Halloween in Birmingham is Saturday, Oct. 31, Magic City Classic day. No city trick-or-treat hours as of Oct. 25; zoo Hoots & Howls runs Oct. 25 and Oct. 31.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. Updated each year. We will add official hours and new events here as the city and organizers announce them.

Updated Oct. 25: Hoots & Howls is down to its last two days, Candy Trail prices added, and the library now closes every branch on Oct. 31.

Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. As of Oct. 25, the City of Birmingham had not announced official trick-or-treat hours on its website or in a news release. The same day brings the Magic City Classic parade downtown in the morning and the game at Legion Field in the afternoon, so plan routes around both.

Who to call

  • Police non-emergency: Birmingham Police Department, 205-328-9311; in an emergency, 911
  • Birmingham Zoo: 2630 Cahaba Road (birminghamzoo.com)
  • City questions: 311, or 205-254-2489

Hoots & Howls at the Birmingham Zoo

The zoo’s annual daytime Halloween celebration has two days left, Sunday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the zoo’s October announcement.

  • What’s there: 10 candy stations, magic shows, animal presentations, a costume parade and contest, a Dino Dance party, DJs, lawn games and photo spots. Birmingham Public Library storytellers appear on select dates.
  • Tickets: zoo admission is required. The Candy Trail wristband, which opens the candy stations, is $15 with unlimited rides on the Red Diamond Express Train and climbs on the adventure tower, or $5.50 without rides.
  • Candy: the zoo says all candy is certified palm-oil-free or made with sustainably harvested palm oil.
  • Dinosaurs: the zoo’s Dino Safari, with 23 life-size animatronic dinosaurs, runs through Nov. 1, so this year’s event has a dinosaur theme.

A grown-up night at Sloss

Bowl Night: Molten and Mysterious, Friday, Oct. 30, Sloss Furnaces. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a cast iron bowl class and a guided historic night tour; costumes are encouraged (city listing).

Last year’s city festival

In 2025 the city held Woodfin’s Round-Up Harvest Festival, a free event for children ages 2 to 12 with carnival rides, inflatables, games and food trucks, on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Short 20th Street in front of City Hall. Children were invited to come in costume, according to the city’s 2025 announcement. The festival was moved to that date because of rain. A 2026 date had not been posted on Oct. 25.

Trunk-or-treat

As of Oct. 25 we had not found a Birmingham trunk-or-treat with a published date, time and address from its organizer. Hosting one? Want it listed here? Submit it with the date, time, address and a link.

Getting around on Oct. 31

  • Morning: the Magic City Classic parade runs from 18th Street North and 7th Avenue North to 16th Street North and 4th Avenue North, starting at 8 a.m.
  • Afternoon: the perimeter road at Legion Field closes at 9 a.m., and kickoff is 2:30 p.m.
  • Evening: allow extra time near Legion Field after the game, as trick-or-treating begins.
  • Libraries: every Birmingham Public Library location is closed Saturday, Oct. 31, for the Classic, according to the library’s holiday closures list.

Safety

  • Carry a flashlight or glow stick, and choose costumes that let children see and be seen.
  • Walk on sidewalks, cross at corners and watch for cars backing out of driveways.
  • Check treats before eating them, and set aside anything unwrapped.
  • Report a suspicious situation to the police non-emergency line, 205-328-9311, or call 911 in an emergency.

Related: things to do this month, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and road construction and closures.

Frequently asked questions

What are trick-or-treat hours in Birmingham for 2026?

As of Oct. 25, the City of Birmingham had not announced official trick-or-treat hours. Halloween falls on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, the same day as the Magic City Classic.

When is Hoots & Howls at the Birmingham Zoo?

The zoo’s daytime Halloween event has two days left: Sunday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Zoo admission is required, and the Candy Trail wristband is $15 with rides or $5.50 without.

Is the Magic City Classic on Halloween this year?

Yes. The Classic parade starts downtown at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, and kickoff at Legion Field is 2:30 p.m., so expect traffic downtown and around the stadium.

Did Birmingham hold a Harvest Festival last year?

Yes. The city held Woodfin’s Round-Up Harvest Festival for children 2 to 12 on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, 5 to 7 p.m., on Short 20th Street in front of City Hall. A 2026 date had not been posted on Oct. 25.