Brought to you by Kemah Living, Kemah Police Department, and the City of Kemah
R.I.P. 2026 Festival — Thank You, Kemah! Rising Again Thursday, October 28, 2027 • 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
100% FREE PUBLIC ADMISSION • 10+ RESTAURANT TASTINGS • CANDY VILLAGE • DJ RONNIE STELLY • HAYRIDES
Savor free chef-crafted tastings from 11 iconic Bay Area kitchens, fill your kids' trick-or-treat buckets across 40+ local business booths, dance to live sets by DJ Ronnie Stelly, and ride sunset hayrides along Galveston Bay—all with 100% free admission.
10+ Top Restaurants
Sample complimentary chef-prepared tasting portions from 11 celebrated local restaurants (around 500 samples per kitchen, available while supplies last!). Savor smoked Texas BBQ, beef fajitas, artisan pizzas, coastal gumbo, handcrafted burgers, and molecular gastronomy—so you can taste the best of Kemah in a single evening.
Explore All 11 Tasting Menus →
Free Candy for Kids
Stroll through 40+ decorated 10' × 10' local business booths and custom Halloween trunks passing out free candy in a walkable, police-patrolled historic district—so your kids can trick-or-treat safely before our 7:00 PM Costume Parade & Trophy Awards!
Explore 40+ Local Businesses →
DJ Ronnie Stelly
Feel the festival energy all night long with family-friendly Halloween party anthems and coastal Texas favorites mixed live by DJ Ronnie Stelly on the Main Stage from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Preview DJ Ronnie Stelly on SoundCloud →
Begins at 5:30 PM
Climb aboard our antique tractor-pulled wooden hayride starting at 5:30 PM—so the whole family can soak in crisp autumn bay breezes, golden-hour waterfront views, and timeless fall memories.
View 5:30 PM Hayride Schedule →Performed by Waylen Spector • Produced & Designed by Seismic Rave Media & Bell Empire Media & Events
Explore the 11 signature coastal kitchens featured at our 2026 festival (~500 complimentary chef-prepared samples per restaurant). 2027 restaurant invitations are now underway for Thursday, October 28, 2027!
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
Legendary Texas smoked brisket, tender pulled pork, specialty smoked sausage, and southern coastal favorites featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
Handcrafted burgers, giant golden onion rings, fresh-ground beef patties, curly fries, and classic Texas burger favorites.
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
Authentic Cajun seafood boils, seasoned boiled shrimp, spicy crawfish bites, and house-simmered coastal seafood gumbo.
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
World-famous lime-marinated beef & chicken fajitas, fresh guacamole, handmade flour tortillas, and sizzling coastal Tex-Mex flavor.
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
Chef David Skinner's acclaimed multi-sensory culinary tasting experience, featuring avant-garde textures, aromas, and boundary-pushing coastal craft.
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
Authentic pressed Cuban sandwiches, slow-roasted mojo pork, savory ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and bold Cuban espresso bites.
Food Tasting • Kemah, TX
Hearty American-Creole comfort food, seasoned coastal bites, tender grilled skewers, and relaxed bayside flavor.
Food Tasting • Seabrook, TX
Hand-tossed brick-oven artisan pizzas, slow-simmered Italian pasta, and authentic garlic parmesan specialty bites.
Food Tasting • Seabrook, TX
Prime smoked Texas brisket, artisan jalapeño cheddar sausage, and specialty butcher-crafted meats.
Drinks & Sips • Kemah, TX
Specialty roasted espresso drinks, autumn brews, spiced seasonal teas, and flaky bakery pastries.
Drinks & Sips • Clear Lake Shores, TX
Waterfront craft beer flights, seasonal autumn ales, and giant warm Bavarian soft pretzels with beer cheese.
Browse 34 high-definition moments and the 4K crowd time-lapse from our 2025 Archive below—our official 2026 Festival Photo & Video Vault is in post-production and dropping soon!
Explore 40+ local businesses, handmade artisan crafts, seasonal coastal goods, face painting, and sweet festival treats in Downtown Kemah!
Fresh festival snacks, savory bites, and gourmet food trucks serving coastal favorites.
Handcrafted coastal jewelry, sea glass necklaces, beaded pieces, and Texas gemstone rings.
Custom Halloween apparel, seasonal fall sweaters, Texas coastal hats, and boutique gifts.
Caramel apples, spooky cake pops, decorated sugar cookies, cupcakes, and cotton candy.
Full Halloween face transformations, glow glitter, festival jewels, and temporary tattoos.
