There will be almost 300 events at this year’s 31 Days of Denton Halloween. With the success of the first year and its receipt of the official “Halloween Capital of Texas” title, Denton is adding even more events and attractions in 2025. The city expects more than 1 million visitors to its spooky festivities.
Not sure where to start with all that Denton Halloween has to offer? Here’s a list of 12 events to not miss this October, many of which are free:
THE MAZE
A new addition to 31 Days of Denton Halloween, the mad scientist-themed maze was made from wooden pallets by local artist Dan Black. It consists of three different maze options, all leading to a disco party room in a shipping container with a massive spider on top.
Details: Open Monday through Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. at the lawn between City Hall and the Denton Civic Center at 321 E McKinney St. Free.
Denton Parks and Recreation Director Gary Packan checks the screens at the entrance of the Halloween maze near Denton City Hall, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.
Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer
SKELLY HUNT
Throughout the entire month of October, visitors of all ages can participate in a search for gnome skeleton figures. Participants can pick up a scavenger hunt sheet or download it from online, and then visit the 10 participating local businesses to find the skellys to solve a final riddle and win a prize.
Details: Oct. 1-31 at Denton Square, 110 W Hickory St. Free.
Denton’s Chief Communications Officer Dustin Sternbeckat shows a skeleton that will be used for the scavenger hunt at the visitor center, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.
Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer
ELECTRIFYING FICTION: PHYSICS & THE BIRTH OF FRANKENSTEIN
This two-hour experience by UNT lecturer Dr. Megan Nieberding will cover how physics played an important role in shaping the novel Frankenstein. There will be a discussion, hands-on experiments and interactive demos.
Details: Oct. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the UNT CoLab, 207 N Elm St. Free.
DENTONPALOOZA 5
Attend this charity variety show showcasing local performers from Denton. There will be performances by Everything Is Terrible Live, Matthew and The Arrogant Sea, Side Chicks, Assisted Living and Brotherhood.
Details: Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf, 1013 Industrial St. General admission is $25.
GRAVEYARD TALES @ CITY HALL CEMETERY
Storytellers from the Tejas Storytelling Association will be reciting haunted tales at night in the City Hall cemetery.
Details: Oct. 11, 18 and 25 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the City Hall Cemetery, 215 E McKinney St. Free.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW LIVE!
Los Bastardos will be performing the iconic cult classic Rocky Horror live at the Harvest House. The immersive and interactive show is open to attendees 21 and up.
Details: Oct. 16 from 9 to 11 p.m. at the Harvest House, 331 E Hickory St. Tickets are $2 at the door.
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1980S MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
Time travel back to the 1980s and figure out whodunnit at this murder mystery dinner party. Guests are invited to wear their raddest threads and enjoy a buffet dinner and drinks.
Details: Oct. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, 400 E Hickory St. Tickets are $62.18.
NOSFERATU: SILENT SHADOWS & LIVE SOUND
The classic silent horror film, made in 1922, will be shown alongside a live band, featuring Matthew Gray and friends. Attendees 21 and up are invited to bring chairs and friends to this fusion of cinema and live music.
Details: Oct. 17 from 8:30 to 11 p.m. at the Bearded Monk, 122 E McKinney St. Free.
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
Denton Square will transform into a basketball court for the second-ever Nightmare on Elm Street Basketball Tip-off. Fans can meet this year’s UNT men’s and women’s basketball teams and get a sneak peek at what to expect this upcoming season.
Details: Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at Denton Square, 110 W Hickory St. Free.
CIRQUE DU HORROR
An original Halloween-themed theatrical production created in 2009 by Denton composer David J Anzaldua Pierce. It is part musical, part aerial performance, part dance and part storytelling, and all the fun happens inside a big circus tent.
Details: Oct. 24 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Oct. 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m. and Oct. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Big Top Circus Tent, 126 E Oak St. Tickets range from $17.49 to $65.19.
PUNK TOXIC SKELETONS SHOW
Wear your best punk attire and check out this radioactive punk show hosted at Fear Alley. Jam out to live punk music by Casperflip, Two Watts and Die-A-Beat-Us.
Details: Oct. 24 from 8:30 p.m. to midnight at the Bearded Monk, 122 E McKinney St. Free.
Coffin racers cross the finish line during the Day of the Dead Festival near East Hickory Street and Industrial Street. The Day of the Dead Festival is a free, family-friendly event and is held annually. The festival helps celebrate the fall season, paying homage to the goodness of the harvest, Dia de los Muertos, and all things Halloween.
Jeff Woo / DRC
DENTON‘S DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL
An inclusive family-friendly festival combining traditions from Día de los Muertos, Halloween and Harvest celebrations, this event includes a community altar to display lost loved ones, Coffin Races on Hickory Street, live music, the Twilight Lantern and Costume Parade, and more.
Details: Oct. 24-26 at multiple locations in Denton. Free.
The Go See DFW calendar is a partnership between KERA and The Dallas Morning News.
Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.
