Trunk-or-treat and community trick-or-treating events are a wonderful and safe alternatives for young kids during the 2022 Halloween season.
These family-friendly events are often held during the day and are contained within community centers, downtown areas with road closures, or blocked off parking lots.
Trunk-or-treat events are especially fun as cars are decorated with themes and fun displays and they require minimal walking between stops.
There are many events offering special trick-or-treat and trunk-or-treat fun in Columbus this year. Your kids will enjoy a safe and fun Halloween experience no matter which you choose – you may want to pick a couple to attend!
There's so much to do in Columbus in the Fall, whether you’re looking for something spooky or kid-friendly! Check out our HUGE list of fall events, Haunted Houses and Haunted Woods and Spooky Ghost Tours, community Trunk or Treat events and Halloween Parties, and our list of pumpkin patches, farm activities and corn mazes! Plus, find out when your community is having Trick or Treat or Beggar's Night this year!
Don’t forget – there are plenty of places to eat free or cheap on Halloween. Some of these options won’t be updated until mid/late October, so check back
Halloween Meal Deals and Kids Eat Free or Cheap on Halloween in Columbus
Safe Trick-or-Treat and Trunk-or-Treat for 2023
Olentangy Fall Festival and Treatfest
Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 11 am – 2 pm at Olentangy Orange Middle School, 2680 East Orange Road Lewis Center. FREE – but some activities and perks require pre-registration
Boo at the Zoo at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
October 6-8, October 13-15, October 20-22, October 27-29, 2023
Meet characters throughout the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Visit Cali’s Pirate Dance Party and Frogwortz Academy, ride the Zoo Boo Choo Choo, and stop at treat stations located throughout the Zoo. There will be all sorts of fall fun at the Zoo!
Delaware Fall Festival and Treatfest KidsFest
Sunday, October 8, 2023 from 11 am – 2 pm at Delaware Community Center YMCA. Admission is free, but register to qualify for VIP entry, bags, and other fun activities.
Candy Crawl at Indian Mound Mall
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Goblins and Ghouls are invited to Indian Mound Mall for lots of fun! Bring your toddler or preschooler dressed in their favorite outfit to Trick or Treat from 11am-12:30pm
Dublin Halloween Spooktacular
October 19-20, 2023 in Coffman Park.
Merry, not scary family fun! Guests of all ages can come in costume and enjoy this ghoulish celebration. Goblins and ghouls will enjoy returning favorites like the Trunk or Treat Trail, eerie exhibits and dance performances on the Coffman Park Tennis Courts.
Boo ‘N Brew Birthday Party at Polaris Fashion Place
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 12 pm – 4 pm. Fall festival with beer garden and lots of family-friendly activities throughout the lifestyle center. Live music, trick-or-treating, costume contest, parades and more!
Treat Street: Halloween at The Shops on Lane Avenue
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 12pm – 2pm. Come dressed in your favorite costume for an afternoon of spooktacular fun! While supplies last, children 12 and under will enjoy Trick-or-Treating, festive music, refreshments and more. This is a FREE community event.
New Albany Parks and Recreation Trunk or Treat
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 3-6 pm at Bevelhymer Park. Wear your best costume and trick or treat through the parking lot to play games and get candy from various local organizations. Lots of fun activities are happening too!
Trunk or Treat Car Show with Empty Pockets Cruisers
Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 11 am to 4 pm (rain 10-22-22)
Hilliard Presbyterian Church 3600 Leap Rd Hilliard, OH 43026. Registration $10, bring candy to hand out to trick or treaters from 1 -3 pm. Spectators and Trick or Treaters Free
Free Community Halloween Spooktacular Event
Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 1 pm – 5 pm.
Enjoy a safe, indoor trick or treating experience. The venue will be transformed into a haunted wonderland, with decorations that will transport you to a world of Halloween magic. Lots of fun activities! More details.
The following are from 2022 and will be updated soon.
Prairie Township Trick or Treat Trail
Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 4-6 pm at Westland High School Parking Lot. Expect a night full of candy, games, food, & more! Jolly Pirate food truck will be there, plus Facepainting and games, and a Bounce House
Autism Society Trunk or Treat Fairfield County
Sunday, October 16 from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Costume up for a friendly afternoon of Halloween fun! The event is free, but you must register. 6355 Winchester Blvd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Trunk or Treat at Hebron New Life United Methodist Church
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 6-7 pm
925 W. Main St., Hebron, Ohio. There will be a prize for the best trunk.
Nightmare Kids Halloween Party at The Event Loft Columbus
Friday, October 21 from 6-10:30 pm.
Food. Candy. Games. Snacks. Fun House. Face Paint. Vendors. Costume Contest. Dance Contest and more.
5441 Westerville Rd Westerville OH 43081.
Trick or Treat at The Five
Friday, October 21 from 6-8 pm
Free trick or treat event with games, food, prizes, and more.
