Free Trick-or-Treating, Costume Parade and 40 Booths at The Avenue
Every October, the calendar fills with fall festivals that ask for a ticket, a parking fee or a few dollars per game. This one does not. The Rutherford Parent Fall Kids Fest is free, it runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, and it takes over the plaza at The Avenue Murfreesboro, 2615 Medical Center Parkway, behind Belk.
What is on the lawn
Organizers have lined up more than 40 local vendor booths, so the first thing families will notice is the sheer number of tents. Businesses and service providers from around the area set up alongside the entertainment, which means parents can browse while the kids burn off energy.
For children, the draw is the trick-or-treating, which makes the whole festival a safe daytime rehearsal for Halloween night. Around it sit inflatables, carnival-style games, face painters and food vendors. Performances by popular children's entertainers and live demonstrations are scheduled through the day, and giveaways are part of the mix. The pumpkin decorating patch returns this year, with the usual caveat that it lasts only while supplies last, so earlier arrivals have the best shot at picking out a pumpkin to take home.
The costume parade, minus the pressure
A kids' costume parade is on the schedule, and the organizers stress that it is not a contest. There are no judges and no winners, just a chance for small superheroes, dinosaurs and princesses to show off. That is a thoughtful touch for a Halloween event: no child leaves disappointed about a ribbon they did not win. Visitors can also register at the Rutherford Parent booth for door prizes.
If the weather turns
This is an outdoor event, so there is a backup plan. If rain interferes, the festival moves to its rain date, Sunday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A quick look at the sky before you load the car is a good idea.
Quick facts
- When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain date Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Where: The Avenue Murfreesboro, 2615 Medical Center Parkway, behind Belk
- Cost: Free
- Highlights: 40+ vendor booths, trick-or-treating, inflatables, carnival games, face painting, food vendors, pumpkin decorating (while supplies last), a costume parade and door prizes
Murfreesboro has no shortage of October things to do with children, and this one pairs well with the rest of the month's calendar. Our guide to every Halloween family event in Murfreesboro lays out the season, our parent's guide to Halloween in Murfreesboro covers the logistics, and the weekly roundup of family things to do around Murfreesboro shows what else is happening between now and Oct. 21.
If you are reading this before 2 p.m., there is still time to go. Bring a bag for the candy, a costume the child can walk in and a plan for lunch, since food vendors are on site. Free admission, a four-hour window and a rain date make this one of the easiest family outings on the October calendar.
Image: illustrative, AI-generated – not the actual location.
