Free trick-or-treating at The Joe on Oct. 30, a Bees Landing trunk-or-treat on Oct. 23 and county park Halloween events in and around Charleston.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the City of Charleston’s Fall 2026 Recreation Guide, Charleston County Parks and each venue’s own page, linked below.

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The City of Charleston’s biggest free Halloween event is Trick or Treat at The Joe on Friday, Oct. 30, and its Recreation Department runs a trunk-or-treat in West Ashley a week earlier. Charleston County Parks adds a costume climb on James Island and a fun run and festival on Halloween morning in North Charleston.

Looking for when to knock on doors? The city does not set hours; see our trick-or-treat hours page.

Who to call

City of Charleston Halloween events

All of these are on the city’s Fall 2026 Recreation Guide.

Event When Where Cost
Pumpkin painting (bring your own pumpkin) Thursday, Oct. 15, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Hazel Parker Playground, 70 E. Bay St. Free
Trunk or Treat Friday, Oct. 23, 5 to 7 p.m. Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. Free
Ghouls Night Out, ages 6 to 12 Friday, Oct. 23, 5 to 9 p.m. James Island Recreation Complex, 1088 Quail Drive Fee; register
Trick or Treat at The Joe Friday, Oct. 30, 4 to 6 p.m. VIP lot, Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, 360 Fishburne St. Free
Happy Owl-Oween, ages 7 to 12 Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tiedemann Park Nature Center, 38 Elizabeth St. Fee; register

Trick or Treat at The Joe is the big one. Children come in costume and visit each vendor for candy, with games, inflatables and face painting. The city says parking is at Brittlebank Park and Stoney Field.

Ghouls Night Out is the Halloween edition of the James Island Recreation Complex’s kids night out, with cookie decorating, games, crafts, pizza and a movie. Happy Owl-Oween is a morning nature class on native owls, with owl pellets to dissect. Register for both through the city’s online registration.

The city’s neighborhood playgrounds also host free after-school Halloween crafts through October, listed in the guide by playground.

Charleston County Parks

  • Halloween Night Climb, Friday, Oct. 30. The climbing walls at the Outdoor Adventure Center in James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, open for an evening of costumed climbing under festive lighting. Costumes must be safe to wear with a harness, and equipment is provided. The county lists a fee; check its page for times.
  • Baptist Hill Fall Festival, Thursday, Oct. 29. Free candy, games and music at the Schroder Recreation Center in Hollywood, about 14 miles west. No registration needed.
  • Trick, Treat and Trail, Saturday, Oct. 31. A fun run, trick-or-treating and festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wannamaker County Park in North Charleston, about 8 miles north, with check-in from 9:30 a.m. Entry is priced per vehicle.

For grown-ups

The Charleston Symphony’s Pops concert “The Witching Hour” is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St.

Fall festivals and pumpkin patches

The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch in Mount Pleasant and the county’s fall festivals are on our fall festivals and pumpkin patches page.

Trunk-or-treats at churches and schools

We add church, school and neighborhood trunk-or-treats in Charleston once the organizer publishes the date, time and place. Send yours through our contact page.

What this means for you

  • Friday, Oct. 30, is the big free night: The Joe from 4 to 6 p.m.
  • West Ashley families have a trunk-or-treat at Bees Landing on Friday, Oct. 23.
  • Book paid programs such as Ghouls Night Out and the Night Climb early; spots are limited.

Related guides: trick-or-treat hours, things to do this month and Thanksgiving in Charleston.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a trunk-or-treat in Charleston in 2026?

Yes. The city’s Recreation Department holds a free trunk-or-treat at Bees Landing Recreation Center, 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. in West Ashley, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

What is Trick or Treat at The Joe?

A free city Halloween event in the VIP parking lot at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, 360 Fishburne St., from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, with candy from vendors, games, inflatables and face painting.

What are Charleston’s trick-or-treat hours?

The city does not set official trick-or-treat hours. Our trick-or-treat hours page tracks any change and lists safety tips.

Are there Halloween events for older kids and adults?

Charleston County Parks holds a Halloween Night Climb at the Outdoor Adventure Center in James Island County Park on Friday, Oct. 30, and the Charleston Symphony plays a Halloween pops concert at the Gaillard Center on Thursday, Oct. 29.