Some people put a pumpkin on the porch and call it a day (ahem, us). Others turn their entire front yard into a full-on Halloween experience with enough decorations to make you wonder where they could possibly store it all. We appreciate both approaches, but we’re especially grateful for the neighbors who go a little nuts for the season. If your kids love checking out spooky houses, we’ve rounded up some of the best streets and neighborhoods around Austin to see the decorations.
Just remember, these are people’s homes, so be respectful while enjoying the spooky sights!
Central Austin
PHOTO CREDIT: @HYDEPARKHANGS INSTAGRAM
Hyde Park
With its historic Victorian homes, big porches, and tree-lined streets, Hyde Park already has a little Halloween atmosphere built in. Add some cobwebs, skeletons, and a few creative neighbors, and you’ve got a great spot for an evening stroll. Check out the streets around Avenues F and G near 43rd Street, where neighbors have been known to get especially into the Halloween spirit.
Allandale
This classic tree-lined neighborhood has the means to bust out the twelve-foot skellys. Add in that they also have the Austin Memorial Park Cemetery sitting snug in the middle of the neighborhood, and you have a perfect mixture of real and faux tombstones to wander past.
The can’t miss house in this hood has to be @Allandalehalloweenhouse. Taking things beyond the typical setup, they turn the front of their house into a full-on, crumbling log cabin straight out of the haunted woods of your nightmares.
Photo credit: Natalie Grigson for MySA. Clarksville residents Meghann Rosales and Thomas Schiefer’s annual graveyard of bygone businesses, pop culture trends, and other things we’ve said goodbye to.
Clarksville
Clarksville’s historic homes and charming streets make it a fun neighborhood to explore any time of year, but Halloween gives residents an excuse to get a little weird.
One of our favorite creative displays is the annual graveyard by residents Meghann Rosales and Thomas Schiefer, where the tombstones commemorate everything from shuttered Austin businesses to pop culture trends that have come and gone. It’s part Halloween decoration, part time capsule, and a pretty funny reminder of all the things we’ve collectively said goodbye to.
Photo credit: Tarrytown Methodist Church
Tarrytown
If any neighborhood is going to go big for decorations and give out the big bars, it’s Tarrytown. Even if you can’t stand the campy nature of Halloween decor, you can’t deny the autumnal charm of Tarrytown and, more specifically, the Methodist Church. Their Georgian architecture evokes New England vibes with a lawn overrun with pumpkins, it’s peak Halloween if you’re more into Charlie Brown than Charles Manson.
North Austin
Photo credit: Barrington House Facebook Page
Barrington Way
Barrington Way might not be on your usual Austin driving route, but Halloween is a good reason to make a detour. This Great Hills street is known for the elaborate Barrington Halloween display, where one particularly dedicated household has transformed its property into impressive themed scenes over the years.
South Austin
Ford St. (Zilker)
Zilker residents know how to have fun with Halloween, and Ford Street has long been a favorite for checking out the decorations. Neighbors have been known to go all out with homemade haunted scenes, spooky garages, and creative yard displays that make an ordinary neighborhood walk feel like a Halloween outing.
It’s worth wandering the surrounding streets, too. You never know which house will have the most ridiculous skeleton situation.
Circle C
Check out Bud Hasert’s Ork Fortress in Circle C! Bud sculpted and painted all the little Orks and Goblins standing guard, and the Ork War Boss watches over all the trick-or-treaters…and occasionally throws out insults…and farts. The yard has custom lights, fog machines, four different audio soundtracks, and a movie Dungeon in the driveway.
Got a favorite haunt we forgot? Let us know at [email protected]!
This write-up was modified from an original Do512 page by Deven Wilson
