Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the River Valley is making the most of it. There are fun activities all week long, capped by a Saturday stacked with fall festivals, chili cook-offs, trunk-or-treats and one very haunted inn.
Here is your day-by-day guide to the week’s fall fun across Pope and Yell counties. Most events are free and family-friendly unless noted.
The week’s forecast
Let’s start with the weather. Most of the week looks beautiful for fall fun. Monday and Tuesday are mostly sunny to partly cloudy with highs near 78 and lows in the low 50s. Wednesday and Thursday are the warmest days — sunny to partly cloudy, highs around 82, and rain chances only around 10%.
Friday stays dry for the games — cloudy, high 77, with only a 20% chance of a late shower. Saturday’s rain arrived early — showers this morning turning to steady rain this afternoon (100% chance by 3 PM, about three-quarters of an inch for the day, high 70), so daytime events and evening trunk-or-treats will both want a rain plan or a move indoors.
Outdoor events may move or change plans, so check before you head out and keep a poncho handy for the little ghouls. Sunday dries back out, mostly cloudy with a high near 78 and a 20% rain chance.
This forecast is for Russellville as of Monday morning, Oct. 26 — check back as the week goes on, because Arkansas weather loves a plot twist.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26
- Lake Dardanelle State Park Daily Wrap-Up — Ranger-led programs at Lake Dardanelle State Park kick off the week, and the park has activities running most days through Sunday. Check the calendar for each day’s lineup.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
- Día de los Muertos — 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at Hindsman Tower on the Arkansas Tech campus.
- Tech-O-Ween 2026 — 5–7 p.m. at Mullens Plaza at Ferguson Student Union, Arkansas Tech. About 50 tables of treats and activities, free and open to the public.
- Car Smash — 7–9 p.m. at the Hector Fire Station.
- Haunted Trail — Opens at dark behind the Hector Fire Department, 77 Spruce St. in Hector. A $10 haunted trail benefiting the fire department — and it runs Friday night too. May not be suitable for small children.
- ATU Ghost Tour — 7–9 p.m. starting at Mullens Plaza, Arkansas Tech. Hear the haunted side of campus after dark.
- Trombone Choir Concert — 7:30 p.m. at Witherspoon Auditorium. A not-so-spooky evening option.
- Dark From Day One at Handlebar — 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
- Triple Celebration Fall Movie Night — Starts at 2 p.m. at Krazy K Buildings and More, 3616 E. Main St. in Russellville. Vendors, games and candy for the kids, a fall movie night and instant printed pictures.
- Halloween Monster Bash (Trick or Treat) — 3:30–6 p.m. at Atkins Centennial Library. Games, crafts, Halloween bingo, refreshments, and prizes for best costumes.
- Trunk or Treat at Live Love Arkansas — 4–6 p.m. at 2608 E. Parkway Dr. in Russellville.
- Saint Mary’s Fall Block Party — 4:30–6:30 p.m. at Saint Mary’s, 1808 West Main Street in Russellville. The hospital’s trunk-or-treat grows into a full block party this year, with more than 15 themed booths, candy, treats and games.
- RNRC Trick or Treat — 5–7 p.m. at Russellville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 215 S. Portland Ave. A Hocus Pocus–themed trick-or-treat with the residents and staff, open to the public — Hocus Pocus costumes are entered in a special drawing.
- Trunk or Treat at Shiloh Road — 5–7 p.m. at Shiloh Road Church of Christ, 2100 Shiloh Road in Russellville. Another sweet stop for Friday night candy runs.
- Coldwell Banker RPM Group Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat — 6–8 p.m. at 1010 N. Arkansas Ave. in Russellville. Candy without leaving the car.
- Shaw Revolver at Tennille’s Steak & Seafood — 6–9 p.m. at Tennille’s, 2407 N. Arkansas Ave. Live music from the daddy-daughter trio, plus dinner.
- Halloween Costume Contest Party at Moore’s Sweets & Treats — 7–9 p.m. at Moore’s Sweets & Treats in Dardanelle. Music, games, candy, and a prize for best costume.
- Haunted Trail — Opens at dark behind the Hector Fire Department in Hector. Night two of the $10 trail benefiting the fire department; may not be suitable for small children.
- Onna Collins & The Night Shift at Handlebar — 8 p.m.
