Halloween events in Lexington 2026

Last checked Oct. 24, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates and times come from the City of Lexington Halloween page, the city calendar and the Lexington Public Library calendar, linked below. Parks and Recreation events: 859-288-2925.

Updated Oct. 24: the city now lists the Thriller reenactment from 7 to 8:30 p.m., not 9 p.m. Events through Oct. 23 are past.

Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, but Lexington’s big night is a week early: the Halloween Parade and Thriller reenactment fill Main Street on Sunday, Oct. 25. The city says USA Today named the festival a Top 10 Halloween destination.

Looking for trick-or-treat hours on Halloween night? See our trick-or-treat hours guide. For corn mazes and pumpkin patches, see fall festivals and pumpkin patches.

The season at a glance

Halloween Festival and Thriller Parade, Sunday, Oct. 25

The Halloween Festival and Thriller Parade is the city’s largest free Halloween party, put on by Lexington Parks and Recreation, Mecca Live Studio and MEDIALEX.

• Food, drink and craft vendors: 4 to 8:30 p.m.
• Halloween Variety Show: 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza, North Limestone. A DJ and Halloween performances by Mecca, Dance Attack, the March Madness Marching Band and other Lexington arts groups.
• Halloween Parade: 6:30 to 7 p.m. on Main Street, between Quality and Mill streets. Costumed walkers join free; the application deadline for floats and groups was Oct. 12.
• Thriller reenactment: 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the same stretch of Main Street. Several hundred zombies dance down Main Street to the Michael Jackson song. Watch from anywhere along the route.

Want to be a zombie? The last staging rehearsal was 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Artworks at the Carver School, 522 Patterson St.; every dancer had to attend at least one dance lesson and one staging rehearsal, so registration for this year is effectively over. Details are on the festival page.

Jack-O-Lantern Trail, Oct. 27-30

Hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins light a night walk at McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Lane, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Oct. 27-30; the gate closes at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $6, and children 12 and under are free. Details are on the Jack-O-Lantern Trail page.

Help light it: at Carve’n Chip’n, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the same park, you carve a pumpkin for the trail. It is free. Raven Run Nature Sanctuary holds its own pumpkin carving the same afternoon, 1 to 2:30 p.m., for $8 with online registration.

Free candy nights at community centers

All free, from the city calendar:

• Halloween Dance with Costume Contest, 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, Kenwick Community Center, 313 Owsley Ave. Candy, snacks and prizes.
• Hallow-Palooza, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, Castlewood Community Center, 201 Castlewood Drive. Candy, inflatables and face painting for children in costume.
• HallowBingo, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, Kenwick Community Center. All ages; wear orange for the special round.
• Fall Halloween Fun Night, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, William Wells Brown Community Center, 548 E. Sixth St. Games and crafts for young people.
• All Treats No Tricks, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Kenwick Community Center. A candy giveaway for the whole family.

Library Halloween events

The Lexington Public Library’s Boo Bash is a free Halloween party with songs, games and crafts for children 5 and under with a caregiver. Costumes are encouraged and no registration is needed. Each runs 11 a.m. to noon:

• Monday, Oct. 26: Northside Branch, 1733 Russell Cave Road
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Tates Creek Branch, 3628 Walden Drive
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Central Library, 140 E. Main St.
• Friday, Oct. 30: Beaumont Branch, 3080 Fieldstone Way

For older children, Northside holds Creepy Crafting for ages 8 to 13 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Adults can catch the Horror Murder Movie Club’s Halloween showing at Central Library from 2 to 4 p.m. on Halloween.

For dogs

Yappy Hour: Howl-o-Ween is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Masterson Station Dog Park, 3051 Leestown Road. Dress your dog for the costume contest; prizes include gift baskets. Free.

Haunted houses

As of Oct. 24 we found no haunted house in Fayette County with 2026 dates posted on its organizer’s own website. We will add any that post dates.

The rest of the month’s events are in things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Thriller Parade in Lexington in 2026?

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, on Main Street downtown. The Halloween Parade steps off at 6:30 p.m. and the Thriller reenactment runs from 7 to 9 p.m. It is free.

When is the Jack-O-Lantern Trail at McConnell Springs?

Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Lane. Admission is $6; children 12 and under are free.

Are there free Halloween events for kids in Lexington?

Yes. The city’s community centers hold free candy nights the week before Halloween, including Hallow-Palooza at Castlewood on Oct. 27 and All Treats No Tricks at Kenwick on Oct. 30, and every Lexington Public Library branch holds a free Boo Bash for children 5 and under.

Is there a Halloween event for dogs in Lexington?

Yappy Hour: Howl-o-Ween is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Masterson Station Dog Park, 3051 Leestown Road, with a free dog costume contest.

What are trick-or-treat hours in Lexington?

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The city lists Lexington Trick-or-Treat on Oct. 31; see our trick-or-treat hours page for the times once the city posts them.