Trunk-or-treating and community trick-or-treating events are a wonderful alternatives for young kids during the Halloween season. They 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 over 40 events offering special trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treating 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! In addition to these special trick-or-treating options below, there are also 25+ parties at the local community centers during the month of October to get you in the Halloween spirit.
If you’re looking for the standard trick-or-treating, check out the trick or treat schedule for communities around Columbus. There are also over 120 fall and Halloween events around Columbus for families and adults that you don’t want to miss this year!
Don’t forget – there are plenty of places to eat free or cheap on Halloween, including Chipotle, Krispy Kreme, and more!
Safe Trick-or-Treating October 1-7
Boo ‘N Brew at Polaris Fashion Place: October 6, 13, 20, 27 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!
Safe Trick-or-Treating October 8-14
Historic Dublin Family Fall Festival: October 13 The Family Fall Festival features happenings all throughout the Historic District, with vendors in Bri Hi Square, and fun activities at many of Historic Dublin’s unique businesses – including musicians & a Magician, activities, vendors, trick or treating through the district and more
Boo ‘N Brew at Polaris Fashion Place: October 13, 20, 27 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!
Safe Trick-or-Treating October 15-21
Dublin Halloween Spooktacular: October 18 Trunk or treating, pictures with special guests, dancing, food trucks, The Turtle Lady, The Bug Man, The Shazzbots, and other Halloween related crafts and activities.
Halloween Treat Trail Party at Everal Barn: October 19 FREE; Ages 8 and under will enjoy carnival games along the treat trail; Halloween Bingo, and Vendor Alley. Antrim Shelter at Heritage Park. Don’t forget to enjoy the horse-drawn carriage ride through the park. Remember to wear your costume!
Worthington Community Center Halloween Party: October 19 Prehistoric Halloween, and will feature dinosaur-themed trick or treat trail, live music, carnival games, and hayrides.
Halloween Family Fun Night at Three Creeks Metro Park: October 19 from 6-7:30 pm. Not-too-scary stories and s’mores at the campfire and go trunk-or-treating for candy. Kids of all ages encouraged to wear costumes. Meet at Confluence Trails bulletin board.
Ghost Trolley with Ohio Railway Museum: October 19-20, 26-27 Fun, not scary Halloween event for young kids. Tour the decorated street cars and enjoy a lights out ride on the trolley about the Ghost Trolley.
Boo at the Zoo: October 19-21 and October 26-28 Meet superheroes throughout the Zoo, Pumpkin Junction, Animals on Safari, HOWL-OWEEN Show and treat stations located throughout the zoo
Oakland Nursery Trick or Treat Trail with Children’s Costume Contest (Columbus location): October 20
Haunted Halloween Party at The Disney Store: Every Saturday in October at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, enjoy a frightfully fun Haunted Halloween Party and receive a free Mickey Mouse pumpkin light up wristband. RSVP required to participate. Contact your local store. Event is intended for Guests ages 3 – 12 and limited to 20 participants per event. Giveaways are limited and and will be given to Guests ages 3 – 12 that RSVP.
Boo ‘N Brew at Polaris Fashion Place: October 20 & 27 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!
Old Hilliard Halloween Haunt: October 20 Trick-or-treat, scavenger hunt, kid and dog costume contest and family fun activities
Kidslinked Treat Fest at SuperKick Columbus, Lazer Craze, and Sky Zone in Lewis Center: October 20 from 9 am – 1 pm. Treat Village, Races, Video games, Bounce Park, characters, costume contests, and more.
Trunk or Treat Car Show at VFW Hilliard: October 20 from 11am-4pm. Trophies awarded for the best-decorated cars/trucks. Trick or Treat: 1 pm to 3 pm
Harvest Festival at First Church of God: October 20 from 1-3 pm. Food. Fun. Trunk or Treat & More! It’s the annual First Church of God Harvest Festival! Come out and bring the whole family for Harvest Festival Fun! *Costumes optional.
The Maize at Little Darby Creek Trick or Treat: October 21 From 2pm – 3pm, kids can wear costumes and trick or treat for candy. The costume contest will follow at 3pm.
Halloween Pet Parade and Fall Festival at Easton: October 21
Trick or Treat Trail at Gallant Woods: October 21 Gather treats from characters along the s-p-o-o-k-y trail. Decorate pumpkins, enjoy a hayride, & vote for your favorite scarecrow. Fun at Gallant Farms afterwards.
Halloween Pool Party at Westerville Community Center: October 21 Join the zombie lifeguards for a haunted trick or treat trail through the Community Center. Then the party moves to the pool for games, candy, and family swim. Children 6 and under must have a parent in the water with them. Rate: $7.50 Discounted Resident Rate: $5 Parents are FREE (rate details from 2017)!
