Halloween season is on the horizon, folks! When mapping out all the haunted houses, fall festivals, and scary movie marathons this October, be sure to add a day trip to Denton to your list. Following the debut of its 31 Days of Denton Halloween this past year, the Texas town has been crowned with the title of the official Halloween Capital of Texas.
The City of Denton launched 31 Days of Denton Halloween in 2024, setting out to create fun-loving spirit and community pride throughout the city. Over the course of the month, Denton held over 200 Halloween-themed events, interactive experiences, and programs on top of 15 distinct decor activations in downtown, Denton.
The Halloween initiative was an overwhelming success. In addition to cementing Denton as a Halloween destination, the October event drew over 660,000 visitors from across the country – inciting tourism and boosting the local economy.
“We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition from the State of Texas,” City Manager Sara Hensley said. “The success of our first year was the result of hard work by our City staff, collaboration with local artists, and strong support from our business community—all coming together to create something truly special for Denton.”
In recognition of its unparalleled seasonal spirit, the Texas Legislature in its 89th session, officially named Denton as the Halloween Capital of Texas. Per the Texas Government Code, the title will remain in effect for the next decade.
This year, the city plans to live up to its name by reprising its 31 Days of Denton Halloween and promising the biggest Halloween celebration in Texas. With new events added every week throughout the month, the city will once again host over 200 Halloween-themed experiences including movie screenings, weekly pumpkin drops (which is what is sounds), over-the-top displays, exhibitions, ghost walks, and more.
31 Days of Denton Halloween kicks off on October 1st.