Downtown Tampa’s beloved waterfront turns into the city’s biggest trick-or-treat route on Saturday, October 24, 2026, when the 8th Annual Riverwalk Trick or Treat returns from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. Presented by Friends of the Riverwalk, the free celebration invites families to stroll a two-mile stretch of the Tampa Riverwalk, from Water Works Park to the Tampa Convention Center.
More than 50 businesses and organizations will line the route with treat stations, so little ghosts and superheroes can fill their bags as they wander past the Hillsborough River at golden hour. Organizers expect over 15,000 children and their families to join the fun, making it one of the largest family Halloween gatherings in the region.
The night does not stop at candy. A costume contest rewards the most creative looks, a Halloween movie flickers under the stars, and a flash mob of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dancers is set to take over the route — a Riverwalk tradition that always draws a crowd. Everything takes place outdoors along the paved, stroller-friendly Riverwalk, with careful safety planning by Friends of the Riverwalk.
Admission is completely free, and costumes are encouraged for kids and grown-ups alike. Arrive by TECO Line Streetcar, Pirate Water Taxi, bike or scooter, or park at the Poe, Fort Brooke or 717 garages downtown. Happy City News tip: bring a roomy treat bag — two miles of treat stations add up fast.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
