2023 Trick or Treat in Columbus and Central Ohio

Whether you’re taking your little ones to trick or treat, or passing out candy at home, here is the Beggar’s Night or Trick or Treat Schedule in Columbus. Don’t forget to drive carefully on these days, while kids are out walking around and hopped up on sugar.  

If you’re looking for safer trick-or-treating (with businesses and community groups) or trunk or treating around Columbus, check out this list with community events with Trick or Treating or Trunk or Treating in Columbus.

There are also over 100+ fall and Halloween events around Columbus for families and adults that you don’t want to miss this year! These links will continue to be updated through the fall season.

Safe Trick-or-Treat and Trunk-or-Treat in Columbus

Need a costume? If you don’t know what to dress up as for all of these Halloween events, check out these 100 Cheap and Easy DIY Halloween Costumes.

Don’t forget – there are plenty of places to eat free or cheap on Halloween, including IHOP, Krispy Kreme, and more!

Halloween Meal Deals and Kids Eat Free or Cheap on Halloween in Columbus

2023 Trick or Treat Beggar’s Night in Columbus

Halloween falls on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, and most communities are have trick or treat ON Halloween!! Others are still having trick or treat on the weekend, so please check links before you go.

Schedule is subject to change and cancellation. Many communities WILL NOT rescheduled due to bad weather. We’ve added links so you can keep up with any change. 

Why isn’t trick or treat always on Halloween in Columbus?

Many communities opt to use the recommendations from MORPC (Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission). Local government members support a unified trick-or-treat date for the region.

• When Halloween, October 31, falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, Trick or Treat is held the Thursday prior to October 31.
• When October 31 falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, Trick or Treat is held on October 31.

Local communities maintain the authority to change or keep their trick-or-treat date and time. In the event of inclement weather, the recommended date will likely not change.

Always check links to verify!

While this is confusing to many (especially people from out of state), this is both a safety precaution and to prevent activity conflicts.

One of the reasons trick or treat isn’t held on Friday and Saturdays in most communities is due to safety concerns of higher prevalence of impaired drivers on the weekends while kids are walking around in the dark.

Another concern is conflicts with high school and college football games. Many smaller communities have large turnouts for high school football games, so people aren’t home on Friday nights. College football also poses a conflict (and potentially high traffic during home games), along with safety concerns of drivers.

While some communities have trick-or-treat on Sundays, others choose another day so as to not have conflicts with church activities and worship.

Trick-or-Treat Schedule around Columbus 

Franklin County Trick or Treat

Franklin County Trick or Treat on Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Bexley October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Blendon Township October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Columbus October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation, Will not change date due to weather.

Dublin October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Gahanna October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Grandview Heights October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Grove City October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Beggar’s Night

Grove City Boo off Broadway – October 28 from 12 pm – 4 pm. An annual, family-friendly alternative to the traditional door-to-door Beggars’ Night allows children to dress in costume and safely collect candy and other goodies from area businesses and civic organizations.

Groveport October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Also hosting a Halloween Block Party by Town Hall from 5:30 pm – 7 pm for a safe community trick-or-treat experience.

Hilliard October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Hamilton Township October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Madison Township: October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Minerva Park: October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

New Albany October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.
Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, October 14 from 3-6 p.m. at Bevelhymer Park.

Obetz: (2022) October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Pickerington October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Pickerington Tots Trick or Treat – October 31, from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at Pickerington City Hall. Children 2-5 years old accompanied by an adult may wear their favorite costumes as they stroll through the decorated halls and offices of City Hall while receiving a few goodies from the disguised employees.

Prairie Township October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm rain or shine

Prairie Township Trick or Treat Trail – October 21, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – This is a free walk-up event where families can receive candy from local businesses. 

Reynoldsburg October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Upper Arlington October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Whitehall October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Westerville October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Worthington October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The City of Worthington schedules Beggars Night in Worthington on Halloween, October 31st each year, no matter what day Halloween falls on.

NOTE: If Halloween falls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, some central Ohio communities including Columbus follow a different formula and trick-or-treat on the Thursday prior. If you live in the City of Columbus areas of the Worthington School District, follow the City in which you live.

Delaware County Trick or Treat

Delaware County Trick or Treat on October 31

Ashley: (2022) October 31, 5:00-6:30 (always on Halloween)

Delaware October 31, 6-8 pm (always on Halloween). Join Mainstreet Delaware for Trick or Treat Down Main Street during the last Farmer’s Market of the season. October 29, 9 am – noon.

Galena October 31, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Then head to Village Hall for a Costumer Party starting at 7:30 PM.

Genoa Township October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Genoa Township has designated October 31 as Trick or Treat night, despite what day of the week the date falls upon. The Trick or Treat Village event is Saturday, October 28th from  12 noon – 3:00 p.m. 

Orange Township October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Ostrander October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Powell October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Shawnee Hills October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Sunbury October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Marion County Trick or Treat

Marion October 31, 5:30-7:30. In 1999, Marion City Council passed legislation which set “Trick-or-Treat” night within the City of Marion for October 31 of each year between the hours of 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm, unless October 31 falls on a Sunday.  If October 31 falls on a Sunday, “Trick-or-Treat” night will be observed on the preceding Saturday.

Locations below will be updated for 2023 when information is available.

Union County Trick or Treat

Magnetic Springs: October 29, 5:30-7 p.m. Halloween party at the community center at 7 pm.

