Free LEGO kits at two Barnes and Noble stores, 50,000 pieces of parade candy in NuLu, a church carnival with free hot dogs, and the Pokémon regional tournament downtown. Times, addresses, costs, and the catches parents should know first.
The best free haul in Louisville this weekend is a Barnes and Noble LEGO Halloween build, Friday, October 9, at 6 p.m. at Shops at Paddock and Saturday, October 10, at 2 p.m. at The Shoppes at Plainview. Saturday is the big free day: the HalLOUween parade in NuLu, Pumpkins at PlayPort trick or treating at Waterfront Park, and four free fall festivals from Sun Valley Park to Jeffersontown. Pokémon fans have the Louisville Pokémon Regional Championships at the Kentucky International Convention Center all weekend, plus a worldwide Pokémon GO Community Day on Saturday afternoon.
JCPS Insider checked every listing below on the organizer's own page on Thursday evening, October 8, 2026.
Where can kids get something free to take home?
Barnes and Noble is the only store giveaway in Louisville we could confirm for this weekend. Kits are limited, and both stores say to contact the store to reserve a spot.
The Shops at Paddock LEGO Halloween Build is Friday, October 9, at 6 p.m. at 4330 Summit Plaza Drive. The listing calls it a LEGO Halloween themed mini build that is "perfect for ages 10+" and says LEGO fans of all ages are welcome. Call 502 665 8087.
The Plainview LEGO Halloween Build is Saturday, October 10, at 2 p.m. at 801 South Hurstbourne Parkway. That store invites kids to come in costume, which is optional, and lists it for all ages. Call 502 426 0255.
Neither store page says in writing that kids keep the finished model, so ask when you call. Do not drive to Mall St. Matthews for this one. Barnes and Noble's store locator lists that location as opening in November 2026.
Candy is the other free take home. The HalLOUween Parade organizers say more than 50,000 pieces of candy go out along East Jefferson Street during the 7 p.m. parade Saturday, and they tell families to bring a bag. Pumpkins at PlayPort also tells kids to bring a trick or treat bag for "lots of goodies."
Free food shows up at one church carnival. The Family and Children's Carnival at Jeffersontown United Methodist Church lists hot dogs, popcorn, and snow cones, plus a bounce house, duck pond, ring toss, and story tent, "all at no cost." It runs Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at 10219 Taylorsville Road. Phone 502 267 1437.
For a swap instead of a giveaway, the Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange at the Crescent Hill library, 2762 Frankfort Avenue, runs Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bring gently used puzzles with all their pieces and leave with different ones.
The store kid workshops are not this weekend. Home Depot's October project was Saturday, October 3. Lowe's lists its free Firefighting Plane workshop for Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the confirmation email is your ticket. The LEGO Store at Oxmoor Center, 7900 Shelbyville Road, lists its Blooming Rainbow Party creativity workshop for October 17 and 18, also next weekend.
Which fall festivals and Halloween events are free?
Five Saturday events post free admission. Food trucks and add ons cost money at most of them.
The Belknap Fall Festival starts first, Friday, October 9, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., then runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the Douglass Loop at 2223 Dundee Road. The Belknap Neighborhood Association bills it as free and all ages, with two music stages, pumpkin painting, face painting, and a petting zoo.
HalLOUween Parade and Fest is Saturday, October 10, on East Jefferson Street in NuLu. The headline lists 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., while the location box on the same site says the street fest runs 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., so plan around the 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. parade. The free part includes the parade, the pumpkin derby at 2 p.m., the all ages costume contest at 5 p.m., live music, and movies at Mashup Food Hall. The urban farm pass with the petting zoo and train is $20 a person. The cider pass is $45 and for adults 21 and up. Anyone under 18 has to be with a parent, guardian, or responsible adult.
Pumpkins at PlayPort is Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1105 Rowan Street, on the west end of Waterfront Park. Waterfront Park lists pumpkins, trick or treating, and activity booths from groups that include the Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville Fire Department, Kentucky Science Center, and Frazier Museum. Costumes are encouraged. The page does not list a ticket or price.
The Southwest Community Festival is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sun Valley Park, 6616 Bethany Lane, 40272. The festival's own site does not list admission. WDRB and WAVE reported that it is free, with a Kids City area, Teen Town, live music, and a car show.
