Tampa sets no official trick-or-treat hours; Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat Oct. 24, county trunk-or-treats and safety numbers.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year. Sources: the City of Tampa calendar and Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation’s Halloween list.

Updated Oct. 14: Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat runs to 9 p.m., per the organizers; Creatures of the Night prices added.

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The City of Tampa does not set official trick-or-treat hours, and none were posted on the city’s site or calendar when we checked. If your neighborhood association or HOA sets its own times, follow those.

Who to call

Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat, Oct. 24

The 10th annual Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat is from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Cotanchobee Park, 601 Water St., downtown, Friends of the Riverwalk says. It is free, with a “Thriller” flash mob at 4:30 p.m., costume contests at 5 p.m. and an outdoor movie at 7:15 p.m. Event parking is $10 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Pam Iorio and Convention Center garages and the Selmon Expressway lots. The same day, children in costume get free admission with a paying adult at Guppyween at The Florida Aquarium, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 701 Channelside Drive.

Trunk-or-treats and county events

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation says all its Halloween events are free. Trunk-or-treats:

Date Place Time
Friday, Oct. 16 Northdale Park & Recreation Center 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22 Emanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29 Bealsville Park & Recreation Center 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Miller Park & Life Center 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Jackson Springs Park & Community Center 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Keystone Park & Recreation Center 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Mango Park & Recreation Center 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Ruskin Park & Recreation Center 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 Victor Crist Community Center Complex 6 to 8 p.m.

Each center’s address is on its event page, linked from the county’s list. The county also has a Halloween movie at Kenly Park on Oct. 16 (6:30 to 9 p.m.), Halloween skate jams at Carrollwood Village (Oct. 30) and three other parks on Oct. 31, and a costumed dog contest at Apollo Beach Dog Park on Oct. 31 (10 a.m. to noon).

Churches, schools and shopping centers hold their own trunk-or-treats too. Check their pages for dates; we list the ones run by public agencies.

  • Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa, select nights in October. Free for members and Zoo Fun ticket holders; otherwise $34.95 Friday and Sunday and $39.95 Saturday after 4 p.m. ZooTampa page.
  • Spooktacular Science at MOSI, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 4801 E. Fowler Ave. Tickets.

For the rest of the month, see things to do in Tampa this month.

Safety

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister shared costume and candy safety tips on the county’s Hello Hillsborough podcast for October. Common-sense basics: costumes that let children see and be seen, a flashlight or reflective tape, an adult with younger children, and candy checked at home before eating. Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods from dusk on Halloween.

Mosquitoes are still a concern: the city said on Oct. 8 that the dengue outbreak continues, so plan on repellent for evening trick-or-treating. See our report on the county’s dengue emergency.

What this means for you

  • No official hours: go with your neighborhood’s custom on Saturday, Oct. 31.
  • Oct. 24 is the big downtown night on the Riverwalk.
  • Most trunk-or-treats are Friday, Oct. 30, the night before Halloween.
  • In the city, call 813-231-6130 for non-emergency police help.

Related: Halloween events in Tampa, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

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

The City of Tampa does not set official trick-or-treat hours, and we found none posted for 2026. Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31.

When is Riverwalk Trick-or-Treat in Tampa?

Saturday, Oct. 24, 4 to 9 p.m. at Cotanchobee Park, 601 Water St., on the Tampa Riverwalk. It is free.

Where are trunk-or-treats near Tampa?

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation holds free trunk-or-treats at county recreation centers, including Northdale on Oct. 16 and Emanuel P. Johnson on Oct. 22, with six more on Oct. 29 and 30.

Who do I call about a Halloween safety concern in Tampa?

Call 911 for an emergency. For anything else inside the city, call the Tampa Police Department non-emergency line at 813-231-6130.