Farm-fresh carving pumpkins, autumn wreaths, seasonal candles, and rustic Texas decor.
A huge thank you to the 40 local businesses and community sponsors who made our 2026 Trunk-or-Treat, Shop & Eat unforgettable! Want your business featured here for Thursday, October 28, 2027? Reserve your 2027 booth or marketing package below.
Try searching a different keyword or reset the category filter to view all 40 local sponsors.
Choose your official pathway to participate when Kemah's largest family Halloween festival returns on Thursday, October 28, 2027.
Join us for Trunk-or-Treat, Shop & Eat! Local businesses are invited to participate at no cost by reserving a complimentary 10' × 10' space. Set up your tent or decorate your designated area, promote your business, and hand out candy to families attending this community event.
Important: This option does not include website advertising, promotional campaigns, custom content, or other premium marketing services.
Bring your creativity and Halloween spirit to Trunk-or-Treat, Shop & Eat! Families, individuals, organizations, and community groups are invited to decorate their vehicles and distribute candy to children during this exciting community celebration. Create a fun, festive trunk display and help make Halloween memorable for local families.
From gates opening at 5:00 PM to the 7:00 PM Costume Parade and 8:00 PM Culinary Trophy presentation!
Open to all children, families, and adults! Trophies awarded live on the Main Stage.
11 restaurant tasting stations open across the Historic Lighthouse District (while supplies last). Trunk-or-Treat Candy Village & Local Business tents welcome families, and DJ Ronnie Stelly kicks off the music!
Antique tractor-pulled hayrides begin running along the scenic waterfront and continue throughout the evening.
Gather at the Main Stage for the grand costume parade! Trophies awarded for Best Kid Costume, Best Family Costume, and Best Decorated Trunk.
Official crowning of the 2027 "Best Taste of Galveston Bay" restaurant trophy winner and closing celebration.
Located in the Historic Lighthouse District of Downtown Kemah at 604 Bradford Ave. Free public parking & complimentary shuttle service available.
Designated parking lots located on Bradford Ave & 6th Street with complimentary shuttle service.
Dedicated shuttles assist guests between Kemah parking lots and festival gates.
Convenient overflow parking available in the Home Depot / Target parking lot area.
Everything you need to know about admission, tastings, parking, and business participation for Trunk or Treat, Shop & Eat 2027.
Yes! Trunk-or-Treat, Shop & Eat is 100% free for the public—no tickets, wristbands, or advance reservations required. General admission, restaurant tasting portions (while supplies last), Candy Village trick-or-treating, live music by DJ Ronnie Stelly, sunset hayrides, and Costume Contest entry are all included at zero cost.
Eleven celebrated Bay Area restaurants prepare approximately 500 complimentary tasting portions each (~5,500 total chef-crafted samples across the festival). Tastings begin promptly when gates open at 5:00 PM and are served on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last—so arrive early to sample your favorites and track them in your interactive Tasting Passport above!
Yes. Dedicated courtyard tables, picnic seating, and shaded gathering spots are positioned throughout the Historic Lighthouse District so families can comfortably sit down, enjoy their restaurant tastings, and listen to the Main Stage music.
Our 2026 festival has concluded—join us next year on Thursday, October 28, 2027, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 604 Bradford Avenue in Downtown Kemah's Historic Lighthouse District (located in the walkable historic streets, not on the wooden boardwalk).
Complimentary antique tractor-pulled hayrides begin boarding at 5:30 PM and run continuously along the scenic Galveston Bay waterfront throughout the evening.
Simply gather at the Main Stage just before 7:00 PM—no pre-registration or entry fee is required for costume contestants! Official trophies are awarded live on stage across three categories: Best Kid Costume, Best Family Costume, and Best Decorated Trunk.
Event parking in Kemah is 100% free. Designated public lots are located near Bradford Avenue & 6th Street, with convenient overflow parking at the nearby Home Depot / Target lot and complimentary continuous shuttle service dropping families right at the festival gates.
Yes! We offer distinct participation pathways for businesses, community groups, and families:
Trunk-or-Treat, Shop & Eat is proudly presented in official partnership by Kemah Living, the City of Kemah, and the Kemah Police Department.
Showcasing the vibrant coastal lifestyle, local businesses, dining, and community traditions across the Kemah lighthouse district and bay area.
Proudly hosting community festivals in the Historic Lighthouse District to bring local families and regional visitors together.
Led by Chief Gairvey, the Kemah Police Department is actively involved in creating a safe, joyous Halloween experience for all children and families.
