Trick or Treat on the Square

Join us on Halloween (Oct. 31st) from 3-6pm in Historic Downtown Gainesville for our annual Trick Or Treat on the Square!

Bring your kids dressed up in their best costumes to Trick or Treat at downtown businesses from 3-6 pm.  Enjoy the SQUAREcrow displays and enter the costume contest at 5:30 pm on the stage on Main Street. The downtown business community enjoys creating a fun, safe environment for kids and families to enjoy Halloween!

 

BALLOON Markers:

To make it easy for citizens to know which businesses are participating, just look for a BALLOON in front of storefronts! Businesses will remove the balloon if they run out of candy.

Businesses with storefronts on (or near) the square who wish to participate should email mainstreet@gainesvillega.gov to be added to the layout map.

THE COSTUME CONTEST WILL BE HELD BY AGE CATEGORIES:

  • 0-4 for the wee ones
  • 5-8 for those little ghouls
  • 9-12 for those ghastly bats
  • Best Group/Family Costume!

How the contest will work:

Starting at 5:30pm, each age group will line up and ‘parade’ over the stage in front of the judges, starting with the youngest group first and working our way up through the older age groups. Judges will pick the winner, and then we’ll move on to the next category.

Road Closures / Timeline:

  • 12pm: Parking closes around the Historic Gainesville Square (see layout map)
  • 1pm: Roads Closed around the square; vendor set up begins
  • 3pm: Even Starts / Trick or Treating Begins
  • 5:30pm: Costume Contest
  • 6pm: Event Ends

All Parking Decks are FREE in Gainesville!

  • Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St.
  • Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St.
  • North Parking Deck, 130 Main St.
  • Historic City Hall, 117 Jesse Jewell Pkwy.

This event is presented by Main Street Gainesville, a program focusing on economic vitality through Historic Preservation in our downtown commercial districts.

SEE YOU THERE, IF YOU DARE IN 2024!

 

Full Candy Stop Map:

Tent Staging Map:

Interested in Becoming a Sponsor for Trick or Treat on the Square?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

Thank you to the Chastain Agency, Groome Transportation of Gainesville, and Jim Shorkey Nissan for being a 2024 Featured Sponsor!

Thank you to Brenau University, Solis Gainesville, and My Country 99.3 for being Main Street Gainesville Program Sponsors!

 

Interested in hosting a 10×10 Candy Stop during the event?

*Applications for 2024 open on aug 5.*

For $55, businesses, non-profits, and groups of all kinds can apply to put a 10×10 tent / table area together as a candy giveaway station. All tent areas should be themed for the holiday. Applications are due by Thursday, October 24, 2024. Apply Here.

Businesses with storefronts on (or near) the square who wish to participate should email mainstreet@gainesvillega.gov to be added to the layout map (No fees).

 

Trick or Treat on the Square (2023 Recap)