Virginia Beach trick-or-treating is dusk to 8 p.m. for children 12 and under, per city guidance. Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31; trunk or treats Oct. 23-24.

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the City of Virginia Beach’s Halloween rules and safety post (published for Halloween 2025; the city had not posted a 2026 version when we checked) and its 2026 Halloween events roundup. City information: 757-385-3111.

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Under the city’s posted guidance, trick-or-treaters 12 and under may go out from dusk to 8 p.m. We will update this page if the city announces anything different for 2026.

Who to call

  • Emergency: 911
  • Police non-emergency (suspicious activity, illegal fireworks): 757-385-5000
  • City information: VB311, 757-385-3111
  • Halloween events at recreation centers: Parks and Recreation, 757-385-1100

Trunk or treats and Halloween events

  • Spook-y Ghoul-y Family Extravaganza, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, Princess Anne Recreation Center, 1400 Nimmo Parkway. Music, a haunted forest and a trunk or treat in the parking lot and field. Free; no membership needed.
  • VBPD Mounted Patrol Annual Trunk or Treat, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Mounted Patrol Facility, 2089 Indian River Road. Meet the police horses and trick-or-treat in a barn decorated for Halloween. Free. A sensory-friendly hour, without smoke or flashing lights, runs 3 to 4 p.m.
  • Cryptid Book Nooks, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 22 and 29, Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd. A two-night craft program; register.
  • Bayside Forever Young Halloween Party, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road, for adults 55 and older. $15, plus a rec center membership or day pass.

Libraries and recreation centers run more Halloween programs; search the library calendar and Parks and Recreation listings. The Sanctuary light installation at Mount Trashmore has evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays, but not on Halloween night.

The library’s October lineup also includes a “Scarytelling” of the story of the Witch of Pungo and Halloween editions of its teen game nights, the city’s events roundup says.

Safety tips from the city

For trick-or-treaters and parents:

  • Go with young children, or have older children go in a group. Never let young children go alone.
  • Accept only wrapped or packaged candy.
  • Add reflectors, glow sticks or reflective stickers to costumes, and carry a flashlight, without shining it at drivers.
  • Make sure masks don’t block vision; face paint is an alternative.
  • Cross at corners, not between parked cars. Use sidewalks, or walk facing traffic where there are none.
  • Share your route and when you expect to be home.

The city says children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween as on any other day of the year.

Handing out candy

  • Porch light on if you are taking part; off if you are not.
  • Stick to packaged treats, or non-food trinkets for children with allergies.
  • Light the walk with electric lights or luminaries and keep the path clear.
  • Keep candlelit jack-o’-lanterns away from where costumes might brush them.
  • Keep pets away from the door.

Fireworks and other rules

Fireworks are illegal in Virginia Beach without a fire official’s permit. Report them to 757-385-5000 or through VB311, not 911, unless lives or property are in immediate danger.

What this means for you

  • Plan for dusk to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
  • The city’s rule limits trick-or-treating to children 12 and under.
  • For an organized option, try the Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 trunk or treats.

Related: Halloween events in Virginia Beach, things to do this month, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

What are trick-or-treat hours in Virginia Beach?

Dusk to 8 p.m. for trick-or-treaters 12 and under, the city said in its Halloween guidance. The city had not posted a 2026 notice when we checked on Oct. 18.

Is there an age limit for trick-or-treating in Virginia Beach?

Yes. The city’s guidance says trick-or-treaters up to age 12 can go out between dusk and 8 p.m.

When is Halloween in 2026?

Saturday, Oct. 31. City trash pickup is not affected; the city’s only October holiday was Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day on Oct. 12.

Where are trunk or treats in Virginia Beach?

Princess Anne Recreation Center, 1400 Nimmo Parkway, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and the VBPD Mounted Patrol Facility, 2089 Indian River Road, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with a sensory-friendly hour from 3 to 4 p.m. Both are free.