October is stacked full of spooky, halloween themed fun for families in Edmonton. There are plenty of free haunted houses, Halloween activities and even trunk-or-treating events to keep the whole family entertained all month long - without breaking the bank.

Ongoing Free Things to do in Edmonton this Month

• Free Tuesdays at Leduc Art Foundry. These free Tuesdays are drop-in, between 4-7pm, for kids to connect with art and artists in the community.

• Take a Scavenger Hunt through IKEA and end the celebration with a FREE frozen-yogurt ice cream cone. Find the scavenger hunt near Smaland, on the wall near the elevator, and return your completed scavenger hunt to the as-is section for a free cone at IKEA Edmonton.

• Try Geocaching. Have you tried this treasure hunt through the community? Sometimes there are small toys in the cache that you can exchange for your own, but the glory is in finding, and signing the log for these incredible hunts through the city!

• Drop in for solar or night-sky viewing at the Observatory at University of Alberta. It’s a fun way to learn about the sun, or night sky with the kids, and happens every week on Thursday nights.

• For the older kids, try a graphic novel and spooky storytelling workshop. There are three sessions this month: October 19, 25 and 26. Learn more about the workshop, here.

• City of Edmonton has returned with the weekly City of Edmonton Play Rangers on Saturdays, for fun, drop-in outdoor activities for kids at Whitemud Park. Activities include: shelter building, slackening, orienteering and more. There’s also the monthly, Family Adventure Club, at North East River Valley Park.

Here are the best free things to do in edmonton with kids in October

1. Free School’s Out Recreational Swim at Kinsmen Leisure Centre
   October 2, 2024
   Drop in for this little-kid friendly swimming event, with the inflatables in the pool at Emerald Hills Leisure Centre. Children that attend lap swim must be able to swim 25 metres and be accompanied in the water by someone 14Y+.

2. Free LEGO Jack O Lantern Make & Take at Staples Stores
   October 2, 2024
   Register for a FREE Lego Jack O Lantern Make & Take at five locations of Staples stores in October

3. Drop in for Night Sky Viewing at University of Alberta Observatory
   October 3, 2024
   Drop in for solar or night-sky viewing at the Observatory at University of Alberta. It’s a fun way to learn about the sun, or night sky with the kids, and happens every week on Thursday nights.

4. Register for a Free Kids Graphic Novel and Storytelling Workshop
   October 3, 2024

5. Check out the new ‘Edmonton’ Installation at Churchill Square
   All Month

6. Get out of Town for the Smoky Lake Pumpkin Drop and Fair
   October 4, 2024

7. Catch Inside Out 2 on the Big Screen for Community Movie Night
   October 4, 2024

8. Celebrate the opening of Beavertails at West Edmonton Mall with FREE Beavertails
   October 5, 2024

9. City of Edmonton Play Rangers: Shelter Building and Slacklining
   October 5, 2024

Get the best things to do in Edmonton delivered straight to your inbox.

1. Pumpkins and Pancakes Celebration at Salisbury Village
   October 5, 2024
   Enjoy pumpkin picking, treats and pancakes while you explore the show homes in the village!

2. FREE LEGO Minecraft Panda Make & Take at Toys R Us
   Minecraft fans will love this BAMBOO-zling build exclusive to Toys R Us! This is a fun way to celebrate Bricktober at Toys R Us, and you can take home a small addition to your LEGO collection!

3. Explore Leduc Fire Station and BBQ at Leduc Fire Services Open House
   October 6, 2024

4. Free Family Films at the Library: IF
   October 6, 2024

5. FREE Drop-in weekly Sports with City of Edmonton at For Girls by Girls
   October 8, 2024

6. Find a new passion in this FREE Kids Playwrighting Workshop for Kids
   October 8, 2024 (and ongoing weekly)

7. Drop in for Night Sky Viewing at University of Alberta Observatory
   October 10, 2024
   Drop in for solar or night-sky viewing at the Observatory at University of Alberta. It’s a fun way to learn about the sun, or night sky with the kids, and happens every week on Thursday nights.

8. Visit the Nightmare Before Christmas at Maize’s Christmas House
   Starting October 11, 2024
   Character visits are scheduled through the season - you can find the details on the Facebook page, above!

9. Register for the Free Home Depot Kids Workshop
   October 12, 2024
   Register for the free monthly Home Depot kids workshops in Edmonton for kids 6+. New: there are two sessions available. This month, kids can make a firebrick!

10. Celebrate Fire Prevention Week in St. Albert with a Free BBQ, Bounce Castle and Fire Station Tours
    October 12, 2024

11. Join a Free Fire Prevention Week BBQ and Obstacle Course in Fort Saskatchewan
    October 12, 2024

12. City of Edmonton Play Rangers: Shelter Building and Slacklining
    October 12, 2024

13. Stop by Toys R Us for your FREE LEGO Friends Friendship Bracelet
    October 12 & 13, 2024

14. Free Family Movie Day at the Library: Monster House
    October 13, 2024

15. Drop in for Night Sky Viewing at University of Alberta Observatory
    October 17, 2024
    Drop in for solar or night-sky viewing at the Observatory at University of Alberta. It’s a fun way to learn about the sun, or night sky with the kids, and happens every week on Thursday nights.

16. Make Halloween Lanterns at the ReUse Workshop
    October 17, 2024

17. Take a Haunted Trek at Strathcona Wilderness Centre
    October 18, 2024
    Kick off spooky season and sign up for a Haunted Trail Tour at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Dare to venture into the unknown on our spine-chilling Haunted Trail Tour. Perfect for thrill-seekers and ghost enthusiasts, this outdoor adventure will immerse you in the haunted history and mysterious tales of the area.

