Family-Friendly Halloween Events in Franklin: Trunk-or-Treats & Things to Do
Halloween in Franklin is all about community, creativity, and family fun. The season begins with the 40th Annual PumpkinFest on Saturday, October 25th, filling downtown Franklin with music, costumes, crafts, and plenty of seasonal treats. Hosted by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, PumpkinFest is one of Middle Tennessee’s largest fall celebrations and a favorite local tradition.
Beyond the festival, Franklin offers a variety of family-friendly gatherings throughout October. Across the city, churches, schools, and local organizations are hosting trunk-or-treats, Halloween parties, and neighborhood gatherings that bring families together to celebrate the season. These events offer a safe and social way for kids to dress up, collect candy, and enjoy games and activities in a festive setting.
Whether you’re planning to visit a few trunk-or-treats or head out for traditional trick-or-treating, Franklin has plenty of ways to make Halloween fun for the whole family!
Trunk-or-Treats in Franklin, TN
Trunk-or-treats have become one of Franklin’s favorite ways to celebrate Halloween, offering a fun alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Instead of going door-to-door, families gather in parking lots where volunteers decorate their car trunks and hand out candy. Trunk-or-treats provide an easy way for kids to collect sweets, show off their costumes, and enjoy games and music, all in one lively spot.
On October 24th from 3 to 7 pm, Ford Lincoln of Franklin is hosting their annual free trunk-or-treat where decorated cars line the lot and kids can fill their candy buckets in a safe setting.
Big Blue Marble Academy Franklin will host their own trunk-or-treat on October 24th from 6 to 7:30 pm. This free event promises an evening of trunk or treating, carnival games, face painting, and more. Come dressed in your favorite costume!
Step Forward Day School will host its annual Trunk or Treat on October 24th at 9:30 am. Children are invited to come dressed in their costumes and stroll through the decorated parking lot, collecting treats and posing for photos along the way. This cheerful morning celebration is a fun and safe way for students and families to enjoy the Halloween season together.
Another favorite is the Trunk’R Treat at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, where families can celebrate with food, crafts, games, and inflatables in the gym on October 25th from 4:25 to 6:25 pm. At 6:30 pm, the trunks will open in the back parking lot for trick-or-treating. Attendees are invited to wear costumes, and neighbors can join the fun by decorating a trunk and bringing candy to share.
The M.L. Rose Franklin Trunk or Treat on October 26th at 4 pm takes on a neighborhood block party feel with candy stations set up in the parking lot and on the patio. The whole family is welcome, and costumes are encouraged at this free event.
Gateway Kids Ministries will host the Gateway Trunk or Treat on October 26th at 5 pm at Gateway Community Church in Franklin. Families can enjoy an evening filled with decorated trunks, candy, and community fun. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes and join in the celebration as the church parking lot transforms into a cheerful Halloween gathering for all ages.
Franklin Vineyard Church also joins in the tradition on October 29th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, with a lively trunk-or-treat complete with music, games, food, and activities for the whole family. Neighbors can participate by decorating trunks, handing out candy, or simply spending the evening together.
Creative Halloween Fun and Community Activities
Franklin’s Halloween season offers plenty of ways for families to celebrate beyond trunk-or-treats. From art and music to pumpkin decorating, archery, and Halloween bingo, local businesses and organizations are hosting events that blend creativity, community, and a little spooky spirit.
On October 16th from 4 to 5 pm, Third Coast Clay at The Factory at Franklin will host a Kids Halloween Paint Party and Carousel Event. Children ages 5 to 14 can get creative by painting a City Cat canvas and then take a spin on the Carousel of Dreams. Registration is required and includes painting, snacks, and the carousel ride.
School of Rock Franklin gets in on the fun on October 18th from 12 to 5 pm, with School of Rock Franklin Mid-Season Spooktacular. This event features music and the opportunity to sign up for a free trial music lesson. Enjoy live student performances, Halloween-themed rooms, candy, and prizes. All ages are welcome to wear a costume and take part in the celebration.
