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.

68+ Trunk-or-Treat and community Halloween parties 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 Food and Drink Deals on Halloween in Columbus

2024 Trick or Treat Beggar’s Night in Columbus

Halloween falls on Thursday, October 31, 2024, 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 Thursday, October 31, 2024

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 24from 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 19 from 3-6 p.m. at Bevelhymer Park.

Obetz: 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 26, 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. (2025 – Thursday, October 30, 2026 – Thursday, October 29)

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: October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (always on Halloween)

Delaware October 31, 6:00 pm -8:00 pm (always on Halloween). 

Galena October 31, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Then head to Village Hall for a Costume 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 26th 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.
Shawnee Hills Police Department is hosting their annual Trick-or-Treat tailgate, October 31st, from 5-7 at Shawnee Trail @ E. Wyandotte 

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 pm – 7:30 pm. 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.

Union County Trick or Treat

Magnetic Springs: October 26, 4:00-6:00pm **Party at the Community Center at 6:00pm**

Marysville October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Scaryville: tba 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 pm – 8:00 pm

Richwood  October 31, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm (always on the 31st)

Licking County Trick or Treat

Buckeye Lake October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Trunk or Treat by Village of Buckeye Lake and Harbor Community Center 

Granville October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Heath October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Hebron October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 

Johnstown October 31, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm 

Kirkersville  October 31, 6 pm – 7:30 pm

Newark October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Pataskala October 31, 6 pm – 8 pm

Etna Township October 31, 6 pm – 8 pm

Fairfield County Trick or Treat

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 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm 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, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Downtown Community Trick or Treat: Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Canal Winchester October 31, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. 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 pm – 7:30 pm

Village of Lithopolis October 31, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. 

Village of Bremen October 31, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Violet Township October 31 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (unless your HOA or civic association has announced a different day and time)

Amanda October 26 from 5 pm – 7 pm

Madison County Trick or Treat

London October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Perry County Trick or Treat

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

Village of SomersetOctober 31, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Ross County Trick or Treat

Chillicothe October 31 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.

Logan County Trick or Treat

Bellefontaine October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. All of Logan County will be holding trick or treat at this time. 

Village of Lakeview October 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. All of Logan County will be holding trick or treat at this time. 

Russells PointOctober 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. All of Logan County will be holding trick or treat at this time. 

 

Coshocton County Trick or Treat

Historic Roscoe Village, October 31, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Coshocton October 26, 5-6:30 p.m.

West Lafayette October 26 from 5:30-7 p.m.

Dresden TBA 

Warsaw  October 31 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Conesville  October 31 from 5:30-6:30 p.m

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, 6-8 pm

Commercial Point October 31, 6-8 pm

Village of Ashville: October 27, 4 pm – 5:30 pm. Trick or treat is always the LAST Sunday in October from 4:00-5:30! The Halloween parade starts at 2:00pm.

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 October 27, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 

New Concord, October 31, 6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.

Perry County Trick or Treat

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

Caldwell TBA 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Thornville October 31 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Somerset October 31, 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 October 27, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Junction City October 31, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Shawnee October 31 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

New Straitsville October 26, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Hot dogs served at Fire Department at 7 pm.

Corning October 31 trunk or treat 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

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

Morrow County Trick or Treat

Cardington October 26,  5:00pm – 6:30pm. 

Edison October 26, 2 pm – 4 pm

Johnsville October 31, 5:30 pm to 7 pm

Marengo  October 31, 6:00-7:00pm

Mount Gilead  October 26, 5pm-6pm

Crawford County Trick or Treat

Bucyrus October 27, 2 pm – 4 pm

100+ events celebrating Fall and Halloween in Columbus