With fall officially in full swing, we’re ushering in the peak of spooky season. To celebrate, we’ve gathered up a shortlist of some of the most frightful (and delightful) events you won’t want to miss this season in West Michigan.
Downtown Holland Fall Fest
Downtown Holland | October 2-3
The Downtown Holland Fall Fest features two days of fall fun, hosted in partnership with the Holland Farmers Market, Tulip Time, and Windmill Island Gardens. During Fall Fest, the entire community is invited to celebrate everything there is to love about fall, with professional pumpkin carving, children’s activities, tasting tours, an artisan makers market, hayrides, a Touch a Truck event, and more!
The Proost! Fall Tasting Tour is an all-new addition to this year’s Fall Fest, also hosted by Tulip Time. The Proost! Tasting Tour is a spirited walking journey through Downtown Holland that blends local flavor with Dutch charm. This 21+ experience invites guests to stroll on a guided tour between three festive stops, each offering a curated selection of three 3 oz. alcoholic pours, thoughtfully paired with small bites.
Photos courtesy of Downtown Holland.
SS Badger ’90s Themed Murder Mystery Night
Ludington | October 3
At this ’90s Themed Murder Mystery Night on October 3, participants are encouraged to wear their favorite retro ’90s attire for a nostalgic, interactive investigation. Grab your friends, dress to kill, and get ready for an interactive dockside party of new memories to last a lifetime. As the clues unfold, you’ll mingle, investigate, and help solve an engaging whodunnit. Tickets are $45 a person, and a cash bar will be available.
Dolly Parton Corn Maze
Robinette’s Apple Haus | Now – first weekend in November
In honor of the forever iconic American treasure Dolly Parton, Robinette’s is among 20 farms around the country hosting a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze! Created specifically to honor Dolly Parton and the 31st anniversary of her Imagination Library, the 6.5-acre corn maze costs $10.50 (children from 0-2 are free) with a portion of each ticket sale supporting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of West Michigan, Early Bird Books.
“I think getting a little bit lost can be a whole lot of fun and I hope everyone has the best time wandering through the maze, making memories, and enjoying a little country magic,” Dolly said prior to her passing. “I’m especially grateful for the support of my Imagination Library and am excited to invite people out to get lost in this year’s country music corn maze for a little fun, laughter and a real good reason to get lost.”
Black Cat Bazaar
Speciation Artisan Ales | October 18
Join the fun on Saturday, October 18 from 7-11 p.m. at Speciation Cellars for a dark art market, tarot, spooky photo sessions, live music, costume contest, and wicked special drinks. This 21+ and up event is free to attend and even has its own exclusive Black Cat Bazaar beer.
Zoo Goes Boo
John Ball Zoo | October 16-18, 23-25 and 30-November 1
Zoo Goes Boo returns this fall with three weekends of Halloween adventures for families, transforming the Zoo into a festive destination filled with trick-or-treating, larger-than-life characters, live entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to get into the Halloween spirit. Guests can follow the Halloween fun throughout the Zoo, with 13 twisted treat stations offering a variety of Halloween goodies. Between candy stops, visitors can encounter spooky decorations and enjoy entertainment including magicians, fire dancers, villains, and more. Guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up and show off their favorite costumes. Those who arrive without one can still join the fun with festive face painting available at the Zoo. For trick-or-treaters with food allergies, allergy-friendly treats will be available. Guests can look for teal pumpkins at designated treat stations and request a special token that can be exchanged for allergy-friendly options at a specialty booth.
Photos courtesy of John Ball Zoo.
Bones About Town
Downtown Grand Haven | October 1-24
Some might view Grand Haven as a quiet lakeshore town in October, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Beware—the town is teeming with skeletons! Gather round for for Bones About Town, where over 150 five-foot decorated skeletons will be displayed throughout the community. This festive event runs from October 1 to 23, and culminates in a lively Fall Festival on the streets of Downtown and Centertown Grand Haven on October 24. Skeletons will be judged by popular vote in three categories: originality, funniest, and spookiest. Voting will be open daily until noon on October 23!
‘Mums at Meijer Gardens’ and ‘Autumn Weekends’
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | Various dates
Discover the magic of Mums at Meijer Gardens, where more than 8,000 chrysanthemums create Michigan’s largest mums display, transforming the gardens into a breathtaking autumn spectacle unlike anything else in the state. Then, make the most of the season during Autumn Weekends, where crisp fall days, vibrant color, and family-friendly fun come together to create lasting memories and new traditions. Autumn Weekends bring fall to life with festive traditions, hands-on family activities, and immersive experiences throughout the gardens.
Oddities on Ottawa
Garage Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids | October 24
Monroe North hotspot Garage Bar & Grill is once again hosting its Halloween-inspired block party “Oddities on Ottawa” on Ottawa Avenue between Mason and Newberry Street. The third year of the event promises to feature live music, DJs, food trucks, beer and food tents, local vendors at the “Merchant Hollows,” a costume contest, and more.
Douglas Halloween Parade
Downtown Douglas | October 31
This year marks the 28th Annual Douglas Halloween Parade for Adults! Each year this event draws tens of thousands of people to witness an extravaganza of creativity in costuming and performing arts. Show up early to shop around Saugatuck and Douglas and grab a bite to eat before enjoying the spooky parade down Center Street—or participating in it yourself!
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.