Halloween 2026 lands on a Saturday, and Murfreesboro's calendar fills up the whole month before it. City parks, downtown merchants, MTSU, Smyrna and La Vergne all have free or low-cost events, and the area's two big pumpkin farms are open through Oct. 31. This guide collects the dates, times and prices from each organizer, in date order.
Trick or Treat on the Square: Friday, Oct. 30
Main Street Murfreesboro's Trick or Treat on the Square runs Friday, October 30, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m. around the historic Rutherford County Courthouse. Downtown merchants, offices, the courthouse and city hall hand out treats to children in costume. Main Street bills it as a safe, family-friendly way to celebrate while supporting small businesses on the Public Square. See the event listing for details.
The City of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County do not publish official neighborhood trick-or-treat hours, so door-to-door timing on Oct. 31 is up to each neighborhood.
Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Halloween Events
Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation runs a full slate of October events, according to the city's Halloween page and Sept. 21 announcements:
- Pumpkin Fun Run, Saturday, Oct. 10. Run or walk a mile with a pumpkin as your "running buddy" at Gateway Island, 1875 W. College St. Registration starts at 3 p.m. and the race at 4 p.m. Entry is one or more nonperishable food items for Greenhouse Ministries, and every finisher gets a medal. Event details.
- Wild Rumpus at the Wilderness Station, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Non-scary costumes, a live animal program, a storybook hiking trail, hot drinks and paint-a-pumpkin at 401 Volunteer Road. It costs $5 per person or $20 per family, with online registration. Event details.
- McFadden Fall Festival and Haunted Hallways, Thursday, Oct. 15, 5 to 8 p.m. Free for all ages at McFadden Community Center, 211 Bridge Ave. OnlyInMurfreesboro has the full McFadden Fall Fest preview.
- Cannonsburgh Village After Dark, Oct. 16 and 17, 6 to 9 p.m. Families bring flashlights to explore the log cabins of Cannonsburgh Village in the dark, with sweet treats, hot drinks, fall crafts, music and BINGO. Admission is $5 at the gate, and children 5 and under get in free. Costumes are welcome. See the Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 listings.
- Barfield Bash, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, 4 to 8 p.m. A Halloween carnival at Barfield Crescent Park, 697 Veterans Pkwy. Kids buy tickets to play games for "ghost bucks" and trade them for prizes, and there is a Cake Walk, a bounce house, food trucks and an Avenue of Treats where local businesses hand out candy. A few activities in the ballfields are free. See the Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 listings.
- Old Scream Road and the Not So Haunted Hayride, Oct. 23 and 24. The city calls Old Scream Road "Murfreesboro's scariest hayride" and warns it may be scary for small children. It starts at dark, and tickets are sold until 9 p.m. The gentler Not So Haunted Hayride with Goldilocks runs from 5 p.m. until dusk. Both hayrides are $5 per person.
The city's two announcements list different Barfield Bash hours (4 to 8 p.m. in the Sept. 21 news post and 5 to 9 p.m. on the Halloween events page), so check before heading out.
Discovery Center, Wilderness Station and Senior Center Events
- Monsters in the Museum at the Great Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 1 to 3, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Discovery Center at Murfree Spring hosts costumes, face painting, games, crafts, a Monster Mash Disco and food trucks. Event details.
- All Access Night: Monsters in the Museum, Oct. 15, 6 to 8 p.m. A free, sensory-friendly evening for families of children with special needs. Registration is required. Event details.
- Ladies' Night Out: Spook Night, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Campfire ghost stories, s'mores and spooky snacks at Outdoor Murfreesboro, 401 Volunteer Road. Pre-registration is required. Event details.
- Toddler Spooktacular, Oct. 30, 10 to 11:30 a.m. A parade, candy and games for ages 2 to 5 at Patterson Park Community Center. Event details.
Smyrna: Halloween in the Park and Fright Nights
- Halloween in the Park, Saturday, Oct. 24, 3 to 9 p.m. The Town of Smyrna's annual event at Sharp Springs Park is free and includes candy booths, inflatables, games and costume contests. Event details.
- SOAC Fright Nights, Oct. 9 and 10, 6 to 10 p.m. Haunted trails and spooky scenes at the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center, recommended for teens and adults. Event details.
More ideas for the town are in the Smyrna, TN guide.
La Vergne: Goblins and Goodies
La Vergne's Goblins and Goodies candy trail is Saturday, Oct. 24, from noon to 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. OnlyInMurfreesboro has the full Goblins and Goodies preview.
MTSU: Halloween in Floyd Stadium
MTSU hosts Kennesaw State on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. in a Halloween-themed game. Young fans are encouraged to wear costumes and trick-or-treat on the concourse before kickoff. A HalloWIN Party in the Grove runs from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. in Walnut Grove. Game details and the full MTSU football schedule.
Trunk or Treat and Grown-Up Halloween
- Trunk or Treat at The Goddard School, 1720 Gateway Blvd, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m., is open to everyone. Event details.
- Halloween Speakeasy and Masquerade Ball at Oaklands Mansion, Oct. 30, 5 to 9 p.m. This 21-and-up evening has prohibition jazz by The Quarterlife Band, tarot readings, specialty cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $65. Event details.
Many Murfreesboro churches announce trunk-or-treats in early October. The Halloween events guide and events calendar are updated as new ones are posted.
Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes
- Walden Pumpkin Farm, 8653 Rocky Fork Road, Smyrna, is open Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 26 to Oct. 31. Hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Activity wristbands are $12 for ages 4 to 64, parking is free, and pets are not allowed (identified service dogs excepted). See the Walden Pumpkin Farm guide.
- Lucky Ladd Farms, 4306 Rocky Glade Road, Eagleville, runs its Fall Harvest Festival with a pumpkin patch and corn maze through Oct. 31. Pumpkin picking costs extra. Its after-dark a-MAZE-ing Glow Nights are Oct. 23 and 24, and the farm expects them to sell out. Online tickets must be bought at least one hour before arriving.
The pumpkin patch guide and fall festivals guide cover more farms and October festivals, including Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh on Oct. 24.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is trick-or-treating in Murfreesboro in 2026?
Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Neither the city nor the county sets official neighborhood trick-or-treat hours. Main Street Murfreesboro's Trick or Treat on the Square is Friday, Oct. 30, from 3 to 5 p.m.
What is the scariest Halloween event in Murfreesboro?
Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation calls Old Scream Road "Murfreesboro's scariest hayride." It runs at dark on Oct. 23 and 24 at Barfield Crescent Park for $5 per person, and the city says it may be scary for small children.
What free Halloween events are in Murfreesboro?
Trick or Treat on the Square (Oct. 30), the McFadden Fall Festival and Haunted Hallways (Oct. 15) and Monsters in the Museum at Discovery Center (Oct. 1 to 3) are free. In Smyrna, Halloween in the Park (Oct. 24) is also free.
When is Halloween in the Park in Smyrna?
Smyrna's Halloween in the Park is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Sharp Springs Park. Admission is free.
How much is Walden Pumpkin Farm?
Walden Pumpkin Farm's activity wristbands are $12 per person for ages 4 to 64. Children under 4 and adults over 64 do not need one, and you do not need a wristband to shop for pumpkins.
Sources: Main Street Murfreesboro: Trick or Treat on the Square, City of Murfreesboro: Halloween Events, City of Murfreesboro: Barfield Bash, Town of Smyrna: Halloween in the Park, Walden Pumpkin Farm and Lucky Ladd Farms.
*Hosting a trunk-or-treat that's not on this list? Submit it to the events calendar.*