Marysville October 31, 6:00-8:00
Scaryville: Oct 28 from 10 am – noon, the streets of Uptown “Scarysville” come alive with Halloween fun! Kids can wear their costumes and visit Uptown merchants for candy and other goodies. Sponsored by the Historic Marysville Business District Association.

Plain City  October 31, 6:00-8:00

Richwood  (2022) October 31, 5:00-7:00 (always on the 31st)

Licking County Trick or Treat

Buckeye Lake (2022) October 27, 5:30-7:30 pm. Trunk or Treat in Ryan-Braden Park from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Granville (2022) October 27, 5:30-7:00 

Heath October 26, 5:30-7:00 

Hebron (2022) October 27, 5:30-7:00 

Johnstown October 31, 6:30-7:30 

Kirkersville (2022) October 27, 6:00-8:00

Newark October 26, 5:30-7:00 

Pataskala October 31, 6 pm – 8 pm

Etna Township (2022) October 31, 6-8 pm

Fairfield County Trick or Treat

Pickerington October 31, 6:00-8:00, per MORPC’s recommendation. Will not change date due to weather.

Pickerington Tots Trick or Treat – October 31, from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at Pickerington City Hall. Children 2-5 years old accompanied by an adult may wear their favorite costumes as they stroll through the decorated halls and offices of City Hall while receiving a few goodies from the disguised employees.

Lancaster  October 31, 6-7:30 pm
Downtown Community Trick or Treat: Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 1:00 PM  3:00 PM

Canal Winchester October 31, 5:30-7:30. Afterwards head to the community center from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm for a Halloween Party sponsored by the VFW. Enjoy live entertainment, a costume party with prizes, and goodie bags.

Village of Baltimore October 31, 6:00-7:30

Village of Lithopolis (2022)October 31, 5:30-7:00. In the event of inclement weather the rain date will be Saturday, October 30 from 130p-300p. See Facebook page for updates.

Village of Bremen October 29, 3-5 pm

Violet Township (2022)October 31 from 6-8 pm (unless your HOA or civic association has announced a different day and time)

Amanda October 28: Halloween parade, 4-4:30 pm, costume contest at 5 pm, followed by Trick or Treating from 6-7:30 pm.

Madison County Trick or Treat

London October 31, 6-8 pm

Perry County Trick or Treat

Thornville October 26, 6:00-8:00

Village of Somerset  October 28, 5:30-7 pm

Ross County Trick or Treat

Chillicothe October 28 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.

Logan County Trick or Treat

Bellefontaine October 26, 6-7:30 pm. All of Logan County will be holding trick or treat at this time. 

Village of Lakeview October 26, 6-7:30 pm. All of Logan County will be holding trick or treat at this time. 

Russells Point  October 26, 6-7:30 pm. All of Logan County will be holding trick or treat at this time. 

Coshocton County Trick or Treat

Historic Roscoe Village, (2022) October 28 from 4-5 pm

Coshocton (2022) October 29 from 5-6:30 pm

Champaign County Trick or Treat

Mechanicsburg October 31, 6:00-8:00. Mechanicsburg’s trick or treat for local residents will occur annually ON Halloween – October 31st. The only exception to this rule occurs with 10/31 falls on a Friday.  In those years, Trick or Treat will take place on that Thursday, 10/30. 

Pickaway County Trick or Treat

Circleville  October 31, 5:30-7:30 pm

Commercial Point October 31, 6-8 pm

Village of Ashville: (2022) October 30. Parade starts at 2 pm at post office and ends at park with costume contest. Trick or treat is from 4-5:30

Knox County Trick or Treat

Mount Vernon October 31, 5:30-7 pm

Centerburg: October 31, 5:30-7 pm

Muskingum County Trick or Treat

Zanesville (2022) October 30, 5:30-7 pm 

New Concord, (2022) October 31, 6 to 7 p.m.

Perry County Trick or Treat

Glenford (2022) October 27, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Thornville October 26, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Somerset October 26, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Roseville  October 27, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Beggars Night Trunk or Treat on Main St. 

Crooksville (2022) October tba, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Junction City October tba 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Shawnee October tba 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

New Straitsville October tba, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Corning October tba, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

New Lexington October 31, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Morrow County Trick or Treat

Cardington (2022) October 29  5:00pm – 6:00pm. Trick or Treat 5:00-6:30pm. Parade (with costume contest) lines up at Cardington UMC. More details to follow.

Chesterville (2022) October 29 The Village is having a Trunk or Treat from 5:30-7:00pm

Edison. (2022) Sunday Oct. 30. Parade to begin at 4:00pm. Followed by Trick or Treat. Stay tuned for details!

Fulton (2022) Monday Oct. 31. 5:00-6:30pm

Johnsville October 26th, 5:30 pm to 7 pm

Marengo (2022) Saturday Oct. 29. 5:00-7:00pm

Mount Gilead  Oct. 28. 5pm-6pm

Iberia (2022) October 30, 2:00-4:00pm

Sparta (2022) October 31 5:00pm-6:00pm

Crawford County Trick or Treat

Bucyrus October 31, 2-4 pm

Fayette County Trick or Treat

Washington Courthouse October tba

Destination Outets October 3o, 5 pm – 7 pm. Trick or treat at participating merchants, plus a petting zoo and FREE pony rides near the Nike outlet.

100+ events celebrating Fall and Halloween in Columbus 2023