Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31 this year, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season before the neighborhood porch lights come on.

From daytime treats in New Kensington to a witches walk in Oakmont, the A-K Valley has options for little ones, movie lovers, and people who prefer their Halloween with a proper scare.

This guide focuses on events happening October 13 and later, so you can use it to plan the weekends ahead.

Check with the organizer before heading out, especially for outdoor events, reservations, and ticket availability.

Family fun and trunk-or-treats

Downtown New Kensington Fall Fest — Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., downtown. Farmers and artisan market, costumes, pumpkins, and face painting.

New Kensington library trick-or-treat — Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at 880 Barnes Street.

The library is participating in the downtown Fall Festival, giving families a specific stop to include in their daytime candy route.

Oakmont fall festival — Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., on Allegheny River Boulevard.

Enjoy a Halloween parade and daytime trick-or-treating as part of the festival.

Halloween Fun at the library — Saturday, October 17, 1:00–2:00 p.m., at the same New Kensington location.

Bonfire and Boos at Puckety Presbyterian Church — Saturday, October 17, 5:00–7:30 p.m., at 1009 Puckety Church Road in Lower Burrell.

The community listing describes trunk-or-treating from 5:00–7:00 p.m., along with games, crafts, refreshments, and a bonfire.

Families are asked to park in the neighboring high school lot and keep children with an adult around the fire; call 724-339-1323 for participation details.

West Deer trunk-or-treat and fall festival — Saturday, October 17, 6:00–8:00 p.m., at East Union Community Center, 292 East Union Road. Rain or shine.

Lower Burrell fall festival and trunk-or-treat — Saturday, October 24, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., at Kotecki Memorial Park, 730 Wildlife Lodge Road.

Fawn Township trunk-or-treat — Saturday, October 24, noon–2:00 p.m., at Fawn No. 1 Social Hall, 1948 Firehouse Lane. Free.

Leechburg Pumpkin Trail — Saturday, October 24, 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Children visit participating businesses for treats and finish at the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company for a hot dog and drink.

Route cards will be distributed October 20.

Arnold fall festival and touch-a-truck — Saturday, October 24, 2:00–6:00 p.m., at Riverside Park. Quiet hour, with lower lights and no sirens, runs 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Allegheny Valley trunk-or-treat — Saturday, October 24, 3:00–7:00 p.m., at Allegheny Valley Fire Company in Harwick. Sponsored by the fire company and Allegheny Valley Police Department.

Harmar Township trunk-or-treat — Saturday, October 24, 4:00–6:00 p.m., at the Shrine Center Pavilion, 1877 Shriners Way.

Upper Burrell fall festival — Sunday, October 25, 1:00–4:00 p.m., at the municipal building, 3735 Seventh Street Road in Upper Burrell. Food, drinks, pumpkins, children’s activities, and a cornhole tournament.

Allegheny Township Trunk or Treat — Sunday, October 25, 2:00–5:00 p.m., at the Community Building, 136 Community Building Road.

Trunk-or-treating, Halloween miniature golf, photo opportunities, food trucks, and music are planned, and children from surrounding communities are welcome, rain or shine.

Dolly’s Diner Jeep or Treat — Tuesday, October 27, 6:00 p.m., at 2126 River Road in North Apollo.

North Apollo Church of God trunk-or-treat — Wednesday, October 28, 6:00–8:00 p.m., at 507 20th Street. Free; hot dogs, candy, and activities.

Verona trunk-or-treat — Thursday, October 29, 4:00–6:00 p.m., in Railroad Park on East Railroad Avenue.

Movies and ghost stories under the October sky

Deer Lakes Park Halloween movies — Saturday, October 17, at Carp Field, 317 Crayfish Drive.

The free double feature begins with Monster House, rated PG, at 6:30 p.m., followed by The Sixth Sense, rated PG-13, at 8:30 p.m.

Closed captioning is available upon request, and the screening is weather dependent.

Harrison Hills campfire ghost stories — Friday, October 23, 7:00–8:00 p.m., at the Yakaon Shelter off Park Lane in Natrona Heights.

Storytellers Josh and Gab bring family-friendly stories and songs to this free evening, with an ASL interpreter onsite.

Costumes are encouraged for a chance at a prize, and blankets or chairs will make the evening more comfortable.

As with the movie night, check for weather updates before leaving home.

Witches, local history, and something a little different

Bewitching History: Brooms, Beliefs, and Books — available through October at the Kerr Memorial Museum.

The exhibit explores Pennsylvania witch stories, folk traditions, and the history behind the labels people used for healers and supposed witches.

Exhibit tours are by reservation; call 412-826-9295.

