On Saturday, October 31, Highlands’ Main Street will once again shed its everyday charm and don a delightfully spooky disguise. From 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Downtown Trick-or-Treating will turn the town into a candy-coated carnival of cobwebs, costumes, and community cheer.
Hosted by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, this beloved tradition remains far more than a sugar sprint. It’s a full-on Halloween jubilee where families, visitors, non-profits and local businesses unite in a shared love of whimsy, sweets, and small-town sparkle. Think of it as a costume party with a civic twist – where the ghosts are friendly, the goblins are pint-sized, and the fairies shimmer with Plateau flair.
Main Street will be closed to traffic, giving costumed critters of all ages free rein to parade between storefronts dressed to imparess. Local businesses traditionally go all in – transforming into haunted hideouts, enchanted groves, and pumpkin-spiced wonderlands.
And yes, the merchants themselves often join the masquerade, handing out treats with theatrical flair. Whether you arrive as a glittering unicorn, a caped crusader, or a suspiciously lifelike slice of pizza, you’ll be met with smiles and sweets at every turn.
What began as a safer alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating has grown into a Highlands hallmark. Parents love the well-lit, walkable setup. Kids love the candy and the thrill of seeing their town turned into a Halloween dreamscape. And everyone loves the sense of neighborly magic that floats through the crisp autumn air.
Keeping things safe and spirited, Highlands’ finest – Police, Fire and Rescue, and a merry band of Rotarians and volunteers – will be on hand to offer directions, reassurance, and perhaps a few heroic high-fives along the way. The evening is designed for wandering, waving, posing for photos, and soaking up the kind of neighborly magic that makes Highlands feel like Highlands.
There’ll be complimentary hot dogs and hot chocolate to keep everyone fueled, and frisky music from 64 and Down and High 5 to keep toes tapping, and DJ Mike Murphy adding the perfect soundtrack to the middle of Main Street. In other words, come for the candy – but stay for the community-wide chorus of laughter, music, and “just one more treat, please.”
(Editor’s Note: If DJ Mike happens to summon “Thriller” from the speakers, consider this your official invitation to unleash your inner undead. A modest shuffle, a dramatic claw-hand, or a full moonwalk-adjacent flourish will all be accepted in the spirit of the evening.)
So dust off your broomstick, fluff your tail, tighten your superhero cape, and join the revelry. Everyone’s invited – kids, grown-ups, visiting witches, resident wizards, and any well-behaved creature willing to walk nicely on a leash. For details: visithighlandsnc.com.
Whether you’re a Highlands regular or a curious newcomer, Downtown Trick-or-Treating promises a night of laughter, sugar highs, warm cups, wagging tails, and memories worth haunting forever.
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