A haunted house, season premieres for a local ballet and a children’s theatrical company, a burger competition, pet-friendly events, and fall festivals are among major happenings around the San Antonio area over the second weekend of October.

Haunted Oaks

Rolling Oaks Mall is hosting Haunted Oaks, a 12,000-square-foot maze designed for those aged 12 and older who enjoy scary thrills highlighted by a cast of characters and special effects. There’s also Kiddie Haunt, designed for a younger audience.

  • Through Oct. 28, 5-9 p.m. (Wed.), 7 p.m.-midnight (Thu.-Fri.); noon-midnight (Sat.), noon-11 p.m. (Sun.); Oct. 30-31, 7 p.m.-midnight; Nov. 3-4, 7-10 p.m.
  • Ticket prices vary by date
  • 6909 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio
  • www.thehauntedoaks.com

‘Beauty and the Beast’

Ballet San Antonio will kick off its 2023-24 season with performances of “Beauty and the Beast,” a timeless tale of love and transformation.

  • Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 15, 2 p.m.
  • $36 (adults); discounts for seniors, military, large groups
  • Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio
  • www.tobincenter.org/aliceinwonderland

Burger Showdown

Homegrown Chef will present the annual Burger Showdown, featuring 10 renowned San Antonio chefs and restaurants offering their take on burgers, which will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Participants will also make fries, and Texas Cookie Shop will provide cookies for dessert. Proceeds will benefit the San Antonio Food Bank.

Tree giveaway

The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department will donate trees to assist Stone Oak residents with water conservation and beautification of their residential landscaping. Experts will be on hand to provide planting information. Representatives of the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District will also be at the event to talk about water conservation and related topics.

  • Oct. 14, 9 a.m.-noon
  • Free (admission)
  • North Central Baptist Hospital parking lot at Stone Oak Parkway and Madison Oak Drive, San Antonio
  • www.stoneoakpoa.com

CycleNation

CycleNation is a high-energy indoor stationary cycling event taking place at CycleBar near Alamo Heights. Teams of four will ride stationary bikes in a relay format. Each team member will ride for 30 minutes. It will be a party-like atmosphere with high-energy music, food trucks and more. Money raised at the event will help to fund stroke local education and advocacy programs.

San Antonio Oral Cancer Walk

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry is partnering with The Oral Cancer Foundation to host The San Antonio Oral Cancer Walk 2023, celebrating oral cancer survivors and honoring those lost to the disease. The event is to raise awareness and funds to advance the mission of reducing suffering and saving lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy and patient support. There will be a 3K walk, kids activities and free oral cancer screenings.

  • Oct. 14, 8 a.m.-noon
  • Free (age 5 and under and oral cancer survivors), $15 (ages 6-10) $35-$40 (over age 10)
  • UT Health San Antonio recreational sports pavilion, 7431 Merton Minter, San Antonio
  • https://tinyurl.com/mrxrutv8

Zoom Room opening party

San Antonio’s first franchise of Zoom Room, which offers training and socializing tips for dog owners and their pets, will host a grand opening party. There will be discounted agility classes all weekend, free introduction to agility and tricks classes all weekend as well as fresh baked doggy donuts and other activities and giveaways. Zoom Room representatives said their company focuses on positive reinforcement and socialization in training dogs and their owners.

Halloween Pup Party

Bexar County Animal Care will co-present a dog-friendly Halloween party with pet adoptions, food trucks, vendors, a pet costume contest, free microchipping and more.

  • Oct. 14, 2 p.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • Camp Bow Wow Airport, 11931 Jones Maltsberger Road, San Antonio
  • 210-826-9969
Card, Comic and Toy Show
Eckman’s Card, Comic and Toy Show will have vendors selling, trading and buying sports and nonsports cards and collectibles, toys, comic books and more.
  • Oct 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Free (children age 9 and under with paying adult), $10 (general admission)
  • San Antonio Shrine Auditorium, 901 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio
  • www.eckmanstoyshow.com
Puptopia

Puptopia is a festival that’ll offer a variety of dog agility shows, canine-friendly photo opportunities, a lounge with refreshments for dogs and their humans, dog grooming and massages, vendors, pet education, nonprofits, and more. Proceeds support several local nonprofits.
Festival at St. Matthew’s

St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and School will host its annual fall festival, which will include food, music, games, kids activities, a talent show and a raffle.
  • Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • 10703 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio
  • www.stmatts.org
A Night for Rescues - Mardis Gruff

Helotes Humane Society will present a Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser with dinner, music, a silent auction, drawings, a cash bar and door prizes.Chalk It Up

Artpace will hold the Chalk It Up festival, where local artists will draw large-scale chalk murals. Attendees may also do their own chalk drawings and enjoy educational art activities.

‘Carmela Full of Wishes’

Magik Theatre will begin a new performance season with a presentation of “Carmela Full of Wishes,” based on Matt de la Peña’s book. In the story, young Carmela celebrates her birthday by accompanying her older brother on errands when she finds a dandelion and is urged to make a wish. Carmela makes her wishes, but before she can make her biggest wish, her dandelion is crushed, and it’s up to her brother to help Carmela believe again in the power of wishes and dreams. The opening-day show will be preceded by a family-friendly outdoor party in the adjacent Hemisfair Yanaguana Garden.

ConcordiaFest
Concordia Lutheran Church will host ConcordiaFest, a family-friendly fall festival with rides, games, food trucks and more.
A Traveler's Fantasy

South Texas Symphonic Orchestra will perform Wesley S. Uchiyama-Penix’s composition “A Traveler's Fantasy” as well as music from Berlioz, Aaron Copland, Giménez, Brahms and Borodin.
  • Oct. 15, 2 p.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus Fine Arts Building Retama Auditorium Recital Hall, 1 UTSA Circle, Room 2.02.02, San Antonio
  • https://tinyurl.com/ybtr9r4j