Fall on the Farm at Reeves Family Farm offers pumpkins, farm activities and autumn-themed fun. The event runs through Oct. 23-24 at Reeves Famaily Farm, 3577 FM 1377, Princeton. Shelley Dowdle/The Princeton Herald

Pumpkins, costumes, candy and a little local history are filling the October calendar as communities across eastern Collin and Hunt counties prepare for fall.

Families looking for something to do as Halloween approaches can choose from traditional trick-or-treating and costume contests to a cemetery walk, carnival attractions and other seasonal activities in Princeton, Farmersville, McKinney and Greenville.

Treats, tricks and a costume contest are on tap for Princeton’s Pumpkin Boolooza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at J.M. Caldwell Sr. Community Park, 500 W. College Ave.

The free event will include trunk-or-treat candy, costume contests, a DJ, a petting zoo, food vendors and strolling characters.

Non-clear trick-or-treat bags are allowed for candy collection, but they must be completely empty upon arrival.

Registration for the costume contest begins at 5 and ends at 6:30 with winners to be announced at 7. The categories are best family costume (all ages) and most creative costume for ages 3 to 14.

Also Oct. 17, families can head to McKinney for the city’s annual Trick or Treat Trail from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway.

The free event includes a trail lined with opportunities for children to collect candy along with amusement rides, games, food, dancing and family photo opportunities. Costumes are encouraged, and roaming judges will be watching for standouts in the crowd for a costume contest.

Farmersville will mix Halloween atmosphere with local history Saturday, Oct. 24, when the Farmersville Historical Society hosts its annual Cemetery Walk at the IOOF Farmersville Cemetery on Sycamore Street.

The first walk begins at 5:30 p.m., with groups departing every 15 minutes through 7 p.m. This year’s event will feature stories connected to the Bain-Honaker family, giving participants an opportunity to learn more about some of the people and families who helped shape the community.

Tickets are $10.

McKinney has several additional activities planned as Halloween approaches, including Pumpkin Dunk on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Apex Centre. Children ages 2-12 can take to the water during timed sessions at noon, 1 and 2 p.m., with a special-needs session at 3 p.m. Admission is $12 for members and $16 for nonmembers.

The Farmersville Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Halloween on the Square from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. The free event around the downtown square will feature trick-or-treating with local businesses and an opportunity to show off costumes and collect sweet treats. 

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Princeton Herald.