Exploring Abilene: Halloween Happenings
By: Shanna Smith Snyder, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
Updated: October 27, 2011
There's no shortage of activities for the entire family to enjoy together this Halloween weekend in Abilene! Whether you're looking for fall festivals, pumpkin patches or haunted houses - we've got it! Choose your favorite activity and take your family, friends or visitors along for the (safe and affordable) ride!
The Mall of Abilene will host its annual fall festival from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday. There will be trick-or-treating at participating retailers, games, a costume contest and prizes. Free to the public. Info: www.mallofabilene.com or 325-698-4351.
Oakridge Church of Christ, located at 3250 Beltway South, will have their Community Trunk-Or-Treat on Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will be plenty of free activities for children including: candy apple decorating, face painting, black-cat bowling, Halloween-Themed photo booth and more. A stew and cornbread dinner will be provided for adults. Free to the public. Info: 325-370-1327.
Play Faire Park will host their annual Haunted House with McMurry's HEI Fraternity and the Abilene Derby Dames. Friday through Monday, beginning at "dark-thirty." Cost: $8 per person; miniature golf admission reduced to $3 per person. Info: 325-672-2977.
Frontier Texas! will host a PG-13+ haunted house, Fright at the Museum, from 8 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Monday. Scenes are based on the horrors of frontier life and death, but expect surprises along the way! Cost is $10 per person. Tickets will be sold in advance at the front desk. For more information, call 325-437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com.
Check it out if you dare! Abilene Mixed Martial Arts is hosting a Haunted Graveyard with three levels of scare, Friday through Monday. Gates open at dusk; around 8 p.m. Cost is $11 for adults (13+), $6 for children. "Level One" is appropriate for younger children. Located at North 10th and Judge Ely. All proceeds will help students compete at the 2012 U.S. Open in Florida, as seen on ESPN. Info: 325-518-2261.
A unique way to experience a movie in Abilene is to see them in the fully restored, historic Paramount Theatre. The Paramount will be showing "Carrie" on Saturday at 7 and 11 p.m. and on Monday at 7:30 p.m. A great film for Halloween - it's Brian DePalma's horror film about a teenage girl who wreaks vengeance on her high school tormentors. Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie and Amy Irving. Cost: $6 all seats. Info: 325-676-9620.
Also on Saturday, the Abilene State Park will host the "Toadally Not Frightening Halloween Hike" from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. You can take your child on a flashlight-lit hike through the forest to meet woodland creatures and hear about their lives. It's a great alternative to traditional Halloween events. Each group of 15 will have a guide lead them safely on a lighted trail. Feel free to wear your costume. There will be face painting, hot cocoa and snacks available. The hike is free to the public. Info: 325-529-6599.
On Monday, the Church on the Rock, located at 1228 Grape St. will have their Harvest Festival. It's a special event for children and their families as a safe alternative to Halloween. Enjoy games, candy and dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free to the public. Info: 325-232-5341.
Other great events happening around town:
Cowboys for the Cure, a service project run by volunteer student-athletes at Hardin-Simmons University, will be raising awareness and money to assist the Alliance for Women and Children with breast cancer screenings. This year, the event will be held on the HSU Campus Intramural Fields and will consist of a two-day softball tournament. The public is invited to come out for the main event on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., a Championship Game played between the tournament winners and the HSU baseball team. Activities surrounding the game will include: free food donated and served by Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, games, prizes and a free concert by the Kirk House Band. All donations and proceeds will benefit the Alliance for Women and Children. Info: 325-668-7005.
The HSU Theatre will perform "The Seafarer" in Van Ellis Theatre, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On the face of it, this play is simply "a fable about a struggle for redemption," as playwright Conor McPherson puts it. There's really nothing simple about McPherson's tale of four alcoholic Irishmen who gather to play cards on Christmas Eve, only to be visited by the Devil. Info: 325-670-1405.
The Paramount Theatre will host the 3rd annual PosiPalooza Concert on Friday at 7 p.m. This is a concert with four award-winning artists that sing music categorized to have a positive effect on the listener. Featured artists are Daniel Nahmod, Greg Tamblyn Richard Mekdeci and Sue Riley. It is a fundraiser for Big Country Aids Resources, Rev. Karen Johnson Scholarship Fund and New Bridge Family Shelter in San Angelo. Cost: $10-20. Info: 325-370-3542.
Also on Saturday, the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra will bring Symphony No. 92
''Oxford'' by Haydn, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 by Barber, and Schumann's Symphony no. 3 ''Rhenish'' to life in "Cathedrals of Sound" at the Civic Center. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Cost: $11-33. Info: 325-677-6710.
Lastly, you won't want to miss an evening of entertainment at Perini Ranch Steakhouse. Actor, Barry Corbin will entertain at the Comanche Moon Social, a fundraiser for the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. 6 p.m. on Saturday. Cost: $100 per person. Info: 325-572-3974.
There's also the HeArts for the Arts Luncheon on Monday at the Abilene Country Club. Celebrate the HeArts for the Arts and hear the announcements about the inaugural Children's Art & Literacy Festival! Cost: $15 per person. 11:45 p.m. Info: 325-677-1161.
Don't forget- there is still time to stop by the Pumpkin Patch at Disability Resources, Inc., 3602 N. Clack St. Bring your cameras, family and friends and make this event a fun outing for a morning or afternoon. Thousands of photo opportunities and pumpkins to purchase! Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to dusk, and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to dusk; through Halloween. For more information, call 325-677-6815 or visit www.driabilene.org.
