PetSmart’s free pet trick-or-treating is back on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at every store, with treat stations, a photo backdrop, and a tote bag for the first 50 people. A new event on October 18 lets families meet the store’s snakes, spiders, and death-feigning beetles.
Tricks for Treats: October 17 and 25
Tricks for Treats is PetSmart’s name for the trick-or-treating: pets walk the store and collect free treats at stations along the way.
- When: Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: every PetSmart store. The chain has more than 1,700 across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
- For pets: free treats at stations throughout the store.
- For families: coloring pages and sticker sheets.
- Photos: a photo area with a Halloween backdrop and props.
- Tote bag: the first 50 attendees get a Halloween PetSmart tote, first come, first served.
- Costumes: encouraged, not required.
Meet the Spooky Pets: October 18
Meet the Spooky Pets is a session on Sunday, October 18, from noon to 2 p.m., where PetSmart employees show snakes, spiders, and death-feigning beetles and explain how each is cared for. PetSmart says the event is new this year, and the animals vary by store.
“For anyone curious about pets like spiders, snakes and invertebrates, this is a chance to learn what makes these animals fascinating and what they need to thrive,” said Bradley Breuer, senior vice president of marketing at PetSmart.
The Costume Photo Contest
A pet costume photo posted with #PetSmartHalloweenContest and one category hashtag enters PetSmart’s contest, which ends October 26:
- #MainCharacter: a solo costume.
- #BooCrew: a pet dressed up with a toy, another pet, or a person.
- #SpookyScene: a scene built around the pet’s costume.
One winner per category gets $500 in savings, paid as 250,000 Treats Rewards points, and three runners-up per category get $250 each. Entrants must be 18 or older, and no purchase is needed.
Other In-Store Events: October 3, 10, and 15
PetSmart’s in-store events page listed three more October dates on October 1:
- Saturday, October 3: The Birthday + Gotcha Bash, a free celebration with treats and photos.
- Saturday, October 10: a Royal Canin sampling event with free samples, 2 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, October 15: a Doggie Day Camp Playdate with a keepsake photo and a treat, booked ahead.
Pet Costumes and a Dog Parade on the Same Day
In PetSmart’s June survey of 1,558 pet owners, 71% said they plan to celebrate Halloween with their pets this year, and 47% of dog and cat owners plan to dress their pet up. PetSmart had 191 pet costumes from $9.99 to $39.99 when I compared six retailers in my guide to the best Halloween pet costumes of 2026.
New York’s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, in its 36th year, is also on Saturday, October 17. My piece on dog Halloween in 2026 covers glow-in-the-dark harnesses and bacon Halloween treats.
Barnes & Noble has a free in-store event this month too, a LEGO Halloween build at more than 470 stores from October 9 to 11.
The trick-or-treating and Meet the Spooky Pets are both free, and PetSmart posts upcoming events on its in-store events page.