Scout’s Pub is celebrating the season with its Harvest Jubilee, featuring a rotating lineup of seasonal menu features and two family-friendly gatherings: Pumpkin Decorating on the Patio on October 18th and 19th, and a Costume Contest on October 25th from 5 to 7 pm with prizes for the best kids, adults, and dog costumes.
Families looking for an inclusive celebration can head to We Rock the Spectrum for their Not So Scary Halloween Party on October 24th from 9 am to 11 am. Sensory-safe and scare-free, it promises a joy-filled morning of crafts, games, treats, and music.
Test your aim at Music City Archery on October 25th. The range will be transformed for a day of spooky archery fun from 12 to 4 pm, with themed targets, candy, and a costume contest during the Halloween Archery Event. Then, starting at 5 pm, the lights go down for Haunted Archery Tag, a dodge-and-shoot game with a thrilling Halloween twist. Costumes are welcome, and reservations are required.
On October 28th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, The Franklin Band will host its annual Musical Trick-or-Treat at Franklin High School’s Howard Gamble Stadium. Featuring student marching band members performing in costume and sweet treats for the kids, this free event is designed to thank the community for its ongoing support. Attendees can wear costumes and bring a bag to collect treats.
While the kids sort through their candy, adults can enjoy a brew and food from Ginger Pig at Curio Brewing Company’s Halloween Bingo event on October 31st. The evening features happy hour from 4 to 6 pm, followed by a Halloween-themed game night with prizes for the winners. This free, family-friendly event offers treats, eats, and a little friendly competition.
Beyond trunk-or-treats, the Williamson County Public Library offers Halloween programming designed for families who want seasonal fun in a safe, creative environment. Events like Boo Books, where children collect both candy and books, along with craft mornings, trivia games for tweens, and family movie nights, provide festive alternatives that keep the focus on learning and imagination.
Halloween Safety Tips
Whether families are heading downtown for PumpkinFest, visiting a local trunk-or-treat, or going door-to-door on Halloween night, safety is an important part of the celebration. The City of Franklin encourages everyone to keep a few precautions in mind to help ensure a fun and worry-free holiday for all.
For residents:
- Expect a heavy police presence throughout the city on Halloween night.
For drivers:
- Stay alert and slow down, especially in residential neighborhoods.
- Watch carefully for trick-or-treaters, who will be out for several hours.
For trick-or-treaters:
- Don’t run between houses.
- Look both ways before crossing the street.
- Use crosswalks, sidewalks, paths, and traffic signals.
- Stay in groups.
- Carry a flashlight or glowsticks to remain visible.
For parents:
- Try to accompany your children at all times while trick-or-treating.
- Inspect candy and remove anything open, unwrapped, or suspicious.
For more details, the City has shared a helpful video with additional safety reminders: Halloween Safety Tips.
A Halloween to Remember in Franklin, TN
From neighborhood trick-or-treating and downtown festivities to trunk-or-treats and local pumpkin patches, Halloween in Franklin, TN, offers something for everyone. The city’s mix of community spirit and seasonal charm makes it one of the best places to enjoy October in Middle Tennessee. Whether you’re searching for things to do on Halloween in Franklin, carving pumpkins from a local patch, or enjoying a night out with neighbors, Franklin turns the holiday into a celebration of togetherness and creativity that families look forward to every year.
More Seasonal Fun in Franklin and Williamson County
Trick-or-treating is just one way to enjoy the season in Franklin. Families looking to make the most of October have plenty of other options, from fall festivals to spooky movie nights. Our guide to 12 Fall Activities in Franklin and Williamson County You Shouldn’t Miss highlights seasonal favorites like scenic drives, local events, and festive gatherings that capture the spirit of autumn.
Movie fans can get into the Halloween spirit with FearFest at The Franklin Theatre: A Month of Movies for Spooky Season. This annual film series features everything from family-friendly screenings to late-night horror classics, making it a great way to enjoy spooky season indoors.
If outdoor fun is more your style, don’t miss Hayrides, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Patches in Franklin, TN, and Beyond. Farms across the area open their gates each fall, offering wagon rides, winding mazes, and fields of pumpkins ready to be picked. It’s an easy way to spend a crisp autumn day with family or friends while creating memories that last long after Halloween night.
