PetSmart’s free pet trick-or-treating ran on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 25, at every store, with treat stations, a photo backdrop, and a tote bag for the first 50 people. On October 28, PetSmart’s in-store events page listed a Doggie Day Camp Playdate from October 29 to November 1 and the free Birthday + Gotcha Bash on November 7.
Tricks for Treats: October 17 and 25
Tricks for Treats is PetSmart’s name for the trick-or-treating: pets walked the store and collected 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 got a Halloween PetSmart tote, first come, first served.
- Costumes: encouraged, not required.
Meet the Spooky Pets: October 18
Meet the Spooky Pets was a session on Sunday, October 18, from noon to 2 p.m., where PetSmart employees showed snakes, spiders, and death-feigning beetles and explained how each is cared for. PetSmart said the event was new this year, and the animals varied by store. Free Halloween events for kids at other chains are in my store-by-store guide.
“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
PetSmart’s costume contest, which ended October 26, took pet costume photos posted with #PetSmartHalloweenContest and one category hashtag:
- #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 had to be 18 or older, and no purchase was 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, was also on Saturday, October 17. My piece on dog Halloween in 2026 covers glow-in-the-dark harnesses and bacon Halloween treats.
Barnes & Noble’s free LEGO Halloween build ran at more than 470 stores from October 9 to 11, and the next free build, the LEGO Holiday Build, is listed for November 13 to 15.
The trick-or-treating and Meet the Spooky Pets were both free, and PetSmart posts upcoming events on its in-store events page.
