Several Seacoast cities and towns have set official hours for trick-or-treating that split the region between the night before Halloween and Halloween itself.
Official times by community
Municipal announcements and local listings show that many communities will hold trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 30, while others keep the tradition on Saturday, Oct. 31. The listed start and end times vary by town.
- Dover: Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Portsmouth: Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Kittery, Maine (neighboring town): Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Somersworth: Friday, Oct. 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Rochester: Friday, Oct. 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. (the city also held a downtown trick-or-treat event on Oct. 24)
- Newmarket: Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Durham: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Madbury: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Barrington: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Parents and caregivers across the Seacoast are being advised to check their town’s official website or municipal social media accounts for any last-minute changes, safety guidance or community events connected to the holiday.
Why times differ
Communities set hours based on long-standing local tradition, municipal coordination with public safety resources, and separate family-oriented events such as downtown trick-or-treat nights. Rochester’s schedule, for example, included a downtown trick-or-treat earlier this month that offered families an extra opportunity to participate.
Because neighboring towns have different schedules, residents who plan to visit other communities for Halloween should confirm hours in each town before going door to door.
Municipal schedules published for the Seacoast region reflect official announcements for the 2026 holiday and aim to provide a consistent window for families, volunteers and public safety agencies managing pedestrian traffic on busy streets.
