If you’re looking for some hauntingly fun spots to snag some candy this All Hallow’s Eve, you’d be batty not to go trick or treating in McKinney, Texas!
For those wondering witch route to take, we have detailed the best neighborhoods in town, top holiday events to check out, and some awesome alternatives to trick or treating in McKinney, Texas, for the families looking to spend this boo-tiful holiday at home.
This is your guide to trick or treating in Mckinney Texas:
The Teal Pumpkin Project: Make Trick or Treating in McKinney Inclusive
The Teal Pumpkin Project is an initiative that aims to raise food allergy awareness and promote inclusivity on Halloween! Started by the organization FARE, Food Allergy Research & Education, the premise is simple—if you see a teal pumpkin on a person’s porch, it means that they are handing out non-food treats this holiday, making it safe for everyone to visit!
If you want to participate, simply put a teal pumpkin or two on your porch, register, and hand out non-food treats—like slime, bouncy balls, plastic fangs, stress balls, and Play-Doh.
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Best McKinney Neighborhoods for Trick-or-Treating
When it comes to getting the best candy and Halloween ambiance, your surroundings matter! For parents looking for the top spots for trick or treating in McKinney, Texas, these are the premier neighborhoods to check out:
- Tucker Hill: Located just west of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in McKinney, Tucker Hill is a relatively new community filled with festively decorated homes, well-manicured lawns, and lots of spooktacular photo opportunities!
- Timber Creek: This is another well-maintained and walkable neighborhood that boasts about its family-friendly atmosphere! This makes it another quintessential spot to enjoy trick or treating in McKinney, Texas.
- Willow Wood: Settled along the banks of the East Fork Trinity River, this master-planned community is another remarkable spot for trick-or-treating in McKinney, Texas! As a newer neighborhood, you can expect to find lots of kids and houses participating in the holiday fun.
View All of Our DFW Trick or Treat Guides
Trick or Treating in McKinney: 2024 Events
For the parents who work late or who simply want to extend all the Halloween fun, here are some of the best trick or treating events in McKinney that will guarantee a howling good time!
- Trick or Treat Trail (Towne Lake Park): Could you ask for anything better than 1.2 miles of spooky characters and decorated candy stations? The 6th Annual Trick or Treat Trail is a can’t-miss.
- Halloween at the Heard (Heard Museum): Another family-friendly holiday event, Halloween at the Heard, gives kids a chance to trick or treat in McKinney, Texas, with animatronic dinosaurs! After you make the trek through this real-life Jurassic Park, enjoy a presentation of the movie Encanto on the Heard’s outdoor amphitheater stage.
- McKinney Día de los Muertos (Downtown McKinney): For the folks looking to celebrate Hispanic heritage, the McKinney Día de los Muertos is your go-to!
Read: 5 Fall Festivals in McKinney not to Miss
Overview of Trick or Treating in McKinney Texas
What time is trick or treating in McKinney Texas?
Like most cities across the state, trick or treating in McKinney Texas begins around 5:30 PM and ends around 9:30 PM. And for the parents with little ghouls and goblins, some neighbors may open their doors as early as 4:30 PM.
What to Bring for Tricking or Treating in McKinney
In addition to a costume and candy bin, it’s smart to pack bottled water and a flashlight with fresh batteries. If rain is in the forecast, an emergency poncho is great to have on hand as well!
Safety Tips for Trick or Treating in McKinney Texas
Even the safest neighborhoods can be scary if you’re not being safe! Here are some tips to keep your ghouls and goblins protected this holiday!
- Look over the State Sex Offender Website: Not everyone is trustworthy in this world, so it’s important for parents to take precautions. Before you start your trick or treating adventures, take the time to find the safest route.
- Make Your Kid’s Costumes Stand Out: Glow sticks and glow-in-the-dark tape are spectacular and affordable ways to help your kids stay seen in the dark! Get creative and incorporate these items into your kid’s costumes and on their candy buckets.
- Trick or Treat Using the Buddy System: If your kids are under the age of 12, join them for Halloween festivities to ensure they stay safe throughout the night. Trick or treating in groups not only helps your kids stay accountable but also makes them easier to see on darker streets.
- Stay on Well-Lit Roads & Cross Streets Safely: Choosing routes with ample street lights and following basic road rules is another easy way to stay safe on Halloween. Remind your kids to use crosswalks and street corners to get to the other side of the road and make eye contact with drivers when they cross.
- Pay Attention, Even on Sidewalks: Everyone is on their devices these days, but by putting them away and keeping their eyes up, your kids can avoid trips and falls and keep their eyes out for cars backing up out of driveways.
- Eat Treats at Home: Remind your kids that while they may want their candy the moment it lands in their bucket, it’s always best to wait to indulge in these sweet treats until they get home. This can allow you to inspect their haul for candy that may be tampered with and potential items containing allergens.
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Alternative Trick-or-Treating in McKinney Texas
For some parents, trick-or-treating on a weeknight isn’t an option. For others, there is a concern about safety. And for many, the more events to celebrate the season, the better! If you are looking for alternatives to trick-or-treating in McKinney, here are some awesome events to add to your calendars!
Trunk-or-Treat Events
Trunk-or-treat events are terrific alternatives to trick or treating for those who live in apartments or in areas where neighbors don’t typically hand out candy. The premise is the same as typical trick or treating, but instead of going from door to door, you go from car trunk to car trunk at a designated parking lot.
This gives kids a trick or treating experience in a more controlled environment, which can enhance safety while still giving them the opportunity to gather lots of candy and find loads of fun.
Check these out:
- McKinney Falls Presents: Trunk-or-Treat!: Happening at McKinney Falls State Park, kids can come and gather candy from the park rangers and park staff and then enjoy some fun crafts!
- The Learning Experience Trunk or Treat Fall Festival: Saturday, October 26th, will be a spooky lunchtime event filled with candy, games, and, of course, trunk or treating!
- Meet & Greet/Trunk or Treat: This trunk or treat is sure to be a howling good time! Not only can your kids snag some candy, but they can also meet some furry friends looking for their forever homes! This afternoon event will be happening on Saturday, October 26th, at the Highlands-Eldorado Veterinary Hospital.
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Mall Trick-or-Treating
Similarly, when malls put on trick or treating events, it allows kids to collect candy in a more controlled space without the worry of cars and the weather impacting their fun. You can check out area mall’s websites to see if they plan to host these trick or treating extravaganzas or other exciting Halloween events.
For instance, while NorthPark doesn’t have trick-or-treating, they will be hosting Halloween-themed Saturday storytimes and a creepy critter event in their pumpkin patch, and they are free to attend!
Community Center & Church Events
Other fun spots to find trick or treating in McKinney are churches and community centers. These can be safe spaces for kids to enjoy the holiday fun, and most of them are free! Some options to add to your October social calendar include:
- Revolution Church Fall Festival: Sunday, October 20th, at Revolution Church in McKinney
- Trunk or Treat: Wednesday, October 30th at First Christian Church McKinney
- Trick or Treat March: Friday, October 25th, at the McKinney Senior Recreation Center
Read: How to Celebrate Halloween in Dallas for Kids
Do You Know of More Frighteningly Fun Halloween Events & Activities?
October is such a lovely time of year, and there are so many fun ways to soak in the excitement of the season in the metroplex!
If you know of more places that people should check out, we want to hear about them! Let us know below.
Grab your free tickets to DFW Fall Fest here and join in on the fun!
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