Halloween is one of the biggest treats of the year for children. It’s not just the candy, it’s the costumes and the fun of going door-to-door in a neighborly fashion.

Keep it a positive experience. To do that, West Columbia Police Chief Marion Boyce said it’s important that everyone puts forth the effort to make sure Halloween safety is a priority.

“The West Columbia Police Department encourages drivers to be alert to children moving from house-to-house. Be cautious and aware of what is going on around you. That’s important all the time, but especially on the evening of Halloween,” Boyce said. “And as a pedestrian, you want to be visible, especially to vehicles.” Don’t get complacent because of all the excitement of Trick-R-Treating.”

The WCPD will make an extra effort to help keep kids safe.

“We will have extra units on patrol for Halloween,” said Boyce.

Boyce also offered some safety tips to Trick-or-Treaters:

1. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
2. Stick to familiar well-lit areas.
3. Accept treats from only porch-lit homes and wait until getting home and inspecting the candy, before eating it. Make sure none of it has been re-wrapped. If anything looks suspicious or like it’s been tampered with; if it looks out of place, don’t eat it.”

There are many Trunk or Treats scheduled in West Columbia this weekend.

Trunk or Treats

Providence Presbyterian Church
Providence Presbyterian Church at 1112 Hummingbird Dr, West Columbia will hold a Trunk R’ Treat from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday Oct. 30.
Put on your costume and join Providence Presbyterian Church for a spooktacular Trunk R Treat! This event is free and open to all including those in surrounding communities who would like to attend.
Event Schedule:
6 p.m. Corn dog supper
6:30 p.m. Trunk R Treating begins
After getting your treats, we invite you to enjoy s’mores by the fire and games. If you plan to attend, please RSVP so that we can plan accordingly. Click for link:(opens in new tab)

Trinity United Methodist Church – Trunk R’ Treat
Saturday, Oct. 31
From 5 p.m. ’til 7 p.m.
1132 Gunter Circle

PETSinc Trunk or Treat
Put on your costume and come to the PETSinc Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct. 30 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.  at 300 Orchard Dr. in W. Columbia.
Bags of candy donations would be GREATLY appreciated; please bring candy donations to the shelter by Oct. 30.

Peter Boulware Toyota of Columbia
• Date & Time: Friday, October 31, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.• Location: 2136 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169
• Details: Annual community trunk-or-treat featuring candy, costumes, and family-friendly activities. Cost: Free

Boo at the Zoo  
Boo at the Zoo runs until Friday, Oct. 30. It’s from 6 p.m. ’til  9 p.m. at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
Activities include: Trick-or-treating, Riverbanks Express train, magic shows, and live music.
New Additions and Special Packages include the Spooky Rides Pass: $6 for unlimited train and carousel rides.
There’s also the Trick-or-Treat Dinner Party (at the Ndoki Lodge): Oct 16–18 and Oct 23–25 (6 p.m. ’til 8 p.m.) The Trick-or-Treat Dinner Party includes a buffet, rides pass, and mascot visits (Cost: $60 for the public, $50 for members).
Also: Haunted Hideaways Igloos: Oct 16–30 (6 p.m.–9 p.m.) for up to 8 guests; includes 3 hours in an igloo, 6 zoo/rides tickets, treats, and cider ($250 for the public, $200 for members).
Admission: Free for children under age 2.

The Wooden Dead

The zombies are back for Halloween 2026. Do you want an eerie experience? Come see the Wooden Dead at 1705 Redbird Drive in West Columbia.

Artist Jeff Matthews, who lives there, is the creator of the display of macabre wood-cut figures. He began presenting The Wooden Dead ten years ago.

Matthews sketches and cuts out the scary images and then places them in his yard with colored lights amid a mystic mist. Visitors stream by the home of Jeff and Candy with traffic increasing as the date of Halloween nears. It is a tradition for Halloween decoration cruisers.