The Fall Festival at The Salvation Army Stuart is a free, one-hour community evening for kids and parents at the organization’s campus on SE MLK Jr. Blvd. in Stuart. The Salvation Army of Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties hosts it as an open invitation to neighbors, with no tickets or sign-ups needed.
Children can work through a lot of candy at the trunk or treat, then burn off the sugar on the inflatable games. Free popcorn, free sno-cones and free food are on hand for the whole family, so you can come straight from work or school without planning dinner first.
A costume contest is a centerpiece of the night. Kids are encouraged to dress up, and prizes go to the best costume and the best homemade costume. That second category gives credit to the cardboard-and-craft-store creations that take real effort. The organizers ask that costumes not be scary. They want the event to feel welcoming to children of all ages, including the very youngest trick-or-treaters.
The festival is a good fit for families who want a low-key, early-evening alternative to bigger Halloween events. It is also an easy way to meet other families in the neighborhood. For more ways to celebrate the season, browse our guide to pumpkin patches on the Treasure Coast or see what else is happening on the Stuart events calendar.
Arrive early if you have little ones, since the event runs about an hour. Costumes are optional but encouraged.