HarvestFest at Church of the Harvest is Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at 8300 Shepherdsville Road, 40219. The church calls it "completely FREE to the community" and lists food, bouncies, a rock wall, face painting, a hayride, a pumpkin patch, and a petting zoo. It also lists a silent auction and vendors, so not every table is free.
Friday night has a free Halloween movie. The Louisville Downtown Partnership's Downtown Drive In shows The Nightmare Before Christmas, rated PG, on Friday, October 9, at the Brown Forman Amphitheater, 1301 River Road. No tickets are needed, and parking is free in the Tan and Turquoise lots. The partnership says the movie starts at sundown, while the Waterfront Park calendar lists 8 p.m. Sunset is a little after 7 p.m., so get there by 7. It is weather dependent.
For the youngest costume wearers, Superhero Storytime is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Fairdale library, 10620 West Manslick Road. Costumes are welcome, and the library lists it for ages 0 to 12. Phone 502 375 2051.
What Pokémon events are in Louisville this weekend?
The 2027 Louisville Pokémon Regional Championships run Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11, at the Kentucky International Convention Center, Halls A to E, 221 South Fourth Street.
RK9's TCG tournament page says competitor registration closed October 7.
Families who just want to watch need a spectator pass, which RK9 lists at $20. RK9 says spectator orders are nonrefundable and can't be transferred to another person or account. The FAQ on the organizer's event page says guardians must accompany any minor under 16 in the halls, and that bags larger than 9 by 14 by 22 inches are not permitted into the event.
If $20 a head is too much, Pokémon GO is free to play. The Pokémon Company says October's Community Day is Saturday, October 10, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time, featuring Zorua. Evolve one during the event or up to four hours after, and Zoroark learns the move Sucker Punch. A walk along Waterfront Park before Pumpkins at PlayPort covers both.
Which Halloween events cost money, and how much?
Boo at the Zoo runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend at the Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way. Entry is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and everyone exits by 10 p.m. Tickets are $8.50 for members and $14.25 for nonmembers. Ages 2 and under are free, and the zoo's ticket announcement says they do not require a ticket. Every ticket must be bought in advance online, and Meijer sells $12.25 anytime tickets. Trick or treating is for ages 11 and under, one loop. Parking is included. The zoo says 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is the busiest stretch. Adults may not wear masks that cover the whole face. Phone 502 459 2181.
Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, 937 Phillips Lane, is open Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the park calendar. The park advertises tickets from $19.99, with rides, a candy trick or treat trail, and the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular after dark. The park is closed Monday, October 12.
Jack's Lantern Trail is a separate pumpkin walk in Iroquois Park, run as a Parks Alliance of Louisville fundraiser. The trail's pricing page, checked Thursday, October 8, lists Friday and Saturday tickets at $22 for adults and $15 for ages 3 to 12, with entry slots from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday drops to $16 and $12, with the last slot at 9:30 p.m. The homepage's "tickets start at just $12" is that Sunday through Thursday child price. Ages 2 and under are free, parking is free, and fees and tax are extra.
The Speed Art Museum's Speed Family: Film + Fun is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2035 South Third Street. It pairs The Nightmare Before Christmas with pumpkin painting, cake, and costumes. The ticket page lists $18 for adults and $8 for ages 4 to 17, less for members, and gallery admission is not included. On Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., Speed general admission is pay what you can, including free.
What is the quiet backup plan?
The library has free toddler mornings. On Friday, Little Yogis is 10:30 a.m. at Fairdale, and Time 4 Tots is 10:30 a.m. at Shively, 3920 Dixie Highway. On Saturday, Yoga Storytime is 10:15 a.m. at Iroquois, 601 West Woodlawn Avenue. Family Playdate is 10 a.m. at South Central Regional, 7300 Jefferson Boulevard. Fairy Tales from Around the World with Kentucky Shakespeare is 10:30 a.m. at Newburg, 4800 Exeter Avenue, for ages 3 to 9.
Louisville Parks and Recreation also opens the Uppill Road gate at Iroquois Park on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so you can drive up to the North Overlook. The Olmsted Parks Conservancy listing gives 2120 Rundill Road and no fee.
If the LEGO kit is the one thing your kid wants, call first thing Friday. Shops at Paddock is 502 665 8087, and Plainview is 502 426 0255. Both stores open at 10 a.m.