Free Halloween events for kids at national chains this October include a LEGO build at Barnes & Noble from October 9 to 11, 500 free prize tickets for kids in costume at Chuck E. Cheese all month, and four free online craft classes from Michaels. The Home Depot’s free October workshop was on October 3, and its next one is a dump truck on November 7.
Free Halloween Events for Kids by Date
| Date | Where | What it is | Cost and sign-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every day in October | Chuck E. Cheese | 500 prize tickets for each kid in costume, on every visit | Free, come in costume |
| October 5 | Michaels, online | Kids Club: Spooky Glue Ghosts class, 3 p.m. Pacific | Free class, supplies extra |
| October 9 to 11 | Barnes & Noble | LEGO Halloween mini build | Free, reserve with your store |
| October 16 | Michaels, online | Kids Club: Skeleton Puppets class, 3 p.m. Pacific | Free class, supplies extra |
| October 17 | PetSmart | Tricks for Treats, trick-or-treating with a pet, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free at every store |
| October 18 | PetSmart | Meet the Spooky Pets, noon to 2 p.m. | Free at every store |
| October 19 | Michaels, online | Kids Club: Mini Witch Hats class, 3 p.m. Pacific | Free class, supplies extra |
| October 25 | PetSmart | Tricks for Treats, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free at every store |
| October 26 | Michaels, online | Kids Club: Halloween Slime class, 3 p.m. Pacific | Free class, supplies extra |
| October 31 | Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota | Mall-O-Ween, store-to-store trick-or-treating, 4 p.m. | No ticket or price listed |
| November 7 | The Home Depot | Kids workshop, a dump truck, 9 a.m. | Free, register on Home Depot’s site |
Chuck E. Cheese: 500 Free Tickets for Kids in Costume
Kids who visit Chuck E. Cheese in costume get 500 free Bonus Tickets, which they trade for prizes at the Prize Wall, on every visit in October. Chuck E. Cheese has nearly 500 locations across the United States. Each one holds a dance party every night in October, with Chuck E. on the dance floor every hour from 6 p.m., and participating locations open two hours early on October 25 for a sensory-friendly morning with less noise and dimmed lights. My Chuck E. Cheese Boo-tacular report has the Halloween menu and the $34.99 Boo-Meal Deal.
Michaels Kids Club: Four Free Online Halloween Classes
Michaels’ Kids Club runs four free Halloween craft classes online in October, each from 3 to 4 p.m. Pacific on video: Spooky Glue Ghosts on October 5, Skeleton Puppets on October 16, Mini Witch Hats on October 19, and Halloween Slime on October 26. The glue ghosts and slime classes are listed for all ages, and the puppets and witch hats classes for kids over 6. The classes are free and the supplies are not. Michaels’ supply lists run from $20.95 for the slime class to $53.31 for the witch hats class. Booking is on each class’s page at michaels.com/classes.
Barnes & Noble: Free LEGO Halloween Build, October 9 to 11
Barnes & Noble is running a free LEGO Halloween mini build at more than 470 stores in 48 states on the weekend of October 9 to 11. It takes about an hour, costumes are optional, and the listing calls it right for ages 10 and up, with some stores listing ages 5 to 12. Kits are limited, and at least 25 stores had marked their sessions full by September 20. Sign-up is store by store, so find your store’s session on the events locator at stores.barnesandnoble.com and call the store to reserve. A free LEGO Holiday Build follows on November 14. My Barnes & Noble LEGO build report has the store counts by state.
PetSmart: Tricks for Treats on October 17 and 25
PetSmart’s free trick-or-treating for pets is Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at every store. Pets collect treats at stations around the store, and kids get coloring pages and sticker sheets. The first 50 attendees get a Halloween tote. On Sunday, October 18, from noon to 2 p.m., Meet the Spooky Pets lets families see the store’s snakes, spiders, and beetles up close, and it is free too. My PetSmart trick-or-treat report has the costume contest and the other October dates.
Mall of America: Mall-O-Ween on October 31
Mall-O-Ween is store-to-store trick-or-treating for kids inside Mall of America, a single mall in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Saturday, October 31, at 4 p.m. A digital map shows which stores are handing out treats, and the mall lists no ticket for it. This one is for families near the Twin Cities, and my Mall of America Halloween guide has the rest of the mall’s calendar.
The Home Depot Kids Workshop: Next Date Is November 7
The Home Depot’s free kids workshops are at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month, while supplies last. The first Saturday of October was October 3, so no Halloween workshop is left this month. The next three on Home Depot’s list are a dump truck on November 7, a Christmas car ornament on November 21, and a holiday train on December 5. Registration for the dump truck is open on Home Depot’s kids workshop page, and registration for the other two opens November 7.
Lowe’s Kids Club and Bass Pro Shops
Lowe’s Kids Club workshop dates are shown to signed-in MyLowe’s Rewards members, and the public Kids Club page listed none on October 3, so no Lowe’s date is in the table. The workshops are free and the club is free to join, with a free lollipop at every visit and a tool bag for a child who collects 12 workshop badges. If a workshop is sold out, Lowe’s says to visit the store at 1 p.m. for unclaimed kits. Bass Pro Shops’ Halloween event page had no 2026 dates on October 3.
Free Halloween Events FAQ
What Time Is the Home Depot Kids Workshop?
The Home Depot kids workshop is at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month. The next one is November 7.
Is the Home Depot Kids Workshop Free?
Yes. The Home Depot lists its in-store kids workshops as free, while supplies last.
Is the Barnes & Noble LEGO Halloween Build Free?
Yes. The build is free and kits are limited, so reserve with your store before October 9.
Does Lowe’s Have a Free Halloween Event for Kids in 2026?
Lowe’s Kids Club page lists free workshops without dates, which Lowe’s shows to signed-in MyLowe’s Rewards members.
More Halloween for Families
- The 150 best trick-or-treat streets in America, listed by state.
- The meaning of a teal pumpkin, and Halloween candy made without nuts.
- Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween schedule, night by night.
- LEGO’s 2026 Halloween sets, for building at home.
Last updated: October 3, 2026.
