Michigan Halloween Events 2026: Best Picks by Region

Last updated: October 2026

Michigan does Halloween right, from glowing forest walks and zoo trick-or-treat trails to a haunted lighthouse on Lake Superior and a whole island’s end-of-season costume weekend. These are the Michigan Halloween events I’d plan around in 2026, organized by region, with what’s already sold out and what’s still worth the drive.

Top Michigan Halloween Events and Things to Do

Halloween lands on a Saturday in 2026, so most of the big events happen the two weekends before it: Oct. 16–18 and Oct. 23–25. From zoo trick-or-treat nights and glowing forest walks to haunted corn mazes and a lantern-lit lighthouse tour, these Halloween events cover every age and every level of spooky.

👉 Looking for haunted houses? See my 2026 guide to Michigan haunted houses, with a map.

Whether you love having the daylights scared out of you or simply enjoy strolling through a pumpkin patch, there’s something for everyone on this list of Halloween events in Michigan.

👉 Planning Halloween closer to Detroit? My Metro Detroit Halloween events for 2026 has more than 20 local picks, from trick-or-treat trails to grown-ups-only nights.

Use the Interactive map of Halloween Events in Michigan

Southeast Michigan Halloween Events

These are the five southeast Michigan Halloween events I’d drive in for. For the full local list, including downtown trick-or-treats, trunk-or-treats and adults-only nights, see my complete metro Detroit Halloween guide.

Zoo Boo — Royal Oak

Where: Detroit Zoo, 8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak
When: Oct. 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25, 3–8:30 p.m.
Why Go: Trick-or-treat stations, illuminated Halloween décor, character meet-and-greets and fall animal enrichments, with the whole zoo open until 6 p.m. this year.
Good to Know: A separate Zoo Boo ticket is required, and it’s cheaper online than at the gate. Some treat stations are allergen-friendly, and full-face animal masks aren’t allowed.

Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village — Dearborn

Where: Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn
When: Oct. 8–11, 15–18 and 22–25, 6–9:30 p.m.
Why Go: Lantern-lit streets, jack-o’-lantern paths, more than 50 costumed characters including the Headless Horseman, and the Hallowe’en Express train.
Good to Know: General admission is sold out for 2026. The only way in now is one of The Henry Ford’s Hallowe’en dining packages, which include admission and a train ticket.

Terror on Tillson Street — Romeo

Where: Tillson Street, Romeo, MI
When: Displays are up through October, with the big night on Oct. 31
Why Go: Two and a half blocks of historic homes go all-out with handcrafted Halloween scenes, and it’s one of the most over-the-top free Halloween displays in Michigan.
Good to Know: Free. There are no public restrooms, so park on nearby village streets and walk in. Halloween night draws huge crowds.

Glenlore Trails: CarnEvil 2 — Commerce Twp

Where: 3860 Newton Rd, Commerce Charter Twp
When: Thursday through Sunday evenings through Nov. 1
Why Go: A carnival of lights, games, sound and storytelling along a one-mile forest walk, spooky rather than scary.
Good to Know: Plan on about an hour, and buy timed tickets on the Glenlore Trails site.

Treats at the Beach — Lake St. Clair Metropark, Harrison Twp

Where: Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metro Pkwy, Harrison Township
When: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2–4:30 p.m.
Why Go: A beachside spin on trunk-or-treat, with festive displays along the beach plaza, plus hayrides and face painting.
Good to Know: Free, but you’ll need a Metroparks vehicle pass ($10 a day) to drive in. It’s my favorite way to combine a Halloween outing with one last walk by the lake.

West Michigan Halloween Fun

Zoo Goes Boo — John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids

Where: John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids
When: Fridays through Sundays, Oct. 16 through Nov. 1
Why Go: Thirteen treat stations scattered through the zoo, costumed characters and strolling entertainment, now stretched across three weekends.
Good to Know: Costumes are encouraged, but no full-face masks or weapons.

HallowGlow — TreeRunner Adventure Park Grand Rapids

Where: 2121 Celebration Dr NE, Grand Rapids
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31
Why Go: Climb and zip through treetop courses decked out in glowing Halloween lights.
Good to Know: Wear closed-toe shoes and reserve a session ahead. The metro Detroit parks in Rochester and West Bloomfield run HallowGlow on the same weekends.

