By Rebecca · Local Austin Expert · Published October 13, 2026 · 8 min read
This is Halloween weekend in Austin. It is one of the most genuinely electric and most festive weekends the city produces all year. The Longhorns host Mississippi State at DKR on Halloween. Madeon brings his Victory: Live tour to ACL Live on Halloween night. The Austin Film Festival opens Thursday. Sixth Street shuts down to traffic on Halloween for the city’s biggest costume party. And Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is delivering the most beautiful fall afternoons of the entire season. Here is everything happening in Austin this weekend.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin October 30 to November 1
The best things to do in Austin this Halloween weekend include Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best fall outdoor adventure, Madeon at ACL Live on Halloween night, the Longhorns vs Mississippi State at DKR on Halloween, Sixth Street Halloween on October 31, the Austin Film Festival opening Thursday, Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms for the final nights of the season, ghost tours of historic Austin, Halloween bar crawls on Rainey Street, and Barton Springs Pool.
Start the Weekend at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best way to start Halloween weekend. October afternoons on Lake Travis are genuinely spectacular right now.
Why This Weekend Is Perfect
The Hill Country is in peak fall color. The air is crisp and comfortable on the ziplines. Moreover, the view from 22 stories above the lake on a clear October afternoon is one of the most beautiful outdoor experiences Austin produces all year. Because Halloween evening fills every downtown venue and street, an afternoon on Lake Travis is the perfect way to start the day before the night begins.
Your group takes a boat to Zip Island, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Then you spend three hours on five world-class ziplines. The Double Barrel Shotgun sends two people side by side over 2,800 feet at up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake.
After the tour, full-day lake access is included. Swim, relax in hammocks, and take the best fall photos of the weekend before heading back to Austin for the evening.
Book Now
- Pricing: Check laketraviszipline.com for current rates
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Halloween weekend afternoon slots fill up fast every year. Therefore, book now at laketraviszipline.com before your preferred day is gone.
Thursday, October 29 — Austin Film Festival Opens
The Austin Film Festival opens Thursday October 29 and runs through November 5. It is one of the top film and screenwriting festivals in the country. Because it spans two weeks across multiple downtown venues, Halloween weekend is one of the most exciting entry points into the festival program.
What to Expect
The festival features world premieres, filmmaker appearances, panels, and workshops. Additionally, the Writers Conference brings screenwriters, TV creators, and industry professionals together for sessions throughout the week. Furthermore, screenings run across multiple downtown Austin venues all weekend, making it easy to build film into any evening plan this weekend.
The Details
- When: October 29 through November 5, 2026
- Where: Multiple downtown Austin venues
- Website: austinfilmfestival.com
- Tickets: From $50, check site for full schedule
- Best For: Film lovers, screenwriters, anyone who wants a genuinely extraordinary evening alternative to the Halloween party scene
Saturday, October 31 — Longhorns vs Mississippi State at DKR
The Longhorns host Mississippi State at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium on Halloween. This is one of the final home games of the 2026 Longhorns season. Because it falls on Halloween, the game day atmosphere is genuinely unlike any other home game of the year.
Why It Is Worth Going
Fans arrive in Halloween costumes. The burnt orange and black combination creates one of the most visually festive game day environments in the country. Additionally, the energy in DKR on Halloween is something genuinely unique. As a result, this game is one of the most memorable home games on the entire fall schedule.
The Details
- When: Saturday October 31, check texassports.com for kickoff time
- Where: Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, UT Austin campus
- Tickets: Available at texassports.com and major resale platforms
- Best For: Longhorns fans, the most festive game day experience of the entire fall season
Saturday, October 31 — Madeon at ACL Live on Halloween Night
Madeon brings his Victory: Live tour to ACL Live at The Moody Theater on Halloween night. This is his first Austin show since 2023. Because the Victory: Live show is a full multi-media production blending punk, indie rock, electro-clash, sci-fi visuals, and high fashion, it is genuinely one of the most creatively ambitious live shows on any Austin stage this fall.
Why It Is Perfect for Halloween
Because the show starts at 8 PM on Halloween night, it is the ideal anchor for any Halloween evening plan in Austin. First, it is a genuinely extraordinary live performance rather than a standard DJ set. Additionally, the Halloween night energy at ACL Live will be especially high. Furthermore, Anamanaguchi opens the show, making it a full evening of live music from start to finish.
The Details
- When: Saturday October 31, doors open at 7 PM, show at 8 PM
- Where: ACL Live at The Moody Theater, 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin TX 78701
- Tickets: From $50 at acl-live.com and major resale platforms
- Best For: Electronic music fans, anyone who wants the best live show in Austin on Halloween night
Saturday, October 31 — Sixth Street Halloween
Sixth Street shuts down to vehicle traffic on Halloween night and becomes Austin’s biggest pedestrian costume party. This is one of the most genuinely electric and most uniquely Austin Halloween experiences available anywhere in the city.
What to Expect
Thousands of costumed Austinites and visitors fill the closed street from early evening through late night. Every bar on Sixth Street runs Halloween specials and costume contests. Because the street is entirely pedestrian on Halloween night, the atmosphere is more festive and more genuinely joyful than any standard Sixth Street night. Additionally, the energy builds throughout the evening as more people arrive in increasingly elaborate costumes.
