Last year’s Halloween reinforced the pre-pandemic trend of small, socially distanced events replacing traditional neighborhood candy runs. Treat streets, trunk-or-treats and drive-thru options seemed to reign supreme.
That was fine for a lot of beleaguered parents, but Halloween 2021 at last gives kids a chance to return to their sugar-hoarding dreams — including at these increasingly popular events where costumed families hit up parking lots, commercial corridors and civic landmarks.
Here’s a list of trick-or-treating events that fall outside the usual neighborhood canvassing. Rules and tips for both are available on the respective websites, including public health orders that may include mandatory indoor masks, COVID-19 vaccination proof or negative test proof.
Events are subject to last-minute cancellation, and sold-out programs (such as Broncos Trick-or-Treat) were not included. All events are free and for all ages unless otherwise noted.
BOOnion Station Trick or Treat Parade
Downtown’s glittering transit hub, Union Station, will host its seventh BOOnion Station Trick or Treat Parade (yeah, it’s a tortured pun) from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, with the eponymous activities, plus mini-train rides, balloon artists, face painting, live music and more. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place costumes. The parade begins at 4 p.m., and adults are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours of entry to participate; kids 12 and under are required to wear masks. 1701 Wynkoop St. unionstationindenver.com
Flick or Treat
Lakewood rolls out the orange-and-black carpet for families from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, with Flick or Treat, including an early, adaptive-and-inclusive trick or treat session at 2:30 p.m. Twenty “shops” will be set up in the historic buildings of Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, followed by food trucks and games in the picnic area and a “Hocus Pocus” screening after dark. Be sure to bring a chair or three for the movie. 801 S. Yarrow St. in Lakewood. lakewood.org
Huga Goto, 2, looks at all the costumes while trick-or-treating on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2014, during the Munchkin Masquerade on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. Jeremy Papasso / Daily Camera
Treat Streets
Castle Pines Trick or Treat Street will turn out kids along Castle Pines Parkway and through the Village at Castle Pines with trick or treating from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Look for the pumpkin out in front of participating businesses. 360 Village Square Lane in Castle Pines. castlepinesco.gov/event/trick-or-treat-street-2
Arapahoe County Fairgrounds is offering safe trick-or-treating, games, a petting farm, live entertainment (including bluegrass and a “Thriller” dance performance), a costume contest, pumpkin painting, adult drinks and food trucks as part of its Treat Street this year. Admission is $5, or free if you wear a costume. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora. arapahoecountyfair.com/p/events/treatstreet
Northglenn’s Safe Street Halloween returns 4-7 p.m. at Centennial Park with a purported 3,500 pounds of candy ready for the taking — although allergy-free trinkets will also be available for kids who need to avoid said treats. 275 Kennedy Drive in Northglenn. northglenn.org
Olde Town Arvada’s Trick or Treat Street invites kids and families to stop by for free candy from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. Olde Town Square will host a costume contest, while the Flour Mill (5590 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.) will offer more candy and games. 7303 Grandview Ave. oldetownarvada.org/trick-or-treat-street
Boo ‘n Brew on Colfax is a relatively recent tradition (since 2006) that populates a family-friendly stretch of East Colfax Avenue with costumed kids and their parents. This year’s event takes place between Josephine Street and Colorado Boulevard, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30. Twenty participating businesses will hand out candy (and sell adult drinks) amid the live music, pumpkin decorating, food and drink specials and eventual nighttime festivities. bluebirdbeat.com/boo-n-brew-on-colfax
Longmont’s darn-near-historic Halloween Parade may be celebrating 42 years this season, but it still starts bright and early on Saturday, Oct. 30. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. (staging at 9:30 a.m.) at Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave., followed by a Main Street walk to participating businesses that continues through noon. Strollers and wagons are highly recommended. longmontColorado.gov/rec
Trunk or Treat events
Many churches, businesses and an increasing number of schools host trunk-or-treat events, a.k.a. those stationary fall fests that include candy-giving, kid’s activities and (sometimes) beer and entertainment for the adults. They’ve sprouted up in every corner of the metro area, so there’s likely one near you. Here’s a geographic sampling.
Wheat Ridge’s nonprofit Localworks, from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, at The Green (at Stevens Elementary School). 101 W. 38th Ave. wearelocalworks.org
Denver Parks and Recreation is holding $5 per-person trunk-or-treats at Scheitler Recreation Center (5031 W. 46th Ave.); Cook Park (7100 Cherry Creek South Drive); Montbello (15555 E. 53rd Ave.); and Athmar (2680 W. Mexico Ave.). All events begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. denvergov.org/recreation
Special Olympics Drive Thru Harvest Fest Trunk or Treat, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Tundra parking lot at Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle. $30 per vehicle; proceeds benefit Special Olympics Colorado Young Athletes.
Englewood Civic Center, 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the parking structure’s second level,1000 Englewood Parkway. Free with pre-registration. englewoodco.gov
STAR Institute for Sensory Processing (sensory-friendly event), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at 6911 S. Yosemite St. in Centennial. sensoryhealth.org
Littleton Church of Christ, 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at 6495 S. Colorado Blvd. in Centennial. littletonchurch.org
Highlands Lutheran Church, 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at 3995 Irving St. highlandslutheran.org
Calvary Wellspring Church, noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1072 Chambers Road in Aurora. wellspring.thecalvary.org
Lord of Life Church Lutheran Church, 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at 12021 Northaven Circle in Thornton. lordoflife.net/trunk-or-treat
Highpoint Church, 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at 6450 S. Southlands Parkway in Aurora.
Green Valley Ranch Community Trunk of Treat and Fall Festival, noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at 4995 Argonne St. gvrbeergarden.com
Red Rocks Baptist Church, 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at 14711 W. Morrison Road in Morrison. redrocksbaptistchurch.org
