Free Bat Fest at Natural Bridge Caverns (2026): Every October Weekend
Here’s a free fall outing worth the drive: Natural Bridge Caverns is hosting Bat Fest every weekend in October 2026 — October 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 24–25, and October 31–November 1 — with a full lineup of free family activities. It closes out with free trick-or-treating on October 31 from 3 to 5 PM.
What’s free at Bat Fest
- Mini-hay maze for the little ones, every weekend
- AMA ZEn’ Ranch Round-Up — free admission when you wear a family-friendly costume
- Dress-a-Scarecrow stations and activity stations
- Bat scavenger hunt plus coloring pages
- Live music from local musicians
- Fall photo ops (bats and autumn themes) and yard games
The honest fine print
Parking is $10 per day — the one cost to plan for. The cavern tours, zip rails, ropes course, and gem panning are ticketed attractions running alongside the festival; the Bat Fest activities listed above are free.
Costume rules: kids 9 and under can wear full costumes (no decorative Halloween masks); ages 10+ have stricter rules — no masks, no face paint, no handheld accessories. Everything must be family-friendly, and the park reserves the right to approve costumes at entry.
Free trick-or-treating: October 31, 3–5 PM
The festival’s finale is free trick-or-treating on Halloween day from 3 to 5 PM — an early, daylight option that’s perfect for younger kids before the evening neighborhood rounds.
Natural Bridge Caverns
26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
210-651-6101 | Event page
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♥ NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
This guide was free. If it helped your family, $3 a month keeps this running for the next family. $3 a month helps pay for the hosting and the checking that keeps this help free and up to date: $3 a month — chip in.
Gifts are not tax-deductible.
Frequently asked questions
Is Natural Bridge Caverns’ Bat Fest really free?
The Bat Fest activities — hay maze, scavenger hunt, scarecrow stations, live music, photo ops, yard games — are free every October weekend. Parking is $10/day, and the cavern tours and adventure attractions are ticketed separately.
When is the free trick-or-treating?
October 31, 2026, from 3 to 5 PM — free, during the final Bat Fest weekend.
Can we wear costumes?
Yes, with rules: kids 9 and under may wear full costumes (no decorative masks). Ages 10 and up: no masks, no face paint, no handheld accessories. All costumes must be family-appropriate.
Do I need tickets in advance?
Not for the free Bat Fest activities. If you also want a cavern tour or the zip rails, those tickets can be bought in advance online or on-site.
Free food, free rides, free clothes, free furniture and more — all in one place.
