Pittsburgh has announced its 2026 Halloween schedule, including a new way for neighbors to celebrate together before trick-or-treat night. CitiParks is launching the city's first citywide Halloween house decorating contest, with entries due October 23 and public voting opening the following day.
Mayor Corey O'Connor's October 8 announcement also sets official city trick-or-treat hours for October 31, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Families can put two earlier public events on the calendar: Track & Treat in Highland Park and the City Hall Haunted Crawl Downtown.
How the decorating contest works
The Engage PGH contest page invites residents to enter a home or property, or coordinate a display with neighbors. Its four main categories are Spookiest Individual Home, Spookiest Street, Best Overall Decor and Most Creative Design. The street category requires at least three homes, making it an option for a small group of neighbors who want to participate together.
Entrants select a category and provide photographs of their decorations through the online form. Participation is restricted to City of Pittsburgh residents, property owners and neighborhoods, and participants supply their own materials. A Pittsburgh mailing address alone should not substitute for checking whether a property is within city limits.
CitiParks staff will review submissions after registration closes. The contest also includes a public vote winner and a special selection by the mayor. The city says voting runs October 24–28, with winners announced October 30. Decorating, entering and voting are separate steps, so residents interested in participating should keep both deadlines handy.
Track & Treat brings Halloween to the cycling track
Track & Treat takes place Saturday, October 24, from noon–4 p.m. at the Bud Harris Cycling Track, 1401 Washington Boulevard in Highland Park. The free family event combines cycling with bike decorating, games and bicycle safety instruction. Families may bring a bike or borrow one from CitiParks.
The event page also lists refreshments, food trucks and a costume contest at 2 p.m. Arriving early enough to enjoy the cycling activities and then join the contest can help families make a full afternoon of the visit. Check the official event page for updates before leaving, especially if weather may affect your plans. The published announcement does not detail borrowing arrangements, so ask organizers about equipment needs rather than assuming a particular size will be available.
A Downtown stop before Halloween night
The third annual City Hall Haunted Crawl is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street. The city says admission is free and costumes are encouraged. Departments will host Halloween stations in the Grand Lobby and hand out treats, giving families a chance to meet city employees while celebrating.
These dates offer different ways to take part: a neighborhood project at home, an active afternoon in Highland Park, or an evening Downtown. Before October 31, review the city's guidance on visible costumes, clear sightlines through masks, sidewalks and careful street crossings. Confirm schedules directly with organizers, and check the relevant municipality's notice if your Halloween plans extend beyond Pittsburgh's city limits.