Trick or treat?! Celebrate Halloween with these fun events

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

All over the Miami Valley, Halloween celebrations old and new are set to take place leading up to Halloween.

Though the scares might look a bit different this year due to the COVID pandemic, here is a guide to the Halloween events sure to send a chill down your spine during the remainder of October.

👻🎃🦇Kings Island Tricks and Treats Fall Fest

When: Every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 31

Where: Kings Island Amusement Park, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason

More info: www.visitkingsisland.com | facebook.com/visitkingsisland

Guests to the Kings Island Tricks and Treats Fall Fest, taking place through the end of October, can look forward to fall-themed games, adults-only game shows, dance parties, corn and hay mazes, a QR quest, a challenge course, pint-sized tractor rides, crafts, the Trick or Treat Bean Challenge (will you get the great or gross jelly beans?) and much more. Additionally, all of the rides at Kings Island will be open.

To make the event even sweeter, trick-or-treating spots will be set up throughout the park to hand out individually-packaged treats to kids of all ages. For the older crowd, however, a Tasting Card is available for purchase, and for $50, it includes six to nine tastings from Kings Island’s Tricks and Treats menu. Admission, parking and a tasting card is $55 per person and can be purchased on Kings Island’s website.

👻🎃🦇KidX Candy Crawl

When: Friday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Center Court at The Mall at Fairfield Commons, 2727 Fairfield Commons Blvd., Beavercreek

More info: Facebook

The Mall at Fairfield Commons will host a free Candy Crawl. All guests, dressed in their best Halloween costumes, will meet at Center Court in the mall to pick up their trick-or-treat bag full of goodies, have their photo taken as a part of the mall’s costume contest and then head to participating stores in the mall for even more trick-or-treating opportunities.

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

👻🎃🦇Harry Potter Trick or Treat with Downtown Tipp City Merchants

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Downtown Tipp City

More info: Facebook

The Downtown Tipp City Partnership is encouraging everyone to dress up as their favorite Harry Potter character while attending the Harry Potter Trick or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 30 in downtown Tipp City.

Be sure to grab a map and a bag to stash your loot as you make your way throughout the downtown area, grabbing special Halloween-themed treats at local businesses along the way.

Treat bags and raffle cards can be picked up a Bella Gray Market, located on 34 S. 2nd Street.

👻🎃🦇Trunk or Treat at Buckeye Harley-Davidson

When: Saturday, Oct. 23 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Buckeye Harley-Davidson, 7220 N Dixie Drive, Dayton

More info: Facebook

Buckeye Harley-Davidson will host its annual Trunk or Treat event with Halloween festivities to be announced and plenty of candy.

👻🎃🦇Light Up the Mound Pumpkin Glow

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Little Mound Park, 9490 Still Meadow Lane, Dayton

More info: Facebook

The fifth annual Light Up the Mound Pumpkin Glow will take place at Little Mound Park. To participate, carve a pumpkin with any artistic direction you desire and drop it off at the tree by the mound before 4 p.m. on Oct. 30. From there, organizers will make the pumpkins glow. The mound will be lit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 31.

👻🎃🦇Trunk or Treat Fall Festival

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Mack’s Tavern, 381 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Centerville

More info: Facebook

Mack’s Tavern will host its second annual, family-friendly Fall Fest/Trunk or Treat event. The event will be held in Mack’s Tavern’s parking lot. The costume contest will begin around 7:30 p.m., and the prizes will be divided into toddler boy/girl, teenage boy/girl, adult and family, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for dogs.

To make things even sweeter, a rescue organization will be bringing adoptable dogs and baby goats to pet to the Halloween party. Prizes will also be awarded for the best-decorated motorcycle and car.

👻🎃🦇Halloween Hop & Howl

When: Thursday, Oct. 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Forest Field Park, 2100 E. Centerville Station Rd., Centerville

More info: Facebook

Guests are invited to put on their Halloween best and take a self-guided stroll through Forest Field Park. Themed signs will be placed along the path to get everyone “moving and grooving” through the park. Participants will need to bring their own bags to collect candy.

