Fall festivals, halloween events and more - there are so many things to do in Edmonton with the kids this month and most of these activities won’t cost you a dime! This month, we’re back sharing the best free things to do in Edmonton with your kids in October, to get you out of the house, experiencing something new and spending time together as a family.

Free things to do in Edmonton in October 2022 with your Kids

Trunk or Treat at Vantage Community Church
When: October 31, 2022
Come grab yourself a hot chocolate and/or a hot dog and warm yourself up by the fire while your kids enjoy going from trunk to trunk gathering goodies. It is safe for the whole family.
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Trick or Treat Festival in Stony Plain
When: October 31, 2022
Bring your pillowcases and candy carriers to Shikaoi Park on Halloween night for a special treat! A trick-or-treat station and spooky display featuring pumpkin carving contest entries will be open from 6 – 9PM. The display is family-friendly and makes for a perfect stop on your Halloween trick-or-treating route!
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Explore a Local FREE Haunted House
When: Until October 31
We’ve created a list of the free (and cheap) haunted houses, and local haunts of houses that have created backyard (or front yard) haunts for Halloween. Use the link to plan your next tour of haunted houses in Edmonton!
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Visit Summerside Grande Lit Up for Halloween
When: October 15-31, 2022
Summerside Grande is decked out for Halloween and you’re not going to want to miss this walk after dark! Park the car at one side, grab a cup of hot chocolate and walk down the boulevard! To find the popular hotspot, navigate to Summerside Grande Boulevard SW, between 88th and 70th Street. It’s a fun (and FREE) way to spend an evening with the kids!

