Madison Area Trick-or-Treat: Schedule, Dates and Hours for 2025

If you live in or are traveling around Madison for Halloween, here’s how you can take part in the local trick-or-treat traditions.

Halloween 2025 falls on Friday, October 31st, creating perfect conditions for trick-or-treating across the greater Madison area.

Most communities in the region follow consistent historical patterns for their Halloween schedules, with official 2025 announcements typically coming in early-to-mid October. This comprehensive guide covers all municipalities in Dane, Rock, Columbia, Jefferson, Green, Iowa, and Sauk counties that comprise the greater Madison area.

While only a few communities have officially announced their 2025 hours yet, the vast majority follow extremely consistent year-to-year patterns, making this guide highly reliable for planning purposes. Downtown Madison's Family Halloween event is confirmed for Wednesday, October 29th from 3:00-6:00 PM, providing an excellent early celebration option for families with young children.

Related: Complete Trick-or-Treat Hours Guide for Greater Milwaukee Area 2025 and Trick-or-Treat Hours for Fox Valley

Confirmed 2025 Halloween hours

Communities with official 2025 announcements

Milton (Rock County)

• Hours: 5:30-7:30 PM on Friday, October 31st

• Requirements: Porch lights on indicates participation

• Status: Officially confirmed by City of Milton

Watertown (Jefferson County)

• Hours: Saturday, October 25th, 4:00-7:00 PM

• Special Event: Pumpkin Palooza, Saturday Oct 25, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM on Main Street

• Downtown Business Hours: 1:00-3:00 PM on Saturday before Halloween

• Status: Officially confirmed

Complete community listing with expected hours

Listed alphabetically by community name. Hours marked as "expected" follow consistent historical patterns but await official 2025 confirmation.

Arlington (Columbia County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Consistent 3-4 hour window on Halloween evening

Baraboo (Sauk County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Very consistent Halloween night schedule

Belleville (Green/Dane Counties)

• Expected Hours: No official hours set (community-determined)

• Pattern: Follows general Halloween evening guidelines

Beloit (Rock County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Coverage: Both City and Town of Beloit

Brooklyn (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 4:30-7:30 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Some variation in sources between 2:00-6:00 PM

Cambridge (Dane/Jefferson Counties)

• Expected Hours: 5:30-7:30 PM on October 31st

• Special Events: Annual costume parade starting at Westside Park

Cottage Grove (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 4:30-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Earlier start time than most communities

Cross Plains (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Policy: Village maintains flexible Halloween policies

Deerfield (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Special Event: Fire department drive-through event 4:00-6:00 PM

DeForest (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:30 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Slightly longer window than neighboring communities

Dodgeville (Iowa County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Additional Events: Potential Trunk-or-Treat venues

Edgerton (Rock County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Special Attraction: Forsaken Souls Haunted Attraction - new 23-acre permanent location featuring "The Spookeasy Haunted House"

Evansville (Rock County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Consistent 5:00-7:00 PM from 2014-2023

Fitchburg (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Policy: Described as "suggested hours" for safe community experience

Fort Atkinson (Jefferson County)

• Expected Schedule: Sunday, October 26th, 1:00-4:00 PM

• Alternative: Trunk-or-Treat on October 31st, 6:00-8:00 PM at Jones Park

• Special Events: "Ghouls' Night Out," Haunted Halloween Hike at Haumerson's Pond

Janesville (Rock County)

• Expected Hours: 5:30-7:30 PM on October 31st

• Downtown Event: Saturday, October 26th, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM with free trolley service

• Features: Orange and black balloons mark participating businesses

Jefferson (Jefferson County)

• Expected Schedule: Sunday, October 26th, 2:00-5:00 PM

• Downtown Event: "Boo Bash" with costume contests for ages 0-2, 3-5, and 6-8

Johnson Creek (Jefferson County)

• Expected Hours: 5:30-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Special Venue: Johnson Creek Outlet Mall may host events

Lake Mills (Jefferson County)

• Expected Hours: 6:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Downtown Event: "Witches' Night Out" - Wednesday before Halloween, 4:00-6:00 PM

• Status: City council has permanent resolution for trick-or-treat hours

Lodi (Columbia County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Business Event: Friday before Halloween, 3:30-5:30 PM downtown

• Requirements: Porch lights indicate participation

Madison (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-8:00 PM on October 31st (no official city hours)

• Confirmed Special Event: Downtown Madison Family Halloween - Wednesday, October 29th, 3:00-6:00 PM on State Street & Capitol Square

  • Ages 12 and under

  • Hayrides around Capitol Square

  • 50+ participating businesses

  • Hotel Transylvania movie screening 6:00-7:30 PM

Maple Bluff (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:30-7:30 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Shorter 2-hour window in small village

Marshall (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Earlier start time

McFarland (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Policy: Village notes "no set hours" but 5-8 PM is standard

Middleton (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Business Event: Downtown business association daytime event (typically 11 AM-2:30 PM day before Halloween)

Mineral Point (Iowa County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Features: Historic downtown Halloween activities

Monona (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st (city-encouraged)

• Special Event: Halloween Spooktacular typically hosted by city

Mount Horeb (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Policy: Village Board suggests but doesn't mandate times

New Glarus (Green County)

