DUBLIN, Ohio — The Dublin City Council voted unanimously Monday to continue hosting the city’s annual Halloween Spooktacular as a two-day event, opting to maintain the expanded format adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than returning to a single day.
Council members briefly discussed the possibility of reducing the event to one day, as it had been before 2021, citing recommendations in the city’s Community Events Roadmap to cut costs. Ultimately, members said the benefits of a two-day schedule — including higher attendance, increased sponsorship revenue and expanded accessibility for children with sensory sensitivities — outweighed the relatively modest savings of a one-day event.
“I participated in Spooktacular before, and I have to say it is a wonderful event. When I talk with community members, unanimously they love this event,” Councilmember Greg Lam said. “I understand that there is a slightly extra cost, but I think the benefit we get from the joy it brings kids… They really enjoy this, and I think it really is a good community bonding event.”
Halloween Spooktacular has been hosted by the city since 2003 and was originally held as a single evening event on a Thursday before a scheduled school day off. In 2021, the city expanded the event to two days to distribute attendance, reduce congestion and provide additional opportunities for families to participate.
It has remained a two-day event since then, typically held Thursday night and Friday during the day, when Dublin City Schools are not in session. The 2025 Spooktacular was held Oct. 16 and 17 at Coffman Park and drew an estimated 9,200 attendees, with 5,400 on Thursday and 3,800 on Friday, according to a city memo provided to council ahead of Monday’s discussion.
Councilmember Amy Kramb noted that eliminating the second day would lead to limited savings while reducing access for thousands of attendees.
“We’re only saving probably $8,000 by doing away with Friday,” Kramb said. “And, for $8,000, another 3,800 guests can’t go. Maybe we can make up the $8,000 in sponsorships.”
Fixed staffing costs for setup and teardown would largely remain regardless of the event’s length, limiting potential savings, the city memo said. While a single daytime Friday event would reduce expenses for lighting and electrical services, staff cautioned it would significantly change the nighttime ambiance that has become a hallmark of Spooktacular.
Council members also highlighted the importance of Friday’s early, toned-down programming, which is designed for children who may be overstimulated by the full event.
“I’ve got some friends who have some kiddos who need some of that adaptive time from a stimulation perspective,” Councilmember Christina Alutto said. “I would really hate to see us have to do away with that extra time for those kiddos to be able to experience something that otherwise normally would be an overload for them.”
The two-day format has also supported growth in sponsorships. Thirty local businesses and organizations participated in the Trunk or Treat Trail in 2025, the highest number to date, with Spooktacular sponsorship revenue reaching $22,000. Major sponsors, including Amazon, State Farm and Mount Carmel, each contributed $5,000.
City staff recommended maintaining the two-day format even before Monday’s meeting, citing higher attendance, increased sponsorship value and alignment with council’s 2026 goal of fostering community connections. Staff said they will continue to pursue cost efficiencies and additional sponsorships to ensure the event remains financially responsible.
