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What’s Up With That? Why isn’t trick or treating always on Halloween?

Published

5 months ago

October 20, 2025

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What’s Up With That? Why isn’t trick or treating always on Halloween?

Why do central Ohio communities trick or treat on nights other than Halloween?

This week’s What’s Up With That? is a personal one, as it’s a query I’ve had since I moved to Columbus nearly seven years ago. What’s the origin of central Ohio’s complex (to outsiders) tradition of holding trick or treating (or Beggars Night, as some call it) on nights other than Oct. 31?

It is a question that has been asked and answered by The Columbus Dispatch before. But to save you a journey through our archives, I’ll recap the history here.

Why does central Ohio schedule trick-or-treating on nights other than Halloween?

Up until 2005, when the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission adopted the current system for recommending when communities should hold trick-or-treating, Columbus hadn’t held the event on Halloween itself in 90 years, according to past Dispatch reporting.

Columbus historically held a raucous Downtown Halloween party on Oct. 31, according to our archives, prompting the preference for Oct. 30 as the day kids could collect candy. That party was discontinued in the 1950s over too much revelry, but Oct. 30 trick-or-treating persisted.

MORPC took on its role as trick-or-treat scheduler in 1993 and adopted the current system it uses to choose the date in 2005. MORPC’s recommendation is just that; communities are still free to set their own trick-or-treating days and times.

When is central Ohio trick-or-treating in 2025?

Here’s MORPC’s system: When Halloween falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, trick or treat typically takes place the Thursday before Oct. 31 in central Ohio. When Halloween falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, expect costumed kids on the day itself.

In 2015, a MORPC spokesman told the Dispatch the system was meant to increase convenience for families. Friday or Saturday night trick or treating could conflict with football (as could Sunday, for that matter, although in central Ohio it’s largely the first two putting a dent in people’s calendars).

Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, the recommended trick-or-treat date is Oct. 30, and cities and towns have official candy-calling hours of 6-8 p.m.

But there are exceptions. Here’s a look at which Franklin County communities are going their own way:

Bexley: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Grandview Heights: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
Groveport: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Madison Township: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Worthington: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

You can see other communities’ hours in this list we published in early October.

Have a question about Columbus? I’ll find your answer

What other weird central Ohio traditions would you like to have explained? I’m happy to track down the information. Or just curious what that development is, or why the traffic pattern you hate is the way it is?

Email ekennedy@dispatch.com and I will see what I can do.

Eleanor Kennedy is the senior digital director of the Columbus Dispatch. She can breached at ekennedy@dispatch.com.

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Wisconsin women’s hockey vs Ohio State for NCAA title; live updates

Published

11 hours ago

March 22, 2026

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Wisconsin women’s hockey vs Ohio State for NCAA title; live updates

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa – Sunday offers a chance for redemption for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team.

The last time the Badgers met Ohio State, the Buckeyes cashed in on a couple of chances and left Minneapolis with a 2-1 win in the championship game of the WCHA’s Final Faceoff March 7.

The loss dropped Wisconsin from No. 1 in the polls for the first time this season. Ohio State assumed that spot.

But who is really the nation’s No. 1 team? We’ll find out this afternoon when No. 2 Wisconsin faces No. 1 Ohio State in the national championship game at Pegula Ice Arena.

This is the fourth straight year the teams have met in the final. Wisconsin (34-4-2) has a chance to capture its third title in four years; Ohio State (36-4) is going for its third championship in five seasons

Check here throughout the game for updates on the action.

Wisconsin has reclaimed the lead and its depth played key role in the score.

Senior Claire Enright, a member of the Badgers’ fourth line, scored off an assist from third line center Marianne Picard to give UW a 3-2 edge with 6 minute 18 seconds to play.

The goal was Enright’s ninth of the season and her first since Feb. 14.

You just knew it wasn’t going to be easy against Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have stormed back with two goals in the span of about 2 minutes early in the third period.

Kassidy Carmichael put Ohio State on the board at the 3 minutes 32 seconds into the third period off a pass from Mira Jungaker.

Jocelyn Amos evened the scored at the 5:34 mark. Ava McNaughton got the initial save, but Amos stuck with the play and back handed the tying goal.

Wisconsin 2, Ohio State 2, 13:33 to play.

The Badgers missed a great chance to add to its 2-0 lead 6 minutes into the second period when Ohio State’s Kassidy Carmichael was called for interference on Cassie Hall.

The 2 minutes produced no goal, and very few opportunities. It’s still a 2-0 game, but the Buckeyes are controlling the action. About 7 minutes have passed in the second period.

Wisconsin leads, 2-0, after one period, but the Buckeyes almost cut that deficit in half when All-American Joy Dunne got a shot opportunity near the crease against Badgers goaltender Ava McNaughton.

In a matchup of two Olympians, McNaughton won the battle with an impressive save.

The play highlight a strong defensive showing for UW during the final half of the first period when it eliminated many of the shot opportunities that Ohio State was able to generate earlier

Ohio State leads the Badgers in shot attempts, but UW is making better use of its chances.

Wisconsin now has two goals in its first four shots. Junior defender Laney Potter did the honors this time at the 7:34 mark of the first period. Gorbatenko, who got UW’s first goal, got the assist as did Adela Sapovalivova.

Gorbatenko and Sapovalivova have two point each and the Badgers are officially off to a hot start.

