This Week in Michigan
Here’s what’s worth doing in Michigan this week, from lighthouse ghost tours on Lake Superior to apple festivals, Halloween trails and beach trick-or-treats. I check every pick by hand and update this page every week, so you can plan your weekend in one place. Tap a region to see what’s near you.
November’s picks are on their way. In the meantime, see Michigan Christmas markets and Christmas train rides.
My pick for Oct. 5–11: Ghosts of Lighthouse Point in Marquette. It runs only three nights, and a haunted lighthouse on Lake Superior is about as Michigan as October gets. Closer to Detroit, Cider in the City at Beacon Park is free both days.
Week of Oct 5–11This week
Ghosts of Lighthouse Point
Marquette Upper Peninsula
On the water
300 N. Lakeshore Blvd., Marquette
7–9 p.m. Thursday, 7–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Costumed "ghosts" of real lighthouse keepers and shipwreck survivors haunt the 1866 Marquette Harbor lighthouse. The 7 p.m. hour is family friendly. Reserve at 906-226-2006 and bring a canned good.
Charlevoix Apple Fest
Charlevoix Northern Michigan
On the water
East Park, downtown Charlevoix
Free to walk around
The north's best-known apple festival, on Round Lake right at peak color: orchard stands, a craft show and a farmers market. Pets aren't allowed in the festival area.
Fall on the Island
Drummond Island Upper Peninsula
On the water
Drummond Island (ferry from De Tour Village)
Live music, a pub crawl and a kids' fun run on an island most Michiganders have never visited.
Pentwater Oktoberfest
Pentwater West Michigan
On the water
Downtown Pentwater
A classic car and hot rod show, the Stout Stumble 5K and live music in a Lake Michigan village between Silver Lake and Ludington.
Kensington Fall Festival
Milford Southeast Michigan
Kensington Metropark, 4570 Huron River Pkwy., Milford
Noon–4 p.m., free (Metroparks pass required)
Farm tours, the Living History Village and horse-drawn hayrides to the pumpkin patch.
Haunted Hazel Park Art Fair
Hazel Park Southeast Michigan
Greens Park, 620 W. Woodward Heights Blvd., Hazel Park
10 a.m.–6 p.m., free
An outdoor market where every artist sells something Halloween, fall or horror themed.
Good any weekend this month: the events below run on lots of dates through late October, so you can fit them into almost any weekend. Zoo Boo’s last weekend is Oct. 23–25.
Running all month
Zoo Goes Boo
Grand Rapids West Michigan
John Ball Zoo, W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
Fridays–Sundays, Oct. 16–Nov. 1
Thirteen treat stations, costumed characters and strolling entertainment. No full-face masks.
Zoo Boo
Royal Oak Southeast Michigan
Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak
Oct. 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25, 3–8:30 p.m.
Trick-or-treat stations and glowing décor, with the whole zoo open until 6 p.m. Buy tickets online to save.
Glenlore Trails: CarnEvil 2
Commerce Township Southeast Michigan
3860 Newton Rd., Commerce Twp.
Evenings, timed tickets
A one-mile forest walk turned into a glowing carnival. Spooky, not scary.
TreeRunner HallowGlow
Rochester, West Bloomfield & Grand Rapids Southeast Michigan
Ages 7+, two- and three-hour sessions
Climb glowing treetop courses with Halloween music and candy along the way.
Halloween Stroll
Lake Orion Southeast Michigan
Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion
Half-hour entries, 6–8 p.m.
Jack-o'-lanterns, animatronics and live characters along a walkable village route.
Spookeasy Bar (21+)
Rochester Southeast Michigan
Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Dr., Rochester
Thursday–Saturday evenings
The hotel bar goes fully haunted, with spooky cocktails and bites.
My pick for Oct. 12–18: Treats at the Beach at Lake St. Clair Metropark on Sunday, a trunk-or-treat with a lake view that’s free with a Metroparks pass. On the west side of the state, Zoo Goes Boo starts Friday at John Ball Zoo.
Week of Oct 12–18This week
Frankfort Film Festival
Frankfort Northern Michigan
On the water
Garden Theater, downtown Frankfort
Five days of independent film in a historic theater, a block from Lake Michigan.
Northville Fall Lantern Festival
Northville Southeast Michigan
Mill Race Village, Northville
From 10 a.m., $15
Pumpkin carving and Victorian crafts by day, then hundreds of glowing pumpkins and ghost stories after dark.
