Maegan Lanham / TPWD
State Park Events
Ring of Fire
October 14: Sometimes, things just line up — and by things, we mean the sun, the Earth and the moon. On October 14, a Saturday, the southwestern part of the state will experience an annular solar eclipse that will look like a ring of fire in the sky.
The following state parks are hosting eclipse viewing events: Guadalupe River, Kickapoo Cavern, Colorado Bend, Big Spring, Abilene, Lake Brownwood, Enchanted Rock and Tyler. If you decide to view the eclipse from a park, reserve your day pass ahead of time to ensure a spot.
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Eclipse Legends, Lore and Science Hike
Travel through time on this guided hike, viewing dinosaur tracks, a historic home and the site of an indigenous people’s encampment. Along the way, rangers will discuss eclipse fact and fiction.
Cooper Lake State Park - South Sulphur Unit
Lore, legacy and legends
This all-day event will feature programs on Native Americans’ fall harvest, Buffalo Soldiers, campfire stories and more.
Big Spring State Park
Make and Take: Pinhole Projector
Prepare for the upcoming annular solar eclipse by making a pinhole projector for safe viewing.
Brazos Bend State Park
Storytime and Crafts: Bats!
Listen to a story about our nighttime friends, the bats, and make your own bat puppet to take home.
Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls Fest
Enjoy guided hikes, table demonstrations, speakers and nighttime activities at this all-day celebration of the 100th anniversary of Texas state parks.
Kickapoo Cavern State Park
Welcome to the Dark Side of State Parks
From a cavern tour to an eclipse viewing to a bat flight to stargazing, experience darkness like you never have before at Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
Colorado Bend State Park
Make a Solar Eclipse Viewing Box
Make your own solar eclipse viewing box. All supplies will be provided.
Stephen F. Austin State Park
Fall Forest Festival
Come celebrate 100 Years of Texas State Parks in the forest. We’ll have food, music, fun and games for the entire family.
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
Nature Journal: Journey Mapping
Enjoy festive themed crafts, meet with community exhibitors, look for bats on top of the 82-foot John Jacob Observation Tower and try the park’s Spooky Trail — if you dare!
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Boo in the Park 2023
Bring the family out for a campsite decorating contest, pumpkin carving contest, trick or treating and spooky storytelling.
Estero Llano Grande State Park
Spooky Science Fest: Dragons Over Estero
Take a close look at the local dragons (alligators, lizards and dragonflies). The fest will also feature food vendors, costume contests, tram rides, a DJ, a maze, storytelling, face painting, poisonous/edible wild plant education, animals such as snakes and spiders, games, strange slime and more.
Barton Warnock Visitor Center — Big Bend Ranch State Park
Find Your Trail: Mosasaurs v. Modern Monsters
Unearth how mosasaurs are more like modern monsters than you’d think.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit
Spooky Stories & S’mores
Join rangers around the campfire, tell spooky camp stories and enjoy s’mores.
Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
29th Annual Hueco Tanks Community Fair
Stop by educational exhibits and booths, try rock climbing and more.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit
State Park Spook-Tacular
Celebrate Halloween by making masks and trunk-or-treating.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site
100 S’more Years of Campfire Cooking
Celebrate 100 Years of Texas State Parks and enjoy s’mores around a campfire.
Old Tunnel State Park
Celebrate Bats, Trains & Astronomy!
Visit booths with activities related to our bats, the railroad and dark skies/astronomy, then watch bats emerge from the tunnel.
Lake Brownwood State Park
Trunk or Treat
Enjoy the decorated campsites and let kids collect candy at this family-friendly event.
Abilene State Park
Halloween in the Park
Expect candy, decorated campsites, a haunted hike and lots of screams.
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
Trick or Treat in the Park
Trick-or-treat safely in the park with spooky campsites, first responders, trucks and community booths.
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