And it’s Friday night under the lights — the regular-season finale for area high school football, all kicking off at 7 p.m. At home: Waldron at Pottsville, Ozark at Dover, Farmington at Dardanelle, Hackett at Hector, Cutter-Morning Star at Danville, and Atkins at Two Rivers. On the road: Russellville at Little Rock Catholic, Lamar at Booneville, and Clarksville at Greenwood.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 — HALLOWEEN
- Downtown Fall Fest 5K and Kids 1K Fun Run — 8 a.m. in downtown Russellville. Earn the candy early.
- Middleton Family Farm Pumpkin Patch — 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at 300 Day Road in Pottsville. It’s the last weekend of the season for the pumpkin patch, corn maze, corn pit, face painting and tractor rides. General admission is $12; children 2 and under are free.
- Petting Zoo and Trunk or Treat — 10 a.m.–7 p.m. at Davis Gamebirds and Farm.
- Downtown Russellville Fall Festival & Chili Cook-off — 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Russellville. The big one — festival fun and chili tasting all afternoon.
- Russellville Harvest Express: Kids Fest Scavenger Hunt — 1–3 p.m. in downtown Russellville.
- South New Hope Assembly of God Fall Festival — 3–8 p.m. at 210 Howell Road in Russellville.
- Leonard’s Annual Trunk or Treat — RESCHEDULED due to the weather; a new date will be announced. (Leonard’s is still handing out candy inside the store today at 1319 S. Arkansas Ave. in Russellville.)
- Trunk or Treat at Riggs Cat Russellville — 4–6 p.m. at Riggs Cat in Russellville.
- Atkins FBC Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat — 4–6 p.m. at Atkins First Baptist Church.
- Trunk or Treat at First Baptist Church of Dover — 4–6 p.m. in Dover. Moved indoors because of the rain — candy, costumes and games, rain or shine.
- Drive-Through Trick or Treat at Russellville Regional Airport — 4–6 p.m. at Russellville Regional Airport.
- Fall Fest — Branded By Christ Cowboy Church and Mt. George Church of Christ team up for a rain-or-shine fall fest on Highway 154 in Dardanelle: trunk or treat, wagon rides, face painting, cornhole, horseshoes, a jack-o’-lantern contest, and hot dogs and chili, starting at 4 PM.
- Golden Suns Volleyball vs. UA-Monticello — 4 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum. A Halloween afternoon home match for the sports fans.
- The Haunted Inn at Potts Inn — 5–8 p.m. at Potts Inn in Pottsville. The week’s best scare, in a historic inn.
- Downtown Pottsville hosts its Historic Trunk or Treat & Family Fun Night — trunk or treat from 5 to 7 p.m., hayrides, the Potts Inn Haunted Walk-Through ($3), a costume contest, and a Movie in the Park at 7:15 p.m.
- Trunk or Treat at the Liquidation Station — 5–8 p.m. at The Liquidation Station, 810 W Main St in Atkins.
- Trunk-or-Treat at Belleville Park — 5:30–7 p.m. at Belleville City Park.
- Spookstock Halloween Party — Starts at 6 p.m. at Brookstock Events, 560 Peaceful Valley Road in Dover. This one is adults only (21+): live music from Dreadful Day, a costume contest at 7 p.m., a horror movie in the woods at 8:45 p.m. and optional camping. General admission is $15.
- Trunk or Treat at West Side Church of Christ — Costumes encouraged for games, music and candy in the church parking lot at 2300 W. C St. in Russellville, 6–8 PM.
- Halloween Scaryoke at The Old Bank — Starts at 7 p.m. at The Old Bank Sports Grill in downtown Russellville. Spooky karaoke and a costume contest.
- Halloween Party at Cedar Lounge Bar & Grill — Music starts at 8:30 p.m. ‘A Mixed Bag II’ brings Robby and Tooter Deal, Jeff Riley, and Forrest and Pherrel Williams, with a costume contest and drink specials.
- Halloween at Handlebar — Music starts at 9 p.m. at Handlebar, 115 N. Commerce Ave. in downtown Russellville. Covington Creek live, a costume contest and a giveaway; the outdoor festivities are all-ages, and the indoor bar is 21+.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
One last chance: Middleton Family Farm‘s pumpkin patch closes out its season Sunday from 1–5 p.m., and Lake Dardanelle State Park has its daily wrap-up of ranger programs.
Petting Zoo at Davis Gamebirds and Farm — 12–5 p.m. at Davis Gamebirds and Farm in Atkins. Free.
See something we missed? Send it our way and we’ll add it to the calendar. The full, up-to-date calendar is always at rivervalleyrecord.com/events — and stay safe out there, River Valley. Happy Halloween! 🎃
