Halloween in Glen Allen & Short Pump: Fall Fun, Trick-or-Treating & Local Events for 2026
Costumes, candy, pumpkins, spooky trails, fall festivals, and neighborhood trick-or-treating — Halloween brings plenty of ways to celebrate around Glen Allen, Short Pump, and western Henrico.
Halloween Around Glen Allen
By late October, fall has usually settled into Glen Allen.
The leaves are changing.
Pumpkins are sitting on front porches.
Halloween decorations have appeared throughout neighborhoods.
And families are trying to figure out where they're taking the kids before the big night arrives.
Fortunately, you don't have to travel far.
Glen Allen, Short Pump, and the surrounding Henrico County area offer a variety of Halloween and fall activities ranging from traditional trick-or-treating to farm animals, pumpkin decorating, outdoor movies, costume events, and community celebrations.
So whether you're looking for something for younger children, an afternoon outside, or simply an excuse to put on a costume, here are some ways to enjoy Halloween around Glen Allen in 2026.
Halloween 2026 at a Glance
DateEventOct. 10Fall Festival & Trunk-or-Treat – Mount Vernon Baptist ChurchOct. 18Pumpkin Decorating – Hunton Community CenterOct. 21Not-So-Spooky Stories – Deep Run Recreation CenterOct. 23Trunk or Treat + Movie in the Park – Deep Run ParkOct. 24Trough or Treat – Meadow Farm MuseumOct. 29Halloween week fun around Glen Allen & Short PumpOct. 30Halloween programs – Hunton Community Center & Parsons Community CenterOct. 31Halloween & neighborhood trick-or-treating
Events and schedules can change, so always confirm current information with the event organizer before heading out.
Trough or Treat at Meadow Farm
Saturday, October 24
2–5 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park
3400 Mountain Road, Glen Allen
If you've been following this blog throughout October, Meadow Farm should sound familiar.
Earlier this month we explored Meadow Farm Museum and Crump Park as one of Glen Allen's local hidden gems.
For Halloween, the farm gets into the spirit with Trough or Treat.
Instead of walking from house to house, visitors walk around Meadow Farm's pastures while learning about the animals and history of the property — and collecting treats and prizes along the way.
There's also an unusual Halloween activity you won't find at most trunk-or-treat events:
Pumpkin archery.
Visitors can test their aim at an open archery range and shoot arrows at pumpkins in a supervised setting.
Costumes are encouraged but aren't required.
It's a fun combination of Halloween, local history, and the farm setting that makes Meadow Farm such an interesting Glen Allen destination.
Trunk or Treat + Movie at Deep Run Park
Friday, October 23
4:30–9 p.m.
Deep Run Park
9900 Ridgefield Parkway
For families on the Short Pump side of the Glen Allen area, Deep Run Park has one of Henrico County's larger Halloween events.
The evening begins with Trunk or Treat from 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Children can wear their costumes and collect candy from decorated Henrico County vehicles.
But there's also a Spooky Trail for anyone willing to give it a try.
After trunk-or-treating ends, the evening shifts into an outdoor movie.
Bring chairs or blankets and settle into the activity field near the pond for a Halloween movie beginning at 7 p.m.
Food and drinks are also scheduled to be available.
It's an easy way to turn trick-or-treating into an entire evening outside.
Pumpkin Decorating at Hunton Community Center
Sunday, October 18
2–4 p.m.
Hunton Community Center
Sometimes Halloween doesn't need to involve anything scary.
Henrico Recreation & Parks is hosting a Pumpkin Decorating program at Hunton Community Center.
The all-ages activity includes pumpkins and decorating supplies, giving families a chance to create their own Halloween pumpkin without worrying about bringing everything from home.
It's a simple seasonal activity and a particularly convenient option for residents in northern Glen Allen.
Not-So-Spooky Fun at Deep Run
Wednesday, October 21
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Deep Run Recreation Center
For families with children who aren't quite ready for haunted houses and genuinely scary Halloween attractions, Henrico has something considerably lighter.
Silly Scenes & Not-So-Spooky Stories features Halloween-themed improvisational comedy from Bridge 9 Theater.
Audience members help inspire the performers by suggesting ideas for scenes.
The result is designed around Halloween fun and laughter rather than scares.
It's another good reminder that Halloween activities don't necessarily need to happen after dark.
Fall Festival & Trunk-or-Treat on Nuckols Road
Saturday, October 10
4–6 p.m.
Mount Vernon Baptist Church
11220 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen
Another Glen Allen option is the annual Fall Festival & Trunk-or-Treat at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.
The church describes the event as family-friendly and specifically notes that it isn't intended to be scary.
Costumes are welcome.
Its Nuckols Road location also makes this particularly convenient for families living around Wyndham, Twin Hickory, Short Pump, and the surrounding western Glen Allen communities.
