Costumes, Hayrides and a Cake Walk: Foley Hometown Halloween Fills Downtown Oct. 29

FOLEY, Ala. — Superheroes, princesses and pint-sized monsters will take over the streets of downtown Foley on Thursday, Oct. 29, when the city holds its annual Foley Hometown Halloween celebration from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

The family event has been a Foley tradition for more than 20 years and has grown steadily over that time. Local merchants and community groups set up game booths and hand out treats, while the City of Foley hosts a costume contest. Downtown streets will be closed to traffic so families can walk freely from booth to booth.

Event details

• What: Foley Hometown Halloween
• When: Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Foley; streets will be closed to traffic
• Host: City of Foley, with local merchants and community groups
• Highlights: Game booths, trick-or-treating, hayrides, inflatable jump houses and obstacle courses, a balloon artist, face painting, a cake walk, food concessions, a costume contest and a booth decorating contest
• Information: Visit Foley, 251-943-1200, or VisitFoley.com

What families can expect

Hometown Halloween is built around children, and nearly everything on the schedule is aimed at them. Merchants supply game booths along with tricks and treats for kids of all ages. Inflatable jump houses and obstacle courses give younger revelers a place to burn off sugar, while a balloon artist and a face painter add finishing touches to costumes.

A hayride will carry families through the festivities, and the cake walk, a fixture of small-town fall festivals, returns as well. Food concessions will be available for parents who would rather not cook on a school night.

The booth operators compete, too. A booth decoration contest rewards the businesses and organizations that go furthest in dressing up their spaces. When Foley introduced booth decoration judging in 2023, Wolf Bay Restaurant took the honor with a Frankenstein-themed display.

The costume contest

The City of Foley’s costume contest has long been one of the evening’s main attractions. In 2023, more than 200 people entered, from babies to teenagers and adults, and costumes were judged on originality and creativity. Last year’s contest began at 6 p.m. and offered more than $1,000 in prizes, with age categories ranging from toddlers to adults plus a group division. Families planning to enter this year should check with the city for the 2026 contest start time and categories.

A community-built event

Hometown Halloween works because so many local groups take part. In recent years, roughly 60 businesses, churches, civic organizations and other groups have set up tents and tables along the route. Foley police officers and firefighters have also turned out with public safety displays while keeping an eye on the crowds.

The event is free and draws thousands of residents and visitors downtown each year, according to the city. Last year’s celebration centered on the area around Highway 98, Orange Avenue and Alston Street in the heart of the historic downtown district.

Tips for attending

• Arrive early. Parking fills quickly once streets close, and the busiest stretch is usually the first hour.
• Bring a sturdy treat bag. With dozens of booths handing out candy, small bags fill fast.
• Plan for the weather. Late-October evenings can turn cool after sunset, so layers under costumes help.
• Keep costumes walkable. Masks that block vision and long hems can make the crowded streets tricky for small children.
• Agree on a meeting spot in case anyone in your group gets separated.

More fall fun in Foley

Hometown Halloween caps a busy October in downtown Foley, where the city’s fall calendar has also included a Halloween-themed black cat hunt tied to The Prowl, the Third Thursday downtown series, and the Foley Witches Ride, set for Oct. 24 at Heritage Park.

For businesses or groups interested in hosting a booth in future years, or for the latest information on this year’s event, contact Visit Foley at 251-943-1200 or visit VisitFoley.com.