Halloween falls on a Friday this year, making plans for costumes, trick-or-treating and other spooky events that much more fun. Hendricks County, Indiana, offers so many family-friendly experiences it’s hard to choose which one or how many to attend.
Most events feature plenty of fall activities with pumpkins, games and more, in addition to, a ton of candy! Here's everything you need to know about public Halloween activities in Hendricks County this year.
Trot & Treat - Oct. 18
Strides to Success, the nonprofit equestrian facility in Plainfield, will offer a free event with a horse costume contest.
Check out the spooky barn decorations, play games and vote on your favorite horse. Additionally, bring cash to purchase food from the food trucks and participate in the raffle.
Fall-O-Ween Spooktacular - Oct. 18
From 6 to 9 p.m. at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, families can trick-or-treat along the walking trail, visit vendors and face-painting stations.
Don’t forget to stop by the monster lab to create your own ghoul and take a hayride through the woods. Come in your best costume to participate in the contest for most creative, best group, best pet costume and more.
Halloween Fest - Oct. 18
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg has partnered with Indyhoodrats to host their inaugural Halloween Fest from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 18.
Racing fans can attend the NHRA Division 3 Finals event on the oval track during the day, but the free Halloween Fest event is held along the midway, featuring a costume party, car show, music and trunk-or-treating.
Sat-Terror-Day – Oct. 25
The Town of Plainfield invites the community to wear your costume, take a hayride, dance to the music and get some fun photo ops at the free family event at Talon Stream Park.
The event will include costume contests, crafts, bounce houses and fun activities throughout the afternoon.
Trail & Treat – Oct. 25
Just like Trunk-or-Treat but located on the walking trail at Williams Park in Brownsburg, families can enjoy safe trick-or-treating by community businesses and organizations ready to hand out candy, promotional items and fun prizes.
Vote for the best-decorated booth in the lineup. Winners receive a trophy and a special treat.
Ghosts and Goblins – Oct. 25
Washington Township Parks and Recreation will hold their annual Ghosts and Goblins event, with bungee trampolines, bounce houses, candy, food trucks and more.
Ages 7 and under are invited to attend from 1 to 3 p.m., and ages 8 and older can attend from 3 to 5 p.m. at Washington Township Park in Avon.
Pumpkins & Paws - Oct. 25
The second annual Pumpkins and Paws fundraiser returns from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex for pumpkin bowling, food, games, trick-or-treating and more.
The event will benefit the Hendricks County Animal Shelter. Adult tickets cost $10 a person, children 16 and under are $5 and children under 4 get in free.
Beasley’s Halloweekend – Oct. 25-26
At Beasley’s Orchard, they celebrate the fall harvest season with a festival every weekend in October, culminating on Halloweekend, Oct. 25-26.
Give those costumes a test-run and enjoy two full days of candy giveaways, games, hayrides and pumpkin picking. Don’t miss the family pumpkin-carving contest and the kids costume contests beginning at 2 p.m. each day.
Scares on the Square – Oct. 31
Join the Danville community in celebrating fall at Scares on the Square and trick-or-treat with the local merchants. In addition, enjoy food trucks, family-friendly activities and a scavenger hunt.
Costumes are encouraged, and don’t forget to take advantage of the many photo ops at the scarecrow displays in front of the historic Hendricks County Courthouse.
Trick or Treating Hours - Oct. 31
The Town of Avon staff will offer a special opportunity for daytime fun.
From 10 a.m. to noon, little ones who may find Halloween a bit too scary can stop by in costume to trick-or-treat at Avon Town Hall. The entire event is sensory-friendly, so don’t expect loud music or bright lights. However, anyone can attend and vote on their favorite staff-led candy booth.
For those of us headed out to our neighborhoods for traditional trick-or-treating, here are the recommended hours on Oct. 31 for Hendricks County communities.
- Town of Avon – 6 to 9 p.m.
- Town of Brownsburg – 5 to 9 p.m.
- Town of Plainfield – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Town of Danville – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
