For the spook-curious, Sheldon Lake Park & Environmental Learning Center is hosting Halloween in the Park on Saturday, October 18, from 5 to 9pm. The free event combines outdoor education with Halloween thrills, including bat-watching, treats from food vendors, face-painting, arts and crafts, and a wealth of information from the various booths hosted by community organizations.

Explore the day-use park after dark, starting with 360-degree views of Houston from the John Jacob Observation Tower (note: it can only be accessed via stairs, as the elevator will be closed). Visitors of all ages who prefer a preview of the evening fright can take a walk-through of the trail during the day. “This is great for younger kids and adults who don’t like the scare element but want to experience a trail decorated in [a] Halloween theme,” says Sheldon Lake Superintendent Kelley Parker. For those who dare to explore the haunted trail at night, be prepared to scream: Strangers are lurking in the shadows.

Parking is available off-site at C. E. King High School, and free shuttles will be running throughout the night.

This Inner Loop stalwart is offering two Halloween-themed events. Families can check out the daytime ArBOOretum. Held on Saturday, October 18, from 10 to 4pm, the event is free for Arboretum members and children under 3, and $20 for nonmembers and children 3 and older. The event’s pièce de résistance is the Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail, which features fun and educational games about the animals native to the center. Plus, lots of candy, rides, pumpkin decorating, and live animal encounters.

Looking for an adults-only event? Anyone 21 and up can take on the trails at twilight at Houston Arboretum’s Halloween Sip & Stroll on Thursday, October 30^, from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Entry will cost you $40 for members, $45 for nonmembers, and each ticket includes festive bites and two glasses of wine or Saint Arnold’s beer, plus an opportunity to mix and mingle with the arboretum’s ambassador animals, which include a tarantula, snake, and bearded dragon. Is the rustling in the woods the sound of an adorable armadillo, or your worst nightmare? You’ll have to walk and see.

Note to first-timers, parking is off-site, so be sure to check out the parking shuttle map.

Test your knowledge and skills at this zombie apocalypse–themed free hike and game night in Huntsville Park. From 7 to 9pm on Friday, October 24, attendees will try to outrun zombies and make it to the next quarantine zone, all the while filling their packs with essentials from the limited supplies and learning helpful skills from survivalists along the way. From fashioning an emergency shelter to learning how to filter water, these practical skills are bound to be beneficial in the case of a natural disaster—or other terrifying scenario.

Seeking more science-related haunts? Head back to Huntsville for the BOO-Gill Fishing Event and Haunted Boathouse on Saturday, October 25. From 7 to 9pm, amateur and experienced anglers can try their hand at night fishing in glowing green water. Those with enough courage can walk through the haunted boathouse for live encounters with some of the park’s scariest wildlife. In partnership with Fishing’s Future, this free event includes rods and bait. Park entrance fees for both events will be waived after 6:30pm.

The deep sea can conjure up all sorts of frightening scenarios, but at the 19^th annual Sea Center Spooktacular in Lake Jackson, attendees can look forward to the mystery. Starting at 3pm on Sunday, October 26, curious explorers can come costumed to partake in games, crafts, and candy while learning about creepy crawly creatures native to the region. Want to get in on the action? Purchase a $5 card to participate in the crafts, or a $5 cup of fish food to feed the fish in the eight-acre reservoir.

This event attracts over 1,000 attendees annually and features an aquatic-themed pumpkin carving and decorating contest for all ages.“My personal favorite thing about this event is just seeing the community come out and enjoy the activities and learn about their local fish and wildlife while having fun with their families,” says Juliana Moore, Program Specialist III at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Sea Center Texas.

The crunch of leaves on a fall hike is a comforting sound during the day, but at night, the ominous noise can make you gasp in fear of what might be lurking nearby. For Houstonians looking for a spine-chilling evening in the woods, head to Stephen F. Austin State Park on Saturday, October 11, for its free Trail of Terror. 

Family-friendly hours will be held from 6:30 to 7pm, perfect for kids 10 and under (and scaredy-cats) to experience the park’s Pileated Trail, which allows visitors to wander the same spooky Trail of Terror, just without the live scares. Brave souls, ages 10 and up, can expect the “full haunted experience” from 7 to 9pm, which features a horrifying walk through the woods. Stay alert as you venture through. Alone in the forest, anything can happen. 

Plan ahead: The last wristbands, granting access to the trail, will be distributed at 8:30pm. Entrance fees ($5 per person for ages 13 and up) will be waived after 5:30pm.