Trails and Treats with Delaware Parks & Recreation
Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Mingo Park
Trunk or Treat is from 5pm-7pm. Food trucks are available. Kids get a free pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (while supplies last). Carve out family fun and join us for this exciting event! Vendors will be posted throughout the Mingo Park trail with candy and games. Live music will be played at the 3 Seasons Shelter. All ages welcome.
Newark Treatfest
Sunday, October 23 from 1 pm – 3 pm at Canal Market District
The Newark Fall Festival & Treatfest is the ultimate destination for fun from trick or treating, pumpkins, bounce park, costume contest, stage entertainment, character meet & greet, fun prize wheel, VIP bag, food & treat trucks, shopping, find things for the fall, education, classes, things for family, home & more!
Trick or Treat Trail at Gallant Woods Park
Sunday, October 23, 1 pm – 4 pm
Bring the kids in costume to gather treats from characters along the enchanted nature trail. Decorate pumpkins, enjoy a hayride, meet some creepy critters, vote for your favorite scarecrow, and visit Gallant Farm across the road. It’s all free!
The Maize at Little Darby Creek Trick or Treat
Sunday, October 23 From 2pm – 3pm, kids wear your costumes and trick or treat for candy. Marshall from Paw Patrol will be helping with trick or treat. The costume contest will follow at 3pm.
Candy by the Carload in Powell
Sunday, October 23 from 4-6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building Parking Lot at 47 Hall Street. The parking lot will be transformed into a trick-or-treater’s treasure chest as local businesses and organizations set up booths and car trunks filled with candy, toys and other Halloween goodies. Registration details.
Blacklick Woods Metro Park Trick or Treat Trail
October 25 from 5 pm – 7 pm
Families will take a half-mile walk along the Buttonbush Trail and learn about tricks while collecting treats! Trick-or-treaters and their families are encouraged to wear costumes.
Costume & Candy Crawl at Kingsdale Shopping Center
October 27 from 4 pm – 7 pm
Dress in your Halloween best and Trick-or-Treat at Kingsdale Shopping Center! There’s a costume contest, face painters, and balloon artists. Please meet at the green for registration and a trick-or-treat bag to take along the route. This is a FREE event. Open to kids 12 and under, with adult supervision.
Boo & Brew at Bridge Park
Wednesday, October 26 from 5-8 pm
Boo & Brew is a family-friendly event held at Bridge Park. Local businesses will be lining the streets to pass out Halloween candy and goodies to those of all ages. Plus face-painting, a balloon artist, and more!
Pickerington Haunted Village
Thursday, October 27, 6-8 pm.
Enjoy the ghost tours, story-telling, hayrides, food vendors, and trick or treating through the Olde Pickerington Village businesses. The brave ones can experience the haunted museum, haunted house, and more.
KidX Club™ Candy Crawl at Polaris
Tuesday, October 27 from 5 pm – 7 pm.
Kids can grab a trick-or-treat bag (while supplies last) and go store to store for trick-or-treating. Dress to impress for the family costume contest. There will be games, prizes, and more.
Howl-O-Ween at Ohio Wildlife Center
Thursday, October 27 Walk through the White Tail Trail, visits from “spooky” Animal Ambassadors like owls Bella, Alex and Woodsy, snakes Checkers, and Percy and Lenore, our American Crows. $25 per family of 4, $5 each additional child
Brightside Academy Spooktacular Trunk or Treat
Friday, October 28, 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm. Children and parents can enjoy this free community event at Brightside Academy. There will be live music, haunted bus, vendors, candy, costume contest, and more.1977 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus.
Great Gahanna Goblin Trail
October 28, 2022 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm.
Trick or treat trail, light shows, live entertainment, and lots of fun surprises at Academy Park, 1201 Cherry Bottom Road in Gahanna.
Worthington Halloween Party and Halloween on the Village Green
Friday, October 28 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Kids can Trick or Treat on the Green from vendors passing out treats. There will be entertainers on all four quadrants, as well as arts and craft stations, and more!
Scarysville in Uptown Marysville
October 29, 2022 from 10 am – noon.
The streets of Uptown “Scarysville” come alive with Halloween FUN. Children can wear costumes and visit Uptown merchants for candy and other Halloween goodies. All the fun of Trick or Treat, in the light of day.
This event is sponsored by the Historic Marysville Business District Association. Details here.
Spooky Stockhands at Stockhands Horses for Healing
Saturday, October 29th from 11am to 3pm
Trick or treat with the horses. There will be a photo booth too! $5 per child (2 and under are free)
Trunk or Treat at Pataskala Grace Church
Saturday, October 29 from 11 am – 2 pm.
Family-friendly activities include trunk or treating, hayrides, games, food trucks, and more.
Boo off Broadway in Grove City
Saturday, October 29 from noon-4 pm
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 in the Grove City’s Town Center Promenade.
Saint Augustine’s Anglican Church Free Fall Festival
Saturday, October 29 from 1-4 pm
Free fall festival near uptown Westerville! It will be fun for the whole family. There will be a petting zoo, KONA snow cones, face painting, popcorn, balloon animals, carnival games, and more! 120 N. Otterbein Avenue, Westerville.
