Jefferson and Main streets will close to traffic Sunday, Oct. 25, so costumed kids can trick-or-treat through downtown Naperville shops six days before Halloween.

The Downtown Naperville Alliance's Halloween Hop runs from 10 a.m. to noon. Participating shops and restaurants display event posters in their windows.

The event includes face painting, candy and treats along the route, and free Trick or Treat Trolley rides around downtown.

Families can pick up a route map in the Top Fashion Parking Lot. Parking is free in the Van Buren and Water Street decks.

The Hop gives families a daylight alternative to the Oct. 31 evening rush. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Positively Naperville's safety guide notes families should expect more parties and heavier traffic than a weeknight Halloween would bring.

No ordinance sets trick-or-treat hours

Naperville does not have a city ordinance establishing official trick-or-treat times.

The common window runs from about 4 to 8 p.m. The Naperville Police Department (NPD) recommends young children finish when it starts to get dark and older children wrap up by 8 p.m. Sunset on Oct. 31 will be around 5:45 p.m., so families with toddlers should plan early routes. Daylight saving time does not end until 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

Safety guidance for drivers and parents

NPD asks drivers to use extreme caution between 4 and 8 p.m.

Costumes can block a child's vision, and excited kids may dart into the street. The department urges drivers to enter and exit driveways slowly and put the phone down.

For parents, the police department recommends children go in small groups, stick to familiar streets and agree on check-in times. Kids should stay on the porch, never enter anyone's home and carry a fully charged cell phone. Costumes should be flame-resistant and short enough to prevent trips. Face paint beats a mask for visibility, and glow sticks, reflective tape and flashlights help kids stay visible after dark.

Tips for homeowners

The police department recommends using battery-operated candles in jack-o'-lanterns and clearing walkways of hoses, decorations and wet leaves before trick-or-treaters arrive.

A porch light on signals you're handing out candy; off means you're not. NPD also suggests offering non-food treats for children with allergies and keeping homemade or unwrapped items out of the bowl. An adult should inspect all candy afterward and toss anything unwrapped or tampered with.

More Halloween events Oct. 25–31

  • Halloween Happening: Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 to 4 p.m., Riverwalk Grand Pavilion. Games and prizes for children 10 and under. Snacks available from Frosty Dogs and Kona Ice.
  • Halloween Parade at the 5th Avenue farmers market: Saturday, Oct. 31, 5th Avenue Train Station, 200 E. 5th Ave. The market runs 7 a.m. to noon and wraps its 2026 season with a costume parade.
  • SCARE-illon: Saturday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m., Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk. The Millennium Carillon plays Halloween tunes to close out the night.

The SCARE-illon concert starts after most trick-or-treating wraps up, making it a last stop for families heading home along the Riverwalk.