Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31st that traces its roots back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the start of the dark, cold winter, when people lit large sacred bonfires, made offerings, and wore disguises or animal skins to confuse and repel malevolent ghosts.

The Christian influence on the date began in the 8th century when Pope Gregory III moved All Saints’ Day to November 1st to honor saints and martyrs. The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually evolved into the word Halloween. In medieval Britain, poor citizens practiced “souling,” going door-to-door to receive “soul cakes” in exchange for prayers for the dead, an early precursor to modern traditions.

As the tradition evolved, people began carving Jack-o’-lanterns, which originated from an Irish myth about “Stingy Jack”; people carved frightening faces into turnips, potatoes, or beets. When the custom moved to North America, immigrants used native pumpkins instead. This was followed by the Scottish “guising” and American community efforts in the 19th and 20th centuries that transformed prank-playing into a structured, door-to-door request for treats, where children and adults alike dress up in costumes, known today as “Trick or Treat” time.

Public “Trick or Treat” Options

Thanks to community-minded organizations working to keep our young people safe during the traditional “Trick or Treat” activity, several local events have been planned. See below for more information on each.

Thursday, October 29th

Saturday, October 31st

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