October has to be the busiest month, with a constant flow of activities, when it’s not what do you want to do, but asking yourself of all the things there are to do, which are the best! Here’s a handy list to help you pick out the Greatest from the Gruesome!
1. Pumpkin Patches
There are enough Pumpkin Patches to keep you busy all month, and many of the Patches have extended their seasons, starting in mid to late September and going until the first or second weekend in November. Some of our favorites include:
Yesterland Farms, Canton This is a huge Pumpkin Patch, with games, rides, a corn maze and my favorite, apple cannons! 
Mainstay Farm, Cleburne A yearly tradition for us, we love just exploring the big family farm, with hayrides, games and activities and much more! Click HERE to read more.
Click HERE for more Pumpkin Patches around the state.
2. Haunted Houses
Screams Haunted Theme Park, Waxahachie This fun park offers 4 haunted houses, with games and concessions as well as shops with a spooky theme. You can get your palm read or buy a really great costume! They also have live music Click HERE to read more.
Fright Fest at Six Flags, Arlington Six Flags has 6 haunted houses, which you must pay an additional amount to enter, but their scare zones, haunted rides and all the shows are still free with park admission. Click HERE to read more.
Cutting Edge Haunted House, Fort Worth is consistently voted as one of the best haunted houses in the country! Click HERE to read more.
DFW Zombie Hunt, Denton and Zombie Safari at Cousins Paintball, Terrell
For a different haunted experience, visit DFW Zombie Hunt or Zombie Safari at Cousins Paintball to shoot at “live zombies”! Click HERE for DFW Zombie Hunt, and HERE for Cousins Paintball.
3. Corn Mazes
Lone Star Family Farm, Stephenville This fun family farm has a 8-acre corn maze, and as much fun as it is during the day, go on a Friday evening for the Flashlight Maze! Click HERE for more information.
Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm, Midlothian 2022 will be their 5th year to be open, and they have a fun, 2-acre corn maze!
4. Fossil Day Events
As if there wasn’t already enough going on in Texas, October is also Texas Archeology Month, and there are lots of fun activities happening this month!
Mineral Wells Fossil Park, Mineral Wells This free fossil park is open to the public, and great to visit anytime, but on Saturday, October 15th, you’ll find lots of fun activities, and experts there to help you identify your finds during their annual Crazy Fossil Dig!
Fossilmania, Glen Rose Fossil collectors from all over the state will converge in Glen Rose at the Somerville County Expo Center on Oct. 28-30st for the 2022 Fossilmania! Glen Rose is the perfect location, as it’s also home to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and Dinosaur Valley State Park!
For more fossil related activites, click HERE to visit the Texas Paleontological Society website.
5. Texas Archeology Month
October is also Texas Archeology Month, and there are plenty of fun activities to celebrate past Texans!
Thurber Ghost Town, Thurber One of my favorite Fall activities is a visit to the Ghost Town of Thurber, west of Fort Worth. Come out to explore the ruins, and the museum in what was once the largest town between Fort Worth and El Paso, Thurber was a coal-mining city which was the first completely electrified town in Texas, and as a visit to the local cemetery will show, had an abnormally high child mortality rate. Click HERE to read more.
Sam Bell Maxey House, Paris Oct. 8 Archeology Day Learn about the history of the region and take a tour of the house. Oct. 23rd, Take a tour of the house after dark, and maybe hear a ghost story or two.
6. Fall Camping
Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wills Point On Oct. 22, 2022, come out for Boo in the Park for Pumpkin Carving contest, decorated campsites, spooky stories and trick-or-treating!
Forest of Fear at Loyd Park, Grand Prairie Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 One of the BEST Halloween Camping, day visitors line up to ride hay rides around the park and trick-or-treat at the campsites, often with extremely elaborate decorations!
Jellystone Park, Burleson, Tyler All of the fun Jellystone Parks go all out for Halloween, with not-so-scary decorations, activities, crafts and of course, Hey Hey Hey Rides!
7. Fall Festivals
Pumpkin Nights, Arlington Walk through a field of glowing pumpkins, see dragons and pirates and more at this fun festival, with food and concessions, fire-dancers and activities for the kids!
Butterfly Flutterby, Grapevine October 15th children will love the sweet butterfly parade, activities and butterfly release!
Tyler Rose Festival, Tyler Oct. 13-16, 2022 This annual festival offers visitors a chance to see the incredible gardens in bloom and don’t miss the Rose Parade!
Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Possibly the best Pumpkin displays ever!
8. The State Fair of Texas
From fried foods to rides and animals, you can’t beat the State Fair of Texas!
9. Star Gazing Trips
The Orionids Meteor Shower is peaking on Oct. 21st – 22nd, and there should be good viewing!
10. Ghost Tours
Granbury Ghost and Legends Tour, Granbury For a fun tour that is family-friendly, don’t miss this tour around the Granbury Courthouse Square and learn a little history and a few fun thrills! Click HERE for more information.
Oakwood Cemetery Saint and Sinners Tours, Fort Worth Learn about the history of Fort Worth and the final resting place of some of its most prominent residents!
The Original Fort Worth Stockyards Ghost Tour host ghost tours of the Fort Worth Stockyards!
11. Haunted Hotels and Restaurants
Stockyards Hotel, Fort Worth Have you ever spent the night in a haunted hotel? Click HERE to read more.
Miss Molly’s Bed and Breakfast in the Stockyards, Fort Worth Another fun hotel in the Fort Worth Stockyards! Click HERE to visit their website.
Catfish Plantation, Waxahachie Have you ever dined with a ghost before?
12. Murder Mystery Dinners and Escape Rooms
Texas Star Dinner Theater, Grapevine A fun, western-themed murder mystery dinner!
The Dollhouse at Room With a Clue, Dallas A spooky escape room located in Dallas’ Deep Ellum!
13. Zombie Runs, Boo at the Zoos and more….
Boo at the Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo Oct. 28-30 Trick or Treat stations are scattered around the zoo, bring your little ghost and ghouls out for a fun evening!
National Chemistry Week at the Fort Worth Museum Oct. 19-23.
