Houston has plenty to offer for Halloween-related fun for families. Check out this round-up of activities and events — some of which are free!

Trick, Treats & T-Rex at HMNS: It’s an annual family event at Houston Museum of Natural Science you don’t want to miss. Trick, Treats & T-Rex, October 27, 10 am – noon, features chemistry concoctions, crafts, creepy crawlies, and more! Costumes are certainly encouraged! Admission is $3 for this event plus museum admission. Houston Museum of Natural Science is located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive.

Happy Halloween Mansion and Halloween Spooktacular– The Children’s Museum of Houston has turned into a Halloween mecca through October 31 with its Happy Halloween Mansion. Kids can wear their costume and explore the mansion, trick or treat daily from 4 pm – 6 pm, wander the pumpkin patch for photo opps, complete spooky science experiments, do the Trick-or-Treat Scavenger Hunt, and play with slime. Free family admission Thursday, October 25, 5 pm – 8 pm, for Free Family Night. Happy Halloween Mansion is included in $8 museum admission.

October 31 the Children’s Museum features the Halloween Spooktacular, the ultimate Halloween party for families from 4 pm – 8 pm. The fun features a live DJ, pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating and more. $8 for adults and children over age 1. The Children’s Museum is located at 1500 Binz.

Free Halloween Party at Ice at the Galleria: It’s a free Halloween skating party Monday, October 29, 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm. Who can pass up free skate rental and free admission?! The family-friendly event features a costume contest, trick or treating, giveaways by the Houston Aeros Promotional Square and Mascot, and snacks provided by Raising Cane’s and Nestle Toll House. Kids will love the opportunity to skate with Chillsworth, the beloved penguin mascot, as well as get photo-ops on and off the ice. As a bonus, instructors will be giving free introductory lessons during the event. Ice at the Galleria is located at the Galleria Mall, 5015 Westheimer.

Zoo Boo at Houston Zoo: It’s a Halloween party that takes over the Houston Zoo! The annual Zoo Boo weekends feature lots of kid-friendly fun including trick-or-treating, costume parade, pumpkin painting with a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, Monster Mural, Tatzoo Parlor, and more. Don’t forget your candy bag! When I took my girls, I loved looking at all the carved pumpkins around the Reflection Pool. Enjoy lighter crowds on Fridays from 9 am – 1 pm (October 19 & 26). Weekend hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am – 4 pm (October 20, 21 & 27, 28). Zoo Boo is included with Zoo admission. The Houston Zoo is located in Hermann Park.

Scream on the Green: This citywide Halloween party, Scream on the Green, is a free event for the whole family, Saturday, October 27, 6 pm – 10 pm. Kids will love the face painting, magicians, Mad Science fun, caricature artists and more. Dress up the whole family for the costume contest with major prizes including a $250 gift card to IKEA. Categories range from infants to adults and dogs! Watch Tim Burton’s Coraline at IKEA Houston’s Screen at the Scream. Discovery Green is located downtown at 1500 McKinney.

photo courtesy Children’s Museum of Houston