Who says Halloween has to be outdoors?

By Lethbridge Herald on October 30, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s that time of the year again, for the ritual where parents of young trick-or-treaters face the occupational hazards of weather, traffic and other conditions as they accompany their children in their nocturnal house-to-house quest for candy. 

If the pickings are slim in their own neighborhood, that usually means shuttling the kids to a more promising neighborhood and either parking and escorting them, or slowly shadowing them in the car as the kids make their rounds.  

Indoor trick or treating offers a reduced-hassle, secure and accessible alternative to traditional Halloween door knocking. For starters, it provides a climate-controlled environment that ensures the well-being and comfort of all participants (especially parents or guardians).

Some indoor trick or treating events happen close to Halloween, like the annual Lethbridge Halloween Market at Centre Village Mall, which takes place on the Saturday before Halloween; and the Salvation Army (TSA) Lethbridge, which happened on Wednesday this year.

Halloween Day indoor trick-or-treating options in Lethbridge include the Park Place Mall Trick or Treat on October 31 from 3-5 PM at the mall; and the Westside Community Church GLOW 4.0 night from 6 – 8:30 p.m. The GLOW event is a free, carnival-style indoor event with activities, treats, and candy bags.

Indoor trick or treating is also back at the Cor Van Raay YMCA at the Cavendish Centre on the Westside from 5-8 p.m. Friday. 

Indoor events eliminate concerns about bad weather, keeping children and adults comfortable, warm and dry regardless of rain, snow or cold temperatures. Although it is still only Fall in Lethbridge, some days already feel like Winter.

By moving the event off the streets and sidewalks, indoor trick-or-treating also reduces (if not completely eliminates ) the risk of accidents involving cars and pedestrians. There’s no need to worry about visibility of kids in dark costumes or needing reflecting tape or vests.

Parents can relax knowing that the venue is secure and supervised, and that treats are being distributed by trusted individuals or businesses, as is often the case with malls, organizations or school events.

Although outdoors (in most cases), trunk-or-treat events are another popular alternative to traditional house-to-house trick or treating. 

A trunk or treat is a community-based Halloween “tailgate party” where participants gather in a parking lot, where decorated vehicles are parked side-by-side. Children in costume go from one car to the next collecting treats from the open trunks.

The third annual Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) Trunk or Treat takes place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Halloween at three locations. The first location is in the Northside, in the green space behind the Logan Boulet Arena (around the 800 block of 15 Street North) 

On the Westside the location is in the Nicholas Sheran Park boat launch parking lot (just off McMaster Boulevard West).

A new third location has been added at Henderson Lake Park in the Nikka Yuko parking lot (just off of Mayor Magrath Drive south).

Although the free LPS event is designed for families with younger children, all youth (including teenagers) are welcome to attend.

The Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) is also hosting a Trunk or Treat event on Halloween from 12-2 PM at the LSCO facility behind City Hall.