FOUND AT THE MARKET · THE THURSDAY DISPATCH
A little spooky.
A little worth the drive.
Hello friends,
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and there are several ways to spend it without making the whole evening a race from one candy stop to the next. Downtown Brownwood has its annual trick-or-treat route, Early has costume contests for people and pets, and the Lyric has one last weekend with a very troublesome plant.
For the browsing part of the weekend, I’ve picked two Abilene options that pair shopping with something to eat. And before the costumes come out, there’s one practical deadline: Brown County early voting ends Friday.
GO · Halloween close to home
SHOP · Artisan browsing in Abilene
KNOW · Your October 30 voting deadline
01 / GO · BROWNWOOD + WORTHWHILE DRIVES
What’s worth doing?
Make downtown your Halloween anchor
18th Annual Downtown Brownwood Trick-or-Treat
Saturday, October 31 · 5–8 p.m.
Downtown Brownwood
Participating shops, restaurants and businesses will have treats along the downtown route. This is the easy local pick if you want to put on a costume, walk a few blocks and see familiar faces. Center Avenue’s festivities fit into the same outing.
Costumes, including the four-legged kind
Early Spooky Spectacular
Saturday, October 31 · 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Early Town Center · 109 Kelcy Way, Early
The city lists games, candy, individual costume contests, a family/group contest and a pet costume contest. A good choice for a crew that has put some thought into its costumes. Early and Brownwood overlap, so choose your main stop before trying to squeeze in both.
One last weekend with Audrey II
Little Shop of Horrors
Brownwood Lyric Theatre · 318 Center Avenue
Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31 · 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 · 2:30 p.m.
A flower-shop clerk, a man-eating plant and a dark musical comedy make an appropriately strange end to October. Friday evening or Sunday’s matinee leaves Halloween night free. Tickets are required; check the box office for prices, available seats and content guidance.
02 / SHOP · CURATED WITH A COLLECTOR’S EYE
What’s worth hunting?
Lunch with a side of browsing
FoodeesFest · Abilene
October 30–November 1 · Mall of Abilene
4310 Buffalo Gap Road
Friday 1–9 p.m. · Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m. · Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Free admission; food and shopping purchases are separate.
The organizer advertises more than 40 food and beverage partners plus dozens of crafters and artisans. This is a handmade-gifts-and-lunch outing, with three days to choose from. Free registration is available, but the organizer says you can attend without it.
A market with Halloween built in
Spooktacular at Cypress Plaza · Abilene
Saturday, October 31 · 4–8 p.m.
101 Cypress Street
The organizer’s lineup includes a local vendor market, food trucks, live music, children’s activities and trick-or-treating. Choose this if you want your browsing and Halloween outing in one place. It overlaps the Brownwood and Early celebrations, so treat Abilene as an alternative evening plan.
Already heading downtown?
Visit Brownwood lists pop-up shopping, live music and warm drinks for Halloween on Center Avenue at Shaw’s Marketplace and Fuzzy’s on October 31. Make it a stop along your downtown walk. Individual vendor hours and the booth lineup are not confirmed, so check with Shaw’s before making a special shopping trip.
03 / KNOW · USEFUL AROUND HOME
What’s worth knowing?
Early voting ends Friday
DEADLINE · OCTOBER 30
If early voting is still on your list, Thursday and Friday are your remaining days. The Brown County Elections Office, 613 N. Fisk Street, Suite 200, Brownwood, is open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. through Friday, October 30.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Check the county’s official list for Election Day locations. The county says registered Brown County voters may use any open polling location in the county.
Questions? Brown County Elections Office: 325-646-4333.
What did you find?
A good little shop, an unusual sale, or new signage you’re curious about? Hit reply and tell me where to look. If you’re hosting a November market or community event, send the date, location and a source link for consideration in an upcoming Dispatch.
Know someone who would use this? Forward it, or send them to Found At The Market →.
See you around town,
Rachel 🩵
INDEPENDENT · NONPARTISAN · LOCALLY FOCUSED
Brownwood at the center. Worthwhile Central Texas drives beyond.
Sources checked October 28. All times are local. Check linked organizers for schedule changes, tickets and entry details before heading out.
