Firefighters by Day. Costumes by Night. San Marcos Has a Doubleheader. |
Two free city events share one Saturday—with a two-hour intermission for snacks, costume repairs and parental negotiations. |
October 3 has apparently declined to take it easy.
San Marcos families can begin Saturday at a fire station, take a two-hour breather and finish the day dancing in costume at Williams Barn.
These are separate city events.
The calendar simply placed them close enough to become a double feature.
The San Marcos Fire Department Open House runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Halloween Spooktacular follows from 4 to 8 p.m.
Firefighters before lunch.
Inflatables before nightfall.
Intentional or not, the calendar understood the assignment.
Start at the Firehouse
The San Marcos Fire Department will hold its annual open house at Fire Station 1, 180 West Mission Road.
The event is free and open to the public.
Families can meet local firefighters, explore fire-prevention education and displays, and find activities for children.
The city also advertises a firehouse barbecue served by San Marcos firefighters. It does not say whether the food is free or sold.
The open house ends at 2 p.m.
That leaves two hours to eat, regroup and locate whichever costume accessory disappeared between the house and the car.
Because capes are brave.
Capes are not organized.
Then the Costumes Take Over
Halloween Spooktacular returns for its second year at Williams Barn in Walnut Grove Park, 1950 Sycamore Drive.
Admission is free.
So are the Halloween dance party, costume parade and crafts inside the barn.
Games, other Halloween activities and inflatables cost $1 per activity while supplies last.
The city says games will offer treats and prizes. It has not published a complete activity list or identified the prizes.
Food and drinks will also be available for purchase from an onsite food truck. The vendor, menu and prices have not been announced. Translation:
Walking through the gate costs nothing.
The inflatable economy operates separately.
Ten Dollars, Ten Tickets, One Tote
Families may preregister for a $10 Activity Bundle.
It includes 10 activity tickets, with one ticket required for each paid activity, plus a mini trick-or-treat tote while supplies last.
Ten $1 tickets still cost $10.
The tote is the bonus.
Preregistration is optional. The city says walk-up tickets will be available for $1 each during the event.
Scholarships are accepted for advance registration, and all activity-ticket sales are final.
No registration deadline, tote quantity or event-capacity limit has been published.
Registration remains available through the city’s Halloween Spooktacular page.
A Young Tradition Returns
San Marcos introduced Halloween Spooktacular in 2025. The city identifies 2026 as the event’s second year.
This year’s schedule promises a costume parade—not a costume contest.
Parade confidently.
Save the judging for the candy haul.
Questions You May Have About Oct 3 San Marcos Double Event:
When is the Fire Department Open House?
When is Halloween Spooktacular?
Where is Spooktacular?
What is free? |
3 Comments
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Would be nice if they gave more info about the food trucks. Still going though, last year's Spooktacular was a good time even with the crowds.
Carlos P.Yeah, I wish they’d share the menu ahead of time too. At least there’s always pizza or burgers at these things, but it’d be nice to know! Glad to hear you had fun last year, hoping the lines aren’t too bad this time.
Love that the firehouse is open to everyone! My kids always get a kick out of meeting the firefighters. Might have to dust off the superhero capes for the parade.