by the Rodeo since 1932 up to $660 million. Last year's $28 million commitment also set a new record.

One innovation this year is the establishment of the Area Go Texan Vocational Scholarship, a program that expands on the relationship with 68 Texas counties through the Area Go Texan affiliate program. One student from each county will receive $6,000 toward a degree or certificate in a vocational field at a Texas nonprofit college or university. Another $500,000 in vocational scholarships will awarded to 10 schools in 2026. Guidelines for applying can be found at this link.

In total, the Rodeo will hand out $15,126,000 in scholarships, $11,273,500 to junior exhibitors, $3,430,880 in grants, and $523,000 in graduate assistantships. Grants will be awarded to 82 Texas institutions and organizations, such as Arts for Rural Texas, BridgeYear, The Bryan Museum, Diversity in the Arts and Entertainment, Greater Houston Partnership Foundation, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Space Center Houston, Texas State University Development Foundation, and University of St. Thomas at Houston.

Money for the annual endowment is raised through the annual auctions, sales of livestock and art, and through charitable donations. The goal of the endowment program is to promote study and research in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other fields that directly benefit the Rodeo.

The Rodeo is scheduled to run from March 2 – 22, 2026. More information on performers, attractions, and vendors can be found at RodeoHouston.com. Scholarship applications are open through February 2, with funds being awarded in summer 2026.

rodeohouston houston livestock show and rodeo