The Details
- When: Saturday October 31, evening through late night
- Where: Historic Sixth Street, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free to walk, bars charge covers for entry
- Best For: Everyone, the most iconic and most genuinely Austin Halloween night experience available
Friday and Saturday — Rainey Street Halloween Bar Crawl
Rainey Street runs its own Halloween bar crawl energy throughout the entire weekend. Because the bungalow bars along Rainey Street all run Halloween themes and costume contests, the street delivers a more relaxed and more genuinely atmospheric alternative to the packed Sixth Street scene.
Best Stops
Banger’s Sausage House, Lustre Pearl, Container Bar, Handle Bar, and Lucille are the strongest stops. Additionally, the string lights and the outdoor patios create a genuinely festive fall atmosphere that is at its most beautiful on warm Halloween evenings. Furthermore, Rainey Street fills with costumes all weekend, not just on Halloween night.
The Details
- Location: Rainey Street Historic District, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free to walk, bars charge covers for some events
- Best For: Everyone who wants a more relaxed Halloween nightlife alternative to Sixth Street
All Weekend — Ghost Tours of Historic Austin
October is ghost tour season in Austin. Several companies lead walking tours through the city’s most historically haunted locations all weekend. Because Halloween weekend is the most atmospheric and most energizing time of the entire year for a ghost tour, this weekend is the best time to experience them.
Best Option
The Driskill Hotel ghost tour is the most atmospheric option available. Because the hotel has operated continuously since 1886, the stories are genuinely extraordinary. Additionally, the Driskill Bar is one of the most beautiful bars in Austin for a post-tour drink.
The Details
- Best Companies: Austin Ghost Tours, Texas Ghost Tours, Haunted ATX
- Cost: From $25 per person
- Best For: Everyone, the most atmospheric Halloween evening activity in Austin this weekend
- Pro Tip: Book in advance. Halloween weekend ghost tours sell out every year.
Friday and Saturday — Final Nights of Pumpkin Nights
Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms closes October 31. This weekend is your last chance to experience it. The half-mile walk features over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins across nine themed lands. Additionally, festive food and a live fire show run in Pumpkin Village every night.
The Details
- When: Through October 31, 6 PM to 11 PM, last entry 9 PM
- Where: Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr, Austin TX 78754
- Cost: From $20 at pumpkinnights.com
- Best For: Families and groups, the last chance to see it this year
All Weekend — The Austin Essentials
These are worth building into any day this weekend.
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs stays at 68 degrees year round. Because late October temperatures are cooling pleasantly, a morning swim feels genuinely perfect. Entry is under $10 and free before 8 AM.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony
The bat colony may still produce nightly emergences in the final days of October. Check batrefuge.org for current emergence status before heading down. It is free and genuinely extraordinary on a crisp fall evening.
Alamo Drafthouse Halloween Screenings
The Alamo Drafthouse runs Halloween film programming all weekend across its Austin locations. Because Alamo Drafthouse is one of the most genuinely beloved and most uniquely Austin cinema experiences available, a Halloween screening is the perfect low-key alternative to the nightlife scene. Check drafthouse.com for the full Halloween weekend schedule.
The Best Plan for October 30 to November 1
Here is how to make the most of all three days.
Friday: First, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. Book at laketraviszipline.com. Then the Austin Film Festival in the evening for a premiere or panel. Then Rainey Street Halloween bar crawl.
Saturday: Longhorns vs Mississippi State at DKR in the morning or afternoon. Then Sixth Street Halloween as evening begins. Then Madeon at ACL Live at 8 PM for the best live show of Halloween night.
Sunday: Barton Springs Pool in the morning. Then Alamo Drafthouse for a Halloween or horror film in the afternoon. Then the Austin Film Festival for an evening screening to close out the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions — Austin Halloween Weekend 2026
What is the best thing to do in Austin this Halloween weekend?
The best thing to do in Austin this Halloween weekend is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. October on Lake Travis is the most beautiful time of the entire year. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before Halloween weekend sells out.
What is happening on Sixth Street on Halloween in Austin?
Sixth Street shuts down to vehicle traffic on Halloween night October 31. It becomes Austin’s biggest pedestrian costume party. Thousands of costumed visitors fill the street from early evening through late night. Every bar runs Halloween specials and costume contests. It is completely free to walk.
Who is playing in Austin on Halloween 2026?
Madeon plays ACL Live at The Moody Theater on Halloween night October 31. His Victory: Live tour is a full multi-media production. Anamanaguchi opens the show. Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 8 PM. Tickets start from $50 at acl-live.com.
Is the Austin Film Festival happening this weekend?
Yes. The Austin Film Festival runs October 29 through November 5, 2026. Halloween weekend falls right in the middle of the festival. Screenings, panels, and workshops run across multiple downtown venues all weekend. Check austinfilmfestival.com for the full schedule.
What family-friendly Halloween activities are in Austin this weekend?
The best family-friendly Halloween activities include Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon, Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms on Friday and Saturday for the final nights of the season, Alamo Drafthouse family Halloween screenings, and Austin Film Festival family programming. Additionally, ghost tours are available for older children and teens.
Make the Most of Halloween Weekend in Austin
This is one of the most genuinely electric weekends Austin produces all year. Madeon on Halloween night. Longhorns vs Mississippi State. Austin Film Festival. Sixth Street Halloween. Ghost tours. Pumpkin Nights closing out the season. And the most beautiful fall afternoon of the year waiting for you on Lake Travis.
Start right now. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures at laketraviszipline.com before Halloween weekend sells out.
For more Austin inspiration check out Best Things to Do in Austin for Halloween, Best Things to Do in Austin in the Fall, and Best Things to Do in Austin TX.
About the Author
Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.