Weekend in Arbutus: Things to Do Oct 30 to Nov 1, 2026

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so the weekend of October 30 to November 1 is packed around Arbutus, starting with the Arbootus Trunk or Treat right in the heart of town on Friday night, plus more trunk or treats, a free family Spooktacular at UMBC, a local author showcase in Catonsville and the Sunday farmers market. Don't forget that clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1.

What's happening this weekend near Arbutus?

Community-posted events can change, so please check with the host before you head out.

What is there to do Friday, October 30?

Start the weekend with the free Lewis Hine in Maryland photography exhibit in UMBC's library gallery, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. I wrote more about it and the other show on campus in my post on free art exhibits at UMBC.

Friday night, head to the heart of Arbutus for the Greater Arbutus Business Association (GABA) Trunk or Treat, so adorably named the Arbootus Trunk or Treat. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot on East Drive, and it is free. There will be music, and the local restaurants right there in downtown Arbutus will be open, so you can grab dinner before or after the candy run. It is one of my favorite ways to kick off Halloween weekend in town.

Also on Friday evening, a short drive away in Hanover, the Thomas Viaduct Middle School PTSA hosts its Fall Festival and Night Market from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, and the PTSA lists food trucks, local vendors, a trunk-or-treat, a DJ, games and crafts. You do not need to be a school family to go.

What is there to do on Halloween, Saturday, October 31?

Saturday morning at 10 a.m., the Dewey Lowman American Legion Post 109 on Old Sulphur Spring Road hosts a Trunk or Treat. Neighbors can drive in with a decorated car and hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.

From noon to 3 p.m., more than 20 local authors gather at Simply Made Here on Frederick Road for Simply Written Here: The Halloween Edition. Get there by 1 p.m. for a family Halloween story time with professional storyteller Zoe Copeman. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Catonsville Emergency Assistance, and read my post on how to help Catonsville Emergency Assistance for what they need most.

Grace Life Church holds a Trunk-or-Treat and Games afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. on North Rolling Road, with face painting and coloring. Sign up on the event page.

At 2 p.m., the UMBC Department of Music presents its Halloween Spooktacular, a family program for all ages with UMBC ensembles and a performance by Baltimore Symphony OrchKids. Costumes are welcome. It is free, but you need to reserve a ticket.

For teens and adults, UMBC Theatre's the serpent under't, a dance theatre take on Macbeth, plays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for seniors 55 and up, and it is recommended for ages 13 and up.

What is there to do Sunday, November 1?

Set your clocks back before bed Saturday, and while you're at it, test your smoke alarms. My post on checking your smoke alarms as the clocks fall back has a quick checklist.

The Catonsville Sunday Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Mellor Avenue. The season wraps up November 22, so there are only a few Sundays left. See my farmers market guide for parking tips.

Sunday is also the final day at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe. My post on the Guinness brewery closing has the last-week hours that were listed on the brewery's website. Expect crowds and check the brewery's social media for any last-minute changes.

What are the free things to do this weekend?

• The Lewis Hine in Maryland exhibit at UMBC, Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday noon to 5 p.m.
• The Arbootus Trunk or Treat on East Drive in downtown Arbutus, Friday 6 to 8 p.m.
• The Thomas Viaduct Middle School Fall Festival, Friday 6 to 8 p.m.
• Simply Written Here: The Halloween Edition, Saturday noon to 3 p.m.
• The UMBC Music Halloween Spooktacular, Saturday at 2 p.m., with a free reserved ticket
• Browsing the Catonsville Sunday Farmers Market, Sunday 9 a.m. to noon
• A fall walk to see the Thomas Viaduct in Relay, or the Signs of People art walk on Frederick Road

What does this mean if you are thinking about moving here?

Weekends like this one are exactly why I tell people this part of Baltimore County feels like a small town. You can hit a trunk or treat in Arbutus, a concert at UMBC and a farmers market in Catonsville without ever getting on the highway. If that sounds like your kind of place, my Moving to Arbutus guide is the best place to start.

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