Every fall, we find ourselves chatting with clients and friends who are about to experience their first Halloween here. And without fail, we tell them: nobody does Halloween like Central Park.
If you’re new to the neighborhood or just want to know what to expect, here’s the scoop on what makes Halloween night such a fun, chaotic, and community-filled experience around here.
What’s the vibe?
Picture this: streets absolutely swarming with kids in costumes (and pets! Yes, these are my dogs Jefferson and Lincoln—RIP, Lincoln—pictured here), parents strolling behind them with a beverage in hand, music pumping from a few houses, and neighbors greeting each other like it’s the block party of the year. Some homes go all out—we’re talking fog machines, skeleton armies, and elaborate themed displays. Others keep it simple with a pumpkin on the porch and a bowl of candy. Either way, it’s an all-hands-on-deck community event that feels like a mix between a festival and a neighborhood reunion.
How many trick-or-treaters will you get at your house?
Just how many varies drastically based on location. I asked around and people said anywhere from 50 to thousands! I’d recommend asking your closest neighbors to see what years past have looked like. If you’re in a busier part of the neighborhood and on more main streets, or you and your neighbors have a lot of decorations, you’re more likely to get a lot of trick-or-treaters. We did some crowdsourcing in the neighborhood and most people said they at minimum buy 500 pieces of candy and always run out!
When does trick-or-treating start and finish?
In Central Park, trick-or-treating always happens on October 31st, no matter what day of the week it is. It typically kicks off around 5:00pm, just as the sun dips low and the kiddos can’t wait another second. (Some of the littler kids may start even earlier, at 4pm!) Things ramp up quickly, and by 7:00pm, the streets are buzzing. Most houses start winding down by 8:30 or 9:00pm or whenever they run out of candy, though a few die-hard candy-givers keep their porch lights on a little later. However, with DPS not having school on the 31st and the fact that it’s a Friday, lots of people are wondering if trick-or-treating may start even earlier and go longer this year!
And yes, the unspoken rule still applies: If the lights are off, skip that house.
Speaking of Halloween being a day off from school…
DPS happens to have the day off for Professional Development this Halloween. If you’re looking for some ideas that day to entertain your kiddos, here are a few things we found in the neighborhood:
How all-out do people go with costumes?
Central Park parents love a good theme. You’ll see everything from family ensembles (think Toy Story, Star Wars, or The Addams Family) to toddlers toddling around in inflatable dinosaur suits. The creativity is next-level, and half the fun is people-watching.
What about older kids?
Older kids tend to roam in groups, but for the most part it’s all good-spirited fun—no “mischief night” antics here. Everyone’s just out to soak up the energy, snag as many Reeses as possible, and connect with their neighbors. While everyone has their own opinions on the age to stop trick-or-treating, I personally love seeing the teenagers out trick or treating with friends or siblings!
Any last tips?
- Bring a wagon for little ones (and maybe a cooler for the grown-ups).
- Stock up on extra candy—you’ll run out faster than you think!
- For kids with food allergies, having non-candy options is super thoughtful. You can paint a pumpkin teal to show you have non-candy options, and even sign your house up on the Teal Pumpkin Project website.
- If your house is participating, make sure your walkway is well-lit and decorations aren’t too scary for the younger crowd.
- Want to skip door duty? Leave a bowl on the porch—it’ll be empty in 15 minutes, tops.
- If you have any leftover candy you’re looking to part with, there are a number of local dentists who collect it for charity, or you can consider leaving it out for delivery drivers this upcoming holiday season.
Halloween in Central Park is one of those nights that captures everything we love about this community—it’s joyful, welcoming, and a little wild in the best way. Whether it’s your first year or your fifteenth, it’s the kind of tradition that makes Central Park feel like home.
