Trick-or-treat hours in Wake Forest 2026

Last checked Oct. 23, 2026. Updated each year: the dates and the year in the title are refreshed in place every fall. Facts come from the Wake Forest Police Department’s Halloween safety page and the town’s Halloween Boo Bash page.

Trick-or-treat in Wake Forest on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Police recommend 6 to 8 p.m. Because Halloween is always Oct. 31, that is the day the Town of Wake Forest encourages families to go door to door, whatever day of the week it falls on, according to the police department’s Halloween safety page. The town sets no official cutoff; 6 to 8 p.m. is the department’s recommendation.

Updated Oct. 23: the downtown Boo Bash has passed; Covenant Hope Church’s trunk-or-treat on Sunday, Oct. 25, added.

Who to call

• Emergency: 911
• Wake Forest police non-emergency: 919-554-6150
• Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources: Flaherty Park Community Center, 919-554-6726

Trunk-or-treats

• Covenant Hope Church Harvest Festival, 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4038 Graham Sherron Road. Free, with food and family activities; the trunk-or-treat starts at 6 p.m., at the end of the festival, according to the church’s Harvest Festival page.

Churches and businesses in and around Wake Forest often hold trunk-or-treats in the last week of October. We list only those whose organizer has published a 2026 date, time and address. Know of one? Tell us through our contact page.

Downtown: Goodies for Goblins has passed

Downtown trick-or-treating this year was Goodies for Goblins, held during the town’s free Halloween Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the town’s Boo Bash page. It returns next October, and this page will carry the 2027 date when the town posts it.

Safety tips from Wake Forest police

From the department’s safety page:

• Be seen: bright, reflective costumes, reflective tape on bags, and flashlights for children and adults after dark.
• See out: masks can block vision; face makeup and hats are safer.
• Flame-resistant costumes, wigs and accessories only.
• Plan the route with your children and agree on a time to be home. Older children should carry a phone and know to call 911.
• Pumpkins: children under 12 should not carve; tea lights in aluminum liners or flashlights are safer than candles.
• At home: clear hoses, toys and wet leaves from walks, and check outdoor lights.
• Porch light on if you are giving out treats; off if you are not.
• Drivers: go slowly through neighborhoods on Halloween night.

What this means for you

• Trick-or-treat Saturday, Oct. 31, between 6 and 8 p.m.
• Want an earlier option for little ones? Covenant Hope Church’s trunk-or-treat, 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.
• Leave the porch light on only if you have candy.

More Halloween: Halloween events in Wake Forest, things to do this month, including the Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walks, and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.

Frequently asked questions

What are trick-or-treat hours in Wake Forest in 2026?

Wake Forest trick-or-treats on Halloween itself, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The Wake Forest Police Department recommends 6 to 8 p.m.

Does Wake Forest move Halloween when it falls on a weekend or Sunday?

No. The town says Halloween is always Oct. 31 and encourages families to trick-or-treat that day, whatever day of the week it falls on.

Are there trunk-or-treats in Wake Forest this year?

Covenant Hope Church, 4038 Graham Sherron Road, holds a free Harvest Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, with its trunk-or-treat starting at 6 p.m.

Is there downtown trick-or-treating in Wake Forest?

Downtown’s Goodies for Goblins ran during the free Halloween Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 17, and is over for 2026. On Halloween night, trick-or-treating is in the neighborhoods.

How do I show I’m giving out candy in Wake Forest?

Leave your porch light on if you welcome trick-or-treaters and off if you do not, the police department says.