Calling all boos, ghouls, and little monsters! Children’s Museum Houston stirs up a cauldron-full of frightfully fun activities as it transforms into the BOOseum just in time for Halloween, Oct. 12 to 31, 2024!   Whether you love creepy crawlers or ghostly games, we’ve conjured up a spook-tacular mash-up of events that will make your spine tingle and your heart race with excitement!  Make no bones about it!

For three weeks of Halloween-howling excitement, our celebration will make you cackle with delight, with eerie-sistible activities, fang-tastic interactives and hair-raising science experiments.

There’s plenty of magic in the air as we bring out the best in madness and mystery—including:

  • TRICK-OR-TREAT EVERY DAY:  Safe trick-or-treating daily from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays; from 5 to 8 p.m. during Free Family Night Thursdays; and all day on weekends. Witch way to the candy?
  • GET IN THE SPIRIT:  Strut your stuff by showing off your Halloween costume and receive $2 off admission, Oct. 12 to 25.  (Discount taken at Welcome Center per person in costume).  Tell your mummy!
  • OOZE IN AMAZEMENT:  Enjoy a dose of gross with slime making on Oct. 19 and 31 and best “snot” competition on Oct. 26.  Hide and eek!
  • SHAKE YOUR BONES:  We’ve got Halloween under wraps with a total of four DJ dance parties on Oct. 12, 19, 26 and 31.  Ghouls just want to have fun!
  • CARVE OUT SOME FUN:  Join the pumpkin carving workshop on Oct. 12.
  • EMBRACE THE ICK:  Take part in the bug petting zoo on Oct. 12 and 26 and owl pellet dissections on Oct. 19
  • DOUBLE THE FUN:  Enjoy two fun Halloween themed events every Saturday!  Hex-cellent!
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And here’s the best treat of all:  Halloween lands on a Thursday, which means it falls during our Free Family Night!  On Oct. 31, admission is completely FREE from 5 to 8 p.m.  It’s the perfect chance to summon some unforgettable memories with your little ghouls and goblins. Don’t miss this spellbinding experience—it’s going to be a gourd-geous night of Halloween fun!

“CHILDREN’S BOOSEUM HOUSTON” SPECIAL EVENTS:

HALLOWEEN UNLEASHED

Saturday, Oct. 12

Right off the bat, we’re kicking off Halloween in style with spooky beats and ghoulishly good fun!

  • Jack Skellington DJ and Games: Get ready to shake your bones as Jack Skellington hosts a monster dance party! Join in the ghoulish games and eerie beats from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kid’s Hall Alcove.
  • Pumpkin Carving Workshop: Carve out some fun by crafting the spookiest jack-o-lanterns! Sessions at 9:30, 11:30 a.m.,1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Power Science Lab.
  • DIY Face Painting: Put your best skull forward! Learn to paint yourself into your favorite spooky character every half-hour starting at 10:30 a.m. in Alexander Art Academy.
  • DIY Halloween Masks: Unleash your creativity and craft a mask that’s sure to spookify any costume from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Chevron Maker Annex.
  • Q-Tip Skeleton: Have a skele-ton of fun as you create a skeleton out of Q-tips all day in Power Science Lab.
  • Halloween Mystery Boxes: Assemble the scream team! Reach into our spooky boxes to discover what’s lurking inside, all day in INVISTA Science Station.
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CREEPY CRAWLERS

Saturday, Oct. 12

We’re crawling with excitement to kick off our Halloween season with a day dedicated to all things creepy and crawly. Prepare to be bug-eyed with fun!

