Are you wondering “what time is Trick or Treating in Lakeland FL?” Searching “when is Trick or Treating near me?” Curious if there are specific trick or treat hours in Polk County? Or if we celebrate Halloween on a Saturday?
Here in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, and most nearby cities and towns in Polk County we go trick or treating in neighborhoods on October 31, no matter what day of the week it is. In 2023, Halloween falls on a Tuesday night.
It is a local tradition for kids in costumes to go door to door, running from house to house, collecting candy, and staying up past bedtime on a school night to celebrate Halloween.
There are also local events in the days and weeks leading up to Halloween, plus community events on Halloween night. We also have a full list of Halloween Events and Trunk or Treats in October.
If you don’t live in a neighborhood, don’t miss our list of the best places for Trick or Treating near you or our list of community Trunk or Treats.
*Frostproof, FL is an exception – they have a Halloween street dance and city wide trick or treating on the Saturday before Halloween.
Don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Fall & Halloween Activities for a full list of fun things to do this fall in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Polk County, and Central Florida including pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, Halloween events, trunk or treats, drive-thru Halloween attractions, trick or treat details, and more.
Table of Contents
First things first…
When is Trick or Treating Near You in Lakeland, FL?
Here in Lakeland, we go trick or treating in neighborhoods on October 31, no matter what day of the week it is. I’ve lived here almost my entire life and Halloween has always been celebrated on October 31. Of course there are plenty of church trunk or treats and community events other nights prior to Halloween, but people traditionally go door to door in neighborhoods on Halloween night.
The same goes for Winter Haven Trick or Treat, Auburndale Trick or Treat, and almost all other cities in Polk County.
Frostproof, FL is an exception – they have a Halloween street dance and city wide trick or treating on the Saturday before Halloween.
What time does Lakeland Trick or Treat start?
There are no set Trick or Treating times in Polk County – we see people start as early as 5pm, with most people heading out between 6-7pm at dusk, as it is getting dark.
When does Trick or Treating end?
When you turn off your front porch light. 😉
In all seriousness, most places we’ve gone out it seems the festivities are wrapping up by 9pm, especially when Halloween falls on a school night. If you live in a neighborhood that gets trick or treaters, we suggest turning off your porch light and any visible lights at the front of your house when you’re ready for the doorbell to stop ringing. If you’re trick or treating, a dark house is a sign either no one is home OR they are done for the evening.
What day is Trick or Treating in Bartow, Florida?
In 2021, the Bartow City Commission passed a resolution to have trick or treating in the City of Bartow on Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm. After a lot of confusion last year, for 2023 there is confirmation that Trick or Treating in Bartow, FL is on Halloween night – October 31, 2023. The popular Bartow Halloween Parade and Carnival will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
Where is the best place to trick or treat in Lakeland?
There are a lot of great options! If you live in a decent size neighborhood (20+ houses) we can almost guarantee there will be houses giving out candy. Find a neighbor to ask about past Halloween nights. For anyone not in a neighborhood that is trying to figure out where to go for Halloween, visit our list of the Best Places to Trick or Treat in Lakeland.
{If you’re a Lakeland native these might seem like funny questions, BUT we’ve discovered many communities in other cities and states have set times OR always do trick or treat the Saturday before Halloween – which is why anyone moving to town might be asking!}
Halloween Safety Tips for Trick or Treating on October 31
For kids, Halloween is one of the best nights of the year! Candy, costumes, Trick or Treating, and fun with friends. With so many people out and about in the dark on Halloween, it can also be a dangerous night. On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. But DO NOT FEAR! We’ve got a list of Halloween safety tips to keep your kiddos safe and happy while you have a FUN Halloween night!
Pick Safe Costumes
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Make sure costumes are short enough to prevent trips and falls
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision
- Make sure weapon accessories are rubber or plastic so kids can’t hurt themselves or their friends
- Decorate costumes and trick or treat bags with reflective tape or stickers
- Have kids carry or wear glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
- Pick a route in advance
- Go with a group if possible, it’s easier for multiple adults to keep up with all the kids!
- Bring flashlights {with fresh batteries} to light the way
- Only approach well-lit homes
- Teach your children to accept treats at the door and never go inside
- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks, and be sure to WALK, not run!
- Put phones and iPods away while walking and keep heads up
- Remain on well-lit streets and always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision from a responsible adult. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Be A Safe Driver
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods – Children are excited on Halloween and may not be paying attention
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections
- Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings (AKA – PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN!)
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier than normal
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours
Candy Safety
- When kids
askbeg to eat candy while you’re out walking, be sure to check what they are eating - Sort through candy at the end of the night and be sure to throw away any candy that is not in its original wrapper, or looks as though it has been opened.
At Home
- Be sure the front of your house is well lit and the walkway is clear if you’re giving out candy
- Keep front porch lights off if you don’t want Trick or Treaters OR aren’t going to be home
- Halloween is also a night police see a spike in crime. Be sure to arm security systems, lock doors and vehicles. Leave lights or a television on inside so it doesn’t look like an empty house.
Lakeland Area Halloween Events for Kids + Trunk or Treating
You can also enjoy Fall and Halloween Activities throughout September and October. Check out our full list of Halloween Events for Kids.
Events on Halloween Night in Lakeland + Polk County
Polk County Halloween Events by City
Looking for more Halloween Events Near You?
- Master List of Polk County Halloween Events by Date
- Auburndale Halloween Events {includes Polk City}
- Bartow Halloween Events {includes Fort Meade}
- Davenport + Haines City Halloween Events
- Frostproof + Lake Wales Halloween Events
- Lakeland Halloween Events + Fall Activities
- Mulberry Halloween Events
- Plant City Halloween Events + Fall Activities
- Winter Haven Halloween Events + Fall Activities
Wishing you a SAFE, FUN & CANDY FILLED Halloween!
Fall + Halloween Activity Guide
🌽 Corn Mazes 🎃 Pumpkin Patches 💀 Haunted Houses 🍬 Halloween Events in Polk County 👸 Neighborhoods for Trick or Treating 🍭 Trick or Treat Hours and more!