Once again it’s that time of year when you and your costumed little ones hit the streets of America’s neighborhoods in search of candy. We’ve gathered the top destinations for your children to trick-or-treat this Halloween after taking several factors into consideration, including neighborhood safety, walkability and an overall sense of communal fun.
Candler Park (Atlanta, GA)
This scenic neighborhood in the metro Atlanta area is filled with authentic Victorian-style homes and Craftsman Bungalows. The community of Five Points pulls out all the stops every October, hosting a Halloween Parade that encourages residents to bring their finest costumes to the Lake Claire area.
Beacon Hill (Boston, MA)
Exploring the historic cobblestone streets and vintage brownstone homes of Beacon Hill is like going back in time. Start your trick-or-treat adventure at Chestnut or Mount Vernon streets. Warning: If you stay out too late, you may encounter a classic American ghost.
Roscoe Village (Chicago, IL)
Roscoe Village is a top destination in the Chicago area to trick-or-treat. Many young families inhabit this upscale spot. Check out its parade featuring costume contests and food vendors, which happens a week before Halloween.
Shaker Heights (Cleveland, OH)
In this Midwest suburb, residents take pride in making grand displays of their front yards to ring in Halloween. Come Oct. 31, your kids will think this neighborhood is some kind of fright-filled theme park.
Lakewood (Dallas, TX)
This safe neighborhood located along White Rock Lake is a popular haunt that hosts an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 visitors each year! Who could blame it when each household spends about $400 on candy every year?
Washington Park (Denver, CO)
This popular neighborhood in Denver is centered around the 165-acre Washington Park. With many homes located right next to each other, there are even more doors to scream “trick-or-treat” at. Get yourself in shape before eating all that candy with the Scream Scram, an annual Halloween-themed and costumed 5K walk in Washington Park.
Bellaire (Houston, TX)
One of the best places in the nation to trick-or-treat is Bellaire in Houston. Known as “The City of Homes,” this affluent and easy-to-walk municipality boasts a population of 17,000. Bring your trick-or-treaters and plenty of goodie bags to this top spot located along Loop 610 north of Beechnut Street.
Riverside (Inland Empire, CA)
Riverside is located east of Los Angeles in the Inland Empire, and it makes our list because of the abundance of spooky events happening throughout October, such as its Halloween Carnival, a Zombie Walk pitting zombies against survivalists and its 25th annual Ghost Walk downtown.
Toluca Lake (Los Angeles, CA)
Located in the San Fernando Valley just north of Los Angeles lies Toluca Lake. Home to several television and film professionals, this neighborhood brings Hollywood-level effects and creativity to its home decorations. Walking around on Halloween is made easy, as streets are closed off to traffic.
Upper East Side (New York City, NY)
Looking for a place to trick-or-treat in the Big Apple? Look no further than the Upper East Side; in particular, check out East 78th Street between 3rd and Park Avenues. Townhomes are adorned with scary Halloween décor while owners hand out candy. Although some buildings do not allow their tenants to hand out candy, you would most likely find a doorman handing out treats in the building lobby.
Baldwin Park (Orlando, FL)
Baldwin Park is an award-winning neighborhood built on the site of one of the largest U.S. naval training centers. This safe and lively neighborhood is a popular spot to go trick-or-treat just outside of Orlando. If you want to grab a bite along the way, there are several great dining options nearby too.
Noe Valley (San Francisco, CA)
Noe Valley is the place to be in the Bay area. This rapidly gentrifying residential neighborhood is home to several young professionals and their families. Roads here are also closed off to traffic. Most of the Halloween action happens on Fair Oaks Street.
Myers Park (Charlotte, NC)
The real treat of the Myers Park neighborhood is its view of the breaktaking trees lining its streets. With grand styled homes, this prestigious area is a top choice for North Carolinians to bring their young ones to on All Hallow’s Eve.
Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia, PA)
Northwest Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood is regarded as a prime choice to trick-or-treat in the Keystone State. This community features several lovely and highly-valued homes. Chestnut Hill also hosts its own all-ages Halloween Parade, where local businesses also get in on the fun by handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
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Remember to have a safe Halloween. Make sure your children are trick-or-treating with an adult present. Be wary of any suspicious-looking or opened pieces of candy. Now it’s time to just figure out the perfect costume. Happy Halloween!