A free gondola ride is the stop to plan around at Trail & Treat on the Canal, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail’s trick-or-treat night along the Downtown Canal. It runs Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m., a week before Halloween, with 22 candy and activity stops spread over 2.5 miles of car-free path. The whole thing is free, including the boat. Old World Gondoliers, which charges $36 a person for its regular 30-minute ride, is giving short “Eerie” Canal rides from its dock during the event at no cost.
Costumes are encouraged for kids and for dogs. Registration on Eventbrite is free and strongly encouraged, but nobody scans a ticket. Families can start at any stop and walk the route in either direction. The rest of the week’s Halloween events around Indianapolis are in our Halloween guide.
The Free Gondola Ride: Where to Board
Old World Gondoliers boards at Fresco Italian Cafe, 340 W. Michigan St., on the east bank of the canal. It is stop 9 on the event map, just south of Fresco’s own candy stop. From Indiana Avenue, take the stairs down at the IU building and turn right. Fresco is the second building along the water. The Michigan Street access on the east side also has an elevator for strollers and wheelchairs.
The gondolier rows standing up and sings, the same as on a paid ride. The Halloween version is a mini ride, so it is shorter than the 30-minute public trip. The Cultural Trail says the popular stops will have lines, so build in a wait for this one. Old World Gondoliers’ season ends Oct. 27, 2026, which puts Trail & Treat in its last week on the water.
- Where: Old World Gondoliers dock at Fresco Italian Cafe, 340 W. Michigan St.
- Cost: Free during the event. Regular public rides are $36 a person, and a private 30-minute boat for up to eight is $189.
- Boats: Up to eight riders each.
Trail & Treat on the Canal 2026: Date, Route and Stops
- When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m.
- Where: Downtown Canal, from 11th Street south to White River State Park. Navigate to 701 Canal Walk.
- Cost: Free. Registration is on Eventbrite.
- Host: Indianapolis Cultural Trail with Downtown Indy Alliance and the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development.
There is no official start, direction or order. Go to a few stops or do all 22. The candy stops are run by partners such as The Nest Play Cafe, IMPD, Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites, Purdue University and Wheel Fun Rentals. The activity stops are where the time goes:
- Photos with Boomer at the Indiana Pacers fan van.
- A kids’ concert with Mr. Daniel.
- A 360 Costume Cam at the north end, by 11th Street.
- Games on the Indiana State Museum patio and fire safety lessons from the Indianapolis Fire Department.
- Balloon animals from Funnie & Friends and a football toss with Indiana Sports Corp.
- A caramel apple slushie taste test from Fresco Italian Cafe.
The Eiteljorg Museum’s DÃa de Muertos celebration is the south end’s big stop. It runs on the museum’s terrace from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. the same day, with mariachi, folklórico dancers, a Catrina parade and a mercado, all free. The Colts Canal Playspace by the Orange Bridge is a stop too. Our reviewer found the one big play structure too much for kids under 5 to manage alone, and the playground has no restrooms of its own, though the event’s portable restrooms sit right across from it. Dogs get the Pawp-Up Pup Park, where they can go off leash if someone is watching them.
Candy covers the snacking. For a real meal, Fresco Italian Cafe, Starbucks and Black Leaf Vegan sell food along the canal.
Parking, Restrooms and Getting Down to the Canal
The information tent is at 701 Canal Walk, across from the Colts Canal Playspace by the Orange Bridge, near Walnut Street and Senate Avenue. It has the map, a first-aid kit, a lost and found and candy. Portable restrooms and a changing station are next to it, another portable restroom is on 10th Street on the west side at street level, and the Eiteljorg and Indiana State Museum restrooms are open during the event.
- Street parking: Senate Avenue, Indiana Avenue, Vermont Street, 9th Street, 11th Street and Capitol Avenue, paid and unpaid. The ParkMobile app shows open spots, including ADA spaces. There is no parking on Walnut Street.
- Lots and garages: Stutz Lot A and B, 9 on Canal and White River State Park.
- Without a car: Pacers Bikeshare stations at the 10th Street basin, the Walnut Street basin and White River State Park. IndyGo’s Red Line stops a few blocks away. Bike parking is on Walnut Street by the Orange Bridge.
The route is mostly ADA and stroller accessible. Ramps go down to the canal between 11th and 10th streets, between St. Clair and Walnut streets and at White River State Park. Elevators are at Michigan Street on the east side and New York Street on the west side. Vermont Street is stairs only, and so are the west side between New York and Ohio streets and the stretch between Ohio and West streets. The two pedestrian bridges at Vermont and Ohio streets are the parts a stroller cannot do. The Cultural Trail recommends a stroller or wagon for little kids, plus a bag or bucket for the candy.
Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the whole route, and owners clean up after them. More early candy runs are in our list of places to trick-or-treat before Halloween in Indianapolis, and the neighborhood hours for the night itself are in our Indianapolis trick-or-treat times list.
Related: Things to Do This Weekend in Indianapolis with Kids
