Discover Halloween events, haunted attractions, ghost tours, and fall festivals throughout West Michigan. From family-friendly trick-or-treating to spine-tingling haunted houses, explore the best seasonal fun this October with the West Michigan Tourist Association.
Trick-or-Treating and Family Halloween Fun
Downtown Spooktacular in St. Joseph
- Downtown St. Joseph’s Spooktacular brings Halloween fun to the lakeshore on October 17. Browse the artisan market, decorate a pumpkin, watch magic and carving demonstrations, join the costume parade, or take a hayride. Spooky Lighthouse Tours and a witch scavenger hunt round out the day.
Gilmore Car Museum Trunk-or-Treat
- On October 21, the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners hosts a free Trunk-or-Treat. Families enjoy donuts, cider, music, and classic cars decorated for Halloween. It’s a safe, festive way to celebrate while exploring one of Michigan’s top automotive attractions.
BOO at the Barn - Zeeland
- Come in costume for Critter Barn’s sixth annual BOO at the Barn in Zeeland on October 23 & 24. Wander the corn maze, play in the corn pit, enjoy donuts and candy, and visit the barn animals. Festive decorations add Halloween fun to this family outing.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
- Grand Rapids Children’s Museum celebrates October with a members-only Boo Bash on October 12, $3 admission during 3rd Thursday on October 15, and Trick-or-Treat at the Museum on October 29. The final event includes treat bags, crafts, games, candy, and a Glow Dance Party.
John Ball Zoo Goes Boo - Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids’ John Ball Zoo hosts “Zoo Goes Boo” on weekends in October. Kids enjoy trick-or-treat stations, villain meet-and-greets, strolling entertainment, and animal encounters. It’s a perfect mix of Halloween spirit and wildlife experiences for families across West Michigan.
Hallowee-Ones - Frederik Meijer Gardens
- Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids celebrates Halloween with Hallowee-Ones, a special event for toddlers and preschoolers. Families can dress in costumes, explore themed activities, and enjoy a festive parade through the Children’s Garden on October 31.
Pumpkin Train - Coopersville & Marne Railway
- Ride the Pumpkin Train every October weekend on the Coopersville & Marne Railway. Families enjoy festive antics from the Famous Pumpkin and friends, then children pick a pumpkin at the patch. Costumes add even more fun to this West Michigan tradition.
Shoreline Spooktacular in Muskegon
- Fill your candy bucket at Muskegon’s Shoreline Spooktacular Trunk or Treat on October 27. Hackley Park welcomes families with decorated trunks, costumes, music, spooky games, and bounce houses. The free event makes it easy for little ghosts and goblins to celebrate together downtown.
Historic White Pine Village in Ludington
- Dress in costume for Village Trick-or-Treat at Historic White Pine Village in Ludington on Saturday, October 17, from 2–5 p.m. Collect candy throughout the historic buildings and enjoy a final seasonal visit to both the village and Port of Ludington Maritime Museum before they close.
- The Petoskey Area has Halloween fun for every age. Kids can collect treats from downtown Petoskey businesses during Downtown Trick or Treat or visit Bay Harbor Trunk or Treat. Adults 21+ can enjoy Gypsy Distillery’s Halloween Bash, complete with a DJ, spooky cocktails, and costumes.
Pumpkins, Scarecrows, and Fall Festivals
Pumpkinfest in Montague and Whitehall
- Pumpkinfest takes over Montague and Whitehall on October 10. Watch the signature Pumpkin Freestyle Roll down Dowling Street Hill, then enjoy markets, contests, and family-friendly activities. Make a day of it in the White Lake area as fall reaches its colorful peak.
Jack O’ Lanterns Unleashed in Lansing
- Follow a half-mile trail past 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins and more than 30 scenes at Jack O’ Lanterns Unleashed. The family-friendly Mason event runs October 8–31 at the Ingham County Fairgrounds. Children 12 and younger enter free; expect no scares and a grassy finish.
Marshall Skeletonfest & Witches Walk
- Marshall turns spooky each fall with Skeletonfest, featuring over 60 costumed skeletons downtown. Later, ticket holders enjoy the Witches Walk with costumes, contests, and dancing. Seasonal art shows, historic tours, and children’s parades round out this festive lineup. See more.
Meet Mt. Pleasant Pumpkin Display
- The Village of Shepherd glows with over 1,000 carved pumpkins during the annual Shepherd Pumpkin Display. Held behind the Shepherd Bar, this dazzling event runs the last week of October and offers families a spectacular autumn tradition before Halloween night.
Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville
- Crystal Mountain’s Fall Fun Weekends begin October 3: pumpkin carving, sand art, gem mining, archery, laser tag, mountain biking, and a Bungee Trampoline. See the Scarecrow Walk from October 10, ride the Crystal Coaster through October 24, or trick-or-treat as a guest October 31.
Harbor Springs SkeleTOUR
- Harbor Springs SkeleTOUR invites residents and businesses to decorate skeletons for display throughout October. Follow the online map beginning October 1 to find the participating homes and storefronts, and check the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce’s growing list as more neighbors join the fun.
Haunted History and Paranormal Experiences
The Felt Estate near Saugatuck
- Between Holland and Saugatuck, the Felt Estate shares history and haunting legends through October experiences. Families can take a Spooky Tour; Hauntings & History explores the mansion’s past; and Paranormal Investigation with Adam Berry invites guests inside after hours.
Monster Fest at Tibbits Opera House
- Tibbits Opera House celebrates Monster Fest on October 24 with Kalamazoo synth punk band Spatter Pattern at 8 p.m. and Peter Jackson’s R-rated The Frighteners at 8:30. Author J.C. Vande Zande signs copies of his Northern Michigan-set Orphan Island Trilogy in the gallery.
