We know…kids are expensive, so we’ve put together the top FREE events to enjoy as a family this month!

HAY DAY

Tuesday, October 2 / 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Heritage Park, Farmington

Hay! Check out these unbe-leaf-able activities: hayrides, pumpkin painting, hiking, bouncing on the bounce house, touring the Fire Department’s fire tuck, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs over Farmington Hills largest campfire, and watching the trees change color. Food, hayrides, and other items will be available for purchase.

FRANKLIN BIERGARTEN

Thursday, October 4 / 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Franklin Athletic Center, Southfield

Please join us at the Franklin Biergarten for Octoberfest! Featuring:, Cash Bar featuring Oktoberfest Beer, Pretzel Bar, Sausage, & Sauerkraut (available for purchase), Open Gym with Bounce Houses from 6-8pm (Ages 3-12), and Prizes and Giveaways!

SKELETONS ARE ALIVE LAUNCH PARTY

Friday, October 5 / 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

@ Downtown Northville

More than 100 life-sized themed Skeletons – created by Begonia Brothers of Northville – will once again come alive and inhabit Downtown Northville for the month of October. The Skeletons are Alive Launch Party takes place Friday, October 5 from 6-9 p.m. in Town Square as part of Downtown Northville’s spooktacular October in the ’Ville events for the whole family to enjoy.

PUMPKINFEST

Saturday, October 6 – Sunday, October 7

@ MSU Tollgate Farm Children’s Garden, Novi

Come, take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin. Food, music, farm animals, educational exhibits, and children’s activities all make for a fun fall outing for all ages.

HALLOWEEN GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Saturday, October 6 / 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Warren Civic Center Library

The Warren Civic Center Library will host the free program, “Halloween Gingerbread Houses.” Let’s get into the Halloween spirit and make some tasty yet spooky gingerbread houses.

HARVEST HAPPENING

Sunday, October 7 / 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

@ Hess-Hathaway Park, Waterford

An exciting annual event for the entire family! Hayrides, bake sale, craft vendors, entertainment, historical house tours, food concessions, Children’s area and much more.

MAYBURY FARM GREAT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Friday, October 12 / 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

@ Maybury Farm, Northville

Pumpkin themed activities for kids, face painting, corn maze, pumpkin painting, storytime and more! Fun for the whole family!

APPLEUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 13 / 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

@ Tecumseh

The leaves are falling from the trees, the morning air has a certain crispness to it, this can only mean one thing in Lenawee County; it’s time for Tecumseh’s Appleumpkin Festival.

PAW PATROL PARTY

Saturday, October 13 / 10:30 am – 11:30 am

@ Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham

Join us as we celebrate our favorite rescue dogs with stories, games, and crafts. For families with children of all ages. Registration required for the children.

BEGINNERS NIGHT OF STAR VIEWING

Saturday, October 13 / 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm

@ Maybury State Park, Northville

The Friends of Maybury are sponsoring a Beginner’s Night of Star Viewing at Maybury State Park. Come join us for an evening of wonder! The Ford Amateur Astronomy Club* will be setting up telescopes and will be on hand to assist members of the public who wish to bring their own telescopes.

PIPPIN’S PUPPETS: CRITTER CAPERS

Tuesday, October 16 / 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Royal Oak Public Library

Come frolic with furry forest friends in this lively puppet extravaganza! One sneaky fox, one fussy bunny, one chattery chipmunk, one mistake, one big chase, and one big SURPRISE will make for an uproarious adventure!

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN SHOW

Wednesday, October 17 / 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

@ Northville District Library

Scream in delight at the antics of Griselda the silly witch as she goofs up every trick she sets out to learn.  All ages welcome. 100 FREE TICKETS available today at the Information Desk five minutes prior to the event. All ages welcome.

TODDLER BOO BASH

Saturday, October 20 / 10:00 am – 11:15 am

@ Pleasant Ridge Community Center

Join us for a morning of Halloween FUN! Dress up in your most “Boo-tiful” Costumes and celebrate with music. Enjoy spooky snacks with friends, dance and make a Halloween Craft.

EASTPOINTE LIONS CLUB ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 20 / 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

@ East Brooke Commons, Eastpointe

The event includes free vision screenings for kids, child identification kits, pumpkin painting, pony rides, petting farm, refreshments, face painting, raffles, a fire truck/safety house (schedule permitting) and free goodie bags for the first 300 children.

STERLING FRIGHTS HALLOWEEN

Saturday, October 20 / 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

@ Dodge Park, Sterling Heights

Join us in Dodge Park on October 20th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for our annual “Sterling Frights” Halloween event for Sterling Heights children 12 years of age and younger. We will have live music, a straw maze, hay rides, cider & donuts, goodie bags for all participants, inflatable activities for the young participants and a free pumpkin for the first 400 participants. Dress for the weather as this is an outdoor event and don’t forget your camera!

