OCTOBER IS PACKED WITH FALL FUN

CULTURE CLUB

The spooky season is upon us, promising still-sunny days but cooling autumnal temperatures.

This October, folks will have their choice of fun things to do and see in eastern Williamson County, from pumpkin patches and ghost tours to the city of Taylor’s largest event, the Main Street Car Show, happening on Halloween this year.

13TH ANNUAL MAIN STREET CARSHOW

Halloween lands on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the city is lining up a “spooktacularly” fun car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., organizers said.

Now in its 13th year, the Main Street Car Show attracts auto enthusiasts from across the region.

According to Ruby Fisher, Taylor’s Main Street manager, last year’s show brought over 620 cars downtown, with attendance topping more than 15,000.

“As the city of Taylor’s largest event, we’ve welcomed up to 800 cars and thousands of folks to our downtown,” Fisher said. “We can’t wait to see Main Street come alive.”

The Main Street Car Show features vehicles from all eras.

Food trucks will be parked in the lot behind Citizen’s National Bank, at Fourth and Porter streets. A swap meet will be held in City Hall’s parking lot at 400 Porter St.

“We’re tickled to bring the Main Street Car Show back for its 13th year! It’s a wonderful day for our community and an even better day for our local shops, restaurants, and small businesses,” Fisher said. “When folks come downtown for the car show, they don’t just look at cars — they stay, shop, eat and fall in love with Taylor.”

The Main Street Car Show shuts downtown thoroughfares, including Talbot, North Main, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Porter streets.

Parking is available on adjacent streets. The gates open at 7 a.m. for car-show vehicle parking.

Admission is always free, and vehicle registration is $20 per car in advance.

The regular Saturday morning Heritage Square Farmers Market will be on Fifth Street, just north of Heritage Square’s Pavilion.

‘SPOOKTACULAR’ FUN FOR KIDS

Also on Oct. 31, downtown Taylor will host the annual Halloween event known as “Spooktacular” at the Heritage Square amphitheater from 10 a.m. to noon in conjunction with the auto show.

This year’s event will include a costume contest and candy handout.

According to Fisher, “Spooktacular” will include a Youth Costume Runway, and she hopes to have something for every participant.

“Costumes are more than encouraged; they are celebrated,” said Fisher.

“Spooktacular” is free. The Heritage Square Amphitheater is located at 400 N. Main Street.

HISTORY, HAUNTINGS AND HIDDEN STORIES

Taylor has a paranormal vibe that includes tales of lawlessness, spirituality and mysterious deaths. It’s no surprise the nonprofit Taylor Conservation and Heritage Society is back with a revamped history-based excursion for 2026 known as “Taylor After Dark: Ghost Tour.”

The tour will be offered Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, with two departures from the City Hall parking lot, 400 Porter St., each evening: 6:30-8:30 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person or $80 per couple, 18 and older, and reservations are required.

Taylor’s station master from 1878 to 1880, M.C. Schlemmer, described the young town as the “El Dorado of Toughs and a regular Hell-Hole of Saloons and Gambling Houses,” according to Mike Kaspar of the Society.

Since 2016, the annual ghost tour has raised funds to support the Society’s mission of preserving Taylor’s history. This year’s two-hour circuit will cover more stories and include a trolley tour.

“It will travel beyond the traditional downtown route to Taylor’s South Side and the Line, Buttermilk Hill, the Seventh Street corridor, Lake Drive, railroadrelated sites and some of Taylor’s historic cemeteries,” Kaspar said.

The tours will share the 1894 accident involving the explosive “shooting of the anvils” in Heritage Square, Kaspar added.

When folks come downtown for the car show, they don’t just look at cars—they stay, shop, eat and fall in love with Taylor.”

— RUBY FISHER, TAYLOR MAIN STREET MANAGER During some celebrations in the 19th century, an anvil would be loaded with gunpowder and blown into the sky instead of fireworks.

Another tale is the gruesome 1919 murder of George “Uncle George” Anderson, whose body was discovered in the old city bandstand with his skull crushed and his pockets emptied.

The ghost tour guides will share Taylor’s connection to spiritualism that lasted well beyond the 1920s.

The American Spiritualist Church became part of the lives of several Taylorarea families, with stories of mediums, trance sessions and table tippings, Kaspar added.

MUSICONMAIN CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

To close out Hispanic Heritage Month, Music on Main, the free concert series, will host Nossas Novas, an Austin-based Brazilian-American band led by Sonia McLaughlin.

Inspired by Brazil’s colorful bossa nova and Tropicália movements, the group blends samba, jazz, rock and tropical rhythms into what organizers describe as “a uniquely vibrant sound.”

The performance is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6-9 p.m. as a family- and leashed dog-friendly event at Heritage Square Amphitheater, 400 N. Main St.

SWEET EATS FALL FESTIVAL

A perennial fall favorite, Sweet Eats Adventure Farm is open late every day in October, and weekends include Floki Fire Show, Sky Kings Falconry and Zoofari, plus fireworks on Friday and Saturday. Featuring zany farm animals, families can enjoy pig races, a petting zoo, pony rides, wagon rides, apple cannons and over 30 exciting farm-themed activities.

Just for fall, Sweet Eats boasts a 4.5acre themed corn maze and is open day and night. Its Texas-sized pumpkin patch features more than 40 unique pumpkin varieties, and its gourd house is the perfect photo backdrop.

The farm, located at 14400 E. Texas 29 in Georgetown, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). General admission is required, and Sweet Eats uses demand-based ticket pricing.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCHPUMPKINPATCH

For decades, the First United Methodist Church, 907 W. Lake Drive in Taylor, has hosted a community pumpkin patch on the grounds. Each year, families dress in their autumnal finery for photos as they find the perfect gourd.

According to the church, the patch will be open until Halloween, Oct. 31.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, the church will host its free Fall Carnival with games, a costume contest and hot dogs from 4-6 p.m. It is free to attend.

The pumpkin patch is open from 3 p.m. until dark Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. until dark Saturday and noon until dark Sunday.