Trick or Treat Along the Trail
Milford Southeast Michigan
Kensington Metropark, 4570 Huron River Pkwy., Milford
Noon–3:45 p.m., $5
A non-scary pumpkin path with costumed characters. Register ahead.
English Gardens Family Fall Fest
Six metro Detroit stores Southeast Michigan
10 a.m.–4 p.m., free
Pumpkin decorating, a scavenger hunt and costume contests for kids and pets.
Treats at the Beach
Harrison Township Southeast Michigan
On the water
Lake St. Clair Metropark, 31300 Metro Pkwy., Harrison Twp.
2–4:30 p.m., free (Metroparks pass required)
Trunk-or-treat along the beach plaza, plus hayrides and face painting.
Downtown Royal Oak Spooktacular
Royal Oak Southeast Michigan
Downtown Royal Oak
2–5 p.m., free
A downtown trick-or-treat trail with a magic show and face painting.
My pick for Oct. 19–25: Mackinac Island’s Halloween Weekend, the island’s last big weekend of the season, so book the ferry and a room early. Staying close to home? Little Goblins at Ford House on Saturday is made for toddlers.
Week of Oct 19–25This week
Deranged Kids Trick or Treat Night
Romulus Southeast Michigan
35560 Goddard Rd., Romulus
6:30–8 p.m.
A big haunted attraction turns scare-free for one night. A gentle first haunt for kids.
Evening Lantern Tours
New Boston Southeast Michigan
Oakwoods Metropark, 32911 Willow Rd., New Boston
7:30–9:30 p.m., $12, ages 8+
Guides lead you through pumpkin-lit woods to meet characters from Michigan legends. Eerie, not scary.
Mackinac Island Halloween Weekend
Mackinac Island Northern Michigan
On the water
Downtown Mackinac Island
Great Turtle Trail Run Saturday, Oct. 24
The island's last big weekend of the season: downtown trick-or-treating, costume parties and end-of-season sales.
Family Trick-or-Treat at the Farm
Ray Southeast Michigan
Wolcott Mill Metropark, 65775 Wolcott Rd., Ray
6–8 p.m., $5
Trick-or-treat through the animal barns, where the animals dress up too. Register ahead.
Little Goblins at Ford House
Grosse Pointe Shores Southeast Michigan
On the water
Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Shores
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
No-scare Halloween for toddlers on the Lake St. Clair shore: hayrides, a straw maze and a treat trail.
Lighthouse Trick-or-Treat
Muskegon West Michigan
On the water
South Pierhead Light, 1431 Beach St., Muskegon
Times posted on their Facebook page
Volunteer keepers in costume hand out treats at the lighthouse. Kids in costume climb free with a paying adult.
Detroit Fall Beer Festival
Detroit Southeast Michigan
Michigan Brewers Guild
Hundreds of Michigan beers in one place. 21 and up.
Día de los Muertos Festival
Grand Rapids West Michigan
Downtown Grand Rapids
Altars, music and food celebrating Day of the Dead.
Meadow Brook Hall-oween
Rochester Southeast Michigan
Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Dr., Rochester
One-hour sessions from 10 a.m., $20 kids, $10 adults
Trick-or-treating across a historic estate, with fall crafts and cider and donuts.
Kids Haunt at The Haunt
Wyoming West Michigan
The Haunt, 1256 28th St. SW, Wyoming
Afternoon
West Michigan's big haunted house keeps the lights on for a kid-friendly afternoon. A gentle first haunted house.
My pick for Oct. 26–Nov. 1: Terror on Tillson Street in Romeo on Halloween night. It’s free, but park in the village and walk in, because the street fills up fast.
Week of Oct 26–Nov 1This week
Bewitching Hour (21+)
Rochester Southeast Michigan
Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Dr., Rochester
5:30–8:30 p.m., $50
A grown-up costume party at the mansion: trick-or-treat stations, live music and a cocktail.
Terror on Tillson Street
Romeo Southeast Michigan
Tillson St., Romeo
Displays up all month, free
Two and a half blocks of historic homes go all out for Halloween. There are no public restrooms, so park in the village and walk in.
Get this list every Friday
Every Friday I send the best of this list to The Michigan Traveler, with the one I’d pick and anything that’s selling out. Come along.
More Ways to Plan Your Michigan Weekend
- Michigan fall festival finder, with every festival sorted by weekend
- Where the fall color is this week
- Michigan Halloween events and metro Detroit Halloween
- Michigan haunted houses