Eight Free Sweet Spots for Trick-or-Treating

With its costumes, jokes, candy and fun, there's really no reason to contain all of your family's trick-or-treating to just one evening! There are plenty of opportunities to dress up and collect candy in the days leading up to Oct. 31. Here are eight sweet spots for trick-or-treating in St. Louis, and they're all free events. So give those costumes a run for their money, and hit the streets with your fairies, bumblebees, axe murderers and pirates in search of sugar-coated fun.

Goblin's Day in Kimmswick
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011
Bring your costumed kids to historic Kimmswick where you can walk from shop-to-shop for some early tricks and treats. Get the details.

Halloween Walk
5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
Stroll the streets of downtown Kirkwood, where kids can trick-or-treat at participating businesses. Get the details.

Children's Halloween Parade
6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
A parade of costumed kids will weave through Westport Plaza, leaving plenty of time for kids to trick-or-treat from area merchants. Call 314-738-2599 to reserve your family's spot in this Halloween parade. Get the details.

Halloween Costume Contest and Trick-or-Treating
12 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011
Mom or dad can shop while their little ghouls trick-or-treat at Whole Foods Market in Town and Country. There will be plenty of treats throughout the store a costume contest. Get the details.

Halloween in the Central West End
12 to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011
The Central West End knows how to throw a Halloween party! The community's day of tricks and treats begins with a children's parade at 11 a.m., trick-or-treating at 12 p.m. and a pet parade at 1 p.m. Get the details.

Halloween Walk and Chili Cookout
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011
Families are invited to trick-or-treat along Main Street in Collinsville, Ill., but the fall fun doesn't stop there. A fall festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a chili cookout and costume contests for kids and their canine friends. Get the details.

Monsters on the Meadows
11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011
Trick-or-treat at the stores of the Meadows at Lake Saint Louis and enjoy pumpkin painting, balloon artists and face painters and hayrides. Get the details.

Trick or Treat on Main Street St. Charles
3 to 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31, 2011
Get a headstart on evening neighborhood trick-or-treating. Costumed children ages 12 and younger can trick-or-treat at Main Street businesses. Get the details.

St. Louis Sprout Calendar Manager Liz Behan compiled this list of best bets. Behan has lived in St. Louis since she was 4. Her husband and two kids, ages 4 and 2, are always looking for ways to burn off some energy and have a good time as a family.