This year Halloween falls on a Saturday. Fairview's spooky season starts the Saturday before, at noon, so both ends of the week happen in daylight. Fairview Town Center's Fall Fest lasts two hours in the middle of the day on October 24. Most of the nearby Halloween events on October 31 finish by midafternoon. The sun sets at 6:35 p.m. that evening and civil twilight ends at 7:01 p.m., which puts the start of Halloween night in the low, slanting light the Town of Fairview has warned drivers about.
That makes the calendar simple to plan around. Here is how the week lines up, starting Saturday, October 24.
Saturday, October 24: Two Hours at The Park
The Fairview Fall Fest runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at The Park at Fairview Town Center, 329 Town Place. The Town's own October 2026 Fairview Town News described it this way:
"The event will squeeze hours' worth of autumn fun into 120 magical minutes."
Here is what fits into those 120 minutes, according to the event page and the Town newsletter:
- Trick-or-treating at 14 or more participating shops. It runs only while candy lasts, and the shopping center says to arrive early and bring a trick-or-treat bag. A printable map marks the participating tenants with candy icons.
- Sam the Magic Man, on stage at 1 p.m.
- A Kid's Market featuring young entrepreneurs and what they make.
- Bounce houses, plus Kona Ice for purchase.
- A pumpkin display and Fairview police and fire vehicles, both listed in the Town newsletter's announcement.
Because candy is first come, first served and the magic show is set for 1 p.m., one reasonable plan is to start the candy crawl right at noon and reach the stage by one. Families who arrive at 1:30 may find the bags emptier than the bounce house line is long.
When the Candy Runs Out, Lunch Is a Block Away
Fall Fest ends at 2 p.m., right around a late lunch, and one of the newer stops at Fairview Town Center suits a family in costume. Local Profile reported in March 2026 that Tick Tock Taco x Churro On Top had opened at 201 Town Place. It is a two-story taco-and-dessert spot built around churros, ice cream, games and family events. It opened this spring, so for a lot of households Fall Fest could be the first reason to go.
The shopping center keeps changing. In a profile in the same issue of Fairview Town News, Mayson Bradshaw, security director for United Protective Service at Fairview Town Center, said that "you have new tenants coming in constantly." He also remembered that when he started in 2018, the 24-Hour Fitness, the RaceTrac and the large office complex nearby were not there yet. "It's gotten louder for sure," he told the newsletter, "but more interesting. There are more fun things coming in every day."
His patrols also explain why a busy Saturday at the center needs attention in the parking lots. Bradshaw told Fairview Town News that he looks through vehicle windows on his rounds because of past incidents with children and dogs left in cars while people shopped. On a costume-and-candy afternoon, that is a good reason to bring the dog along or leave it at home.
The Week Between the Two Saturdays
Most nearby events with a confirmed 2026 date are in McKinney, and nearly all of them, like Fall Fest, take place in daylight. The one exception is an evening party that runs until midnight.
| Date | Event | Time | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., Oct. 25 | TUPPS Trunk or Treat | 1 to 2:30 p.m. | TUPPS Outdoor Stage & Lawn, 402 E. Louisiana St., McKinney | Not listed |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Dave & Boo-ster's Boo Bash | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Dave & Buster's, 4064 W. University Dr., McKinney | Not listed |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Bubbles Boo Bash | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | The Learning Experience, 1460 Hardin Blvd., McKinney | Free |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | McKinney Spooktacular Brews and Boos Walk | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Historic Downtown McKinney, 111 N. Tennessee St. | $42.34 |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Enchanted Halloween Party at Harvest | 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. | Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N. Kentucky St., McKinney | Free |
The TUPPS event has a track record. The brewery says around 400 children came through with their families last year. Animal Rescue Crusade will also take Halloween-themed pet and family photos for donations, so this is the one stop on the list where the dog is part of the plan. TUPPS suggests arriving early or staying afterward for lunch in The Grain Room, which has a kids' menu.
The Bubbles Boo Bash is a free community trunk-or-treat with face painting, a costume contest, a maze, a dunk tank and a food truck. The Dave & Buster's event serves a pancake banquet along with crafts, games and a costume contest. Both wrap up by early afternoon, which leaves time for naps before the neighborhood rounds start.
The Harvest party starts at 5 p.m. Live music runs from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, and a costume contest with cash prizes starts at 11 p.m. For households where the children are finished by eight, it is an option for later in the evening.
Halloween Night Starts in the Hardest Light of the Day
Because Halloween is on a Saturday, many young trick-or-treaters will head out while the sun is still up. The Town of Fairview's newsletter addressed this directly in a piece titled "The Golden Hour Can Be Dangerous." It noted that the setting autumn sun makes it harder for drivers to see little ones and asked for extra caution in neighborhoods on October 31, "even before sunset."
Here is the evening of Saturday, October 31, by the clock:
- Late afternoon: The sun is low in the west and glare is at its worst, which is the window the Town's warning describes.
- 6:35 p.m.: Sunset.
- 6:35 to 7:01 p.m.: Civil twilight. The light fades quickly and costumes are hard to pick out.
- After 7:01 p.m.: Full darkness for the rest of the evening.
The Town's newsletter lists these precautions for children before they go out:
- Stay on well-lit streets, and cross only at the end of a block, never between parked cars.
- Look both ways before crossing.
- Carry a flashlight and wear reflective tape so drivers can see you.
- Visit only familiar homes with a porch light on.
- Never trick-or-treat alone. Go with friends or a parent.
- Never enter a stranger's house or car.
- Eat treats only after an adult at home has checked them.
Mayor John Hubbard's letter in the same issue adds one more item for families whose older children ride. He asked parents to remind children to ride bicycles and scooters safely, watch for pedestrians and keep to safe speeds on sidewalks, especially on Halloween, when more young children and families are out walking.
The Candy Check Takes an Appointment
The Fairview Police Department will scan collected candy with a metal detector to look for hidden metal objects. It is by appointment only, so families need to call ahead at 972-886-4211, the department's daytime non-emergency line, to schedule a scan. Halloween is on a Saturday this year, so a call during the week, well before the 31st, makes it easier to get a time that works.
At The Grisak Group, we have spent decades following Fairview's calendar along with its market, and we care about the small-town traditions that make this a place people want to stay. If a move is on your family's list for after the holidays, we would be glad to start that conversation now. List With Us.