BOO-A-PALOOZA!

Saturday, October 20 / 10:30 am – 11:30 am

@ Waterford Township Public Library

Come dressed in your costumes for stories and crafts. Then visit the librarian at the desk for a sweet surprise!  Photo ops with legendary monsters on site. No registration required.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 20 / 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve, New Boston

Enjoy a beautiful hayride along a forested trail and gather around the bonfire for kid-friendly stories while enjoying cider, hot chocolate and donuts. You can also demonstrate your pumpkin carving skills, try out our fall crafts and games and even participate in a scavenger hunt.

TRICK OR TREAT DOWNTOWN AND HALLOWEEN MOVIES

Saturday, October 20 / 3:30 pm – 9:30 pm

@ Downtown Rochester

Join us for a fun filled day in Downtown Rochester with Trick-or-Treat, a Costume Parade, Firehouse Fun and a Halloween edition of Movies in the Moonlight!

PUMPKIN PALOOZA

Sunday, October 21 / 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

@ Downtown Plymouth

Come and enjoy a safe and haunted Halloween experience. Pumpkin Palooza is a family fun Halloween extravaganza with games, costume contests, dancing, entertainment, petting zoo, and candy.

PLEASANT RIDGE HALLOWEEN HAYRIDE

Sunday, October 21 / 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

@ Gainsboro Park, Pleasant Ridge

All residents are welcome-no reservations needed! Join in on the family fun with hayrides thru town, “wax hands”, pony rides & petting farm and yummy fall treats! Hayride will stop at Ameriprise for more fun activities. This event is sure to get your family in the Fall mood!

MONSTER MASH BASH

Monday, October 22 / 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

@ Southfield Public Library

Have a monsterously good time dancing to Halloween inspired hits and munching creepy treats. Family friendly costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded.

PRESCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARADE

Tuesday, October 23 / 10:30 am – 11:30 am

@ Sterling Heights Library

Stop in for our annual Halloween parades! Children in 6th grade and younger are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes and join us for some Halloween stories, a trick-or-treat parade, and a short Halloween movie.

MONSTERS AND MAYHEM

Wednesday, October 24 / 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

@ Clinton – Macomb Main Library

Join us for a (not so) scary good time! Monsters and mayhem will take over the library for some creepy crafts, ghostly games, and spooky stories. Costumes are encouraged! No registration is required.

HALLOWEEN AT THE Y

Friday, October 26 / 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

@ Boll Family YMCA, Detroit

This October the Y is hosting our annual Halloween at the Y event, where families are invited to celebrate Halloween in a safe and fun environment. We offer a craft room, haunted house, obstacle course, and other fun games made for kids under 12. Join us for a spook-tacular event, and don’t forget your costume!

TRUNK OR TREAT

Friday, October 26 / 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

@ Waterford Recreation Center

Happy Halloween!!  Families and local businesses will be passing out candy in our parking lot to trick-or-treaters!  Please let us know if you plan on attending and/or willing to pass out candy. This will help us have a count for candy.

LCSO’S PUBLIC SAFETY TRUNK OR TREAT

Friday, October 26 / 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Livingston County MI Sheriff’s Office, Howell

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting its second Public Safety Trunk or Treat. Join us for a night of Free and Safe Halloween Fun.

TWEEN & TEEN HALLOWEEN LOCK-IN

Friday, October 26 / 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

@ Baldwin Public Library

The library is turning into a haunted house and it needs spooky actors. Please wear dark clothes or a creepy costume. The library has some masks available to borrow. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Ages 13-18, registration and signed permission slip are required.

13TH ANNUAL SPOOKTACULAR

Saturday, October 27 / 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

@ Downtown Auburn Hills

Downtown merchants will be handing out candy and goodies! Bring the kids in costume for a frightfully good time! ALL children must be accompanied by an adult. This event is FREE and will be held rain or shine.

STREETS OF TREATS

Saturday, October 27 / 9:30 am – 11:30 am

@ Downtown Northville

Please join Northville in this Halloween Tradition. Free Event, Open to the Public. Kids’ Costume Parade begins at the Northville Community Center, 303 West Main Street, at 9:30am and walks into downtown, with a special parade escort by Preservation Dental’s Tooth Fairy.

BOO AT THE NATURE CENTER

Saturday, October 27 / 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

@ Belle Isle Nature Center

This annual event invites children to wear costumes and bring treat bags – Halloween goodies are provided to all who attend. Guests are asked to join the Detroit Zoological Society on its green journey by bringing their own treat bags; bags are not handed out at the event.