Safe Trick-or-Treating October 22-31
Costume & Candy Crawl at Kingsdale Shopping Center: October 25 from 6 pm – 8 pm Meet at the Green (the grassy area in the middle of the center) to collect your Trick-or-Treat bag before walking the shops. We’ll also have a costume contest, professional face painters, and balloon artists! Free for kids 12 and under.
Trick or Treat Trail at Prairie Township Community Center: October 26 from 6-8 pm. Local businesses will participate by bringing candy to pass out to your kids. Come out in your best Halloween costume for this fun event.
Trick or Treat at the Shops at Worthington Place: October 26 Safe trick or treating at the mall, plus crafts, face painting, balloon artists and more.
Howl-O-Ween at Ohio Wildlife Center: October 26-27 Walk through the White Tail Trail, visits from “spooky” Animal Ambassadors like owls Bella, Alex and Woodsy, snakes Checkers, bats Echo, and Percy and Lenore, our American Crows. $5 per person ages 6 and up or bring a donation from the wishlist.
Ghost Trolley with Ohio Railway Museum: October 26-27 Fun, not scary Halloween event for young kids. Tour the decorated street cars and enjoy a lights out ride on the trolley about the Ghost Trolley.
Boo at the Zoo: October 26-28 Meet superheroes throughout the Zoo, Pumpkin Junction, Animals on Safari, HOWL-OWEEN Show and treat stations located throughout the zoo
Great Pumpkin Celebration at Cabela’s: 26-31 Free photo with the Peanuts gang (and a $5 photo package option), crafts and pumpkin toss at Cabela’s (and Bass Pro Shops) from noon – 5 pm. Trick-or-Treating and costume parade on Oct. 27 and 31, and other fun activities and freebies.
Scarysville in Uptown Marysville: October 27 The streets of Uptown “Scarysville” come alive with Halloween FUN! From 10 am to noon. Children are invited to dress up in their costumes and visit Uptown merchants for candy and other Halloween goodies. All the fun of Trick or Treat, in the light of day
Haunted Halloween Party at The Disney Store: Every Saturday in October at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, enjoy a frightfully fun Haunted Halloween Party and receive a free Mickey Mouse pumpkin light up wristband. RSVP required to participate. Contact your local store. Event is intended for Guests ages 3 – 12 and limited to 20 participants per event. Giveaways are limited and and will be given to Guests ages 3 – 12 that RSVP.
Boo ‘N Brew at Polaris Fashion Place: October 27 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!
Halloween ComicFest: October 27 Comic shops around the world celebrate the season by giving away FREE comics to fans
Candy by the Carload in Powell: October 27 from 4-6 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.
Gahanna Creepside Festival: October 27 Games, food trucks, live music, activities, haunted trail and trick-or-treating with businesses
Trick or Treat at the Conservatory: October 27 and 28 Free with admission. Dress in costume and travel to treat stations in the Conservatory and in the Children’s Gardens.
Trunk or Treat & Fall Fest at Grove City UMC: October 28 from 5-7 pm. Trunk or Treat, Cookies and Cocoa, Food Trucks, Games, Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Inflateables, Puppets, Giveaways and MORE.
Hilliard Trunk or Treat at Hilliard/Ray Patch YMCA: October 28 Food trucks, music, Norwich Fire, Hilliard Police, a DIY photobooth and much more
Special Needs “Trick or Suites” at Embassy Suites: October 28 from 3-5 pm The Autism Society partners with Embassy Suites Dublin to provide a fun and safe environment for special needs individuals of all ages and their families to enjoy trick-or-treat. Activities include goody bags, trick or treat booths, games and crafts, and more. Registration is required. Activities take about 45 minutes to enjoy.
Halloween Family Funday at North Market: October 28 Crafts, trick or treating starting at 11 am, face painting, games, farm animals, music and more!
Inniswood Halloween Party: October 28 from 2-4 pm Join us in the Gardens for activities and crafts as we celebrate this traditional holiday.
Trunk-or-Treat at Linworth United Methodist Church: October 28 from 3:30 pm – 5 pm Bring the whole family to this safe and fun alternative to Trick or Treat. They’ll have cars and trunks decorated to their Halloween best and plenty of treats to hand out.
Radiant Life Trunk-or-Treat: October 28 from 10:30 am-2 pm Inflatables, hayride, character photos, food, carnival games and trunk-or-treating, and lots of candy
Safe Trick-or-Treating October 29-November 1
Haunted Village in Pickerington: October 30 Ghost tours, hayride, trick-or-treating at Old Pickerington Village businesses
Free Community Trick or Treat by THE GRAND of Dublin: October 30 Starts at 6 pm.
Boo on Broadway in Grove City: October 31 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.
[…] 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 […]