Cornwell’s Turkeyville Haunted Adventure
- Cornwell’s Turkeyville brings Halloween thrills with haunted barns, corn mazes, spooky hayrides, and train rides throughout October weekends. Guests also enjoy seasonal treats like cider, donuts, and pumpkins, making this attraction a delightful mix of fright and fall flavor.
The Great Escape Room in Grand Rapids
- The Great Escape Room in Grand Rapids offers two adventures. In The Haunted Hotel, help Bess contact Harry Houdini before time runs out. Mountain Top Murders sends your group to Nana’s woodland cabin, where bloody clues and her disappearance leave you searching for answers.
Merchants of the Macabre - Grand Rapids Downtown Market
- On October 24, explore eerie oddities at Merchants of the Macabre in Grand Rapids’ Downtown Market. Vendors offer taxidermy, skeletal specimens, tarot readings, and true-crime memorabilia. After browsing the unusual wares, grab a bite at Market Hall.
Tours Around Michigan Ghost Tours
- Join Tours Around Michigan for a Grand Rapids Ghost Tour this October. Guides share eerie tales and paranormal history on an evening walking tour through downtown, offering both spooky fun and fascinating stories about the city’s haunted past.
Hackley & Hume Obituary Tour in Muskegon
- Visit Muskegon’s Hackley & Hume Historic Site after dark on October 16 or 17 for a candlelit Obituary Tour. Inside the historic homes, hear stories of former residents and learn about Victorian customs surrounding death and remembrance. It’s an atmospheric look at local history.
Hotel Walloon Murder Mystery Weekend – Walloon Lake
- From October 30 to November 1, step into an immersive whodunit at Hotel Walloon. Guests become detectives across three days of intrigue, enjoying themed meals, interactive clues, and suspense in a lakeside resort setting. Crack the case and mix mystery with Michigan charm.
Fort Fright – Mackinaw City (Colonial Michilimackinac)
- On October 2–3, explore the lantern-lit paths through an 18th-century fort and fur-trading village haunted by witches, werewolves, goblins, and ghosts. Storytellers share folktales by bonfires, and treats like hot cider, cookies, and candy await visitors.
Grand Hotel Haunted Maze & Trail
- Visit Grand Hotel’s Haunted Maze on October 16-17, or experience both the maze and Haunted Trail on October 23-24. These chilling attractions raise donations for Give Kids the World Village, making spooky fun support a great cause.
Haunted River Boat Tours in Sault Ste. Marie
- Set sail on a Haunted River Boat Tour in Sault Ste. Marie for ghostly stories and maritime lore. Tim Ellis and Brad Blair of the Upper Peninsula Paranormal Research Society share tales during the two-hour cruise along the lower St. Marys River on October 8.
Ghosts of Lighthouse Point in Marquette
- Marquette Maritime Museum’s Ghosts of Lighthouse Point brings Great Lakes figures to life October 8–10. Families with children 12 and younger tour from 7–8 p.m.; ages 13 and older enter from 8–10. Tickets are $8–$15 plus canned food, benefiting the museum and NMU Food Bank.
Destinations with a Mix of Halloween Events
- Halloween in Saugatuck and Douglas brings the Felt Estate’s Paranormal Investigation with Adam Berry, Hauntings & History Nights, Spooky Tours, Family Halloween Pet Parade & Party, and trick-or-treating. Add haunted mansion tours, the Star of Saugatuck’s Boo’s Cruise, and Douglas’s Halloween Parade for Adults.
- Find Halloween outings on South Haven’s calendar, and download the latest Happenings in the Haven weekly flyer for additional local plans. On October 30, watch the Ride of the Headless Horseman pass through downtown for a spirited start to Halloween weekend along Lake Michigan.
- Hear local stories on a Kalamazoo Haunted History Walking Tour, or settle in to craft your own pumpkin lantern. Browse Discover Kalamazoo’s events calendar for more Halloween happenings and seasonal activities around the area.
Halloween in Holland
- Holland brings Downtown Trick-or-Treating, the new Not-So-Scary Boo Bash at Holland Ice Park, Día de los Muertos, and Boo at the Barn on October 24. Adults can also check the calendar for Sips after Midnight, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Fiesta de Halloween.
- Celebrate fall across the Grand Haven Area with Bones About Town and Witches & Warlocks, a Murder Mystery at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum, and Coopersville’s Pumpkin Train. Add Rasch Cherry & Apple Market’s Haunted Harvest Maze in Conklin and Pumpkins & Paddles in Spring Lake.
- Celebrate Halloween in West Central Michigan with Big Rapids’ Skeleton Skurry 5K and DBA Fall Fest on October 31. Reed City adds an October Art Showcase, Scarecrow Competition, Halloween Spooktacular, and Upton Block Party; Newaygo’s October 24 Scarecrow Stroll brings downtown trick-or-treating and voting.
Mackinac Island Halloween Weekend
- Mackinac Island’s Halloween Weekend, October 23–25, pairs fall scenery with the 30th annual Great Turtle Trail Run. Families can trick-or-treat downtown on Saturday, while adults enjoy costume parties and live music. Grand Hotel’s Haunted Trail & Maze adds reason to celebrate the seasonal finale.
Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses - Promote Michigan
- Explore eerie tales in Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses by Dianna Higgs Stampfler. This book features ghost stories from 13 historic beacons, including White River and Marquette Harbor. Live presentations are also offered at libraries and venues across the state this fall season.