👻🎃🦇Hometown Halloween and Costume Contest

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon

Where: 405 Public Square, Ste. 231, Troy

More info: Facebook

The city of Troy will host a Halloween celebration at various businesses throughout the downtown area. Guests are encouraged to bring their children and come dressed in their Halloween costumes.

The following businesses will be passing out candy in the downtown Troy area:

  • Arkhouse Company
  • Around About Books
  • Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company
  • Be You Boutique/Chick-Fil-A
  • Brower Stationers
  • Color Loft Salon
  • David Fair on the Square
  • Dungan & LeFevre
  • Echo Boutique/Poppy Lane Boutique
  • Erik Lamka Shelter Insurance
  • Expressions of the Home
  • First United Church of Christ
  • For All Seasons
  • Grandpa Joe’s
  • Haren’s Market
  • HER Realtors
  • Hippieworks
  • Hittle’s Jewelry
  • Ivy Court
  • Leaf & Vine
  • Low Voltage Solutions
  • Michelle’s Macarons/Revival Haus
  • Modern on Market
  • Mojo’s
  • Nolan Giere
  • Poppin’ Off Gourmet Popcorn
  • Pop-up @ 4 W. Main
  • Power 107.1
  • Ghost Tours of Troy
  • Purebred Coffee Co.
  • RE/MAX Alliance
  • ReU Juicery & Organic Kitchen
  • Staffords
  • Studio 14 Creative Arts Center
  • The Olive Oasis
  • The Valley Church
  • Three Weird Sisters
  • Thrush & Sons
  • Total Team Sports
  • Trojan Florist
  • Troy Main Street
  • Troy Rec
  • Troy Sports Center
  • Ulbrich’s
  • Upper Valley Hearing & Balance
  • Village Salon
  • Winans Chocolates + Coffees

The event’s festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with a costume contest and costume parade hosted by the Troy Noon Optimists in the parking lot at the Hobart Government building.

👻🎃🦇Wag-O-Ween

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Kettering Recreation Complex, 2900 Glengarry Dr., Kettering

More info: www.playkettering.org | Facebook

For those who want to finally have an occasion to debut their dog’s adorable Halloween costume, the Kettering Recreation Complex is offering a Wag-O-Ween event. Dogs (and their owners) can expect a fun-filled morning with trick-or-treating on the Walk & Wag course, photo booth opportunities, adoptable pet introductions and a pet costume contest.

Guests will need to pre-register for the free event by visiting Play Kettering’s website.

👻🎃🦇Hauntfest on Fifth

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Where: The Oregon District in Dayton

More info: www.theoregondistrict.org/hauntfest-2021

One of the biggest Halloween parties in the Miami Valley is back on and will feature live music, DJs, food trucks, beer trucks and street performers. Guests are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to the event. Admission to the event is $10 until Oct. 29 and $15 at the gate. Ticket sales go toward improvement efforts in the Oregon District.

Guests must be 18 years and older to enter the event and no weapons — real or fake — are permitted.

👻🎃🦇HallZOOween

When: From noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, Sunday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31

Where: The Cincinnati Zoo, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati

More info: cincinnatizoo.org/events/hallzooween

Aside from walking around the zoo collecting candy at different stations, kids will enjoy train rides on the Hogwarts Express, fall-themed food and fun photo stations.

And, as always, families will be able to catch a glimpse of the many animals who call the Cincinnati Zoo their home.

👻🎃🦇Fall Harvest: A Trick-or-Treat Alternative

When: Sunday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: 444 North Bend Blvd., Dayton

More info: www.daytonohio.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/792

The city of Dayton will host its annual trick-or-treat alternative on Halloween. Guests will cruise along a haunted Halloween lane while collecting treats for children 12 years of age and younger. Vehicles can join the trick-or-treat line from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

👻🎃🦇Halloween Hysteria at Spaghetti Warehouse

When: Thursday, Oct. 21 and Thursday, Oct. 28. Dinners begin at 7 p.m.

Where: Spaghetti Warehouse, 36 W. 5th St., Dayton

More info: Facebook

Spaghetti Warehouse is hosting a fun interactive mystery show every Thursday leading up to Halloween. The dinner includes a salad, fresh bread, your choice of entree, dessert, soft drinks and a movie theater performance for $39.95 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Seating is limited. Make a reservation by calling 937-461-3913.

