This guest story comes from our friends at Best Places to Travel with Kids, who write family travel guides for parents planning trips with children. They also published their own family guide to the 2026 Davis Zombie Bike Parade. Thank you for spreading the word!
Most family Halloweens follow a familiar script: fighting for a parking spot at a crowded pumpkin patch, buying a bagged costume at the last minute, and walking the exact same neighborhood block as last year. If your family is ready to trade the standard routine for a Halloween with a lot more story to tell, head to Davis, California, for the Zombie Bike Parade.
This year, the celebration falls directly on Halloween Saturday, October 31, 2026. Instead of waiting until dark for the fun to start, thousands of people in zombie makeup and creative homemade costumes take over America's bicycling capital for a massive, daylight festival. Best of all, this completely different kind of Halloween is 100% free.
Why It Beats the Usual Halloween Routine
Launched in 2019 and now in its eighth year, the Zombie Bike Parade Festival feels less like a commercial holiday event and more like a giant neighborhood block party on wheels. Organized by volunteers from the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge #169, The Bike Campaign, and the Davis Bike Club, the festival welcomes all ages with zero admission fees and no registration required.
On peak years, around 3,500 people show up, giving the day a lively, high-energy atmosphere without feeling overwhelmingly packed. It also gives your Halloween a bigger purpose: the festival benefits NorCal Trykers, a nonprofit that builds custom adaptive tricycles for children with disabilities.
No Bike? You Can Still Join the Party
If loading family bikes onto a car rack sounds like too much work, here is the biggest surprise for first-time visitors: riding a bike is completely optional. You can customize the day to fit your family's energy level.
For the Riders: The main parade is a flat, relaxed loop of just under five miles from Community Park to Mace Ranch Park and back along the scenic Davis Bike Loop. At the halfway point in Mace Ranch Park, riders stop for complimentary Brain Juice and treats (while supplies last), a zombie bike mechanic, and a high-flying BMX stunt show. Cargo bikes, trailers, e-bikes, and scooters are all welcome (helmets are required for riders under 18).
For the Strollers & Walkers: If you have toddlers in wagons or simply prefer to stay on foot, you can skip the bike route entirely and spend the whole day at Community Park. The park serves as the festival headquarters, packed with over 35 entertainment stations, live music, carnival food, train rides, and the interactive "Zombie Kingdom Quest" for kids.
A Full Day of Halloween Fun: 2026 Schedule
Unlike traditional Halloween events that cram everything into a two-hour window after sunset, the Davis Zombie Bike Parade gives families a full Saturday itinerary. All core events take place on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Community Park (1405 F Street, Davis), with the Trick-or-Treat Trail downtown.
- 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. | Monster Run: Laser Run Challenge. A free, timed run-plus-laser-marksmanship challenge for all ages at Community Park.
- 10:30 a.m. | Parade Line-Up. Gather at Community Park to check out the homemade bike builds and costumes before rollout.
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Zombie Bike Parade. Under 5-mile round trip to Mace Ranch Park, with a halfway stop for treats and a BMX stunt show.
- 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Community Park Festival. 35+ entertainment stations, live bands, food trucks, crafts, and games at 1405 F St.
- 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. | Monster Skate Jam. Costumed skateboarding demos and action at the newly renovated Community Park skate park.
- 2:30 p.m. | Skydiving Finale. Costumed skydivers parachute out of a plane directly into Community Park (weather permitting).
- 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. | Downtown Trick-or-Treat Trail. Keep the afternoon going as dozens of downtown Davis businesses hand out candy to kids, with the UC Davis Marching Band marching through downtown.
How to Pull Off the Trip Like a Local
Get creative with costumes (and check the spokes): Zombie makeup and tattered clothes are the classic uniform, though any family-friendly costume works. If your kids are riding, just make sure long capes, masks, or trailing fabric won't get tangled in bike chains or block their vision.
Skip the parking headache: Parking near Community Park is limited, so arrive early or use the Davis Senior High School lots (315 W. 14th Street), a short walk away. The Davis Arts Center lot is closed to the public during the festival. For a truly stress-free outing from out of town, bring your bikes onto the Capitol Corridor train straight into downtown Davis and take an easy bike ride north to the park.
Pack for a full day: Because the action bridges the gap between the morning bike ride, the 2:30 p.m. skydiving finale, and the 3:00 p.m. Downtown Trick-or-Treat Trail, bring water bottles, sunscreen for the midday park hangout, and candy bags for the afternoon walk through downtown.
Planning a family trip around the festival? Read the full Davis Zombie Bike Parade family guide on Best Places to Travel with Kids.
