Halloween 2022

These are the best Halloween happenings to scare up serious fun in Houston

Decked-out dogs show off at the Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade.

Photo courtesy of MUTTS Canine Cantina

This year, Halloween in Houston comes as our beloved Astros kick off their World Series championship quest. Fans of All Hallow's Eve, meanwhile, can enjoy four days of spooky fun, including city and community events, costumed fun in parks, and even bar affairs and mystery-themed dinners.

With that in mind, we've rounded up your best bets to scare up some fun this season.

Friday, October 28

Color Factory's cleverly titled Haunted Hues boasts interactive installations and immersive rooms with ghoulishly good goodies, Instagram-worthy photo opportunities, pumpkin decorating, and a refreshing partnership with JuiceLand. Bring your boo, the little ones, or the whole family for vivid Halloween fun through November 1. 10 am.

Join Rice Village District for a Halloween block party. Stop by and check out our maze, live music, tailgate games, and complimentary refreshments. Kids can celebrate by wearing their costumes and trick-or-treating. 5:30 pm.

Discovery Green will be getting into the scary swing of things with “Scream on the Green.” Houston’s citywide Halloween celebration returns with a costume contest, music, and a screening of Monster House. 6 pm.

The San Jacinto Battleground has been a final resting place for Texans for at least 200 years. On Friday and Saturday, a special candlelight tour of two of its cemeteries will be held to illuminate the real stories of the men and women who lived, fought and died here. 6:15 pm.

Houston SPCA’s annual Howl-O-Ween Ball will feature costumes, entertainment, auction experiences, cocktail hour, and a seated dinner by City Kitchen. The covered equine arena will be transformed into a grand ballroom with ghoulishly delightful décor. 6:30 pm.

Saturday, October 29

Lagoonfest Texas will have a Halloween Trunk or Treat in the parking lot. Children of all ages are invited to go car-to-car for candy, play in a bounce house and compete in costume contests for prizes. 10 am.

Over at Woodlands Children’s Houston, the annual SpookTacular Halloween Monster Mash Party will be filled with children’s carnival-type games, magic shows, live music with children’s musician Mr. Will, science monster slime, and face painting. 10 am.

M-K-T will get creepy and outdoorsy with its Hike, Bike & Fright Fest. It will feature a Trick or Treat Trail, a Shop Local Market, and live performances. 4 pm.

At the Houston Arboretum’s Sip & Stroll, guests can walk along the Arboretum’s dimly lit trails, where they may encounter creatures of the night. The final destination will incorporate music and mingling with light bites and beverages, including wine and Saint Arnold beer. 7 pm.

Sunday, October 30

At Cole’s Flea Market’s Trick-or-Treat event, kids are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes for trick-or-treating through the market. Families also can enjoy face painting, a balloon artist, free candy, and pumpkin bucket raffles. 9 am.

Urban South HTX will host its first Halloween market. Bring the entire family out for a fun-filled day, including a bounce house, pumpkin carving, a costume contest, raffle prizes, a cookie-decorating class, market vendors, candy, and more. 1 pm.

Discovery Green’s fifth annual Dia de Los Muertes festival will feature the movie Coco, followed by live performances and music. Visitors are invited to place images or recuerdos of their loved ones on the community altar. Families will enjoy hands-on art activities, artist demos, and vendors. 3 pm.

Levy Park will present the fifth annual Howl-o-ween Dog Parade and Costume Contest. Later in the evening, there will also be a Family Movie Night screening of Hocus Pocus. 4 pm.

Monday, October 31

Bungalow Heights will have an All Hallows’ Eve murder-mystery dinner. Tickets are $100 and must be purchased in advance. It will include dinner, a multi-course dinner, a specialty cocktail, and a tip for the server. 6 pm.

Friends of River Oaks Theatre will hold an outdoor screening of Nosferatu, with live musical score accompaniment. There will also be a a blood drive, vampire costume contest, and short films by local filmmakers. 7:30 pm.

Numbers Nightclub will continue its Halloween tradition with a costume contest where people can win $1000 in cash and prizes. DJ Wes Wallace will provide the music, and drink specials will be available until 9 pm. 8 pm.

Over at Emmit’s Place, James Wilhite will host the Spooky Halloween Monday Night Jam. Come out and enjoy the music. All musicians are welcome, and there’s no cover. There’s usually something to munch on, and tons of great drink specials too. 8:30 pm.

Movie Review

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg deliver comedy with depth in A Real Pain

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain.

Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners, relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.

Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.

The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.

But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.

The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.

Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.

The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.

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A Real Pain opens in theaters on November 15.

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Halloween 2022

These are the best Halloween happenings to scare up serious fun in Houston

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Movie Review

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg deliver comedy with depth in A Real Pain

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome
Get Houston intel delivered daily.