By Adrienne Brown-Reasner, West Michigan Tourist Association
From costume contests to fall festivals, spooky performances to trick-or-treat events, West Michigan is celebrating Halloween all month long. You’ll find family friendly events, adult only parties, pumpkin carving, haunted trails, and more.
Trick or Treat Events
South West Michigan
The 12th Annual Spooky Science Saturday, a free trick-or-treating event, will be held Saturday, Oct. 19th from 11am to 3pm on the grounds of the Kingman Museum and Leila Arboretum and Kaleidoscope Garden in Battle Creek. The event–held rain or shine–is aimed at children 6 to 12 years old, but whole families are welcome. Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite costume and enjoy $1 hayrides through the Arboretum. Parking available at Northwestern Middle School (176 Limit St) or the Kaleidoscope Garden at 928 W. Michigan.
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings hosts the Candlelight Trails: Trick-or-Treat on the Trails on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6-9pm. Dress up your little “boos” and “ghouls” and come out for Halloween fun on candlelit trails. After hiking the trails, head inside the Visitor Center for hot chocolate, warm coffee, snacks, and fall-themed activities around a crackling fire. Members $6, Non-Members $8, Family $25.
Join the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven on Halloween for a free Trick-or-Treating family event from 4-6pm. This event is for kids ages toddler to 10 years old. Children must be in costume and be accompanied by an adult.
Spooky decorations and family-friendly fun await you this Halloween at the downtown South Haven Trick-or-Treating event, Oct. 31st beginning at 5pm.
Central West Michigan
Come to Downtown Holland Saturday, Oct. 26th, 10am-noon, and spend the morning trick-or-treating with your children at participating stores along 8th Street.
Enjoy Halloween fun at the Holland Museum, with trick-or-treating in the exhibits, flashlight tours of the Dutch Galleries, fun games, and spooky crafts at “Monsters at the Museum”, Saturday, Oct. 26th, 11am-4pm. Come prepared with a flashlight and camera. Not recommended for children 8 years old and under.
Zeeland’s Main Street Trick or Treat event presented by West Michigan Community Bank will take place Oct. 31st from 3-5pm in downtown Zeeland; Main Street will be closed between Elm Street and Church Street. Held rain or shine, this event invites children to participate instead of or in addition to the city-wide Trick or Treating, which is scheduled from 5-8pm.
Put on your costume and celebrate Halloween at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Trick-or-treat your way through two floors of hands-on exhibits, featuring special spooky crafts and activities, Oct. 31st, with $1.75 admission from 5-8pm.
Zoo Goes Boo is six days of trick-or-treating, costumes, entertainment, cool decorations, games, and fun at John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids–and the animals get treats, too! Wear your costume, the Zoo will provide the candy. Please bring your own reusable bag for trick-or-treating, or purchase one from the gift shop. Zoo Goes Boo runs Oct. 18th-20th and Oct. 25th-27th, 10am-4pm. Tickets are $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for children, college students, and seniors, and free for zoo members.
Bring the kids for free trick or treating at Muskegon’s South Pierhead Light on Oct. 26th. Kids who come in costumes (safe for climbing) can stay and climb for free in the company of an adult (admission fees apply to adults). Join in games and prize giveaways for best costume, chosen every hour by a different Lighthouse Keeper.
Attention all Monsters and Goblins, Mermaids and Super Heroes, and all the ghosts in between: Grand Haven Main Street’s Annual Trick or Treating night is Thursday, Oct. 31st. Local businesses will provide treats for all those brave enough to endure the mystical streets of Downtown Grand Haven from 4-5:30pm on Washington Ave. from 3rd Street to Harbor Drive.
Bring the kids to Mt. Pleasant in their costumes Oct. 31st from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm for trick-or-treating at downtown businesses at the Pumpkin Promenade.
Halloween Tours & Trails
Get in the Halloween mood with a spooky West Michigan Beer Tours Halloween Beer Tour on Oct. 25th in Kalamazoo to try some great fall seasonal beers and enjoy a night of frights, flights, and fun.
Discover the magic of Victorian Halloween traditions and superstitions this fall at the Holland Museum’s Cappon House. Tour the dimly lit rooms of the Cappon House to learn how Halloween was celebrated 100 years ago, then partake in spooky parlor games and broom races, listen to classic ghost stories, have your fortune told, and carve a mini pumpkin to take home. Visit the Halloween Haunts Oct. 18th and 19th, 6-8pm; tickets $8.00 per person for members, $10.00 for non-members, and children ages 5 and under are free.
