Here’s our guide to trick-or-treating in The Lakes neighborhood of Mercer Island – plus find out about other great neighborhoods to take your costumed kiddos on Halloween night.
The Lakes
The Lakes is Mercer Island’s favorite destination for trick-or-treaters. A figure-eight shaped neighborhood on the South End, it attracts hundreds of families every year. Here’s what you need to know:
- Trick-or-treating starts at about 5 pm and ends around 9 pm.
- The Lakes will be closed to vehicles, except those of residents and residents’ guests; you can find nearby parking in the lots of South Mercer Play Fields, Lakeridge Elementary School, and Islander Middle School.
- If you have little ones, start early before it gets too dark and crowded. Also consider doing a smaller loop by turning on the street that bisects the neighborhood. The Lakes is nearly one mile in perimeter, which may be too far for little legs.
- Bring canned, non-perishable food items to donate. Every Halloween, the Lakes neighborhood runs a food drive for the MIYFS food pantry. Two bins for donations will be located at the entrance to the Lakes and one bin will be located at each walkway entrance into the Lakes (east and west sides).
- The food pantry needs these items: pasta sauces and chili; rice products; canned tuna and meat products; canned fruit, jellies, jams, and breakfast items; boxed cake and frosting mixes; and toiletries.
- Say thank you to the Lakes residents who generously give treats to hundreds of trick-or-treaters knocking on their doors on Halloween night.
Beyond The Lakes
The very best neighborhood might be your very own. Families who live in Mercerdale, Mercerwood, and Mercer Island Estates will certainly find many of their neighbors with festively decorated homes handing out treats.
Parkwood
A spooky scene in Parkwood
If you’re looking for another trick-or-treating destination neighborhood, you might try Parkwood. Parkwood is a mid-island neighborhood with great Halloween spirit. A walk around the Parkwood neighborhood is about .5 miles, and at the back of the neighborhood on 91st Ave SE, you’ll find the scariest house on Mercer Island (hint – it’s the same house where a two-story inflatable Santa appears every year before Christmas). Even the biggest kids may need hand-holding for some extra courage to walk up to the front door to grab a piece of candy.
East Seattle & First Hill
Pumpkins on First Hill
If you’d like a historic neighborhood to take the kids trick-or-treating, consider the East Seattle or First Hill neighborhoods, both located on the North end of the island. The Craftsman homes that dot these neighborhoods are perfect photo backdrops for your cuties in costume.
East Seattle & First Hill in Google Maps >>
Salem Woods
Sign at entrance to Salem Woods
Or how about Salem Woods – a Mercer Island neighborhood you may have never heard of but perfectly named for Halloween. There are just 15 homes on this charming street that begins at the corner of SE 61st St and 90th Ave SE, and trick-or-treaters will find a few witches and at least one spooky graveyard and can extend their trick-or-treating route into the surrounding neighborhoods.
