Free This Weekend: October 31 to November 1 in Merced County

Looking for free things to do in Merced this weekend? Halloween weekend, October 31 to November 1, 2026, brings five verified, genuinely free picks across Merced County: the Saturday farmers markets in Merced and Turlock, a free community Halloween gathering on Marshall Lane, free admission at the Merced County Courthouse Museum, and free sandhill crane viewing at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, with a free Friday-afternoon trunk-or-treat in Turlock to start the weekend. Every pick is free, verified against an official source, and open to everyone.

This is Halloween weekend, and the free calendar is stacked: two farmers markets for a last look at October's harvest, a free community costume gathering in Merced on Saturday night, free museum hours on both days, and the refuge's cranes arriving in bigger numbers at the wetlands just outside town. All five picks below are genuinely free. Dates and times were confirmed this week; it is always worth a quick check of the linked official page before you head out, since hours can change.

Friday, October 30

If your Halloween weekend starts a night early, a free family trunk-or-treat in Turlock on Friday afternoon is a gentle warm-up before the big day.

Cogir of Turlock Trunk-or-Treat

The Cogir of Turlock Trunk-or-Treat runs Friday, October 30 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in Turlock. The organizer lists it as free and family-friendly, with pumpkin painting, a kids' costume contest, a photo area, refreshments, and a candy bus. Check the official event page for the exact address before you go.

Saturday, October 31

Saturday is Halloween, and the county's free lineup runs from a morning at the market stands to an evening community gathering: two farmers markets, then a free costume party on Marshall Lane.

Merced Certified Farmers Market

The Merced Certified Farmers Market is a year-round Saturday market from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at 16th and Canal Street in downtown Merced, so it is on for Saturday, October 31. It has run since 1980 and is the county's only year-round certified farmers market. Late October brings pomegranates, winter squash, pumpkins, peppers, and cut flowers to the stands. Browsing is free, and you only pay for what you bring home.

Turlock Certified Farmers Market

Across the county, the Turlock Certified Farmers Market runs the same morning from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Main Street between Palm and Center in Turlock. The market operates every Saturday from March through mid-December, so October 31 is right in season. Vendors line the closed-off downtown block with produce, crafts, and hot food. Entry is free.

Halloween With The Community

Saturday evening, Halloween With The Community runs from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Marshall Lane in Merced, hosted by Babe's BBQ N' Filipino Cuisine. The official Eventbrite listing shows free admission, with spooky fun and treats for the community. It is a free, neighborhood-level way to spend the early hours of Halloween evening before or after your own route.

Sunday, November 1

Sunday is a lower-key close to the weekend: a free afternoon indoors at the courthouse museum, and an unhurried drive out to the refuge to start the first week of November watching the cranes.

Merced County Courthouse Museum

In the center of Merced, the Merced County Courthouse Museum at 21st and N Streets is free to enter and open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, so Sunday, November 1 works for an unhurried afternoon. The rooms of the historic courthouse hold rotating exhibits on Merced County history, and it sits just off the downtown blocks where the morning market runs.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge

A short drive southwest of Winton, the Merced National Wildlife Refuge off Sandy Mush Road is free to visit year-round, with a five-mile auto tour route and four nature trails. Sandhill cranes are abundant on the refuge from September through March, and numbers build through October toward a winter peak of roughly 20,000 birds, so a late-afternoon drive on Sunday is a classic way to see them. The refuge also posts free evening sandhill crane fly-in programs on its official events page, so check the dates before you go.

However you spend it, Halloween weekend is a good one to get out for free: two farmers markets, a free community gathering, a free museum, and the crane wetlands, all within a short drive of Winton, Atwater, and the rest of the county. For the season's color and crane progress, our seasonal nature report for the week of October 20 tracks where the flocks are building, and the Trail or Park of the Week feature on the refuge covers the auto tour and walking loops in more detail. Market hours countywide are in our farmers market report for the week of October 15.

Why a Vibrant Weekend Scene Matters for Home Sellers

A Halloween weekend that includes two farmers markets, a free community gathering, a free museum, and a national wildlife refuge tells a strong story about life in Merced County. Buyers on tour ask about schools and commute times, but they also picture their own Saturdays and Sundays here, and free community events are a big part of that picture.

Whether you are browsing the market stands on Canal Street, meeting neighbors at a free trunk-or-treat, or watching cranes settle in at the refuge, you are living the local story that sells homes. When it is time to list, having an agent who knows these communities from the inside out makes the difference between a for-sale sign and a sold sign. If you are considering selling your home in Merced County, schedule a free consultation with Monica Franks, The Seller's Agent, and learn more about Monica's approach on her about page.