Trick-or-treating usually happens on the evening of Halloween, which is every year on October 31, typically starting around dusk and running for a few hours into the evening depending on local rules and customs.

Basic timing

  • In most places, trick-or-treating is on October 31, because that is when Halloween is celebrated each year.
  • Common neighborhood hours are roughly between 5:30–8:30 p.m., but the exact window is set by local tradition, cities, or homeowner associations.

Local variations

  • Some cities or regions officially schedule trick-or-treating on a nearby weekday or Thursday if October 31 falls on a weekend, to keep things orderly and safer for kids.
  • There is also a newer “National Trick or Treat Day” in the U.S. that some communities observe on the last Saturday in October, as an extra or alternative time for trick-or-treating.

How to find the exact time where you live

  • Check your city or town website, local news sites, or police/fire department announcements in October; many publish official trick‑or‑treat hours.
  • Ask neighbors or local parent groups, since neighborhoods often follow consistent, informal start times (usually right after sunset and ending by about 8–9 p.m.).

TL;DR: Trick-or-treating is generally on the evening of October 31 in your area, starting around dusk; check your local city or neighborhood announcements in October for the specific hours.

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