Halloween is Saturday, October 31, 2026, which gives Louisville families a full day instead of a school night. A free Día de Muertos street festival runs downtown from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 445 East Market Street, and library parties and pumpkin trails fill the day before neighborhood trick or treating after dark.
Every listing here was rechecked on October 29, 2026, on the organizer's own page: the LFPL event listings, the Día de Muertos Louisville site, the Louisville Chorus concert page, Kentucky Kingdom's Pumpkins FAQ, the Parks Alliance's Jack's Lantern Trail pricing page and the Kentucky Science Center's movie page. The trick or treat notes are credited to a regional family calendar. Times are Eastern.
What's at the library on Halloween?
Four Louisville Free Public Library branches list programs on Halloween day, and none of the listings shows a fee. One is already full.
Newburg, 4800 Exeter Avenue, hosts Jamaka's Jungle from 11 a.m. to noon, a live animal program with hands on animal encounters, education games and prize giveaways. The LFPL listing is for ages 0 to 12 and requires registration, but on October 29 it said registration is closed because the event is full. Call the branch at 502 479 6160 to ask about openings.
Iroquois, 601 West Woodlawn Avenue, holds a bilingual Spanish and English storytime from 11:15 a.m. to noon for ages 0 to 6, with stories, songs and activities, per the LFPL listing. The branch number is 502 574 1720.
Shawnee, 3912 West Broadway, hosts Puking Pumpkins from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for ages 6 to 12. The LFPL listing promises a fall craft and a lesson in how "to make a pumpkin puke." The branch number is 502 574 1722.
Fairdale, 10620 West Manslick Road, throws a Boo Bash from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the branch meeting room. The library calls it an afternoon party for families, "packed with treats and festive activities." Costumes are encouraged, and it's for ages 0 to 12. The branch number is 502 375 2051.
What else is free Saturday afternoon?
The Día de Muertos Louisville festival runs Saturday, October 31, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 445 East Market Street. Organizers call it a "FREE street festival for the whole family, with altars, music, and more to honor our loved ones." The site lists live music, vendors and a Catrina procession.
On October 29 the site listed food from Los Aztecas, Cafe Classico Empanadas, The Churro Stand and El Nopal, along with Mexican crafts and jewelry sellers. The list isn't labeled by year, so treat it as a guide. The festival's phone number is 502 912 7036.
Across the river, the Louisville Chorus presents Spooky Songs, a free Halloween concert, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 222 Walnut Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana. The chorus promises "Ghost stories set to music, a little Saint-Saens, some genuinely silly business," and says the concert is written for families and "short enough for small children."
Admission is free and no ticket is required at the door, though the chorus says reserving one online helps it plan the room. Costumes are welcome "at every age, including the ones over forty." Questions go to 502 324 5233.
Where are the pumpkin trails on Halloween night?
Kentucky Kingdom, 937 Phillips Lane, is open Saturday, October 31, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom. The park's FAQ says the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular trail, a quarter mile path lined with more than 5,000 hand carved pumpkins, "opens at dusk." A day ticket covers more than 30 rides, trick or treat stations and the trail, and there's no timed entry. The same FAQ lists day tickets "starting at $19.99" in one answer and "as low as $24.99" in another, so confirm the current price at checkout before you buy.
October 31 is on the park's Free Parking Days list, so parking is free for all guests instead of $15 a car. Enter the Kentucky Exposition Center through Gate 1, 4 or 6. Masks are allowed only for children under 12. Guests 15 and under need a supervising adult at least 21, who must show a government issued photo ID and can supervise up to six minors.
Jack's Lantern Trail, the Parks Alliance of Louisville's separate pumpkin trail in Iroquois Park, runs Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with timed entry at 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. The trail cut prices for its final week. Saturday tickets are $15 for everyone 3 and up, and children 2 and under are free, per the trail's pricing page. Service fees and taxes are added, so confirm the total before you pay. The trail's homepage says parking on site is free. Buy before you leave home, because tickets are for a set time.
When is trick or treating in Louisville?
The regional calendar Louisville Family Fun says Jefferson County "traditionally has not set any specific hours," and that small cities and neighborhoods sometimes make their own changes. Check your neighborhood association or small city's page.
Sunset in Louisville on October 31 is 6:45 p.m., according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, checked October 29. Louisville Family Fun prints 6:41 p.m., but the Naval Observatory figure is the official one. Little kids may want to head out before then.
Across the river, the City of Charlestown's parks page says traditional trick or treating should take place October 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
What if it rains?
The Día de Muertos festival is outdoors, so have a backup for the afternoon. The Louisville Downtown Partnership lists Saturday movies at the Kentucky Science Center, 727 West Main Street, on October 31. The films are "Shark Kingdom" and "Horse Power," each with multiple showtimes. Tickets and times are on the Science Center's movie page, which lists documentary films at $7, or $5 for members. The Science Center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and its number is 502 561 6100. It's downtown too, so you can dry off, watch a film and head back for the evening.
Kentucky Kingdom's page says Pumpkins runs rain or shine, though some rides may close in bad weather. Most trick or treating goes on rain or shine too. Louisville Family Fun says that in past years some places changed trick or treat dates or times only when the weather was predicted to be dangerous, and most don't change for rain. Watch your neighborhood group Saturday morning.
How do you plan the walk tonight?
A porch light on is the usual signal that a house welcomes trick or treaters. Louisville Family Fun also notes the teal pumpkin, a sign that a house has treats that are safe for kids with allergies. If your child has a food allergy, bring a few safe swaps and sort the bag at home before anyone eats.
JCPS students are off Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, 2026, so there's no school night to rush home for. JCPS Insider's guide to the four day weekend covers Sunday and the two days off, including day camps and the last night of Jack's Lantern Trail.