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Where To Go Trick-or-Treating in Nassau County

Floral Park

Kids take to the streets in this family-friendly village bordering Queens. With more than a third of its residents younger than 18, the town comes to life with houses adorned with orange lights and lawns decked out with spooky displays. Many homes here were built at the turn of the 20th century, letting kids hunt for (or avoid) "haunted" houses.

Garden City 

Tree-lined streets dotted with majestic houses make for a beautiful night of trick-or-treating. Roads generally have little traffic and are wider than in most communities. Old architecture, such as the Cathedral of the Incarnation and St. Paul's Recreation Complex on Stewart Avenue, give children the illusion of "spooky" spaces. Residents tend to be generous with their candy, and many merchants along Seventh Street participate, too.

Manhasset

Another family-friendly neighborhood for trick-or-treating on Long Island is Manhasset, with beautiful homes decked out for the holiday. Kids can also dress up in their best costumes to enjoy a free event, Halloween on Plandome, Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 1pm to 5pm. The festivities on Plandome Road include a costume contest, music, and trick-or-treating.

Port Washington

The New Salem neighborhood has beautiful streets, and residents decorate for the holiday. One even has a haunted house you can visit. Port Washington also hosts a Halloween Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, October, 26, 2024, from 10am to 4pm. You can pick up a goodie bag at the town library, download or pick up a game card with participating businesses, and let the hunting and treat collecting begin.

Long Beach

A good balance of apartment buildings and residential homes gives trick-or-treaters options in case of inclement weather. But if the sun cooperates, there's nothing better than breathing in the salty ocean air while you collect sweet candy. The West End's grid system makes it easy to navigate, and houses are close together, minimizing the number of steps everyone must take to maximize goody intake.

Where To Go Trick-or-Treating in Suffolk County

Bay Shore

Head to this South Shore hamlet for views of some of the area’s most majestic and allegedly haunted houses. You might not see ghosts, but some of Bay Shore’s historic homes along Montauk Highway are festively decorated. There are also newer apartment and condominium complexes that make treat collecting easier with little walking. The Haunted Halloween Family Festival returns to Bay Shore on Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 4 pm to 8:30 pm with a costume parade, activities, trunk or treat, games, and more. 

Huntington 

Huntington delivers the best of both worlds during the Halloween season: a bustling Main Street, where children can enjoy linear trick-or-treating with shop owners, and a number of beautifully decorated homes. Costumed kids can even trick-or-treat at the Heckscher Museum of Art on Halloween. Kids receive FREE admission into the museum event from 12pm to 5pm with an art activity and a treat to take home.

RELATED: Parades and Other Halloween Events for Kids on LI

Northport celebrates its trick-or-treaters, but be wary of its many hills. Photo courtesy of Northport Chamber of Commerce

Northport  

This quaint village really delivers on the Halloween atmosphere. Shops along Main Street decorate their storefronts, and many participate in the annual trick-or-treat event. Start near Ocean Avenue and work your way toward Northport Bay, then around to the residential areas. Streets can be hilly, so be prepared to take a short rest along the way or give a piggyback ride. The family will have incredible views of the waterfront and a view of all of the Halloween revelers below.

Patchogue 

With safe neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown, Patchogue is an excellent area for trick-or-treating. Start by collecting treats from shops along Main Street and South Ocean Avenue. Then, head to one of the town's family-friendly neighborhoods and join in on the door-to-door fun.

Port Jefferson 

Expansive water views allow children to look across Long Island Sound for pirates (from Connecticut). While the hilly terrain can present challenges after the sun goes down, the village truly shines during daylight trick-or-treating. Cedar Hill, which sits atop upper Port Jefferson, offers spectacular views. And the cemetery at the peak adds to the Halloween lure. Be sure to ring bells in Brick Hill, the western neighborhood in lower Port Jefferson developed by famed circus entrepreneur P.T. Barnum. You might even score some popcorn or cotton candy.

Stony Brook 

The annual Halloween Festival includes trick-or-treating, a costume parade, scarecrow contest announcements, music, and games for the kids. The festival begins at 2pm on Thursday, October 31, 2024. A trick-or-treating visit to the Stony Brook Village Center on the harbor transports kids to a feeling of Colonial Williamsburg. This idyllic New England-style village stimulates the senses of children and adults.

RELATED: Top Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes for LI Kids to Explore

Join the fun at the Greenport Halloween Village. Photo courtesy of Greenport BID

Where To Go Trick-or-Treating on the East End 

Westhampton Beach

Head to Main Street in Westhampton Beach for trick-or-treating fun in the town. Many participating merchants stand outside their stores or restaurants with candy bowls for little ones, and it is a good, friendly location to navigate with younger kids. 

Hampton Bays

Hit the shops along Montauk Highway from Springville Road east to Ponquogue Avenue, the community's central business district. 

Southampton 

Elm Street in Southampton Village is one of the most popular trick-or-treat destinations in the Hamptons. It is a festive spot for families and kids of all ages to enjoy the elaborately decorated houses. The street has been closing for several years on Halloween in the afternoon, so families can safely walk in the street to collect treats. It's a good area if you have a stroller or wagon to pull from house to house. 

Sag Harbor

This East End seaside town hosts a FREE Halloween event in the village called the Sag Harbor Pumpkin Trail from 3pm to 5pm on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Kids, pets, and adults can dress up in their best costumes and join the parade. Kids can also visit participating stores with a Pumpkin Trail sign to collect Halloween sweets. 

Greenport

The summer crowds might have left, but the festivities continue in this East End community. On Saturday, October 26, 2024, Greenport Village hosts its annual Halloween parade starting at 11am followed by trick-or-treating at merchants' stores and a skeleton-themed scavenger hunt.

Riverhead 

Head out east to one of the best communities for Halloween fun. The Riverhead Halloween Fest on Saturday, October 19, 2024, is full of festivities, including a coffin race, a costume parade, and trick-or-treating on Main Street. 

Honorable Mentions

Mineola 

This community has plenty of kids participating in Halloween revelry and a lot of spooky decorations and decked-out houses.

Sayville 

Safe and friendly, with a great scene along Main Street for trick-or-treating fun.

Syosset 

This town is a good option for house-to-house treat collecting. Syosset has many areas with quiet streets, low traffic, and festively decorated homes. 

What to Know Before You Trick-or-Treat on Long Island

• Make sure children are in comfortable shoes regardless of costume choice.
• While many of us rely on smartphone GPS, it's wise to study your route in advance.
• If you are trick-or-treating after dark, make sure you and your kids are visible to traffic by using reflective tape, bright colors, and/or a flashlight app on your phone.
• Check all candy before anyone eats any treats; avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers, or anything unwrapped. 

A version of this post was first published in 2016 and has since been updated. Kristen Markel contributed additional reporting. Writer Jennifer Voit contributed additional reporting.