Neighborhoods

Trick or treat: Where and when to go in Boston and beyond for Halloween 2023

Trick-or-treating doesn't have to be tricky in the Boston area thanks to our 2023 Halloween trick or treat guide.

By Kevin Slane

October 24, 2023

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Are your kids already excited about trick-or-treating this Halloween? Whether you’re in Boston proper or out in the suburbs, the October 31 trick or treat tradition is always a highlight of the fall season for the younger set.

People who have lived in a neighborhood for years probably already know what to expect on Halloween. Kids become trick or treat experts, knowing which houses pass out the best candy and which ones leave out bowls for costumed children to grab one (or 10) themselves.

But if you’re new to the area or new to having children, you may be surprised to find that many towns have official trick or treat (or trunk-or-treat) events on the weekend before Halloween instead of October 31.

If you’ve found yourself asking, “Where is the best place to trick or treat near me?” or “When is the best time for trick-or-treating?,” we’re here to help.

To help you ace Halloween this year, we’ve scared up all the info you’ll need to have a successful trick or treat adventure, whether you celebrate on October 31 or another day — or both.

Trick or treat times in the Boston area

While trick-or-treating is traditionally an evening activity, you don’t want to be out too late at night, according to the Boston Police Department. In a list of trick or treat tips posted to its Facebook page, the department suggested that parents have their children finish up trick or treating by no later than 8:30 p.m.

Here is a list of recommended trick or treat times from other towns and cities in the Boston area. Some towns have not shared their 2023 recommendations, in which case we have shared the info from the most recent year.

If you see any incorrect or missing info, email [email protected].

• Acton: 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Andover: 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Arlington: Chamber of Commerce trick-or-treating event from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27
• Braintree: 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Brookline: 5-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Cambridge: 3-6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Danvers: 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31 
• Dedham: Trunk-or-Treat from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28
• Everett: 3:30-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Hamilton: 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Haverhill: 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28
• Ipswich: 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Lexington: Town Hall trick-or-treating event from 2-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Malden: Chamber of Commerce trick-or-treating event from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Medford: Chamber of Commerce trick-or treat from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27
• Melrose: Chamber of Commerce trick-or-treat from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Methuen: 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Newton: Until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• North Andover: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31
• Quincy: 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Salem: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31
• Somerville: Suggested between 5 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 31
• Tewksbury: 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31
• Weymouth: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31

Halloween activities in Boston

Along with incentivizing block parties for its residents, the City of Boston will hold a number of Halloween activities at Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) locations in every neighborhood. You’ll find everything from trick or treating to pumpkin decorating, depending on which neighborhood you visit.

Charlestown: “Trick or Treat or Bust” on Tuesday, October 31 from 4 – 7 p.m. at BCYF Charlestown.

Dorchester: “Trails to Treats Boo Fest” on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. from Dorchester YMCA to BCYF Perkins.

East Boston: Halloween Party on Monday, Oct. 30 from 5-7 p.m. at BCYF Pino.

Hyde Park: Halloween Party on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. at BCYF Hyde Park.

Jamaica Plain: Haunted House on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. at BCYF Curtis Hall.

Mattapan: Halloween Party on Monday, Oct. 30 from 3-7 p.m. at BCYF Gallivan.

Mission Hill: “Halloween on the Hill” on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 4 – 8 p.m. at BCYF Tobin.

North End: Annual neighborhood Halloween event on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 2-6:30 p.m. at BCYF Nazzaro.

Roslindale: Trick or treat until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at BCYF Menino.

Roxbury: Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at BCYF Shelburne.

South Boston: Pumpkin Decorating on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. for ages 5 and under, or 4 p.m. for ages 6 and older at BCYF Curley.

West Roxbury: Trick or Treat Centre Street with Parkway in Motion on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at BCYF Roche Center.

Streets closed in Boston for trick or treating

The City of Boston is large enough that there isn’t one centralized area to go trick or treating. Instead, Mayor Michelle Wu has encouraged neighborhoods across the city to apply for a Halloween block party permit, closing streets to vehicle traffic and maximizing safety.

The city hasn’t released an official list of street closures, but there are certain blocks that tend to be closed to vehicle traffic year after year on Halloween.

Here are some of the blocks that have been closed for trick or treating in Boston neighborhoods and nearby municipalities in recent years. The city will likely release a full list later this week, and we will update this information when it becomes available.

Back Bay

• Marlborough Street from Berkeley Street to Fairfield Street, closed from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Beacon Hill

• Pinckney Street from Joy Street to Charles Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Mount Vernon Street from Joy Street to Charles Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Chestnut Street from Walnut Street to Charles Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• West Cedar Street from Revere Street to Chestnut Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Anderson Street from Myrtle Street to Pinckney Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Branch Street from Charles Street to Spruce Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.

Charlestown

• Monument Square, streets abutting the monument closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Monument Avenue from Monument Square to Warren Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Winthrop Street from Monument Square to Common Street, closed from 4 to 8 p.m.

East Boston

• Saratoga Street from Marion Street to Brooks Street, closed from 5 to 8 p.m.

Jamaica Plain

• Dunster Road from Centre Street to Dane Street, closed to traffic from 5 to 8 p.m.

Roslindale

• Mendum Street from Fairview Street to Walter Street, closed to traffic from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• South Street from Lesher Street to Washington Street; and Mosgrove Avenue, from South Street to Washington Street, closed to traffic from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
• Tyndale Street from Guernsey Street to Walworth Street, closed to traffic from 6 to 8 p.m.

South Boston

• Beckler Avenue from K Street to the end, closed to traffic from 2 to 8 p.m.

South End

• Pembroke Street from Warren Avenue to Tremont Street, closed to traffic from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Waltham Street from Tremont Street to Shawmut Avenue, closed to traffic from 5 to 8 p.m.