Annual Cops & Community Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 1-4 pm.
1955 Frank Rd, Columbus. Meet various Central Ohio law enforcement and first responders. Free raffles for bike helmets, gift cards, and gift baskets. Emergency vehicles will be decorated and candy will be passed out. Hot dogs, soda, water, chips and candy provided.
Trunk or Treat Delaware County at New Beginnings Church
Saturday, October 29 from 3-4:30 pm.
Hosted by New Beginnings Church and ASCO Autism Society Central Ohio. Enjoy a fun and safe Trunk or Treat for all ages and all abilities. There will be decorated trunks in various themes, all passing out goodies. Registration is REQUIRED but free
Historic Happy Halloween Candy Trail in Dublin
Saturday, October 29 from 3-5 pm in Historic Dublin.
Dress Up your little Ghouls for a Frighteningly Good Time! Businesses in the District will be handing out candy between 2:00- 5:00pm (or while supplies last). Meet the Sanderson Sisters (Hocus Pocus) from Paulettes Princess Parties!
Hilliard Church of the Nazarene Trunk or Treat
Saturday, October 29 from 5 pm – 8 pm
Trunk or Treat in the parking lot of the church! There will also be bounce houses, face painting, pumpkin hayride (for $2 donation) and so much more! Families can sign up to decorate trunks and pass out candy. 3669 Leap Road in Hilliard
Trick or Treat Loot Bag during Pumpkins Aglow at FPC
October 29-30: On Halloween weekend during Pumpkin Glow at Franklin Park Conservatory, children ages 2-12 will receive a small bag filled with treats and surprises. Family friendly costumes are encouraged.
Rockin’ Tots Halloween Party at Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park
Sunday, October 30 from 9 am – 11 am. $15 for one child and one parent, $7 for each additional child (Ages 6 and Under), $10 additional parent. Includes Arts and Crafts Games Costume Contest and much more!
Inniswood Halloween Party
Sunday, October 30 from 2-4 pm
Head to the Gardens for activities and crafts to celebrate this traditional holiday.
Special Needs “Trick or Suites” at Embassy Suites
Sunday, October 30, 2022 from 2-4 pm. Trick or “Suites” Pandemic Style! The ASCO is partnering with Embassy Suites to provide a fun and safe environment for special needs individuals of all ages and their families to enjoy trunk-or-treat!
Trunk or Treat at Grace Polaris Church
Sunday, October 30 from 4 pm – 6 pm. 8225 Worthington Galena Road. Free community event with live DJ, games, candy, firetruck, bounce house, food, and more.
Hilliard Trunk or Treat at Hilliard/Ray Patch YMCA
Sunday, October 30 from 5-7 pm
We will have a food truck, music from 104.9 The River, the Hilliard Police, a DIY photobooth, food trucks and more!
Tots Trick or Treat at Pickerington City Hall
Thursday, October 31 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
Children 2-5 years old accompanied by an adult may wear their favorite costumes as they walk through the decorated City Hall to see staff dressed in costumes while receiving a few goodies.
Trunk or Treat in Whitehall
October 31, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 pm
Whitehall City Hall parking lot. Ghouls and goblins are invited to enjoy Trunk or Treat, a free family-friendly alternative to Trick or Treat, complete with candy, pumpkins, Touch-a-Truck, and more
Groveport Halloween Block Party
Monday, October 31, 5:30pm – 7pm
Come to the Halloween Block Party located at Main & Front on Monday, October 31, from 5:30pm to 7pm. Trick-or-treaters will receive FREE pizza slices, popcorn, cookies, and other goodies! The GMHS marching band will be kicking off the fun!
There's so much to do in Columbus in the Fall, whether you’re looking for something spooky or kid-friendly! Check out our HUGE list of fall events, Haunted Houses and Haunted Woods and Spooky Ghost Tours, community Trunk or Treat events and Halloween Parties, and our list of pumpkin patches, farm activities and corn mazes! Plus, find out when your community is having Trick or Treat or Beggar's Night this year!
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We love finding and sharing about deals on Columbus on the Cheap.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
More options for Trick or Treat:
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Friday, October 21, 2022
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Friday, October 28, 2022
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Monday, October 31, 2022
Find more Fall Fun here!
- Best places to pick apples in Central Ohio
- Columbus Pumpkin Patches, Farm Activities, Corn Mazes, and More!
- Big list of great Fall date ideas around Columbus
- Best hikes and scenic drives for Fall Color in Ohio
- Over 120 events celebrating Fall and Halloween in Columbus
- 11 Haunted Woods and Haunted Houses Around Columbus
Upcoming Halloween events
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Friday, September 22, 2023
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Monday, September 25, 2023
[…] communities around Central Ohio; check out the Trick or Treat schedule here. There are also over 30 community events with trick or treating or trunk or treating for a safer alternative to Beggar’s Night. If you don’t know what to dress up as for […]