Trick-or-treat hours in Gainesville 2026

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year. Event details come from organizers’ listings on the Visit Gainesville calendar; safety advice from the City of Gainesville’s Halloween safety tips from Gainesville Police and Gainesville Fire Rescue.

The City of Gainesville does not set official trick-or-treat hours. We found no hours posted by the city or Alachua County for 2026. Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, so most neighborhood trick-or-treating will happen that evening. If the city or county posts hours or a curfew, we will add them here.

Who to call

• Emergencies: 911
• Gainesville city services: 352-334-5000, or report an issue through myGNV
• Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (outside city limits): 352-955-2500
• Poison Control: 800-222-1222

Trick-or-treat and trunk-or-treat events

Trunk-or-treats, where families hand out candy from decorated car trunks in a parking lot, are a popular alternative to door-to-door. These are listed for Gainesville in 2026:

The food-free trunk-or-treat is aimed at children with food allergies, its organizer says. Boo at the Zoo’s food donations go to a local food pantry.

Nearby, a trunk-or-treat with games and inflatables runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at High Springs Church of Christ, 18567 NW U.S. Highway 441, High Springs.

Churches and neighborhood groups often add trunk-or-treats in the last two weeks of October. To have yours listed, send the date, time and address through our contact page.

Halloween safety from Gainesville police and fire

Gainesville Fire Rescue and the Gainesville Police Department say Halloween is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pedestrians. Between 2011 and 2020, more child pedestrians died in vehicle crashes on Halloween than on any other day of the year, the city said. Their tips:

• Be seen: reflective items, glow bracelets or stickers, and a flashlight or phone light.
• Watch traffic: use crosswalks and signals, make eye contact with drivers before crossing and put the phone away.
• Stay in well-lit areas and avoid dark streets.
• Stay together: young children with an adult, teenagers in groups, with a set meeting point.
• Safe costumes: flame-resistant, well-fitted and not blocking vision; makeup instead of masks.
• Check treats: throw out anything unwrapped or suspicious.
• No strangers’ homes or cars, and report anything suspicious.
• Emergency numbers saved in children’s phones.

For drivers

Slow down in neighborhoods on Saturday evening, Oct. 31, and watch for children crossing mid-block. If your teenager is driving, remind them to watch for pedestrians, the police and fire departments advise.

What this means for you

• No official hours: plan around dusk on Saturday, Oct. 31, and follow your neighborhood’s custom.
• For a daytime or indoor option, Boo at the Zoo on Wednesday, Oct. 28, costs only a can of food.

Related: things to do in October and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.

Frequently asked questions

What are the trick-or-treat hours in Gainesville for 2026?

The City of Gainesville does not set official trick-or-treat hours. Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, and families choose their own times.

Where are trunk-or-treats in Gainesville in 2026?

Listed events include a food-free trunk-or-treat from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at 1173 NW 64th Terrace, and Boo at the Zoo from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Santa Fe College.

Is there trick-or-treating on UF Sorority Row?

Yes. Ghouls, Goblins and Greeks runs from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, on Sorority Row, 808 W. Panhellenic Drive. It is free.

How can kids stay safe trick-or-treating in Gainesville?

Gainesville police and fire officials say to carry flashlights or glow sticks, stay in well-lit areas, keep young children with an adult and check treats before eating them.