Lighthouse Trick-or-Treat — Muskegon South Pierhead Light

Where: 1431 Beach St, Muskegon
When: The Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy holds its trick-or-treat at the tower the Saturday before Halloween, which is Oct. 24 this year
Why Go: Volunteer keepers in costume hand out treats at the base of the 48-foot pierhead light, right where Muskegon Lake meets Lake Michigan.
Good to Know: Kids in costume climb free with a paying adult, and city beach parking is paid. Check the Muskegon Lights visitor page for this year’s times.

Great Pumpkin Train — Coopersville

Where: Coopersville & Marne Railway, Coopersville
When: October weekends
Why Go: A vintage train ride out to a pumpkin patch, one of my favorite low-key Halloween outings for little kids. I’ve got it in my roundup of Michigan fall train rides.
Good to Know: Fall trains sell out weeks ahead, so book early.

Kids Haunt at The Haunt — Wyoming

Where: 1256 28th St SW, Wyoming
When: Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25
Why Go: West Michigan’s big haunted house turns the lights on for a kid-friendly afternoon, a great first haunted house. The full grown-up version is in my Michigan haunted houses guide.

Northern Michigan Halloween Events

Mackinac Island Halloween Weekend — Mackinac Island

Where: Downtown Mackinac Island
When: Oct. 23–25
Why Go: The island’s last big weekend before most businesses close for the season, with downtown trick-or-treating for kids, costume parties and live music for adults, and the Great Turtle Trail Run on Saturday, Oct. 24, which marks its 30th year in 2026.
Good to Know: Ferries and rooms book up early, and the boat ride is cold this late in the year, so pack layers.

Manistee’s Ghost Ship — Manistee

Where: SS City of Milwaukee, 99 Arthur St, Manistee
When: October weekends
Why Go: A 1931 car ferry on Manistee Lake, now a National Historic Landmark, turns into a haunted attraction to raise money for its preservation. It’s the most Great Lakes way to spend Halloween.
Good to Know: It’s a real scare, so it’s better for teens and adults. There are more details in my haunted houses guide.

Fort Fright — Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City

Where: 102 W Straits Ave, Mackinaw City
When: Ran Oct. 2–3 this year
Why Go: A lantern-lit walk along the Lake Michigan shore to an 18th-century fort full of storytellers, werewolves and witches, with cider and cookies by the fire. Most stops work for all ages.
Good to Know: It’s already over for 2026, so save the date for next October on the Mackinac State Historic Parks Fort Fright page. It’s a pet-free event.

Upper Peninsula Halloween Events

Ghosts of Lighthouse Point — Marquette Maritime Museum & Lighthouse

Where: 300 N Lakeshore Blvd, Marquette
When: Oct. 8 (7–9 p.m.) and Oct. 9–10 (7–10 p.m.)
Why Go: Ghosts based on real people from Marquette’s maritime past, including lighthouse keepers and shipwreck survivors, haunt the 1866 lighthouse and its grounds on Lake Superior.
Good to Know: The 7–8 p.m. tours are family-friendly, and later tours are for ages 13 and up. Reserve by calling 906-226-2006, and bring a canned good for the NMU Food Bank. The tour includes about an hour on your feet and 45 steps up to the lighthouse.

Marquette’s Haunted Hayride — Gwinn

Where: Marquette County Fairgrounds, 715 M-553, Gwinn
When: Mid to late October
Why Go: A tractor-drawn hayride through the “Scaregrounds,” and the UP’s classic Halloween night out for older kids. If you’re making a weekend of it, start with my Upper Peninsula travel guide.

FAQ: Halloween in Michigan

When is the best time for Michigan Halloween events?

Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the two weekends before it, Oct. 16–18 and Oct. 23–25, are when the most events overlap. A few big ones run earlier in the month, and Fort Fright was Oct. 2–3.

Are costumes required?

Not required, but welcome almost everywhere. Check the rules before you go: Zoo Boo and Zoo Goes Boo don’t allow full-face masks, and Greenfield Village doesn’t allow costume weapons.

What are the best Halloween events for little kids?

Zoo Boo in Royal Oak, Zoo Goes Boo in Grand Rapids, Glenlore Trails’ CarnEvil 2, the Great Pumpkin Train and the early, family-friendly hour at Ghosts of Lighthouse Point are all low-scare picks.

What if it rains?

Most outdoor Halloween events run rain or shine, including Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village, though they can pause for severe weather. For a fully indoor option near Detroit, LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Great Lakes Crossing runs its Brick-or-Treat Monster Party daily through Oct. 31.

Halloween in Michigan is about more than the scares. It’s an excuse to get out for one more fall weekend before the snow. If you’re near Detroit, start with my metro Detroit Halloween picks, and if you want the real frights, the haunted houses guide is waiting.