If you're looking for additional activities to keep busy, check out our full calendar at www.abilenevisitors.com. To keep connected throughout the week, follow us on Twitter @AbileneCVB or like us on Facebook (Abilene, Texas).
The Mall of Abilene will host its annual fall festival from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday. There will be trick-or-treating at participating retailers, games, a costume contest and prizes. Free to the public. Info: www.mallofabilene.com or 325-698-4351.
Oakridge Church of Christ, located at 3250 Beltway South, will have their Community Trunk-Or-Treat on Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will be plenty of free activities for children including: candy apple decorating, face painting, black-cat bowling, Halloween-Themed photo booth and more. A stew and cornbread dinner will be provided for adults. Free to the public. Info: 325-370-1327.
Play Faire Park will host their annual Haunted House with McMurry's HEI Fraternity and the Abilene Derby Dames. Friday through Monday, beginning at "dark-thirty." Cost: $8 per person; miniature golf admission reduced to $3 per person. Info: 325-672-2977.
Frontier Texas! will host a PG-13+ haunted house, Fright at the Museum, from 8 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Monday. Scenes are based on the horrors of frontier life and death, but expect surprises along the way! Cost is $10 per person. Tickets will be sold in advance at the front desk. For more information, call 325-437-2800 or visit www.frontiertexas.com.
Check it out if you dare! Abilene Mixed Martial Arts is hosting a Haunted Graveyard with three levels of scare, Friday through Monday. Gates open at dusk; around 8 p.m. Cost is $11 for adults (13+), $6 for children. "Level One" is appropriate for younger children. Located at North 10th and Judge Ely. All proceeds will help students compete at the 2012 U.S. Open in Florida, as seen on ESPN. Info: 325-518-2261.
A unique way to experience a movie in Abilene is to see them in the fully restored, historic Paramount Theatre. The Paramount will be showing "Carrie" on Saturday at 7 and 11 p.m. and on Monday at 7:30 p.m. A great film for Halloween - it's Brian DePalma's horror film about a teenage girl who wreaks vengeance on her high school tormentors. Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie and Amy Irving. Cost: $6 all seats. Info: 325-676-9620.
Also on Saturday, the Abilene State Park will host the "Toadally Not Frightening Halloween Hike" from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. You can take your child on a flashlight-lit hike through the forest to meet woodland creatures and hear about their lives. It's a great alternative to traditional Halloween events. Each group of 15 will have a guide lead them safely on a lighted trail. Feel free to wear your costume. There will be face painting, hot cocoa and snacks available. The hike is free to the public. Info: 325-529-6599.
On Monday, the Church on the Rock, located at 1228 Grape St. will have their Harvest Festival. It's a special event for children and their families as a safe alternative to Halloween. Enjoy games, candy and dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free to the public. Info: 325-232-5341.
Other great events happening around town:
Cowboys for the Cure, a service project run by volunteer student-athletes at Hardin-Simmons University, will be raising awareness and money to assist the Alliance for Women and Children with breast cancer screenings. This year, the event will be held on the HSU Campus Intramural Fields and will consist of a two-day softball tournament. The public is invited to come out for the main event on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., a Championship Game played between the tournament winners and the HSU baseball team. Activities surrounding the game will include: free food donated and served by Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, games, prizes and a free concert by the Kirk House Band. All donations and proceeds will benefit the Alliance for Women and Children. Info: 325-668-7005.
The HSU Theatre will perform "The Seafarer" in Van Ellis Theatre, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. On the face of it, this play is simply "a fable about a struggle for redemption," as playwright Conor McPherson puts it. There's really nothing simple about McPherson's tale of four alcoholic Irishmen who gather to play cards on Christmas Eve, only to be visited by the Devil. Info: 325-670-1405.
The Paramount Theatre will host the 3rd annual PosiPalooza Concert on Friday at 7 p.m. This is a concert with four award-winning artists that sing music categorized to have a positive effect on the listener. Featured artists are Daniel Nahmod, Greg Tamblyn Richard Mekdeci and Sue Riley. It is a fundraiser for Big Country Aids Resources, Rev. Karen Johnson Scholarship Fund and New Bridge Family Shelter in San Angelo. Cost: $10-20. Info: 325-370-3542.
Also on Saturday, the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra will bring Symphony No. 92
''Oxford'' by Haydn, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 by Barber, and Schumann's Symphony no. 3 ''Rhenish'' to life in "Cathedrals of Sound" at the Civic Center. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Cost: $11-33. Info: 325-677-6710.
Lastly, you won't want to miss an evening of entertainment at Perini Ranch Steakhouse. Actor, Barry Corbin will entertain at the Comanche Moon Social, a fundraiser for the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. 6 p.m. on Saturday. Cost: $100 per person. Info: 325-572-3974.
There's also the HeArts for the Arts Luncheon on Monday at the Abilene Country Club. Celebrate the HeArts for the Arts and hear the announcements about the inaugural Children's Art & Literacy Festival! Cost: $15 per person. 11:45 p.m. Info: 325-677-1161.
Don't forget- there is still time to stop by the Pumpkin Patch at Disability Resources, Inc., 3602 N. Clack St. Bring your cameras, family and friends and make this event a fun outing for a morning or afternoon. Thousands of photo opportunities and pumpkins to purchase! Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to dusk, and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to dusk; through Halloween. For more information, call 325-677-6815 or visit www.driabilene.org.
If you're looking for additional activities to keep busy, check out our full calendar at www.abilenevisitors.com. To keep connected throughout the week, follow us on Twitter @AbileneCVB or like us on Facebook (Abilene, Texas).