Michaels Sunday Makebreak
When: October 30, 2022
Visit your local Michaels store for a Sunday Makebreak. It’s a new free craft, every week, for your kids to complete in-store. It’s a fun way to celebrate Halloween and craft (without having the mess at home!) Craft time doesn’t require signing up in advance, and can be easily completed in under a half-hour.
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Haunted Family Skate Drop-in Event
When: October 30, 2022
Come Skate at Ardrossan Rec Centre for free and take part in a haunted recreational skate for the whole family. It’s a fun way to get out of the house, get some ice time in before you hit the outdoor rinks this winter, and have a spooky skate. Don’t forget your costumes!
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Haunted Recreational Skate
When: October 30, 2022
Visit the ice rink for a free recreation opportunity and skate into the evening for this Halloween fun. This Halloween skate is suitable for all ages, and costumes are encouraged!
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Trunk or Treat at Celebration Church
When: October 30, 2022
This is a family friendly Halloween event where people decorate their vehicles with a Halloween theme and pass out candies to children and families who “trick-or-treat” through the event. This will be a fun-filled, free event with costumes and lots and lots of candy!
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Family Halloween Party at Leefield Community Hall
When: October 30, 2022
Celebrate Halloween at Leefield Community Hall. Drop in for spooky games, treats, crafts and activities for the whole family and spend the day before Halloween getting into the spooky season spirit!
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Jack O Lantern Forest Walk
When: October 29, 2022
Back by popular demand! Community members are hosting a Jack-o-Lantern Walk and Haunted Forest in Gilmore Park on Saturday, September 29 from 6:00-9:00PM. If you dare, enter the Haunted Forest. 6:00-7:00PM is less scary and 7:00-9:00PM is guaranteed to be spooktacular thanks to our youth volunteers. Donations will be collected for the Food Bank.
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Haunted Hunt in Rosenthal
When: October 29, 2022
Goblins and ghouls of all ages are invited to show off their Halloween costumes and navigate a course (with a map) to locate spooky flags. Finish the course to receive an extra sweet treat! The course takes approximately 30 minutes and will be run in the field by the Rosenthal Playground. Parental assistance will be required for those under 9 years of age, while those 9 years of age or older may be able to complete the hunt on their own (at the discretion of their parent/guardian). There is just one ticket/registration is needed for each family/group.
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Rutherford Manor Haunt (SCARY!)
When: October 29-31, 2022
Thrills, chills, guts and gore! The Rutherford Manor Haunt is one of Edmonton’s Premier Home Yard and House Haunts each Halloween season. Our Annual Haunt is a true labor of love that celebrates our passion for Halloween. Each season hundreds of people enjoy getting the wits scared out of them and help support the Edmonton Food Bank and SCARS Second Chance Animal Rescue with donations.
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The Great Pumpkin Fest Returns
When: October 28, 2022
Get excited! For the first time since Covid, Bent Arrow is bringing back the Great Pumpkin Event! Bring your family and friends and feel free to and dress up in your scariest or cutest costume! This year we will have: Zombie run, Hay Ride, Hot Dogs (no cold dogs), Hot Chocolate, Costume Contest, Crafts, Fireworks and Candy.
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Halloween Toddler/Preschool Boo Bash
When: October 28, 2022
At this party, the program room will be converted into a SPOOKTACULAR FUN HOUSE, our preschool room will become a MONSTER MASH, our early learning room will turn into a PUMPKIN PATCH, and finally, we can’t celebrate without TRICK OR TREATS, in the kitchens, of course!
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Free Admission to Art Gallery of Alberta
When: October 27, 2022
Get free admission to Art Gallery of Alberta on October 27th, as part of the last Thursday of the month access. As we transition to indoor playdates, this is a great way to check out the children’s exhibit, and what’s new in the gallery! Visit between 4-7pm for free access to the gallery.
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Free Drone and Fireworks Show at River Cree
When: October 26, 2022
River Cree Resort and Casino is celebrating their 16th birthday with a Drone Light Show & Fireworks Spectacular on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Bring the whole family to the parking lot at 8 pm to experience hundreds of drones creating 2D & 3D light elements alongside fireworks in the night sky!
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FREE Drop in Girls Sports
When: October 23, 2022
For Girls By Girls is a FREE drop-in program to help girls ages 9-15 build confidence and encourage their pursuit in sport and recreation. Starting September 27th, join us each Tuesday from 5:45-7:15pm at Clareview Community Recreation Centre to participate in a variety of activities, games, and skill development exercises. Each session will be facilitated by a Concordia Thunder Athletics student-athlete. Best of all, this program is completely free for participants. No need to pay admission or program fees!
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FREE Spiderman Make and Take LEGO at Toys R Us
When: October 23, 2022
Visit the store to make a FREE make and take LEGO SPIDERMAN at Toys R Us. Come early to take advantage of the free make and take, because the LEGO events are always a big hit. This is a fun, and FREE way to add to your LEGO collection at home.
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Michaels Sunday Makebreak
When: October 23, 2022
Visit your local Michaels store for a Sunday Makebreak. It’s a new free craft, every week, for your kids to complete in-store. It’s a fun way to celebrate Halloween and craft (without having the mess at home!) Craft time doesn’t require signing up in advance, and can be easily completed in under a half-hour.
Visit the Website

FREE Recreation Swim with Inflatables
When: October 22, 2022
There’s a FREE drop-in swimming option that you're not going to want to miss this month. Celebrate the fall and drop-into Emerald Hills Leisure Centre on October 22, 2022 for a fun swim with the inflatables in the pool - and it’s FREE.
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Drop into a FREE Haunted House
When: All month
Find a local haunted house, or decorated house to visit for Halloween on our map, updated for 2022. This Haunted halloween house map is a great way to plan a visit to the best decorated houses in Edmonton for Halloween - and many of the houses include interactive elements (don’t forget your food bank donations).
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Furry Friend Storytime at Londonderry Mall
When: October 21, 2022
Join the Edmonton Public Library for this special story time featuring furry friends from Dogs With Wings. Participants will have the chance to snuggle up with these adorable pups as you listen to spook-tacular Halloween stories!
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Kids Halloween Carving at Event
When: October 21, 2022
Visit the Marketplace at Callingwood for the KidZone event where kids can carve pumpkins, FREE. Join the fun filled Halloween KidZone on October 21 from 12:30-2pm. We will be giving away free pumpkins (while quantities last) and kids can carve their own pumpkin and take it home! We'll also have some halloween treats and fun. Be sure to come dressed up in your Halloween costume!
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FREE Drop in Girls Sports
When: October 18, 2022
For Girls By Girls is a FREE drop-in program to help girls ages 9-15 build confidence and encourage their pursuit in sport and recreation. Starting September 27th, join us each Tuesday from 5:45-7:15pm at Clareview Community Recreation Centre to participate in a variety of activities, games, and skill development exercises. Each session will be facilitated by a Concordia Thunder Athletics student-athlete. Best of all, this program is completely free for participants. No need to pay admission or program fees!
Visit the Website