18. City of Edmonton Play Rangers: Shelter Building and Slacklining
    October 19, 2024

19. Grab your costume and Check out the St. Albert Halloween Haunt
    October 19, 2024
    Join the fun for a spooktacular event! The Halloween Haunt is an annual family-friendly event geared towards children 12 years and younger. Come show off your costume as you play, collect treats and burn off that Halloween energy!

20. Dress up for the Manning Monster Mash
    October 19, 2024

21. Family Fun at the Harvest Festival at Currents of Windermere
    October 19, 2024

22. FREE Drop-in Swim at Emerald Hills Leisure Centre
    October 19, 2024

23. FREE LEGO Creativity Workshop at The Lego Store
    October 19 & 20, 2024

24. Find a New Costume at the Halloween Costume Swap at the ReUse Centre
    October 19, 2024

25. Free Family Films at the Library: The Book of Life
    October 20, 2024

26. Drop in for Night Sky Viewing at University of Alberta Observatory
    October 24, 2024
    Drop in for solar or night-sky viewing at the Observatory at University of Alberta. It’s a fun way to learn about the sun, or night sky with the kids, and happens every week on Thursday nights.

27. Take a Haunted Trek at Strathcona Wilderness Centre
    October 25, 2024
    Kick off spooky season and sign up for a Haunted Trail Tour at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Dare to venture into the unknown on our spine-chilling Haunted Trail Tour. Perfect for thrill-seekers and ghost enthusiasts, this outdoor adventure will immerse you in the haunted history and mysterious tales of the area.

28. Halloween Spooktacular at Family Futures Celebration
    October 25, 2024

29. Get Scared at the Live-actor Haunted House (it’s Free!) at Clarkdale Meadows
    October 25, 26 and 31

30. Free LEGO Micro Holiday Train Make & Take at Toys R Us
    October 26, 2024

31. Headless Carrot Halloween Party - It’s Free!
    October 26, 2024

32. Take a Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Callingwood Marketplace
    October 26, 2024

33. Celebrate Fall at the Currents of Windermere Fall Festival
    October 26, 2024
    Enjoy fantastic live music and performances, take a tour through our straw maze or snuggle with some cute animals in our petting zoo! And if you’re feeling hungry, don’t worry! They’ll have free food samples from our amazing restaurants.

34. City of Edmonton Play Rangers: Shelter Building and Slacklining
    October 26, 2024

35. Trunk or Treat at Belmont Sobeys
    October 26, 2024

36. Find Treats and Tricks at the Rosenthal Haunted Hunt
    October 26, 2024
    Gather your goblins and ghouls, throw on their capes and costumes and join us for a Spooktacular Haunted Hunt! Kids of all ages will navigate the field by the Rosenthal Playground with a map identifying spooky flags.

37. City of Edmonton Family Adventure Club Outdoor Program
    October 26, 2024
    Family Adventure Club North showcases the City of Edmonton’s new Northeast River Valley Park (903 153 Ave NE) through various outdoor and nature based learning activities. Leaders are excited to share an adventure with you in Edmonton's new North East River Valley Park, during a monthly drop-in play session. This month’s theme is orienteering and navigation!

38. Lace Up for the Haunted Halloween Skate in Ardrossan
    October 27, 2024
    The Haunted Halloween Skate is back for 2024 at Ardrossan Recreation Centre. Get your skates, your costume, and your spooky friends for this fun way to stay cool this month.

39. Free Family Films at the Library: The Nightmare Before Christmas
    October 27, 2024

40. Trick or Treat the John Walter Museum
    October 27, 2024
    Spend the afternoon trick or treating at John Walter Museum. Bundle up in your costumes and get an early start on Trick or Treating in Edmonton at this fun, free Edmonton halloween event. Bring your treat bags and dress up in your costume to visit the three historic houses for treats and tricks at the John Walter Museum.

41. Check out the Ridgewood Community League Spooky Soiree
    October 27, 2024
    There will be fun & games for the whole family, free hot chocolate, cookie decorating, pumpkin decorating, the winner of our Spooky Yard Decoration contest will be announced and other fun events!

42. Compete in a Family Pumpkin Carve Off
    October 27, 2024
    To celebrate the Fall season join us for an afternoon of free pumpkin carving! We’ll have an amazing pumpkin carving event full of music, fun, and connection - plus a chance to show off your creative Halloween costume!  This event is free, but registration is required.

43. Pop-in for For Girls by Girls Drop-in Sports
    October 29, 2024

44. Try Orienteering at a Kids Run Wild Try-it Session
    October 29, 2024

45. Kick off Trick or Treating with Trunk or Treat
    October 31, 2024
    Celebrate Halloween with Trunk or Treat at Vantage Point Community Church. Stop on by and enjoy a hot dog, and/or
    a cup of hot chocolate and warm yourself up by the fire as the kids go trunk or treating.

46. Get Scared at the Live-actor Haunted House (it’s Free!) at Clarkdale Meadows
    October 25, 26 and 31

47. Free Admission to Art Gallery of Alberta
    October 31, 2024
    It’s the last Thursday of the month and that means it’s free admission to Art Gallery of Alberta. Find your way into a new spooky exhibit or warm up before or after trick or treating with free admission between 4-7pm.

48. Celebrate Diwali with a Fireworks Celebration
    November 1, 2024