👻🎃🦇Boo in the Burg

When: Thursday, Oct. 21 and Friday, Oct. 22 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Where: Multiple locations throughout Miamisburg

More info: www.facebook.com/events/247392094021766

This downtown Miamisburg crawl will feature several local businesses, including The Watermark, Star City Brewing Company, Lucky Star Brewery, TJ Chumps, A Taste of Wine, Ron’s Pizza and more. Instead of punch cards, guests will need to download a mobile scavenger hunt app called Eventzee in order to scan the QR codes at participating businesses to earn a completion badge.

Participants could score a number of different prizes, including $500 in cash, Land of Illusion tickets and a $500 gift card package from participating restaurants, breweries and clubs.

👻🎃🦇Halloween in the Village Festival

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from noon to 8 p.m.

Where: Stanley Jones Park, 198 S. Clayton Road, New Lebanon

More info: www.facebook.com/events/320307716517108

Open to the public, this event will be a night full of family fun and food. A DJ and a variety of local food trucks will be there as well. Enjoy a costume contest for all ages, free face painting, free pumpkin carving, Halloween crafts, Trunk-Or-Treat and more.

👻🎃🦇Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Parade and Festival

When: Sunday, Oct. 31 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Downtown Dayton

More info: www.facebook.com/diademuertosdayton

Dayton will hold its annual Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Parade and Festival throughout downtown. The celebration will include many Mexican traditions “with some unique Gem City twists.”

👻🎃🦇Doggie Fall Fest

When: Sunday, Oct. 24 from noon to 4 p.m.

Where: 7125 Executive Blvd., Dayton

More info: Website

Paw Patrol Dayton will host the Doggie Fall Fest, featuring live demonstrations, a costume contest, live music, dog paintings, raffles and food and merchandise vendors.

👻🎃🦇Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow

When: Oct. 25 and 26 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: The hill behind Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park North

More info: Facebook

The hill behind Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church will be blanketed with a maze of gleaming gourds. The event is free to the public.

👻🎃🦇Pumpkin Glow at Caesar Ford Park

When: Wednesday, Oct. 27 to Saturday, Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Caesar Ford Park, 520 S. Stringtown Rd., Xenia

More info: gcparkstrails.com/event/pumpkin-glow-2/2021-10-27

Instead of the typical illuminated jack-o-lanterns, the trails along Caesar Ford Park will be lined with pumpkins painted with blacklight paint. Between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., guests will be given blacklight flashlights to search for the special pumpkins along a mile of spooky, dark trails.

👻🎃🦇Boo & Brew

When: Saturday, Oct. 23 starting at 1 p.m.

Where: Dayton Mall, 2700 Miamisburg Centerville Rd. Ste 1268, Dayton

More info: Website

The Boo & Brew concert at the Dayton Mall will open with The Milo’s and close with a performance by international blues rocker Eric Jerardi. Kids will stay entertained in the special children’s activity area that includes a pumpkin patch with pumpkin painting, a balloon artist, face painting, bounce house, a zombie selfie station, free Halloween goodie bags and more.

Food, alcohol and cigars will also be available for purchase at the event.

👻🎃🦇Boo Bash

When: Saturday, Oct. 23 from 1-4 p.m.

Where: Parking lot outside of the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center, 301 W. Main St., Troy

More info: Facebook

This year, the beloved Boo Bash will be held outside and will feature a Monster Mash Dance in the Hayner Center’s courtyard, a scavenger hunt, an obstacle course, take-and-make craft kits.

The event is free and the entire family is welcome to attend.

👻🎃🦇Trick-or-Treat at The Greene

When: Saturday, Oct. 30 from 4-6 p.m.

Where: The Greene, 4452 Buckeye Ln., Beavercreek

More info: Website

Dress up the kiddos and head to the Greene to go trick-or-treating at the participating retailers. The outdoor shopping mall will be adding a Trunk or Treat to the annual event this year, as well.

Are we missing a Halloween event on our list? Send us an email at contact@dayton.com or ashley.moor@coxinc.com to share more about the event.

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