Trick-or-treat (“Beggar’s Night”) in Columbus, Ohio typically follows a regional schedule set by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), not always exactly on October 31.

Quick Scoop

  • In Central Ohio, many cities, including Columbus, usually hold trick-or-treat on the Thursday before Halloween when Oct. 31 falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
  • When Oct. 31 falls on a Monday–Thursday, trick-or-treat is usually on Oct. 31 itself , generally from about 6–8 p.m. in Columbus-area communities.
  • For example, Columbus followed MORPC’s recommendation and held trick-or-treat on Thursday, October 30, 2025, 6–8 p.m. when Halloween fell on a Friday that year.

How It’s Decided

  • MORPC publishes a recommended regional trick-or-treat date each year to keep most Central Ohio communities on the same night for safety and consistency.
  • The basic rule used around Columbus is:
    • If Oct. 31 = Mon–Thu → trick-or-treat on Oct. 31.
* If Oct. 31 = Fri–Sun → trick-or-treat on the **preceding Thursday**.

Recent Local Pattern

  • A 2025 Central Ohio schedule shows Columbus listed as October 30, 6:00–8:00 p.m. , explicitly marked as “per MORPC’s recommendation” and “will not change date due to weather.”
  • Neighboring suburbs like Dublin, Upper Arlington, Westerville and others used the same evening, confirming that Columbus usually aligns with this shared schedule.

What You Should Do This Year

Because the exact year in your question is not specified and cities confirm details closer to October, the safest move each year is:

  1. Check the City of Columbus website or social media in early–mid October for that year’s trick-or-treat announcement.
  1. Look at a local roundup (e.g., Columbus on the Cheap or similar community sites) that publishes a consolidated “Trick-or-Treat Schedule” for Columbus and surrounding suburbs.

Bottom line: In Columbus, Ohio, trick-or-treat is usually 6–8 p.m. on Oct. 31 when Halloween is a weekday, or 6–8 p.m. on the Thursday before Halloween when October 31 lands on a weekend, following MORPC’s regional recommendation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.