Halloween Fun Continues October 30
The day before Halloween brings a couple more Henrico programs to Glen Allen.
At the Parsons Community Center at Meadow Farm, younger visitors can join Pearl the Puppet Sheep for “Can a Cow Say Boo?” from 10–10:30 a.m.
Family-friendly costumes are encouraged.
Later that morning, Hunton Community Center hosts Spooktacular Games from 11 a.m.–noon, with Halloween-themed games and seasonal activities.
These smaller programs are especially useful for people looking for daytime Halloween activities rather than nighttime trick-or-treating.
Halloween in Short Pump
And yes — for this article, we're absolutely including Short Pump.
The Short Pump area is one of the busiest parts of western Henrico, and during October you'll find Halloween decorations, seasonal merchandise, restaurants, entertainment, and plenty of people out enjoying the area.
Short Pump Town Center can be an easy stop for Halloween shopping, costumes, candy, decorations, dinner, or simply spending part of the day out before evening activities begin. The open-air center has a large mix of retailers, restaurants and entertainment options.
Because individual retailers and shopping centers can add or change Halloween promotions throughout October, check their current event calendars before heading out specifically for a Halloween event.
Don't Forget the Neighborhoods
Of course, some of the best Halloween activity around Glen Allen doesn't happen at an organized event at all.
It happens right outside people's homes.
Neighborhoods throughout Glen Allen and Short Pump come alive on Halloween night with:
Porch decorations
Jack-o'-lanterns
Costumes
Trick-or-treaters
Decorated yards
Neighbors gathering outside
Families walking together through the community
For someone considering moving to Glen Allen, holidays can actually provide an interesting glimpse into the personality of different neighborhoods.
Some communities go all-out for Halloween.
Others are much quieter.
And the amount of trick-or-treating can vary considerably from one neighborhood — or even one street — to another.
A Few Halloween Safety Reminders
Halloween is more enjoyable when everyone gets home safely.
A few simple reminders are worth keeping in mind:
Carry a flashlight or another visible light after dark.
Add reflective elements to darker costumes.
Use sidewalks where they're available.
Cross streets at safe, visible locations.
Drivers should slow down and watch carefully for pedestrians.
Make sure masks and costumes don't interfere with vision or walking.
Younger children should trick-or-treat with an adult.
Check treats before children eat them.
Keep pets secure when trick-or-treaters are repeatedly approaching the house.
And remember that sunset arrives much earlier by late October, so visibility becomes an issue quickly.
Make Halloween Your Own
One of the nice things about Halloween around Glen Allen is that there's no single way to celebrate it.
You can spend an afternoon at Meadow Farm.
Take the kids trunk-or-treating.
Decorate pumpkins.
Watch an outdoor movie.
Walk through your neighborhood.
Meet friends for dinner in Short Pump.
Stay home and hand out candy.
Or create an elaborate front-yard display that makes every other house on the street look underdecorated.
There's room for all of it.
Fall Is a Great Time to Explore Glen Allen
Halloween also arrives during one of the best times of year to simply get outside and explore the area.
By late October, cooler temperatures and changing leaves can make Glen Allen's parks, neighborhoods, and historic areas feel completely different than they do during the summer.
Take a walk through Crump Park.
Explore Mountain Road.
Visit Echo Lake.
Spend an afternoon around Short Pump.
Drive through neighborhoods you've never explored before.
Even if Halloween isn't really your thing, fall in Central Virginia gives you plenty of reasons to get out of the house.
Happy Halloween, Glen Allen!
Over the past month, we've explored a different side of Glen Allen — from historic properties and museums to parks, recreation, arts, and some of the local places that are easy to overlook.
Ending October with Halloween seems appropriate.
Because ultimately, communities aren't defined only by houses, roads, shopping centers, or statistics.
They're also defined by the things people do together.
The traditions.
The events.
The parks.
The places where neighbors gather.
And occasionally, by how many inflatable ghosts, skeletons, pumpkins, and giant spiders someone can fit into one front yard.
Have a safe and happy Halloween, Glen Allen!
Thinking About Moving to Glen Allen?
If you're considering a move to Glen Allen or the greater Richmond area, exploring local events is a great way to get a feel for the community beyond what you'll see in a real estate listing.
Different parts of Glen Allen offer different combinations of neighborhoods, parks, shopping, recreation, schools, history, restaurants, and community activities.
As a local REALTOR® with Long & Foster Real Estate, I help buyers and sellers navigate Glen Allen and the surrounding Richmond communities with local knowledge, market insight, and personalized service.
If you'd like to learn more about living in Glen Allen, explore its different neighborhoods, or discuss buying or selling a home in the Richmond area, I'd be happy to help.
Matthew Cooper, REALTOR®
Long & Foster Real Estate – Grove Ave Office
Serving Glen Allen, Henrico County, and the Greater Richmond Region
