Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, so Branson gets two costume nights in a row. Friday has a free trick-or-treat trail. Saturday has three costume events plus the last day of the area's two biggest pumpkin festivals. Sunday is slower, with a couple of patches open one more day and an extra hour of sleep.
For the full season, see Fall in Branson with Kids. This post is the plan for the weekend itself.
The scare spectrum: pick your level
Mixed-age group? Use this chart.
| Level | What it is | When (Halloween weekend) |
|---|---|---|
| 🎃 Glow, not scary | Pumpkins Aglow at Shepherd of the Hills, a half-mile walk among lit pumpkins | Dusk to 10 p.m. Fri & Sat; last night Sat Oct 31 |
| 🎃 Glow, not scary | Pumpkins In The City at Silver Dollar City, lit pumpkins, rides after dark, dance parties from 5:30 p.m. | Last day Sat Oct 31 |
| 🍬 Costume-friendly, little kids | BOOnanza, Branson Landing Safe Street, CoxHealth Trunk or Treat, Holloween at Big Cedar | Fri Oct 30 – Sat Oct 31 (details below) |
| 👻 Mildly spooky | Haunted Copperhead Mountain Coaster Nights, spooky effects on the uptrack | Fri & Sat, dusk to 10 p.m.; last night Sat Oct 31 |
| 😱 Actually scary (13+) | The Curse at The Branson Coaster, live scares and dark sets | Fri & Sat in October, 7–10 p.m. |
| 😱 Actually scary (older teens and adults) | Field of Screams in Nixa, a haunted forest plus a clown haunt | Thu Oct 29 through closing night Sun Nov 1, 7 p.m.–midnight |
Not this weekend: Shepherd's Sleepy Hollow (the Headless Horseman and Spooky Hayride) ends Sat Oct 24.
Costumes: where they're welcome and where they aren't
- Silver Dollar City: no costumes. Do the park in regular clothes and change before the evening events.
- Costume contests: BOOnanza, plus kids' and adults' contests at Holloween at Big Cedar.
- Trick-or-treat: Branson Landing Safe Street and CoxHealth Trunk or Treat.
Friday, Oct 30: pumpkins in the afternoon, BOOnanza at night
Afternoon
- Shepherd's PumpkinFest, 5585 W 76 Country Blvd, through Sat Oct 31.
- McKenna Family Farm, 3265 State Hwy F, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Silver Dollar City Harvest Festival, glows after dark from 5:30 p.m. No costumes.
Evening
- Halloween BOOnanza (free), 6–8 p.m., Branson RecPlex ballfields, 1501 Branson Hills Pkwy.
- Pumpkins Aglow and Haunted Copperhead, Shepherd of the Hills, until 10 p.m.
- The Curse, The Branson Coaster on 76, 7–10 p.m.
- Field of Screams, Nixa, 7 p.m.–midnight.
Saturday, Oct 31: closing day and costume night
Daytime
- Silver Dollar City, last Harvest Festival day. No costumes.
- Shepherd's PumpkinFest, last day.
- Holloween at Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Pumpkin Run 5K at 10 a.m., last fall tram ride at 3 p.m.
- Fall Roundup at Sycamore Creek, 2657 Sunset Inn Rd, 2:30–8:30 p.m.
- McKenna Family Farm, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Evening: costume time
| Event | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Branson Landing Safe Street Trick-or-Treat | 5–7 p.m. | Branson Landing promenade, downtown |
| CoxHealth Trunk or Treat – Branson | 5–8 p.m. | CoxHealth Therapy and Specialty Center, 121 Cahill Rd |
| Holloween at Big Cedar | Costume contest 5 p.m.; trick-or-treat 6 p.m.; live music from 7 South at 7 p.m. | Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale |
The Landing, CoxHealth and Big Cedar overlap. Pick one.
Late night
- Pumpkins Aglow and Haunted Copperhead, last night, dusk to 10 p.m.
- The Curse, 7–10 p.m.
- Field of Screams, Nixa, 7 p.m.–midnight.
Sunday, Nov 1: one more patch, then Christmas starts
- Clocks go back at 2 a.m. Enjoy the extra hour.
- McKenna Family Farm, last day of the season, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Fall Roundup at Sycamore Creek, last day, 2:30–8:30 p.m.
- Dolly Parton's Stampede switched to its Christmas show on Thu Oct 29, daily through Jan 3. Ozark Mountain Christmas starts Nov 1.
- Field of Screams, closing night, 7 p.m.–midnight.
If it rains
- Castle of Chaos, Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, 3030 W 76 Country Blvd. Year-round indoor 5D ride, ages 4+.
- The Stampede Christmas dinner show, indoors, daily.
Where to stay
These homes are open Fri Oct 30 to Sun Nov 1 as of early October, so check the live listing for your dates. (Outdoor pools on most homes close for the season before Halloween, so lean on hot tubs, game rooms, and the year-round indoor community pools where noted.)
Near the 76 Strip / Landing / RecPlex (costume nights and coasters)
- Lap of Luxury Lodge: 9 bedrooms, sleeps 26. Ten minutes from the Strip for Copperhead and The Curse.
- Hidden Wonderland: 6 bedrooms, sleeps 20. Under two miles from Branson Landing for Safe Street.
Indian Point / Silver Dollar City (closing-day Harvest Festival)
- Five Mile View: 8 bedrooms, sleeps 32. About a mile and a half from Silver Dollar City.
- Lakefront Paradise: 7 bedrooms, sleeps 20. Indian Point lakefront, close to SDC for closing day.
- The Roberta: 8 bedrooms, sleeps 26. Near SDC, with a golf cart included for group logistics.
Chateau Cove (indoor pool for the rainy-day plan, near 76 and SDC)
- Game Day Lodge: 10 bedrooms, sleeps 28. The resort's year-round heated indoor pool covers a rainy Halloween.
- Lakin' Memories: 9 bedrooms, sleeps 24. Pet-friendly for up to two, with the same indoor pool.
Ridgedale / Big Cedar Holloween
- Lakefront Luxury: 7 bedrooms, sleeps 16. Minutes from Big Cedar and Top of the Rock for Holloween.
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