A Halloween Airshow, a Thriller Dance Party, and Dia de los Muertos Around Houston (Oct 31-Nov 1)

Halloween lands squarely in the middle of this weekend, and greater Houston is leaning all the way in — a dance party under the stars, an airshow roaring over the southeast side, trunk-or-treats in every suburb, and the Day of the Dead festivals that follow close behind. One small gift before you plan: the clocks fall back an hour early Sunday morning, so you get a bonus hour of sleep before Sunday's ofrendas come out. Here's where I'd point you across the four corners of the metro I keep weekly guides for.

In Houston proper, the headliner is the Wings Over Houston Airshow out at Ellington Airport — two full days of military demonstration teams, warbirds, and aerobatics, with up to six kids 14 and under free with a paying adult. If you'd rather dance than crane your neck, Miller Outdoor Theatre throws a free, one-night Thriller on the Hill party Friday evening in Hermann Park — come in costume and claim a spot on the grass with a blanket. And on Sunday, MECA's 26th annual Día de Muertos Festival in the historic Old Sixth Ward fills its campus with community altars, folklórico dancing, and food, free all afternoon.

Out in Katy, LaCenterra's Tent and Treat at Central Green Park pairs Saturday-morning trunk-or-treating with a water-wise family fair — the kids fill a candy bag while you pick up genuinely useful tips on keeping a Texas lawn alive. Parking in the garages is free.

Up in Cypress, the Texas Renaissance Festival turns to its All Hallow's Eve theme out in Todd Mission, about 50 minutes northwest — costumes welcome, jousting and turkey legs as always, and children 12 and under get in free on Sunday.

And in Spring and Tomball, Kleb Woods Nature Preserve turns its quarter-mile Farm Trail into a come-and-go Halloween scavenger hunt Friday evening, where kids in costume follow the Precinct 4 naturalists' clues for goodies and crafts. It's free, but registration is required, so sign up before you head out and bring a flashlight.

Lay a weekend like this on a map and you've basically got a tour of the whole metro — which is most of what choosing a neighborhood really comes down to. If wandering one of these areas ever has you picturing your own address there, that's a conversation I'm always glad to have, no pressure and no obligation. I'm Kevan Pewitt, a local real estate broker at Houston Prime Realty — reach me at 281-500-7077.

Read more — this weekend's guides on the Houston Prime Realty blog

• Things to Do in Houston This Weekend — the Wings Over Houston Airshow, Thriller on the Hill, Scream on the Green, and two Día de los Muertos festivals, refreshed every Friday.
• Things to Do in Katy This Weekend — Tent and Treat and Viva la Vida at LaCenterra, Dewberry Farm's fall festival, and four Saturday–Sunday farmers markets.
• Things to Do in Cypress This Weekend — the Ren Fest's All Hallow's Eve, a Traders Village Halloween blowout, the Bridgeland FFA craft show, and the last pumpkin-patch days.
• Things to Do in Spring & Tomball This Weekend — Kleb Woods' Trick or Trails, a Tomball trunk-or-treat and concert, tribute nights at Main Street Crossing, and Old Town Spring's Halloween party.