In the teams’ last meeting, Ohio State set the tone.

Not today.

Kelly Gorbatenko put the Badgers on the board 78 seconds into play off passes from Adela Sapovalivova and Lacey Eden. It was their first shot of the game.

And with 13:46 to play in the first period, UW leads, 1-0.

The championship will feature 10 players who competed in the Olympics Games in Milan, Italy. Here is the run down.

Ohio State Buckeyes

16 – Joy Dunne, jr. F, Team USA: The second-team All-American is averaging a career-best 1.67 points per game. That ranks fifth in the country. Her .90 goals per game average ranks third nationally. She scored the game-winning goal in the Buckeyes’ 1-0 win over Wisconsin in 2024 championship game..

14 – Mira Jungaker, fr., D, Sweden: At the Olympics she ranked second for Sweden in ice time. She has six goals and 18 assists this season.

9 – Jenna Raunio, fr., D, Sweden: She played in seven games at the Olympics and scored four points. She made the WCHA all-Rookie Team.

8 – Hilda Svensson, fr. F, Sweden: The WCHA rookie of the year leads the Buckeyes in points (51) and assists (33) and is third with a plus/minus of 46.

21 – Sanni Vanhagen, fr., F, Finland: In addition to her Olympic experience she has played five World Championships for Finland. She entered the final with 14 goals and 15 assists. She scored in the semifinal win over Northeastern.

4 – Caroline Harvey, sr. D, Team USA: The Olympic MVP was named the winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award March 21. She ranks second in the country with 1.97 points per game and first with 1.41 assists.

10 – Laila Edwards, sr., F, Team USA: She played defense for Olympic team, but has split time between forward and defense for the Badgers. She has played forward the past couple of games and scored two game-tying goals in the semifinals.

27 – Kirsten Simms, sr., F, Team USA: Her overtime goal against Penn State Friday was her fourth game winner in the Frozen Four. Her average of 1.97 points per game is tied for second in the nation.

30 – Ava McNaughton, jr., G, Team USA: The all-WCHA second-team selection didn’t get much playing time in the Olympics. Since her return she has recorded two shutouts and posted a 1.7 goals against average.

26 – Adela Sapovalivova, fr., F, Czechia: Spent a good portion of the season as the Badgers’ No. 1 center, but has played with the second since returning from the Olympics. She ranks seventh on the team with 45 points.

Last year’s national title game between the Badgers and Buckeyes symbolized the slim difference there is between winning and losing in this rivalrly. This will be the 17th straight gamesthe teams have met ranked 1-2 in the country. Seven of those games ended in one goal or a tie.

Here is a look at back at least year’s classic.

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How to watch Ohio State, Wisconsin in NCAA women’s hockey title game

Published

23 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Ohio State, Wisconsin in NCAA women’s hockey title game

Wisconsin and Ohio State ought to just put the NCAA title game on their schedules.

For the fourth consecutive season, the Badgers and Buckeyes will play for the NCAA title in women’s hockey on Sunday, March 22. Top-seeded Ohio State beat Northeastern in the Frozen Four semifinal while defending champion Wisconsin, the second seed, edged Penn State in overtime.

“It’s special and I’m just really pumped to be able to try and do it again [Sunday] with this group that we have here,” Wisconsin’s Kirsten Simms told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the Badgers’ Frozen Four win on Friday, March 20.

“It’s a special team, a special group, a special energy, and so I’m really excited that that put us into the game Sunday.”

Here’s how to watch the NCAA title game:

When and where is the NCAA title game?

The NCAA championship game is at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22. It will be played at Pegula Ice Arena on the Penn State campus.

How to watch the NCAA title game

The NCAA hockey championship game will air on ESPNU.

How to stream the NCAA title game

The Frozen Four games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Who is playing in the NCAA title game?

Ohio State and Wisconsin, and it’s going to be a doozy. The Badgers were the No. 1 team in the country for most of the season until the Buckeyes upset them in the WCHA title game. Now Wisconsin gets a chance to avenge that loss with a national title on the line.

The teams have met in the last three NCAA title games, with Wisconsin winning last year and in 2023 and Ohio State winning in 2024.

Players to watch

Wisconsin is led by Caroline Harvey, who added the Patty Kazmaier Award for college hockey’s best player to her MVP award from the Milano Cortina Olympics. The Badgers also have Olympic gold medalists Laila Edwards, Ava McNaughton and Simms.

In addition to Olympian Joy Dunne, Ohio State has the country’s best freshman, Hilda Svensson.

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City of Dublin, Ohio unofficially breaks Guinness World Record with human shamrock

Published

1 day ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

City of Dublin, Ohio unofficially breaks Guinness World Record with human shamrock

An Ohio city appropriately named Dublin had the luck of the Irish on its side this St. Patrick’s Day, unofficially breaking a Guinness World Record by organizing 1,050 people into the shape of a shamrock.

The human shamrock, which took on its verdant hue thanks to the green ponchos worn by participants, was formed immediately following the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city, located 15 miles northwest of downtown Columbus, and nicknamed “The Other Dublin.”

This human shamrock was formed in Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day.

The record-breaking attempt was hosted by the creative agency Cornett and the tourism group in the city, as per Marketing Communication News.

The impressive feat topped the previous record of 815 participants, set by Dublin, Ireland — though the new mark won’t be official until Guinness certifies it.

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