National Trick or Treat Day: A Spooktacular Celebration of Candy, Costumes, and Community!
- Amanda Moncrieff
- Sep 12
- 5 min read
1. Date Details
When is it observed? National Trick-or-Treat Day falls on the last Saturday in October, giving everyone a safer, more flexible alternative to Halloween night (October 31) for costumes, candy, and festivities. It was officially established in 2019 by the Halloween & Costume Association after a national petition gained momentum.
How is the date determined?It’s always the last Saturday in October (e.g., October 25, 2025). This makes it easier for families, neighborhoods, and communities to plan without worrying about school nights or work schedules.
2. About the Day & History
Halloween is magical — costumes, candy, decorations, and the joy of trick-or-treating. But let’s be real: when October 31 falls on a weekday, the fun can feel rushed. That’s why the Halloween & Costume Association introduced National Trick-or-Treat Day in 2019.
The idea was simple: keep Halloween traditions alive but give families the option to celebrate on a weekend. More daylight hours, less weeknight stress, and safer opportunities for community events like trunk-or-treats and parades.
Think of it as a “bonus Halloween” — a day where kids can trick-or-treat, parents can relax, and communities can go all out.
3. Celebration Ideas
Here’s how to celebrate National Trick-or-Treat Day with treat-focused fun for every group:
Solo
Costume photo shoot — dress up, grab your candy bucket, and snap social-media-ready shots before heading out.
Dress up and trick-or-treat for charity — instead of candy, collect donations for a cause.
Solo trick-or-treating adventure — go door-to-door and see how much candy one person can score.
Hand out candy in style — greet kids in a fun costume and become the “favorite house” on the block.
Prank trick-or-treaters — hide something spooky that jumps out of your candy bucket!
Candy-picker challenge — test different fun-size candies ahead of time and decide which ones you’ll hand out.
Couples / Spouses
Couples costume duo — pair up in themed costumes and go door-to-door together.
Charity trick-or-treat challenge — compete to see who can collect the most donations while trick-or-treating.
Dual candy stations — one partner passes out candy while the other adds a fun scare or surprise.
Trick-or-treat relay — take turns saying “trick or treat” at each house for extra laughs.
Neighborhood candy walk — stroll the neighborhood hand-in-hand, visiting decorated houses and gathering treats.
Couples’ candy shopping trip — debate chocolate vs. fruity as you pick out what to hand out together.
Families / Kids
Traditional trick-or-treating — hit the neighborhood in full costume, buckets in hand.
Trunk-or-treat event — decorate your car trunk and let kids collect candy in a safe, central spot.
Indoor trick-or-treat trail — set up candy stations in each room of the house for a fun at-home version.
Family candy exchange — swap favorite treats after trick-or-treating, like a mini candy market.
Candy trade stop — encourage kids to meet up with friends and trade candies to complete their haul.
Family candy-picking day — go as a family to buy candy for handing out, letting kids help choose what their peers might love.
Coworkers
Office trick-or-treat — set up candy bowls at each desk so coworkers can make the rounds.
Costume + candy contest — reward prizes for the best costumes and candy handouts combined.
Breakroom candy station — transform the office kitchen into a trick-or-treat spot.
Trick-or-treat desk crawl — coworkers visit each decorated workstation for candy.
After-hours trunk-or-treat — coworkers decorate their cars in the parking lot and hand out candy.
Office candy poll — vote as a team on which candies to buy and hand out to trick-or-treaters.
Community / Public
Neighborhood trick-or-treat night — community-wide door-to-door candy gathering.
Community trunk-or-treat — local groups and businesses hand out candy from decorated cars.
Library or town center trick-or-treat walk — safe indoor candy stops at local organizations.
Daytime candy route — organize early trick-or-treating so families with little ones can join.
Block party trick-or-treat — every house sets up a candy station to create a continuous candy walk.
Community candy drive — neighbors chip in to stockpile the “best treats,” then distribute them during trick-or-treat night.
4. Shopping List: Must-Have Goodies & Gear for National Trick-or-Treat Day
🍬 Candy-Filled Straws – 240 Pc. Shop here Budget-friendly and fun. A nostalgic candy classic with 240 pieces for under $10!
🛒 SACVON All-Terrain Stroller Wagon with Canopy Shop here Carry kids and their candy buckets in comfort. A must-have for toddler trick-or-treaters.
🪦 43.25" Coffin Inflatable Ice Cooler Shop here Keep drinks or candy chilled in spooky style at your trick-or-treat station.
💀 5ft Skeleton Duo Carrying a Coffin Outdoor Decoration Shop here Two life-size skeletons hauling a coffin = instant curb appeal for trick-or-treat night.
🎃 Teal Pumpkin Stackable Trick-or-Treat Pail Shop here Show you’re offering allergy-friendly treats with this teal pumpkin bucket.
✨ Vintage Halloween Stickers Pack Shop here Great non-candy option. Kids love them, and they add fun and variety.
🍭 Airheads Full Size Bars (90 Count Variety Pack) Shop here Full-size bars make your house legendary. Fruity, chewy, and different from the chocolate crowd. Sam's club is one of the cheapest places to buy candy/
🧛♂️ Halloween Temporary Tattoos (Assorted Designs) Shop here Another allergy-friendly win. Fun tattoos keep the Halloween spirit going after the candy’s gone. These are cheaper than candy and a big hit.
👁️ Animated Spooky Eyeball Doorbell Shop here Startle trick-or-treaters with a glowing, blinking eyeball when they ring for candy.
📹 Blink Video Doorbell with Sync Module Shop here See and greet trick-or-treaters at your door while keeping Halloween safe and fun.
🧙 Inflatable Trunk-or-Treat Witch Decoration Shop here Instantly transform your car into a spooky candy station. The giant witch face design makes your setup the star of any trunk-or-treat event. Easy to set up, lightweight, and reusable for years of Halloween fun.
👻 Pac-Man Themed Trunk-or-Treat Decoration Kit Shop here Bring retro arcade vibes to your trunk-or-treat with this Pac-Man kit. Includes balloons, character cutouts, and a maze backdrop that kids will love. Quick to assemble and perfect for school or community events.
🌈 520-Piece Glow Stick Party Pack Shop here Hand out something that glows! These glow sticks make a fun and safe alternative (or addition) to candy. Perfect for trick-or-treaters to wear as bracelets or necklaces, helping kids stay visible while walking at night. Bulk pack means you’ll have plenty for the whole neighborhood.
5. Business Advertising Opportunities
Candy shops & grocery stores — spotlight National Trick-or-Treat Day candy bundles.
Local decorators — promote porch setups and spooky yard scenes.
Community centers — host trunk-or-treats with sponsor booths.
Safety product retailers — push reflective gear, glow sticks, and candy pails.
Restaurants — offer “trick-or-treat kids eat free” specials.
Fitness clubs — market “burn off the candy” classes the next day.
Charities — partner with teal pumpkin or trick-or-treat for charity campaigns.
Toy shops — sell non-candy options like stickers and tattoos for allergy-safe households.
6. Summary & Wrap-Up
National Trick-or-Treat Day gives us another shot at Halloween fun — a weekend event filled with candy, costumes, and community. Whether you’re heading out solo, strolling with family, or hosting a trunk-or-treat, this day keeps the spirit spooky and sweet.
So stock up, dress up, and hand out those treats like a pro — because there’s no such thing as too much trick-or-treating!
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Find t-shirts at www.teetheday.com.
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