Buda to offer a Non-Traditional “Booda Halloween”

Staff Reports

BUDA – In an effort to maintain a family-friendly feel, while simultaneously navigating the challenges of an ongoing pandemic, Buda officials are taking a non-traditional approach to this year’s “Booda Halloween” event.

Instead of designing a high-contact event such as those of previous years where store owners and vendors provided candy and allowed thousands of children to place their hands in candy baskets, City officials are offering families Booda Halloween Movie Night in the Park. This alternative event, a viewing of the movie Hocus Pocus, will be held 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Buda City Park Amphitheater, and will allow children and their parents, couples and individuals alike to “bring-your-own goodies” and enjoy a night out at the park cuddling up with lawn chairs, blankets and snacks.

“Due to the ongoing pandemic, we realized that we had to reimagine Booda Halloween as we know it,” said Greg Olmer, Buda’s director of Parks and Recreation, adding, “With the rise in the Delta variant of COVID-19, we wanted to ensure that we conducted this event as safely as possible, recognizing contactless and social-distancing conventions.”

In addition, the Buda Public Library will host several Booda Halloween activities, including:

Virtual storytimes will be available Oct. 28-30. Registration will open at 10 p.m. Oct. 18. Pre-registration is required for this event. Visit this website https://www.budalibrary.org/Activities/Activity/Detail/Halloween-Storytimes-57 to register. 

Craft bags for preschoolers, school-aged children, teens and adults will be available at the Buda Public Library from Oct. 25-30 while supplies last. 

Submit photos of decorated pumpkins and/ or Halloween costumes to budalibrary@budalibrary.org by Oct. 31 for a chance to be entered in the Pumpkin Decorating and Costume contests. Winners will be announced on Nov. 5. Photos submitted by participants may be shared publicly.

City officials ask that attendees pay attention to weather conditions as the date for Booda Halloween Movie Night in the Park approaches. Also, check City of Buda social media posts for information on additional parking, street closures and inclement weather notices that might affect the status of the event.

The City of Buda is home to nearly 19,000 residents and has earned designations as a “Texas Main Street City,” “Tree City USA,” “Platinum-Level Scenic City” and the “Outdoor Capital of Texas.” Buda is situated along the Interstate 35 corridor, has 14 parks and a historic downtown district where residents and visitors alike can shop, dine, relax, and breathe easy here.