HALLOWEEN STORY TIME AND DOWNTOWN TRICK OR TREATING

Saturday, October 27 / 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

@ Farmington Community Library

Join us for some fun, not so scary stories, crafts and activities. Trick or Treating begins in Downtown Farmington at 2 p.m. Library Staff will be in front of the Sunflour Bakehaus.

HARVESTFEST

Saturday, October 27 / 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

@ Dequindre Cut Greenway, Detroit

Celebrate fall along the beautiful Dequindre Cut at the 4th Annual HarvestFest Detroit, a FREE day of family fun, hosted by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.

RIVER RAISIN HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 27 / 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

@ Downtown Monroe

Join us for Trick or treating from 12noon – 2:00 p.m. LIVE Music, Costume Contest, Headless Horseman Carriage Rides and much more!

HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN DAY

Saturday, October 27 / 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

@ Beacon Park, Detroit

Bring the little ones in costume to Beacon Park’s free Halloween Family Fun Day for a howling good time complete with trick and treating, face painting, inflatables, make and take activities, cider and donuts, music and more.

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Saturday, October 27 / 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

@ Auburn Hills Public Library

Wear your costume and join us for a Halloween Party! Crafts, activities and trick-or-treating are all part of the fun. Bring a friend! This program is for ages 3-10. Registration is recommended for this event.

HALLOWEEN AT THE LIVONIA YMCA

Saturday, October 27 / 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Livonia Family YMCA

Join the Livonia Y for a spooktacular time! This event is free and open to everyone. We have arts n crafts, scary storytime, fun activities, a costume contest and a Haunted Locker room! This year’s theme is Monster Mash. Join us and tell your friends!

LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOWELL

Saturday, October 27 / 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Downtown Howell

Come to downtown Howell dressed in your Halloween best and experience the 16th Annual Legend of Sleepy Howell on Saturday, October 27th from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

BEVERLY HILLS HALLOWEEN HOOT

Sunday, October 28 / 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

@ Beverly Park

All children living in Beverly Hills are welcome to join in the festivities where they’ll enjoy TOPPING & GUTTING, PUMPKIN CARVING and TRICK OR TREATING!

ROYAL OAK SPOOKTACULAR

Sunday, October 28 / 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

@ Downtown Royal Oak

“Spooky Passes” will be available for purchase. This pass will give kids “Spooktacular” time with a trick or treat bag, cider, donuts, a professional photo, access to the bounce houses and pie pumpkin decorating.

TREATS IN THE STREETS

Sunday, October 28 / 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@ Detroit Historical Museum

Don’t miss one of our favorite days of the year! On Sunday, October 28, children aged 12 and younger can follow clues to explore the museum while searching out treats and games throughout the museum, enjoy free refreshments and make a Halloween craft to take home. We encourage everyone to come in costume! Also bring your own bag, pail or pillow case to collect your goodies.

BIRMINGHAM PUMPKIN PATCH & HALLOWEEN PARADE

Sunday, October 28 / 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

@ Shain Park, Birmingham

Dress your children in their Halloween costumes and let the fun begin! The Pumpkin Patch event is hosted by the Junior League of Birmingham. Stick around to march in the annual Birmingham Halloween Parade hosted by the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber at 4 p.m. at the corner of Bates and Martin near Shain Park.

DAY OF THE DEAD

Sunday, October 28 / 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

@ Novi Civic Center

Free community event with dance performances, fun crafts and activities, traditional costume dress-up opportunities and more! Procession to begin the event at the atrium!

TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL

Sunday, October 28 / 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

@ Clawson City Park

Children in costume, accompanied by an adult, are invited to trick or treat on the wood chip trail in the park. Trick or treat stations are provided by local businesses and groups. Bring a flashlight and bag for candy! Donuts and cider provided in the pavilion, following the trail.

CLAWSON FALL FESTIVAL

Tuesday, October 30 / 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

@ Clawson City Park

Head out to Clawson for an afternoon celebrating Fall – with hay rides, taste of Clawson, games and more. Fun for the whole family! Bonfire begins at 6 pm.

THE SPOOKTACULAR COMEDY SHOW WITH JOEL TACEY

Tuesday, October 30 / 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

@ Royal Oak Public Library

Bring the whole family for a merry, not scary, time of Halloween games, crafts, parades, dancing, stories, and trick-or-treating around the library. Wear your Halloween costume (or come as you are)! There are two floors of fun, so drop in anytime, but make sure to allow enough time to circulate to all of the activities.

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