Champaign-Urbana families can put an early Halloween outing on the calendar for Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Halloween Fun Fest is scheduled from 5–7 p.m. at Market Place Mall, with trick-or-treating for children 12 and under and a costume contest.

The Champaign Park District's October calendar lists admission as free. This is a separate organized event ahead of October 31, so families should save its actual date rather than assume it falls on Halloween night.

Two park districts and a mall partner

The official event announcement names the Champaign and Urbana park districts and Market Place Mall as presenters. It describes the program as a tradition of more than 30 years.

The announcement provides the activity outline but not a detailed costume-contest timetable or entry categories. For those details, contact the listed organizer, Morgan Kroeck, at 217-819-3807 before making a contest-specific plan.

Event information was checked October 8. A family hoping to participate in the contest should ask when and where to report, whether registration is needed, and which ages or categories apply. Do not treat an activity name as a complete set of entry instructions.

Save the venue, not just the event name

Market Place Shopping Center is at 2000 North Neil Street in Champaign. Use the mall address on a map and choose an entrance and meeting point with the other adults in your group.

The mall's visitor information lists parking without a fee. It also identifies restrooms and family facilities near the Food Court and JCPenney entrance, plus seating in the common areas.

Those locations can help shape the outing: find the facilities first, then decide how long your group wants to participate. If a child needs a break, having an agreed place to pause is more useful than searching while everyone is already tired.

The mall notes that individual store and restaurant hours can differ from the center's hours. If dinner or another purchase is part of your plan, check the relevant business separately rather than assuming the event schedule covers it.

Photo by Charles Parker on Pexels. Illustrative stock photo; not a photograph of the Halloween Fun Fest.

Check costume questions before arriving

The mall's published code of conduct prohibits running, blocking walkways and face coverings that conceal identity, apart from medical and religious exceptions. The event announcement also advertises a costume contest.

Because the event page does not explain how that general face-covering rule applies to costumes, ask the organizer or mall about a particular mask before bringing it. A costume contest is not automatic permission to ignore venue rules.

For practical preparation, try the outfit at home with the shoes and bag the child will carry. Check whether the child can walk, sit and use their hands comfortably. Choose a carrying bag that will not be awkward to manage through the mall.

Keep adults and children together, and agree on what to do if someone becomes separated. A familiar meeting point and a clear adult assignment can be especially helpful when relatives or friends arrive in more than one car.

Plan the trip home as well

Bus riders can use MTD's trip-planning guidance to search from an address or place and find nearby stops. MTD also provides telephone planning assistance at 217-384-8188.

Check both the arrival and return journey against the 5–7 p.m. event window. Allow for the walk between a stop and the entrance, and save the return details before setting out.

For a car pickup, agree on the entrance and who will collect the group. The mall's visitor page says it has no designated rideshare locations, so do not assume a pickup zone will be waiting at a particular door.

Keep the evening manageable

Decide beforehand whether your priority is trick-or-treating, the contest or simply a short family visit. A two-hour event window does not require staying for every minute, especially when the next morning includes school or work.

Recheck the park district announcement before departure and ask about any essential detail it leaves unanswered. The useful plan is the one your family can follow: correct date, clear arrival point, suitable costume and an agreed way home.