Trick or treat?! Celebrate Halloween with these fun (and safe) events this weekend

The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Island features family-friendly Halloween activities for guests of all ages, including a kids costume contest, character meet-and-greets with the Peanuts Gang and much more. CONTRIBUTED

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Island features family-friendly Halloween activities for guests of all ages, including a kids costume contest, character meet-and-greets with the Peanuts Gang and much more. CONTRIBUTED

Despite the uncertain state of the world, there is still at least one thing that remains certain in the month of October — spooktacular fun! 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, these events are still guaranteed to send a chill down your spine. These are the fun (and safe!) Halloween events taking place during the last weekend of October — perhaps the spookiest weekend of the year!

👻🎃🦇Kings Island Tricks and Treats Fall Fest

The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Island features family-friendly Halloween activities for guests of all ages, including a kids costume contest, character meet-and-greets with the Peanuts Gang and much more. CONTRIBUTED

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When: Every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 1

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 $30, it includes six 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. 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

More info: daytonmall.com | Facebook

The Mall at Fairfield Commons will be hosting a free socially-distanced Candy Crawl on Friday, Oct. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 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.

Registration is required for this event and opens on Eventbrite on Friday, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m.

Any guests over the age of 10 will be required to wear a facial covering.

Dayton showed its love to Harry Potter at the Marauder’s Night: An Evening of Harry Potter Festivities on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, at the Yellow Cab Tavern in Dayton. The event included trivia as well as Harry Potter themed games, including quidditch.

Credit: Tom Gilliam

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Credit: Tom Gilliam

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

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 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. 31 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 along the way.

The following businesses will be participating in the Harry Potter Trick or Treat event:

- Browse Awhile Books

- Sam and Ethel’s

- Mantia’s Italia

- Project Believe

- Fox & Feather

- VFW

- Grounds for Pleasure Coffee Shop

- The Hotel Gallery

- Patriot Antiques

- Topsy Turvy Toys

- Bodega Wine and Specialty Market

- Tipp City Public Library

- Tipp Monroe Community Services

- Zack Jacobs State Farm

- Tipp Cycle

- Sudden Furniture

- Midwest Memories

- Downtown Tipp City Partnership

- Monroe Federal Savings and Loan

- Broadway Hair Studio

- Harrison’s Resturant

- Always in Bloom Flowers

- RPets

- Masonic Temple

- Living Simply Soap

👻🎃🦇Spooktacular at beck + call

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from noon to 5 p.m.

Where: beck + call, 504 E. 5th St., Dayton

More info: Facebook

Beck + call in the Oregon District will be hosting its own Halloween celebration on Saturday, Oct. 31. Guests can look forward to face painting from Yenni, baked goods from the Gem City Bakehouse, art, a pumpkin painting station and more to be announced at a later date.

The event will be held both indoors and outdoors and masks are required while in the shop. To comply with social distancing guidelines, only six people are permitted inside of the shop at a time.

👻🎃🦇The Night Of Halloween at The Entrepreneurs Marketplace

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 4-10 p.m.

Where: The Entrepreneurs Marketplace, 13 N. Williams St., Dayton

More info: Facebook

The Entrepreneurship Marketplace is inviting trick-or-treaters out to an event that features a night full of fun with food trucks like Mommaz Boyz, Taco Street Co., and Cupzilla Korean Barbecue, entertainment, free candy and shopping in Wright Dunbar.

👻🎃🦇Bike or Treat at Buckeye Harley-Davidson

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.

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

More info: Facebook

Buckeye Harley-Davidson will be hosting its annual Bike or Treat event on Saturday, Oct. 31 with Halloween festivities like a children’s costume contest and plenty of candy. The winner of the children’s costume contest will get a one-day family pass to either SkyZone or Kings Island.

Social distancing, masks and hand sanitizing stations will be implemented to ensure the safety of everyone at the event.

For those who want to volunteer to bring their motorcycles or cars to come out and help pass out candy, send an email to marketing@buckeyehd.com or call 937-898-8084 and ask for Amanda.

👻🎃🦇Light Up the Mound Pumpkin Glow

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 6-9 p.m.

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

More info: Facebook

The fourth annual Light Up the Mound Pumpkin Glow will be taking place at the Little Mound Park in Dayton on Saturday, Oct. 31.

