Make Halloween in San Antonio an unforgettable night of horror, history, candy, and most of all, safety

Halloween should be a night of harmless spookiness, music, creativity and candy. But before and during this unique holiday, real dangers lurk in many corners.

Here are some tips for getting through the night, along with some event ideas and a look back at the years TPR and NPR have spent exploring and celebrating the spooky.

History and horror

Before the big night of parties and candy, some Halloween fans need to get in the right mood. You need some terrible experiences first.

San Antonio's long cultural history includes many spooky legends, ghosts, and unexplained events that can effectively fill the imagination with terror.

In 2015, TPR's David Martin Davies moderated a conversation about San Antonio's most infamous hauntings and locations, including the Menger Hotel.

In 2021, TPR's Brian Kirkpatrick toured the Emily Morgan Hotel, which was just named one of the most haunted hotels in the United States. Blue water flooding the hallways, the apparition of a nurse pushing a stretcher and strange noises have both unsettled and delighted hotel guests.

That same year, TPR compiled a list of the best spooky places in and around the Alamo City, including the Alamo itself, the Missions, the infamous train tracks, and Woman Hollering Creek.

This year is packed with events for both adults and families.

Residents and tourists are considering a “goosebumps” river cruise, a ghost walk that promises “a thrilling journey into the shadows of the past,” or a bus tour that will “take you into your nightmares and absorb some of them.” San Antonio’s most immersive sights on the go.”

Children can go trick-or-treating at the zoo, climb a giant hay pyramid in the Botanical Garden, or take a Halloween morning hike through Hardberger Park with their parents.

Families can also purchase passes to Morgan's Wonderland on October 31, where they can enjoy candy stations, costume contests and free face painting, among other kid-friendly activities.

Learn more about these and several other Halloween events at Visit San Antonio.

The Halloween Arts

Music has always played a big role on Halloween.

In 2014, NPR spoke with music writer Colin Fleming to discuss various takes on the horror theme — including some R&B, some jazz, and a piece from 1874. Taken together, it's the perfect soundtrack for Halloween 2024 — a year already full of real ones is horror.

For something closer to traditional spookiness, try Alfred Hitchcock. In 2015, TPR's Nathan Cone celebrated a reissue of Music to Be Murdered By, a high-fidelity album that featured the film director's strangely charming musical arrangements by conductor Jeff Alexander.

Cone wrote in his review: “Alexander's arrangements of standards like 'After You've Gone' and 'I'll Walk Alone' are pure easy listening, and Alexander's originals on the album sound like Bernard Herrmann lite…”

He added: “Although Hitch probably managed it [introductory] Writing scripts in a studio booth during a half-hour recording session, I prefer to imagine him leading the orchestra in the style of Jackie Gleason… a sling in one hand and a scotch in the other.

Visual and sensory experiences

Halloween isn't much fun without dressing up as something or someone else. But if you want to wear costumes, you should check the ingredients of these costumes – or the associated make-up – before buying. The ingredients or substances can cause allergic reactions.

Some people may also want to take a moment to think about what Halloween suggests, how people perceive the unknown around them, what fears lurk behind everyday masks of stability and confidence, or what intricate creativity is expressed in costumes and decorations.

In 2016, NPR published a fascinating essay by Tania Lombrozo, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley. She offered three “clever studies that use this annual event to reveal characteristics of human morality, faith and loyalty.”

“They also put a new twist on 'tricking' in trick-or-treating,” she wrote. “[Y]You might think twice about what drives your decisions and beliefs this Halloween, just in case the trick is on you.

In 2023, NPR also pointed out that revelers who want to add facial disfigurement makeup to their costumes may want to reconsider that idea. It could be seen as insensitive to people with facial differences, including people with facial scars.

The added noise and excitement surrounding Halloween can also be challenging for autistic families. But the group Autism Community in Action offered a wide range of advice to help caregivers decide on costumes, candy and activities.

transport

Whether you're driving or walking from house to house collecting candy, Vision Zero San Antonio has offered these tips for a safe night on the road:

• Be Bright and Visible: Attach costumes, bags and accessories with reflective tape. Equip trick-or-treaters with glow sticks or flashlights to improve visibility for drivers. A well-lit costume is essential, especially for children who are out on the streets after dark.
• Stick to sidewalks and crosswalks: When walking between houses, use sidewalks whenever possible and cross the street at marked crosswalks. Children should avoid running across streets or between parked cars.
• Walk, don't run: Excitement can cause children to forget to look both ways before crossing the street. Remind children to walk, not run, and to pay attention to their surroundings. Adults should hold younger children's hands and guide them safely.
• Pay attention to traffic: Remind children that drivers may not see them, especially in dark costumes. Encourage them to make eye contact with drivers before crossing and to wait for the cars to come to a complete stop.
• Stay on well-lit streets and in groups: Avoid areas with limited lighting and encourage group trick-or-treating. More eyes and ears ensure safer navigation. Therefore, accompany younger trick-or-treaters and assign responsible adults to supervise them.

parties

Before attending the parties and bars, they should also keep in mind that flu, COVID-19 and other viruses can easily spread among people gathered indoors. Therefore, participants should always carry hand sanitizer with them.

Visit San Antonio offered some ideas for those looking to drown their terrors while bar crawling.

Those behind the bars can get particularly creative with the cocktails.

Of course, the first ingredient for everyone should be a designated driver.

Anusak Laowilas

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Reuters

Pets

Regardless of whether people go out on the streets or not, they should ensure that their pets are safe.

Make sure everyone has a microchip and collar.

Pet owners should also inspect their pets' small costumes. Be careful of costumes that restrict breathing or restrict movement.

The City of San Antonio provided the following tips on its website:

• Chocolate of any kind, even a small snack, can be toxic and potentially fatal to dogs and cats. Keep Christmas gifts like candy and cookies away from your pets.
• Talk to your children about the dangers of giving your pet Halloween treats.
• Cellophane and foil wrappers, lollipops, and caramel apple sticks should be thrown away immediately. If swallowed, pets pose a choking hazard.
• Trick-or-treating may be fun for the family, but the constant ringing of the doorbell can scare your pet. Provide your pet with a quiet and safe place to relax.
• While it may be tempting to take Fido trick-or-treating, Christmas masks and costumes could pose a threat to your family pet. Fear can lead to protective or aggressive behavior such as biting and growling.
• Keep your pet safely indoors in the evening if you are concerned that trick-or-treaters might scare or harass your pet outdoors.
• Halloween decorations like jack-o-lanterns and electric lights can stimulate curiosity in pets. Keep them out of reach.
• Not all pets tolerate wearing a costume or decorated collar. Get your pet involved in the Halloween fun by offering them a holiday-themed treat for them to enjoy.
• Do you think your pet may have ingested something toxic? Go to or call the nearest pet emergency clinic. You can also call the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Pet Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. Fees may apply.

The sweets

Doctors say trick-or-treaters with food allergies should check the ingredients of the candy they collect before eating it.

Of course, anyone who enjoys candy or other treats on Halloween should brush their teeth before bed.

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Bulverde Methodist Church

The environment

When Halloween is over, don't throw away the pumpkins – they can produce methane gas if disposed of in landfills.

Put these pumpkins to good use. NPR explained in 2022 that these can be used for cooking, composted, or simply donated to a farm or zoo where animals can enjoy them.

Some people turn them into bird feeders or simply leave them in the backyard where squirrels or deer will appreciate them.