• Expected Residential Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Downtown Business Event: Sunday, October 26th, 2:00-4:00 PM

• Features: Maps available at Chamber Depot (418 Railroad Street)

• Adult Event: "Boos & Brews Halloween Pub Crawl" mid-October

Oregon (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Standard community hours

Pardeeville (Columbia County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Contact: Village office (608) 429-3121

Poynette (Columbia County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st (village-wide)

• Business Hours: 4:00-5:00 PM on Halloween day

• Indicator: Orange pumpkins in business windows

Prairie du Sac (Sauk County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Coordination: Coordinates with sister city Sauk City

Rio (Columbia County)

• Expected Schedule: Sunday, October 26th, 2:00-4:00 PM

• Unique Feature: Consistently schedules for Sunday before Halloween

• Law Enforcement: Rio Police Department provides safety assistance

Sauk City (Sauk County)

• Expected Hours: 4:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Coordination: Sister community with Prairie du Sac

Shorewood Hills (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: No official hours (community tradition)

• Pattern: Late afternoon to 8:00 PM

• Community Event: Halloween party at Heiden Haus 4:30-6:30 PM

Stoughton (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 6:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Downtown Event: Saturday before Halloween, 3:00-5:00 PM

• Special Features: Norwegian Dancers performance, costume judging

Sun Prairie (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Business Event: Thursday before Halloween, 1:00-4:30 PM (Halloween Spooktacular)

• Alternative: Annual city-hosted Trunk or Treat

Village of Dane (Columbia County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Special Feature: Fire Department places trucks at 3 village locations

• Safety: Encourages visiting first responders for candy

Verona (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-8:00 PM on October 31st

• Downtown Event: 3:30-5:00 PM at Hometown Junction Park with costume contest

• Coverage: Both City and Town of Verona

Waunakee (Dane County)

• Expected Hours: 5:00-7:00 PM on October 31st

• Pattern: Consistent village scheduling

Safety guidelines for Halloween 2025

Universal participation signals

Porch lights ON indicates households are participating in trick-or-treating. Porch lights OFF means the household is not participating. This system is used across all communities in the region.

Critical safety requirements

All communities emphasize these essential safety measures: Adult supervision for all children, especially those under 12. Use flashlights or glow sticks due to early October sunset. Wear reflective clothing or accessories to increase visibility to drivers. Stay on sidewalks and use designated crosswalks when available. Inspect all candy before consumption - discard anything unwrapped or suspicious.

Weather preparation for Wisconsin Halloween

October 31st weather in Wisconsin can be highly variable. Plan for temperatures ranging from 30-60°F. Consider costume layers that can accommodate warm clothing underneath. Waterproof footwear is recommended as autumn weather often brings rain or early snow. Check weather forecasts the week before and prepare backup indoor activities if severe weather occurs.

Special community celebrations and alternatives

Major confirmed events for 2025

Downtown Madison Family Halloween represents the region's premier family Halloween celebration. The Wednesday, October 29th event from 3:00-6:00 PM features hayrides around the Capitol Square, crafts, trick-or-treating at over 50 participating businesses, and concludes with a free screening of Hotel Transylvania from 6:00-7:30 PM. This event specifically caters to children 12 and under and provides a safe, controlled environment for Halloween fun.

Business district trick-or-treating

Most downtown areas host business trick-or-treating events either the Thursday, Friday, or Saturday before Halloween. These typically run from 1:00-5:00 PM and offer safe, weather-protected alternatives to residential trick-or-treating. Janesville provides free trolley service during their downtown event, while New Glarus offers detailed maps at their Chamber Depot. Look for orange balloons, pumpkins in windows, or special signage to identify participating businesses.

Community alternatives and accessibility options

Many communities offer Trunk-or-Treat events that provide accessible, safe alternatives to traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating. These are particularly valuable for families with mobility challenges or very young children. Fire departments and police stations in several communities, including Village of Dane, welcome trick-or-treaters and provide educational safety information along with candy.

Unique scheduling considerations for 2025

Several communities buck the traditional Halloween night schedule: Rio consistently holds trick-or-treating on the Sunday before Halloween (October 26th, 2:00-4:00 PM). Fort Atkinson and Jefferson also typically schedule for the Sunday before rather than Halloween night. Watertown has confirmed Saturday, October 25th for their official city-wide trick-or-treating, paired with their Pumpkin Palooza festival.

Where to find official 2025 updates

Municipal websites to monitor

Starting in early October, check official city and village websites for confirmed 2025 schedules. Key sites include cityofmadison.com, middleton.wi.us, fitchburg.wi.us, and similar municipal websites for each community. Most municipalities post Halloween information in their "Events" or "News" sections.

Reliable news sources for comprehensive coverage

Wisconsin State Journal (madison.com) typically publishes the most comprehensive roundup of Madison-area trick-or-treat times in mid-October. Channel 3000 (channel3000.com) and WMTV 15 News provide regular updates and safety information. HauntedWisconsin.com maintains Wisconsin's most complete database of trick-or-treat times and community Halloween events.

Community-specific resources

Many communities use Facebook pages as their primary communication method for Halloween updates. Search for "[Community Name] Wisconsin" or official municipal pages. Local chambers of commerce often coordinate downtown business events and provide the most current information about participating businesses and special activities.