Halloween in Michigan: 5 Spooktacular Festivals With Tons of Family Fun
Written By: Shamika Sanders
If you’re like me, Halloween begins when the calendar page turns to August. Bring on the pumpkin patches, festivals, and fall foliage that add to the allure of autumn. Halloween, like other holidays, is about tradition, creating long-lasting memories and curated experiences that scream family fun.
Halloween in Michigan is a main tourist attraction and a big deal for natives. There’s a little town in Michigan so steeped in Halloween spirit that it’s known for having the “scariest street” in the state. Tillson Street in Romeo in Metro Detroit rivals notoriously scary destinations like Salem and Sleepy Halloween. While you may or may not want to subject yourself to the “Terror on Tillson Street,” consider one of the many harvests and festivals Michigan has to offer this spooky season.
If you’re looking for the ultimate Halloween experience, here’s some Michigan magic for the whole family.
Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village
Tickets for the Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village go fast – and for good reason. It is the ultimate October celebration. Fortunately, this festival is held every weekend in October. The annual Henry Ford event is a popular Michigan attraction among all families for its attractions like the Hallowe’en Express ($4) that journeys through Greenfield Village. Let your children’s imaginations run wild while enjoying entertainment from more than 50 costumed characters, classic performances and their newest addition: a free horse-drawn carriage ride. Dining packages provide budget-friendly options for feeding the family at the Hallowe’en Fairy Tale Feast in A Taste of History Restaurant or at Eagle Tavern Harvest Supper.
Michigan’s Adventure – Michigan’s largest amusement park and water park – does it big for Halloween every year, but with the addition of new rides, thrills, and activities, this month-long Halloween event will be more spooktacular than ever. Come dressed in your best costume because the fun begins at the parking lot with Tricks and Treats. Trick-or-treaters can get their candy fix from some of their favorite characters in vintage vehicles. Camp Snoopy is among the most anticipated new activations of the season, bringing a generational experience that allows children and grandparents to experience rides together. According to the official press release, “Kids will find special magical potions specifically designed for them, and mature ghosts and ghouls can enjoy our bewitching local brews, magical elixirs, and Michigan-made wines on our Lakeside Beer Garden Patio.”
Listen to ghost stories at Uncle Vern’s One Room GhoulHouse, boogie down at the Skelebration Dance Party, enjoy a ride on Patch’s Pumpkin Express, or participate in the Spooktacular Costume Parade—there’s fun for everyone at this massive showdown.
Mackinac Island Halloween Weekend
Crowned the jewel of the Great Lakes, Mackinac Island boasts beautiful views, world-famous fudge, historic forts and the epic Mackinac Island Halloween festival. The island comes alive at night with a party scene parents can also enjoy. Consider this festival the Halloween pre-game as it kicks off the weekend of October 25–27. With many of the businesses being seasonal, the island lights up for one last Halloween hurrah. Kids can trick or treat at the shops in their costumes, and parents can participate in the Great Turtle Trail Run or put the kids to bed for evening festivities in the town square.
We have the perfect place for the kids to go wild! More than 2,000 animals of over 200 species call the Detroit Zoo home. Every October the zoo opens its gates to families for an immersive Halloween experience. Visitors are encouraged to wear their costumes while strolling through the zoo grounds to stop at trick-or-treating spots scattered throughout the expansive 125 acres. In addition to treat stations, there’s plenty of spooky entertainment from jugglers to magicians as well as themed photo ops.
The John Ball Zoo undergoes a spooky transformation in October to attract ghouls, goblins, and families to their spooktacular trick-or-treat destination. Described as a wicked fun time, the Zoo Goes Boo festival has 13 twisted treat stations, magicians, fire performers, jugglers, and beloved Halloween characters like the Sanderson Sisters looking to put a spell on you! With “Keeper chats” with animal care staff, Halloween face painting, and thousands of animals, the Ball Zoo is among the top five most attended cultural facilities in Michigan.
Halloween may come once a year, but these fun-filled festivities will make memories your children will have for years.