Trick-or-treat times set for Centre County. Here’s a look at those & other Halloween events on tap
After last year’s curtailed trick or treating due to the pandemic, and 2019’s postponements because of the weather, it finally looks as if Centre County is poised for a more normal night of trick or treat this year.
For just the third time since 2011, Halloween falls on the weekend — meaning most municipalities will hold trick or treat on the actual holiday.
Here’s a closer look at the trick-or-treat plans for all 35 of Centre County’s municipalities:
- Bellefonte Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Benner Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Boggs Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Burnside Township: No set time/date
- Centre Hall Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- College Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Curtin Township: No set time/date (Most residents tend to follow Howard Township)
- Ferguson Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Gregg Township: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Haines Township: Have not yet set time/date. Will likely do so on Oct. 21.
- Halfmoon Township: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Harris Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Howard Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Howard Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Huston Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Liberty Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Marion Township: Have not yet set time/date. Will do so Thursday.
- Miles Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Milesburg Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Millheim Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Patton Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Penn Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Philipsburg Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Port Matilda Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Potter Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Rush Township: Have not yet set time/date. Will likely do so Wednesday.
- Snow Shoe Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Snow Shoe Township: 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Spring Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- State College Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Taylor Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Union Township: No set time/date
- Unionville Borough: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 (Saturday)
- Walker Township: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 (Sunday)
- Worth Township: No set time/date. (Most residents tend to follow Port Matilda Borough.)
Among the county’s 35 municipalities, that means 20 will hold trick or treat Oct. 31 (Sunday), and eight Oct. 30 (Saturday), with the others either not having a set date or having not yet set it.
The Centre Daily Times plans to update its online story to reflect the newly scheduled dates as needed. For those who prefer to check with the respective municipalities instead, Haines Township will make the announcement Oct. 21 with the date appearing at hainestwp.org; Marion Township will decide on the date Thursday, with the township website at mariontownship.net; and Rush Township plans to announce Wednesday with an update at rushtownship.com.
The four rural municipalities that do not have set dates include Burnside Township, Curtin Township, Union Township and Worth Township. However, Burnside will hold a “Trunk or Treat” event from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Pine Glen Fire Hall.
Is trick or treating safe this year?
The annual tradition isn’t without risk but, according to White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, Americans should “go out there and enjoy Halloween as well as the other holidays that will be coming up.”
Fauci made the announcement Sunday during CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“I mean, this is a time that children love,” he added, clarifying he was referring to outdoor trick or treating. “It’s a very important part of the year for children. I know my children enjoy it.”
Fauci’s words echoed those of Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Walensky said last month “that we should be able to let our kids go trick-or-treating in small groups.” Both also emphasized the importance of receiving a booster shot, getting vaccinated and steering clear of crowded Halloween parties.
Fauci said he’d like to see cases drop to less than 10,000 a day before dropping COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as shedding masks indoors in public places. There are currently about 95,000 cases a day nationally.
October’s other events
Here’s a look at other Halloween-themed and fall events this month, from festivals and 5Ks to fairs and parades:
Oct. 15-16 — Pumpkin Festival at the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens in The Arboretum at Penn State. Events are 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 and 3-9 p.m. Oct. 16.
Oct. 16 — Harvest Craft Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at University Wine Co., 540 Misty Hill Drive, State College.
Oct. 16 — Oktoberfest at Grange Park from noon to 9 p.m. in Centre Hall, hosted by the Central PA Tasting Trail.
Oct. 16 — Punkin’ Chunkin Fall Fest at Bald Eagle State Park, 149 Main Park Road, Howard.
Oct. 22 — Trunk or Treat from 5-7 p.m. at State College YMCA, 677 W. Whitehall Road, State College.
Oct. 26 — Halloween Costume Parade at 7 p.m. starting at Burrowes Road in downtown State College.
Oct. 27 — Trick or Treat Night from 6-8 p.m. at the Penn State All-Sports Museum, University Park. (rain date Oct. 28)
Oct. 29 — Trunk or Treat with DiamondBack from 6-8 p.m. in the DiamondBack parking lot, 354 Enterprise Drive, Philipsburg.
Oct. 30 — Hallow-Wine 5K at 9 a.m. at Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery, 300 Houser Road, Centre Hall.
Oct. 30 — Talleyrand Fall Fest & Annual Halloween Parade from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Talleyrand Park.
Oct. 30 — Trunk or Treat in Gregg Township from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Old Gregg School Community and Recreation Center.
Oct. 30 — Trick or Trot 5K from 9 a.m.-noon at Bellefonte YMCA, 125 W. High St., Bellefonte.
Oct. 31 — Trunk or Treat in Burnside Township from 4-6 p.m. at the Pine Glen Fire Hall.
Oct. 31 — Howard Borough Halloween Parade starting at 5 p.m., an hour before trick or treat is set to begin.