Oakmont’s first Witches Walk — Saturday, October 24, noon–4:00 p.m., beginning at the Kerr Memorial Museum, 402 Delaware Avenue.

The walk benefits the museum and combines a short look at its witch-history exhibit with visits to participating local businesses.

Tickets are $35, children under 13 attend free, and the first 200 ticket purchasers receive local author Kathleen Shoop’s The Witch of Plum Creek.

The event finishes at Amanda Lee Glassware with a Witches Wine-down and raffle drawings; costumes are encouraged.

Fear Lakes VI glow disc golf — Saturday, October 24, at Deer Lakes Park.

This registered event lights up the course and baskets for nighttime play, with a players’ party and costume contest before the round.

Listed divisions cost $55, check-in runs 4:30–5:30 p.m., and the shotgun start is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Registration closes October 23 at 5:00 p.m.; check the organizer’s instructions for parking, equipment, and waivers for players under 18.

A night out: theater, costumes, and a haunted mine

Practical Magic — Wednesday, October 14, 8:00 p.m. | The Oaks Theater, Oakmont.

The screening is at 310 Allegheny River Boulevard; tickets are $10.

The Haunted Mine at Tour-Ed Mine — 748 Bull Creek Road, with remaining Friday and Saturday dates October 16–17, 23–24, and 30–31, from 7:00–11:00 p.m.

Sunday sessions run October 18 and 25 from 6:00–9:00 p.m.; general admission is $25 on Fridays and Saturdays or $20 on Sundays, with a $40 Fast Pass option.

Tickets are sold at the gate, and the attraction advises that it is not intended for very young children.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror — Sunday, October 18, 8:00 p.m. | The Oaks Theater, Oakmont.

Tickets are $20 at the theater, 310 Allegheny River Boulevard.

Halloween — Thursday, October 22, 8:00 p.m. | The Oaks Theater, Oakmont.

Tickets are $10 at 310 Allegheny River Boulevard.

Café Murder mystery dinner theater — Saturday, October 24, at Patterson Hall, Guardian Angels Parish’s Most Blessed Sacrament site, 800 Montana Avenue in Natrona Heights.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., with proceeds supporting Saint Joseph High School’s spring musical.

Reservations are required and space is limited; call 724-224-5552 to reserve a seat.

Leechburg Halloween Party — Saturday, October 24, 6:00–11:00 p.m., in the Mirror Room at the Marconi Club, 135 River Avenue.

This Leechburg Area Civic Association event is for ages 21 and older, with $10 tickets, a DJ, costume prizes, a photo booth, basket raffles, and a cash bar.

Music of the Fright in Buffalo Township — Saturday, October 24, 7:00–9:00 p.m., at Freeport Area High School, 625 S. Pike Road. Indoor trick-or-treat; haunted house admission is $5.

Halloween bingo for Paws Across Pittsburgh — Saturday, October 24, 7:00–10:00 p.m., at Brackenridge American Legion, 845 E. First Avenue. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; $30.

Little Shop of Horrors at the Casino Theater — Saturday, October 24, 7:00 p.m., in Vandergrift. Screening of the 1960 black-and-white, non-musical film; donations accepted.

Tales of Terror — Thursday, October 29, 6:00–9:30 p.m. | The Oaks Theater, Oakmont.

Admission is free for the lineup of short horror, science-fiction, and fantasy films at 310 Allegheny River Boulevard.

Rocky Horror Picture Show screens October 30 at 9:00 p.m., with doors at 8:00 p.m. and $10 theater seating.

For Rocky Horror, attendees must be at least 17 or accompanied by a parent or guardian age 21 or older, and the theater has specific rules for audience props.

Halloween parades

Verona Halloween parade — Saturday, October 24, 11:00 a.m., starting at Railroad Park on East Railroad Avenue.

Ford City Halloween Parade — Thursday, October 29, 7:00 p.m.

Neighborhood trick-or-treating

Wednesday, October 28

Ford City — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Kittanning — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 31

Brackenridge — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Buffalo Township (Butler County) — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Cheswick — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

East Deer Township, including Creighton — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Frazer Township — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Harmar Township — 6:00–8:00 p.m. 

Harrison Township, including Natrona Heights — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Kiski Township (Kiskiminetas) — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Leechburg — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Lower Burrell —  6:00–8:00 p.m.

New Kensington — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Springdale Borough — 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Before you go, confirm reservations, check weather updates, and leave a little extra time for parking.

Know of a local Halloween event we should add?

Share the organizer’s announcement with A-K Valley View, and subscribe for more local news delivered every Tuesday.