Get ready for the most frighteningly fun time of the year with the return of Houston Scream Fest this October. The horror-themed festival features a terrific lineup of haunted attractions, paintball, live music and complimentary drinks with admission.
Self-described as “the largest and best haunted amusement park in Texas,” Scream Fest features an array of horror-themed attractions on top of live concerts, a carnival-style midway with games, a food court and vendor booths.
When and where is Scream Fest?
Scream Fest takes place on weekends and select dates from October 2 through November 7, 2026 at 1500 Elton St. The typical operating hours are as such:
Friday & Saturday nights:
- Ticket booth: 8 p.m.–11 p.m.
- Park: 8 p.m.–12:30 a.m
All other open nights (Thu, Sun, etc.):
- Ticket booth: 8 p.m.–10 p.m.
- Park: 8 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
The ticket booth and haunted-house gate close before the park, and closing times may vary depending on weather and crowd levels.
Scream Fest 2026 attractions
This year, Houston Scream Fest returns with four themed horror attractions: Sanitarium, Castle of Doom, Casa De La Llorona, and The Graveyard. Scream Fest also offers H-Town Paintball, whose Nuketown field is described as a life-size replica inspired by the Call of Duty: Black Ops map. Admission to the paintball attraction is included with the Scream Fest ticket, but paintballs must be purchased separately.
When the park is operating, the festival offers live music on select nights, with local Texas bands that lean into darker, horror‑themed sounds. Concerts start at 8:30 p.m.
One of Scream Fest’s biggest draws is that all drinks are free with the price of admission, including adult beverages such as Michelob Ultra and Bud Light.
Scream Fest ticket information
Tickets to Houston Scream Fest start at $30 for general admission on opening weekend (October 3–4), with student admission at $15. Prices increase as the season progresses, reaching $50 for general admission and $30 for students on the peak weekends of October 24–25 and October 31–November 1. A full calendar of dates and pricing is available on the festival’s website.
Admission includes access to the haunted attraction, the midway, live entertainment and H-Town Paintball. Food and paintball ammunition cost extra. Guests must also accept the festival’s waiver before entering the park.
Ticket buyers receive access to all of the festival’s attractions; food and paintball paint are available for additional purchase. The 2026 season runs on select nights from October 2 through November 7, with the park typically open Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and other open nights (Thursday, Sunday, and select weekdays) from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The venue is located at 1500 Elton St., Houston, TX 77034.
Visitors should be prepared for long wait times, especially at the free-drink stations—a common complaint in past seasons.
