Spooky season has officially entered the chat. And at Great Escapes RV Resort Bryan-College Station, it is not the jump-scare, why-is-there-a-clown-in-the-corn kind. It is the matching-costumes, sugar-high, golden-hour-hayride kind. The vibes are immaculate. The scares top out at a gentle four out of ten, and only if the fog machine surprises the dog.
Here is the deal: all of October, Great Escapes turns into a full-on Halloween village. Four themed weekends, decorated sites glowing after dark, trick-or-treating from campsite to campsite, and enough pumpkins to make the neighbors back home (still watering the lawn in September) genuinely jealous. It is Halloween for families who want the fun without the trauma. Say less.
The short version
Great Escapes Bryan-College Station hosts four family-friendly Halloween theme weekends every October: the Not-So-Spooky Fall Festival (Oct 9-11), Pumpkin Palooza (Oct 16-18), Witches & Wizards Weekend (Oct 23-25), and the Monster Mutt Halloween Bash (Oct 30-Nov 1). Each weekend brings site decorating, costume contests, a pumpkin patch, glow-in-the-dark crafts, after-dark wagon rides, and trick-or-treating around the park, all wrapped in a not-actually-scary vibe built for kids (and dogs). Book early, because the weekends fill up fast.
Cool nights, hoodie weather, and a park that goes all in. This is the good stuff.
Four weekends. One very extra October.
Most places do one Halloween night and call it a season. Great Escapes does four straight weekends, and every single one goes all out. Here is the lineup at a glance:
| Weekend | Dates | The vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Not-So-Spooky Fall Festival | Oct 9-11 | Pumpkin patch, s'mores, and karaoke that is scarier than the decorations |
| Pumpkin Palooza | Oct 16-18 | Pumpkin painting, glow crafts, and the Not So Haunted Kiddie House |
| Witches & Wizards Weekend | Oct 23-25 | Potion crafting, enchanted pumpkins, and full wizard energy |
| Monster Mutt Halloween Bash | Oct 30-Nov 1 | Actual Halloween, and the dogs get top billing |
Pick one, pick a few, or run the whole gauntlet. No judgment either way.
Not-So-Spooky Fall Festival (Oct 9-11)
The season opener, and the perfect entry point for anyone whose kids are "not ready for the scary stuff" (fair). Plant your seed at the Magic Pumpkin Patch, decorate a pumpkin, and take a swing at Candy Corn Ring Toss and cornhole.
The Haunted Site & Costume Contest runs all weekend, so the scheming starts early. Pro tip: the families who decorate their sites like it is a competition are the ones the kids remember. Be that site.
Once the sun goes down, it is s'mores and karaoke at the fire, where the vocals are, respectfully, the most alarming thing happening in the park. A wagon ride rolls through after dark to round it out.
Pumpkin Palooza (Oct 16-18)
Weekend two leans into peak pumpkin. The patch is back, plus pumpkin painting and glow-in-the-dark crafts that the kids will absolutely try to take home wet.
The star of the show is the Not So Haunted Kiddie House, which takes over the pavilion decorated corner to corner. It is built so the little ones can walk through and come out the other side feeling brave, no tears required. Costume contests run all weekend, and the whole park goes full Halloween from Friday check-in through Sunday. Spooky wagon rides roll after sundown.
A genuinely gourd-geous amount of candy is involved. Zero regrets about that sentence.
Witches & Wizards Weekend (Oct 23-25)
Time to get a little magical. Think enchanted pumpkins, glow-in-the-dark potion crafting, and enough wizard energy to make everyone quietly reconsider their Hogwarts house. The Not So Haunted Kiddie House is still holding down the pavilion for anyone who likes their spooky on the gentle side.
Karaoke starts up after dark, the wagon ride rolls once the sun is down, and the Haunted Site Contest crowns the weekend's best decorators. Sing, dance, cast a spell, or do all three.
A quick heads-up: pack layers, and maybe a backup costume. The first one rarely survives past Friday night.
Monster Mutt Halloween Bash (Oct 30-Nov 1)
Actual Halloween weekend, and this time the dogs are the main characters. The Monster Mutt Halloween Bash hands the spotlight to the four-legged crew with pet-friendly games, a costume parade, trick contests, and themed photo booths.
The unofficial challenge: try to out-costume Biscuit, the resort's costumed dog mascot who takes greeter duty very seriously. It has not been done yet, but the effort is always appreciated.
This is also the payoff weekend for everyone who spent October perfecting their site. Decorated campsites, trick-or-treating from spot to spot, and the whole park glowing on Halloween night. It hits different when your street is 80 acres of fellow Halloween people.
Why it just works out here
- It is genuinely not scary. Not So Haunted, not so spooky, zero clowns in the cornfield. Kids come out brave, not traumatized.
- The site is the experience. Decorate your spot, trick-or-treat between the glowing campsites, and let the kids run the neighborhood while the adults hang by the fire.
- The dog is invited. Great Escapes is pet friendly with 80 acres to roam, and Monster Mutt weekend basically exists for them.
- The weather finally chills out. October nights are cool enough for hoodies and campfires, which is the whole point of fall camping. More on that in the 2026 fall camping guide for Bryan-College Station.
Book before the good weekends vanish
October moves fast, and these weekends fill up faster than a candy bowl on a porch with no adult supervision. The move is simple: pick a weekend, lock in an RV site or cabin, and let future-you handle the costume with a Target run on the 28th. Nobody will know.
Book a Halloween weekend at Great Escapes RV Resort Bryan-College Station and give the family an October they will actually remember.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Halloween weekends at Great Escapes Bryan-College Station? There are four: the Not-So-Spooky Fall Festival (Oct 9-11), Pumpkin Palooza (Oct 16-18), Witches & Wizards Weekend (Oct 23-25), and the Monster Mutt Halloween Bash (Oct 30-Nov 1). Each runs from Friday check-in through Sunday.
Is it kid-friendly and not too scary? Yes. The whole event is designed to be not-so-spooky. The Not So Haunted Kiddie House is built so little ones can walk through and come out feeling brave, and the activities lean festive and fun rather than frightening.
Can we trick-or-treat at the resort? Yes. Guests decorate their campsites and trick-or-treating happens around the park from site to site, which is a big part of the weekend. The Haunted Site Contest rewards the best-decorated spots.
Is the resort pet friendly for Halloween? Very. Great Escapes is pet friendly with 80 acres to roam, and the Monster Mutt Halloween Bash (Oct 30-Nov 1) puts dogs front and center with a costume parade, games, and photo booths. Please confirm pet details for your specific site or cabin when booking.
What activities are included each weekend? Expect a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, costume contests, glow-in-the-dark crafts, after-dark wagon rides, karaoke and s'mores by the fire, and site decorating. Specific activities vary by weekend. A few items, like the pumpkin patch, may have a small additional cost.
Do we need to stay in an RV? No. Great Escapes offers full-hookup RV sites and cabins, so families without an RV can still book the full Halloween experience.
How early should we book? As early as possible. October weekends are among the most popular of the fall, and the best sites go first. Reserve ahead to get the weekend and site you want.