  • Bug Petting Zoo: Get up close and personal with some of our Museum’s creepiest critters! Meet them at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. in CenterPoint EcoStation, if you dare…
  • Jitter Critters: Things are about to get a little bugged-out! Craft your own jittery, battery-powered critter that’s sure to crawl its way into your heart! Buzz by the Chevron Maker Annex from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Spooky Bug Tales: Crawl into the Parent Resource Library for a hair-raising story about a spooky creature that munches on bugs. Join us at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  • Cockroach Hand Puppet: It’s time to get crafty! Make your own creepy, crawly cockroach puppet that’s sure to give everyone the heebie-jeebies, all day in Junktion.
  • Entomophobia Dare Box: Are you brave enough to stick your hand into the mystery bug box? Face your fears all day in CenterPoint EcoStation – but watch out for the crawly surprises inside!
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MAD SCIENCE

Saturday, Oct. 19

Sponsored by INVISTA

Mwahaha! Step into our laboratory of lunacy for a day of wild experiments, gooey creations, and spooky science that’ll make your skin crawl!

  • Beetlejuice DJ and Games:  It’s showtime! Meet the ghost with the most as Beetlejuice electrifies the Kid’s Hall Alcove with spook-tacular tunes and ghoulish games, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!
  • Moran Foundation Picnic Science – Slime Workshops:  Ready to get gooey? Mix, stretch, and squish three different kinds of slime—each one slimier and more mysterious than the last. Only the most fearless scientists need apply!  At 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the Power Science Lab.
  • Texas Bubblers Mad Scientists:  Something spooky is bubbling in the INVISTA Science Station… Join our mad scientists as they concoct eerie experiments that’ll have you screaming “It’s alive!”  At 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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HALLOWEEN MONSTER MAYHEM

Saturday, Oct. 19

Bring your little monsters to this monstrous mash-up of activities for a day that’ll be frightfully fun!

  • DIY Monster: Unleash your inner Dr. Frankenstein and stitch together your very own fluffy monster-stuffed animal to take home and snuggle (or scream!) Will your creation be cute, spooky, or somewhere in between?
    Every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Alexander Art Academy.
  • Monster Story Time and Crafts sponsored by Phillips 66: Join us a bone-chilling tale and crafty fun! Get ready to let your imagination run wild as you dive into the world of monsters—it’s going to be monstrously magical!  At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Parent Resource Library.
  • Franken Toys:  It’s alive!  Ready to create a creature like no other? Piece together toy parts to bring your very own Frankentoy to life in this monster-making workshop!  From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Chevron Maker Annex.
  • Monster Wreaths: Get crafty and spooky and add a dash of fangtastic flair with a monstrous wreath to hang in your haunted home! It’s the perfect Halloween décor for your lair.  All day in Junktion.
  • Monster Playdough: Time to get your hands dirty! Whip up your own batch of playdough with just three ingredients and shape it into spooky, ghoulish figures.  All day in INVISTA Science Station.
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HAPPY HOUSE

Free Family Night Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Sponsored by Radio One

Watch before your very eyes how the Museum magically morphs into the Happy House!  Join Majic 102.1, 97.9 The Box, and Praise 92.1 for a free, safe and friendly trick-or-treat party for your little ghosts, goblins and ghouls.  Admission is FREE!

GHOST ADVENTURES

Saturday, Oct. 26

Join us for a boo-tiful day of ghostly delights and spine-tingling fun!

  • Houston Ghostbusters: Who you gonna call? The Houston Ghostbusters will be roaming the Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – don’t miss them!
  • Beetlejuice – DJ & Games: Step right up and meet the ghost with the most! Dance to Beetlejuice’s eerie beats and join in spooky games that’ll have you howling with laughter.  From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kid’s Hall Alcove.
  • Haunted House Dioramas: Shrink your screams by crafting your own mini haunted house in Alexander Art Academy. Every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Pepper’s Ghost: Create your own spooky illusion and watch as ghostly images float right before your eyes! From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Chevron Maker Annex.
  • Ghost Garland: One ghost is spooky, but five are even spookier! After reading “Five Little Ghosts” by Patricia Hegarty, craft your own ghost garland to haunt your home.  From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Junktion.

OH, SO ICKY!

Saturday, Oct. 26

Sponsored by BASF

Get ready to squirm with delight as we bring you a day filled with creepy crawlies, ooey-gooey fun, and spine-chilling science experiments in celebration of National Chemistry Week.