Michaels Sunday Makebreak
When: October 16, 2022
Visit your local Michaels store for a Sunday Makebreak. It’s a new free craft, every week, for your kids to complete in-store. It’s a fun way to celebrate Halloween and craft (without having the mess at home!) Craft time doesn’t require signing up in advance, and can be easily completed in under a half-hour.
Visit the Website

Manning Monster Mash
When: October 16, 2022
Get into your Halloween costumes and head to Manning Town Centre on Sunday, October 16, 2022 for the Manning Monster Mash! This free family event will feature airbrush tattoos, pumpkin decorating (while supplies last), trick-or-treating, and other spooky fun.
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Celebrate the Grand Opening of Ice District Plaza
When: October 16, 2022
The celebration that will include an indigenous ceremony, comments from government, business and community leaders followed by, in true ICE District fashion, live entertainment, food and beverages, family activities, Oilers alumni, Orange and Blue ICE Crew, Hunter the Lynx and a Battle of Alberta Molson Tailgate watch party as the Edmonton Oilers face off against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place.
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Make a FREE Mummy Bath Bomb at LUSH
When: October 15, 2022
Head to Lush in West Edmonton Mall for a bath bomb pressing party on Saturday, October 15, 2022! Drop in from noon to 3 pm to make your own I Want My Mummy Bath Bomb to bring home free with you. (While supplies last).
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FREE Fire Station Open House and BBQ in Beaumont
When: October 15, 2022
Visit the Fire station for a free BBQ and activities for the whole family. You can check out the fire station, try on the fire gear, meet a firefighter, and take part in a bunch of fun for the whole family.
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Join a FREE Nature Program (Children aged 3-12)
When: October 15, 2022
Nature provides endless opportunities to enhance a child's development by building on self-awareness, language, and critical thinking skills. Your family is invited to join us for activities and exploration to enrich our connection with nature
Register here

Get FREE Admission to UofA Botanical Garden
When: Until October 10, 2022
Children will receive free admission to UofA Botanical Garden this month, until October 10, 2022. It’s the perfect time to explore the fall leaves, climb a castle in the garden, visit the pond and see the gorgeous seasonal changes happening in the garden before it opens for the holidays.
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Drop-in for City of Edmonton Play Rangers at a Local Playground
When: Saturdays at Local Playgrounds
City of Edmonton Play Rangers is a rotating program at local playgrounds, led by engaging youth instructors to get kids outside! In addition to fun group programming and meeting new kids, kids will learn things like orienteering, fire making, and take part in playground games.
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Free Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Londonderry Mall
When: Until October 31
From October 17 to 31, download the GetintheLoop app (available for Android and iOS) to find all 6 Pumpkins hidden around Londonderry! All kids will receive a prize for completing the challenge. All participants will also be entered to win a $150 Londonderry Gift Card!
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FREE Drop-in Swim at Kinsmen Leisure Centre
When: October 5, 2022
Drop into one of our favourite places to swim in the city, with the rope swing, diving board and water slide, for a FREE swim to celebrate school being out early for the day. No registration required.
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Visit a Fire Station Open House
When: October 1, 2022
Fire Station open house season is still here! Visit Coronet fire station this month to get a behind the scenes tour of the fire station, touch a fire truck and meet a local fire
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Join a FREE Nature Program (Children aged 3-12)
When: October 1, 2022
Nature provides endless opportunities to enhance a child's development by building on self-awareness, language, and critical thinking skills. Your family is invited to join us for activities and exploration to enrich our connection with nature
Register here