Central Ohio communities have set different dates for trick-or-treating in 2026. Some will hold the event on Halloween; others chose Thursday, Oct. 29. The split leaves timing to local communities, rather than a shared regional recommendation.
A regional recommendation, not a shared calendar
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has long recommended trick-or-treating on the Thursday before Halloween when Oct. 31 falls on a weekend. Halloween falls on Saturday this year, but many Central Ohio communities aren't following that advice.
The commission cites safety and possible conflicts with football games, community events and more drivers on the road. Those concerns shape its regional advice, while local schedules remain divided between Thursday and Halloween itself.
Bexley, Blendon Township, Canal Winchester, Circleville, Chillicothe, Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, Groveport, Heath, Hebron, Hilliard, Johnstown, Lancaster, London, New Albany, Newark, Obetz, Perry Township, Pickerington, Prairie Township, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Washington Court House, Westerville, West Jefferson and Whitehall are listed for Thursday, Oct. 29.
Thursday schedules
Most communities holding the event Thursday have set hours from 6 to 8 p.m. That schedule applies in Blendon Township, Circleville, Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, London, New Albany, Obetz, Perry Township, Pickerington, Prairie Township, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Washington Court House, Westerville and Whitehall.
Some Thursday events start earlier or end before 8 p.m. Bexley, Canal Winchester, Groveport, Heath, Hebron and Newark have hours of 5:30 to 7 p.m. Chillicothe, Johnstown and Lancaster scheduled 6 to 7:30 p.m.; West Jefferson set 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday's calendar covers communities across the region, but it isn't universal. Thirteen listed communities have instead scheduled trick-or-treating for Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween itself.
Halloween-night schedules
Bellefontaine, Delaware, Galena, Gambier, Genoa Township, Marion, Marysville, Mount Vernon, Orange Township, Pataskala, Plain City, Powell and Worthington are listed for Saturday. Delaware, Galena, Genoa Township, Marysville, Orange Township, Pataskala, Powell and Worthington set hours from 6 to 8 p.m.
Bellefontaine's hours are 6 to 7:30 p.m. Gambier and Mount Vernon scheduled 5:30 to 7 p.m., while Marion set 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Plain City scheduled the event from 5 to 7 p.m.
The calendar puts the commission's safety recommendation alongside a range of local schedules. Some communities will hold the event Thursday; others will keep it on Saturday, and times vary by place.