  • Best “Snot” Competition: Snot your average slime! Compete to make the gooiest, slimiest, most spine-chilling snot in the INVISTA Science Station from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Moran Foundation Picnic Science – Owl Pellet Dissections: Get your hands dirty and find out what the owl dragged in with this eerie dissection session at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
  • UHD Experiments:  Join University of Houston-Downtown students for National Chemistry Week as they mix up some scientific magic! Play with sculpting play dough, explore magnetic imaging in total darkness, and make turmeric-powered anthotype prints that develop with sunlight!  All day in Kid’s Hall.
  • Bug Petting Zoo:  Ever wanted to meet a creepy-crawly up close? Now’s your chance!  You’ll be buzzing with excitement!  At 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. in CenterPoint EcoStation.
  • “The Ick” Story Time:  Gather ’round as we tell the spooky tale of a creature that loves to snack on bugs! It’s the perfect blend of eerie and icky for your little boos.  At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Parent Resource Library.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thursday, Oct. 31

Get ready to do the monster mash and howl with delight as we close out Halloween with a BOO-m! Admission is FREE during Free Family Night, from 5 to 8 p.m.!

  • Magic by Jamie:  Prepare to be bewitched by the scarily good illusions of Jamie Salinas! From 5 to 8 p.m., he’ll conjure up mind-bending magic that’ll leave you spooked and amazed!
  • Beetlejuice DJ & Games:  Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! The ghost with the most is back for one final blowout! From 4 to 8 p.m. in Kid’s Hall Alcove, join him for hauntingly fun games and tunes that’ll make you want to monster mash all night long.
  • Slime Time:  Nothing screams Halloween like ooey-gooey slime! Get hands-on and create your very own sticky souvenir, available all day in the Power Science Lab.
  • Face Painting:  Transform into your favorite spooky creature—whether it’s a wicked witch or a ghastly ghoul! Our face-painting magic is on from 4 to 8 p.m. in One World.
  • Franken Toys: Don’t let your monsters rest! Keep the creativity alive as you mix, match, and bring your own Franken-Toy monsters to life in Chevron Maker Annex, happening all day long.
  • Ghost Rings:  Watch in wonder as ghostly rings spin and twirl with eerie elegance! Catch this spooky spectacle all day in the INVISTA Science Station.
  • Ghost Garland:  What’s spookier than one ghost? Five! Read “Five Little Ghosts” and craft a ghoulish garland to hang up at home. This spooky craft runs all day in Junktion.
  • BOO!kmarks:  Keep the Halloween spirit alive even in your books! Craft your own spooky BOO!kmark from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Junktion and never lose your place again.
  • Bat Origami:  Go batty with Halloween fun by folding your way to spooky delights! Create your very own bat origami all day long in CenterPoint EcoStation.
  • And of course… trick-or-treat the night away in this fang-tastic finale to our BOO-seum Halloween celebration!

Join us at Children’s BOOseum Houston where the Halloween magic is brewing, and creeping through every corner. With Franken-cute frights, BOO-tiful surprises, and plenty of ghostly delights, “Halloween at the BOOseum” guarantees a wickedly fun adventure for the entire family!

***Activities, events and times subject to change.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HOUSTON

Winner of 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, winner of Good Housekeeping’s “2023 and 2024 Best Family Travel Award, voted “Houston’s Best Museum” in Houston Chronicle’s 2023 and 2024 Best of the Best Awards, winner of Tripadvisor “2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards,” only American continent finalist in 2023 Hands On! Children in Museums International Award, listed among Forbes, LA Times and USA Today’s “Best Children’s Museums in the U.S.,” The Culture Trip’s “Top Museum and Landmark to Visit in Houston” and one of “Houston’s Must-See Museums” by Travel Channel, Children’s Museum Houston is a Playground for Your Mind™.  It is dedicated to transforming communities through innovative, child-centered learning that improves the trajectories of all children.  Founded in 1980 and housed in a whimsical building designed by internationally acclaimed architect Robert Venturi, Children’s Museum Houston offers a multitude of innovative exhibits and bilingual learning programs for kids ages birth to 12 years. The Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138.  Can your mind come out to play?™