If you're itching to switch up your trick-or-treating routine this year, you've come to the right place.
We've compiled a list of Fox Valley-area alternatives to neighborhood trick-or-treating. If there's anything we've learned from last Halloween, the weather can be pretty unpredictable. That's why we have a number of indoor options on this list. Some families may not want to celebrate on a school night, or maybe want a jump-start on Halloween festivities, so we've included plenty of events that aren't on Oct. 31.
More: Halloween events in Appleton, Green Bay range from the scary to the not-so-scary
'Reverse trick-or-treating' with Neenah’s Lucky Stables LLC
Each year (except for last year because of the snow), the Lucky Stables crew dons costumes and so do the horses, and they bring candy to nearby neighborhoods. This year, they will be heading to Liberty Heights and the new Freedom Meadows during Neenah’s trick-or-treating hours, 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.
Child Care Resource and Referral's Trick-or-Treat Trail
Halloween fun starts early this year with CCR&R’s free indoor trick-or-treat trail. The event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, features games, Culver’s custard, a photo opp, and, of course, lots of candy. Kids follow the “trail” from office to office, with each door sporting a different theme. CCR&R will also have bags on hand to collect candy with, but kids are welcome to bring their own. The event is sponsored by Fox Communities Credit Union.
CCR&R is at 1001 W. Kennedy Ave., Suite A, in Kimberly.
Zooloween Boo at Menominee Park Zoo
Kids can hop from treat station to treat station at the zoo’s annual trick-or-treating event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. It’s much more than just candy, though; there will be children’s games, costume contests, food trucks and other entertainment. This is a fundraiser for the zoo. Tickets are $5 for those 13 and older, $3 for ages 2-12 and free for ages 1 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but they can be bought in advance to avoid lines. To purchase tickets online, visit bit.ly/zooloweentics . Alternatively, you can purchase tickets at the Oshkosh Parks Department Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
The zoo is at 520 Pratt Trail, Oshkosh.
Trick-or-treat at assisted living facilities
Many area assisted living facilities open their doors to trick-or-treaters, providing fun for kids as well as the facility's residents, who hand out candy and sometimes even dress up! Here are a few we confirmed:
- Alten Haus LLC in Neenah – All four homes welcome trick-or-treaters from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. The four homes are at 635 and 625 Bondow Drive, and 1055 and 1091 Jacobson Road, Neenah.
- Care Partners Fox Crossing in Neenah – The annual Halloween party, which includes trick-or-treating, caramel apples and other treats, will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. Care Partners Fox Crossing is at 1750 Irish Road, Neenah.
- Care Partners Assisted Living Kaukauna – There will be trick-or-treating, games and more from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Care Partners Assisted Living Kaukauna is at W5219 Amy Ave., Appleton.
- Willow Lane Assisted Living – The facility's Halloween Extravaganza is from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. As part of the festivities, children can go room to room to trick-or-treat, and there will be cookies and other snacks. Rumor is the residents and staff will also be in costume. Willow Lane is at 850 Elsner Road, Appleton.
Trunk-or-treating
Trunk-or-treating is an increasingly popular Halloween tradition. Participants decorate their vehicles (specifically their trunks) and hand out candy to children in costumes. Here are a few in the Fox Valley:
- Trunk-or-treat with St. Mary Catholic Church and Bridges Child Enrichment Center – The duo will host the free event from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 27, in the parking lot behind the Community Early Learning Center, 313 S. State St., Appleton. There will be games, coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider and donuts, along with candy. To host a car and hand out treats, or to walk around and enjoy the festivities — or both — St. Mary’s asks that you register online at stmaryparish.org/trunkortreat/ .
- Trunk-or-treat hosted by First United Methodist Church of Appleton – First United Methodist Church of Appleton, 325 E. Franklin St., Appleton, has a trunk-or-treat from 10:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 27.
- Wilder’s Cutting Edge Bistro’s trunk-or-treat – The restaurant, 2639 S. Oneida St., Appleton, will host a trunk-or-treat in its parking lot from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. There will be goodies galore, and children can get a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal.
- Motherhood Alliance’s dye-free and allergy-Friendly trunk-or-treat – From 11 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, head over to the Kaukauna Farmers Market grounds, 101 Crooks Ave., Kaukauna, for Motherhood Alliance’s trunk-or-treat. There will also be giveaways, games and a cozy lactation lounge for nursing and lactating parents. Motherhood Alliance aims to exclude the most common allergens, but still check to ensure treats are suitable for your children. RSVP at bit.ly/MotherhoodAlliancetrunkortreat , and look for preregistration information.
Do you know of a nontraditional trick-or-treating event that's not on this list? Send the details to me at mlammert@gannett.com to be added.
More: What time is trick-or-treating in your area? Check here for Appleton-area times and dates.
Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps member based at The Appleton Post-Crescent. To contact her, email mlammert@gannett.com . Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to Report for America by visiting postcrescent.com/RFA .
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Zooloween Boo at the zoo, trunk-or-treat and more: Try these 5 nontraditional ways to trick-or-treat in the Fox Valley
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