To participate in the pumpkin glow, carve a pumpkin with any artistic direction you desire and drop it off at the tree by the mound any time between the evening of Oct. 30 and 4 p.m. on Oct. 31. From there, organizers will make the pumpkins glow. The mound will be lit from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 31.

👻🎃🦇Trunk or Treat Extravaganza

When: Friday, Oct. 30 from 5-8 p.m.

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

More info: Facebook

Mack’s Tavern in Centerville will be hosting its second annual Fall Fest/Trunk or Treat event, perfect for the entire family, on Friday, Oct. 30 from 5-8 p.m. The event will be taking place in Mack’s Tavern’s parking lot. The costume contest will be taking place 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.

There will also be raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing, with the proceeds from each going to Adopt a Pit Rescue. To make things even sweeter, the rescue organization will also be bringing adoptable dogs to the Halloween party.

Prizes will also be awarded for the best-decorated motorcycle and car. Guests are encouraged to hand out candy from the comfort of their cars. Especially hungry guests can indulge in food from Drifter’s Shack Food Truck and other entertainment like skull painting, games for the kids, a DJ, vendors and more.

👻🎃🦇Halloween Hop & Howl

When: Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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

More info: Facebook

All weekend long, guests are invited to put on their Halloween best and take a self-guided stroll through Forest Field Park in Centerville. Themed signs will be placed along the path to get everyone “moving and grooving” through the park.

Families are encouraged to film and post a silly video from the self-guided tour to be entered in a drawing to win a family fun prize pack. While participating in the event, guests are encouraged to practice social distancing.

👻🎃🦇Hometown Halloween and Costume Contest

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 405 Public Square, Ste. 231, Troy

More info: Facebook

The city of Troy will be hosting a Halloween celebration on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at various businesses throughout the downtown area. Guests are encouraged to bring their children and come dressed up in their Halloween costumes.

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

  • Dungan & LeFevre
  • Hittle’s Jewelry
  • Winans Chocolates + Coffees
  • Around About Books
  • pop-up @ 4 W. Main
  • Troy Main Street
  • Troy Sports Center
  • Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company
  • Power 107.1
  • Expressions of the Home
  • Modern on Market
  • Brower Stationers
  • Arkhouse Company
  • Michelle’s Macarons/Revival Haus
  • Color Loft Salon
  • Poppin' Off Gourmet Popcorn
  • Be You Boutique
  • Poppy Lane Boutique
  • The 3 Weird Sisters Studio
  • Erik Lamka Shelter Insurance
  • David Fair on the Square
  • Haren’s Market
  • First Presbyterian Church
  • The Blue Bow Boutique
  • Purebred Coffee Co.
  • Total Team Sports
  • HER Realtors
  • The Olive Oasis
  • ReU Juicery & Organic Kitchen
  • Del Cid Satellites
  • Ruby’s Salon
  • Troy Rec
  • Trojan Florist
  • RE/MAX Alliance

The businesses participating in the event will have an orange pumpkin in the window to let passersby know that they are passing out candy.

Though there will not be a Halloween parade this year, there will be a Hometown Halloween costume contest, in which guests can post a picture to Facebook or Instagram and tag Troy Main Street or email a picture to info@troymainstreet.org. Along with your photo, be sure to specify which category you will participating in. The categories are the following:

  • Under 1 year old
  • 1 year old
  • 2 years old
  • 3 year old
  • 4 years old
  • 5 years old
  • 6 years old
  • 7 years old
  • 8 years old
  • 9 years old
  • 10 years old
  • 11 years old
  • Family
  • Pet

The pictures must be tagged on social media or sent via email by the end of the day on Saturday, Oct. 31. From there, Troy Main Street will send all of the pictures to Troy Noon Optimists to judge them. Winners will be announced on Troy Main Street’s social media accounts on Tuesday, Nov. 3. At that time, winners will receive instructions on when and where to retrieve their prizes.

To participate in the free Hometown Halloween event, guests will need to grab a ticket beforehand by visiting the Troy Main Street office, located at 405 SW Public Square in Suite 231, or by calling 937-339-5455. Guests will sign up for either the 9-11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. time slots in order to maintain a safe capacity.

Throughout the entirety of the event, social distancing and mask guidelines must be followed by everyone over the age of two. Only two parents are allowed per family.

Wag-o-ween event

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👻🎃🦇Wag-O-Ween

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Kettering Recreation Complex

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 will be hosting their Wag-O-Ween event on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.

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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