Austin, TX
Austin is the 2nd 'healthiest' city in America, Forbes says
Is Halloween the new Christmas? Sure seems like it in Texas, which just earned top-5 status in a new study of the U.S. states that are the most into the Halloween spirit.
When it comes to doing up the spookiest holiday of the year, the Lone Star State comes in as the third-most Halloween-obsessed state in America.
The report by outdoor furniture retailer Backyard Oasis ranked all 50 states based on an analysis of search results for Halloween costumes, decor, candy, haunted houses, upcoming Halloween events, and more. State populations were also factored into the rankings to ensure the scores were “accurately comparable.”
Texas ranked No. 3 with a composite score of 48.16 points, beat only by California who ruled the list at No. 1, and New York which came in at No. 2, earning gilded costume crowns as the top two most Halloween-enthusiastic states.
According to the study’s data, Texas is home to 47 haunted houses. The state has more than 75 Spirit Halloween stores in 2024, including nearly 30 in DFW, a dozen in Houston, half a dozen in Austin, and four in San Antonio.
Austinites have plenty of Halloween events to choose from, including a night out at one of many themed bars or artsy showcases. Looking outside of Austin, there are approximately 3,000 Halloween-related events happening all around the state in October.
Many trick-or-treaters dream of getting full size candy bars for Halloween, but in a surprising twist, the study found that the most popular Halloween candy in Texas is actually Sour Patch Kids. The sour-then-sweet candy is also highly popular in New York and Illinois, the report says.
Here’s how Backyard Oasis broke down the rest of Texas’ score:
- 9,314,440 – Halloween costume searches in October 2023
- 1,168,320 – Halloween decoration searches
- 445,670 – Halloween candy searches
Backyard Oasis CEO Andy Wu said in the report that the spirit of Halloween isn’t just about giving out candy or dressing up in fun costumes, it’s about sharing in a “tradition that sparks creativity and joy across the U.S.”
“Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, bringing people together through creativity and celebration,” said Wu. “It’s amazing to see how different states embrace the holiday in their own unique ways, from massive costume searches to thrilling haunted houses.”
The top 10 most Halloween-obsessed states are:
- No. 1 – California
- No. 2 – New York
- No. 3 – Texas
- No. 4 – Florida
- No. 5 – Illinois
- No. 6 – Ohio
- No. 7 – Pennsylvania
- No. 8 – Indiana
- No. 9 – Michigan
- No. 10 – Massachusetts
The least spooky state in the U.S. is Wyoming, which came in at No. 50, joined by nearby states Montana and South Dakota. New Mexico (No. 46) and Vermont (No. 47) were the other two states on the list’s bottom five.
The full report can be found on backyardoas.com.
Austin, TX
National Hockey League seeking expansion in Houston and Austin as potential targets
HOUSTON, Texas — The NHL is looking to start the expansion process in Texas, with Austin and Houston as potential targets, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
The expansion news is being discussed at the NHL’s board of governors meeting, which is being held on Tuesday in New York.
The NHL went from 30 to 32 clubs when it added the Vegas Golden Knights (began play in 2017-18) and Seattle Kraken (debuted in 2021-22). The expansion fee for Vegas was $500 million and for Seattle was $650 million.
Earlier this month at the Stanley Cup Final, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated that the league has fielded calls from across North America from prospective cities and owners who are interested in bringing in an NHL franchise.
SEE HERE: It’s official: Aeros hockey team leaving Houston at end of season
Bettman has previously told the board of governors that any potential expansion team would likely come with at least a $2 billion fee for it to make sense.
The league has seen record revenues this season — projected to be between $7.5 billion and $8 billion. The NHL salary cap is set at $104 million for the 2026-27 season, a $8.5 million increase from this past season.
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Austin, TX
Adobro’s Filipino-Fiesta-meets-Texas-Dancehall “Right Here, Right Now” Album Release Party
Austin, TX
Barton Springs Pool to reopen June 23
AUSTIN, Texas – Barton Springs Pool will reopen to visitors this week.
What they’re saying:
The City of Austin said the pool will reopen on Tuesday, June 23, for the early morning regularly scheduled “swim at your own risk.”
The pool had closed on June 15 due to severe weather.
City staff removed large tree branches, aluminum cans, fishing hooks, and other debris from the water.
The team also cleaned off decks and reinstalled the diving board in preparation for the pool’s reopening.
The Source: Information from the City of Austin
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