Performances & Exhibitions
Our Town Players present Harvest Horror, a collection of psychological thrillers, Oct. 18th and 19th at the Masonic Temple in South Haven. Performances begin at 7:30pm, box office opens at 7pm.
The Barn Theatre School in Augusta just announced two special weekend performances of The Rocky Horror Show, on stage Oct. 18th through 20th and Oct. 25th through the 27th.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts a special Halloween-themed Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert by Dale Zieger accompanying the 1920 silent film “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Oct. 18th at 7pm and Oct. 19th at 2pm.
Costume parties & parades
Get creative at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Hallo-Wee Ones event in Grand Rapids, a special event designed for the youngest visitors, Oct. 25th, 10am-noon. Dress your child as a sculpture, mammal, fish, insect, bird, tree, flower, geologist, or any other way that highlights something about the Children’s Garden and participate in one of two costume parades, held at 10:15am and 11:15am.
Save the date for one of the most popular parties of the year! Just Wicked will be held Saturday, Oct. 26th in the International Ballroom at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. The first 50 guests at the door will be greeted with a specialty cocktail crafted for the event. Costume contest for cash prizes and indulgent extras will bring out the competitive spirit in you. Costume contest winners to be announced at approximately 10:45pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door (if tickets are still available). Must be 21 years of age to attend.
There’s really no better place to be during Halloween than in Saugatuck/Douglas. While you will find many family friendly events, the show-stopper is the Adult Halloween Parade in downtown Douglas. This year’s parade will take place Oct. 26th. No sign-up required to join the parade, just come in costume and line up starting at 9:30pm to wait for the Pumpkin King to start the parade at 10pm.
Bring your furry friend to downtown South Haven all dressed up and ready to show off for the Pet Costume Parade 11am Oct. 20th. Prizes for the pet costumes that are the scariest, funniest and matching their owner.
Escape Rooms & Murder Mystery Dinners
Looking for a night filled with suspense, entertainment, and a fabulous meal? Take a crack at solving a ‘murder mystery’ while you feast on a meal that’s to die for Friday, Nov. 1st, at the W.K. Kellogg Manor House in Augusta. Guests may arrive at 5:30pm for a docent-led tour of the Manor House and the dinner and program will begin at 6:30pm.
Festivals, Races, and Other Special Events
Mark your calendar for Spooky Sip and Paint with Star Buxum, Oct. 16th at 7pm at Stella’s Lounge in Grand Rapids. Join local drag queen and artist Star Buxom as she takes over a paint and sip class you will not forget. Get ready for crude humor, vulgar language, messy sing-alongs, strong drinks, and fabulous art with a Halloween theme. Your $35 ticket includes an 11×14 canvas board, a well drink or draft PBR, an appetizer, painting instruction, and a good time. Reserve your spot today
It’s a date night for the whole family at the Lakeshore Museum Center in Muskegon, Oct. 18th, featuring extended museum hours with fun stations and themes. Smashing Pumpkins Friday Family Fun Night will feature the museum-built trebuchet.
It’s that time of year for all things pumpkin — pumpkin donuts, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chucking, and of course, the pumpkin patch, at The Great Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 19th and 20th at Lewis Farms & Petting Zoo in New Era. Come back the next weekend, Oct. 26th and 27th, for Halloween Extravaganza with wagon rides, apple cannons, U-pick pumpkins, and “Disc Dogs Live”.
Prepare yourself for fall flavors and fright-filled nights at Haven Harvest! Taste the flavors of fall as hayrides roll, pumpkins fly, and headless horseman ride. Experience a true South Haven harvest with apple orchards, bonfires, pumpkin chunkin’, and delicious good-as-grandma’s pies. Grab some cider, dance to live music, and see South Haven transform during Haven Harvest, Oct. 18th through 20th.
BOO on Your Bike will take place Oct. 20th, 1-3pm, on the Kal-Haven Trail in South Haven. This free annual event invites riders of all ages to dress up in costume and get out for a scenic fall bicycle ride on the Kal-Haven Trail starting at the South Haven trail head.
Experience the magic of science this Halloween season at the Air Zoo in Portage. Visit Oct. 26th from 10am-3pm for the first-ever Ice Cream Challenge event, where West Michigan teams will use the power of liquid nitrogen to transform flavors and ingredients into frozen treats to taste. Your votes decide the winner of this epic culinary battle, powered by spooky science.
Come to the Stella’s Lounge in Grand Rapids Nov. 1st at 10pm as they kick off their Halloween party in the front bar. Terrified of clowns, toys and dolls? Head to the back bar with DJ Chowdur and dance your fears away. $5 cover and food and beverage specials throughout the night.
