7 Days of Halloween & Beyond

Visit downtown Davis now through the end of Fall for endless festivities! Bring your family and friends to visit your favorite downtown businesses to enjoy our 7 Days of Halloween from Oct 25–31st. Experience downtown like never before while also supporting small businesses during this pandemic year.

Although there will be NO TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL this year due to COVID-19, downtown Davis will be alive with activity. While restaurants prepare their Fall Festive menus with Oktoberfest-like items, spiced lattes, pumpkin flavored yogurts and brews too, retailers will embrace the season by putting up decorations and participating in seasonal activities including a scavenger hunt with prizes along the way.

Due to the wild popularity of the annual Trick-or-treat Trail that the DDBA (Davis Downtown Business Association) puts on each year, which includes families coming in from neighboring cities, we are asking all of our downtown member businesses to have a unified message that candy handouts will NOT be available on Halloween day itself, October 31st. As an organization we have to put considerable effort into announcing the cancellation of our annual Treat Trail due to public health concerns.

But with that said, there will still be plenty for families, individuals and visitors to do to entertain themselves during the 7 Days of Halloween:

1.) Visit E Street Plaza: Refreshed and redecorated E Street Plaza is the Tell-Tale Heart of the downtown with 10 picnic tables for public use and harvest/Halloween/Day of the Dead themed decorations as well as ambient lighting and music.

2.) Downtown Scavenger Hunt: Families, friends and visitors will have 6 days to solve riddles in downtown Davis and gather mini prizes along the way. Unlock enough mysteries and enter to win one of several GRAND PRIZES! Join the Downtown Davis Scavenger Hunt Now!

3.) “Visit for a Treat” Candy Giveaway: Between Oct 25–30, many downtown businesses plan to hand out Halloween treats to visitors (NOT on October 31st) find the participating businesses here.

4.) Downtown Storefront Decorating Contest: Oct 25–31 the public is invited to walk around downtown to determine the best decorated businesses for Halloween/Day of the Dead 2020. Voting takes place through likes on Facebook on the DDBA’s page in a special gallery.

5.) Day of the Dead: Altars (ofrendas) for Dia de los Muertos can be found in some downtown window displays, including one put up by Lori Prizmich & Associates at 408 2nd Street in the back courtyard, one inside of El Patio at 200 E Street, and one in the old Yeti Mini Mart at E Street Plaza. As part of Dia de Muertos, Ethnic Studies Educator Melissa Moreno invites the community to share a photo (and name) of important people in their lives who have passed on to be recognized and included on a Dia de Muertos alter, or ofrenda, display in the E Street Plaza. Please email the photograph (and name is optional) of your loved one or important person to: rhartsough@cityofdavis.org by 8:00am Tuesday, October 27.

6.) Davis Food Co-op Pumpkin Decorating Contest: We want to see your pumpkin decorating skills! For a chance to win a $50 Co-op gift card, enter the contest by following these simple steps

7.) “Where’s Waldo” Campaign: The DDBA & Boheme Hip Used Clothing accidentally let Waldo loose downtown – he’s sure to pop up at downtown businesses to help market their Halloween promotions throughout October. Check the DDBA’s Facebook & Instagram feeds and spot Waldo for promotions throughout October.

8.) Costumed Characters: Theater company actors may be spotted dressed up and haunting downtown some evenings to add to downtown’s Halloween atmosphere.

9.) Scarecrow Display & Auction: Waldorf Elementary School is to display student created scarecrows in our E Street Plaza on Sunday, October 25th, and will be auctioning off these fun creations to benefit their 8th Grade Class as they raise funds for their class trip scheduled in Spring 2021. Bid on a scarecrow now—Click here!

10.) Zumapoke Pumpkin Carving Contest: Submit your carved pumpkin on October 25th to Zumapoke & Lush Ice at 730 3rd Street. Every submission receives a bag of candy. Grand prizes include: Free Shaved Ice for a Year, $100 Cash and $50 to Zumapoke—Let’s get carving!

11.) The Davis Creamery challenges you to put your cookie decorating skills to the test! For a chance to win prizes, enter the contest.

In addition, a Pink Pumpkin Fundraiser was held each Saturday of October leading up to Halloween week (Oct 3, 10, 17, 24) at E Street Plaza; all breast cancer survivors or those fighting the battle received a FREE pink pumpkin!