Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. the city has posted no official hours; last year city fire stations gave out treats 5:30 to 8 p.m. Events and safety tips.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the City of Wilmington’s events listing; we will add the 2026 fire station hours and other events as organizers post them.

Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday, Oct. 31. The City of Wilmington has not published official trick-or-treat hours, so families go out when their neighborhood does. The one city event that comes close is the Wilmington Fire Department’s station trick-or-treat: last year, on Oct. 31, 2025, every city fire station handed out treats from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The city had not posted the 2026 listing when we checked.

Who to call

Trick or treat with the Wilmington Fire Department

The 2025 listing invited children to stop at any of the department’s 10 stations for a free treat:

Station Address
Headquarters 801 Market St.
Station 2 3403 Park Ave.
Station 3 114 Cinema Drive
Station 5 680 Shipyard Blvd.
Station 6 4455 River Road
Station 7 3230 S. College Road
Station 8 601 Eastwood Road
Station 9 1201 Military Cutoff Road
Station 10 6102 Oleander Drive
Station 15 3335 Masonboro Loop Road

Do not park in front of the bay doors; the trucks may need to leave. Crews can be called out at any time, so if no one is there, wait a few minutes or come back.

Halloween events this year

  • Celebrate Downtown, Friday, Oct. 30, 5 to 8:30 p.m., Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St. Free. Halloween treats, lawn games, music, food trucks and police and fire trucks to explore, then Hocus Pocus on the lawn at 6:45 p.m. Costumes encouraged; bring a blanket or a low chair. City event page.
  • Cape Fearful Skies, Friday, Oct. 23, Cape Fear Museum: a Halloween planetarium show for adults 18 and older at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Reservations required. County calendar.
  • Spooky Mushrooms: Friend or Foe?, Thursday, Oct. 29, Airlie Gardens, 300 Airlie Road: a classroom session and craft for children. Pre-registration required. Airlie Gardens.

Trunk-or-treats at churches, schools and neighborhood groups are posted closer to the day; we add them here when the organizer publishes the date, time and place. Organizers can send theirs through our contact page.

Staying safe

  • Trick-or-treat after dark with a flashlight, and add reflective tape to dark costumes.
  • Walk on sidewalks, cross at corners and watch for cars backing out of driveways.
  • Children should go with an adult, or in a group with a set route and a time to be home.
  • Check treats before eating, and toss anything unwrapped or opened.
  • Leave your porch light on if you are handing out candy, and off if you are not.

Frequently asked questions

What are the trick-or-treat hours in Wilmington, NC for 2026? The City of Wilmington has not published official trick-or-treat hours. Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Last year the Wilmington Fire Department handed out treats at its stations from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Do Wilmington fire stations give out Halloween candy? They did on Oct. 31, 2025, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at all 10 city fire stations. The city had not posted a 2026 listing when we checked.

Is there a Halloween event in downtown Wilmington? Yes. The city’s free Celebrate Downtown evening on Friday, Oct. 30, at Riverfront Park has Halloween treats from 5 p.m. and an outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus at 6:45 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.

More: things to do this month and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.