Here are some of the top family-friendly Halloween attractions and activities near Plano!
North Texas Performing Arts Academy Trunk-or-Treat
When: Sunday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Willow Bend Parking Deck D, Roof Level in Plano
Cost: $20 per car (includes 2 trick-or-treaters and 2 adults)
This inaugural Trunk-or-Treat event hosted by the NTPA Academy is full of Halloween festivities for the family. Think carnival extravaganza meets drive-through trick-or-treating with lots of entertainment, candy, and social distancing. Collect candy from over 50 themed cars via gloved hands and PVC pipe for safe trick-or-treating. Take note, because you can vote for the best car to help your favorite director, troupe, or show win prizes. Show off your costume as you drive by for a chance to win the best individual or best group costume contest.
Roll down the windows and listen to the live entertainment on the central entertainment stage featuring performances by NTPA students and hosted by an emcee. Try your hand at winning carnival prizes at two drive-up, socially distanced, and sanitized carnival games. Then stop by one of the four different areas set up for perfect fall-themed photos. Just remember to bring your own camera and wear a mask when exiting your vehicle. The entire event is in the fresh open air, socially distanced, and follows CDC safety guidelines. All money raised supports the NTPA Academy.
Presents: Fall Festival 2021
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: 3941 Central Expressway in Plano
Cost: Free, but registration required
For a safe and fun Halloween alternative, The River Plano is inviting families to join their Fall Festival 2021. The Trunk or Treat event will feature decorated vehicles from local businesses and church members, all of whom will be passing out candy to the kids. Other activities for the entire family include games with prizes, local vendors sharing their information, food truck with dinner and dessert menus, and other activities. Most importantly, there will be an enormous and impressive amount of candy for the kids to collect, so remember to bring your trick-or-treat bags. Admission is free, but please register online.
11th Hour Escape
When: By appointment seven days a week
Where: 601 J Place, Suite 300 in Plano
Cost: $25
11th Hour Escape is great interactive entertainment for kids ages 6 and up with an adult. Each escape room is a real-life escape adventure for 2-12 people who want to challenge their logic and investigative skills. Your group has one hour to solve puzzles, crack codes, and use teamwork to escape the room. You can choose the difficulty level of the exciting and mentally challenging fun by picking a 50%, 25%, or 10% success rate. With two themes for Halloween, you’re sure to have fun, even though the rooms have no horror elements, aren’t startling, and aren’t scary.
The Fallout Shelter themed escape room takes place at the end of the world. Luckily, you have plenty of supplies, but unfortunately there’s a problem with the oxygen system, so you and your group only have 60 minutes to escape before the air runs out. The hit show “Stranger Things” inspired The Upside Down themed room, and some may find it slightly creepy. You and your group discover a friend has mysteriously vanished, things you can’t explain, and no help from the authorities. You break into your friend’s house to investigate and try to find him.
Haunted Gingerbread House Decorating
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
Where: 320 Coit Road in Plano
Cost: $32.50
Come to Central Market Cooking School where talented instructors will guide you and your child on how to create and decorate an edible haunted house. You’ll get lots of purple, orange, and black icing to use for building and decorating your gingerbread house, along with an enormous amount of creepy candy. Learn how to make royal icing, fill a pastry bag, and decorate like a professional while you try to create the scariest haunted house on the block. Halloween costumes are encouraged, but not required. All children ages 7 to 17 are welcome but must have an adult accompany them.
The 7th Plano Family Expo Trick or Treat
When: October 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 2000 East Spring Creak Parkway in Plano
Cost: Free
For the seventh year running, celebrate Halloween with the entire family inside the Plano Event Center. Sponsored by Human Embrace this year, the Plano Family Expo is hosting a spooky and fun day full of interactive Halloween activities for kids and adults. Start your day with graveyard yoga, games, bounce houses, and a costume contest. Then continue the fun with raffle prizes, a DJ dance party, giveaways, and a haunted maze. End the evening with trick-or-treating at the vendor market, watching dance performances, and listening to live music. Every family member will find an activity to enjoy at this event.
Well, there you have it, Halloween events in Plano that are full of family-friendly activities and a little spooky, but not too scary. Here at Huffines Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we know how important it is to spend time celebrating with loved ones and having fun as a family. If we didn’t include your family’s favorite Halloween event, let us know, so we can add it to the list. As you’re driving around with your family this Halloween, if your car starts acting spooky and ghoulish, we’d be happy to help you with buying, selling, or trading your vehicle too.