Halloween Events in Northern Michigan

Walk-through haunted attractions, haunted corn mazes, and nighttime haunted trail experiences are popular throughout October. Several farms in the region run haunted barn attractions on weekends. Haunted hayrides and haunted trail experiences have appeared in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties in past years.

Community trunk-or-treat events in church parking lots, school lots, and parks offer families a structured alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating. These are common in smaller Northern Michigan communities and neighborhoods throughout October, typically on weekends leading up to the 31st.

Bars, restaurants, and breweries in Traverse City, Petoskey, and Charlevoix run Halloween costume contests on the weekends closest to October 31. Short's Brewing, local bars in downtown Traverse City, and Petoskey pub venues typically put on costume nights with prizes. Kids' costume contests also run at family venues and community events.

Farm and harvest festivals with pumpkin patches, hayrides, cider pressing, and fall activities run throughout October. Fruit farms in Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties often add fall activities for families. This is also the heart of apple cider season, with fresh-pressed cider available at farms across the region.

Guided ghost tours of historic downtown areas, old buildings, and cemetery walks are a growing October tradition in Northern Michigan. Traverse City has offered walking ghost tours through its historic downtown. The old State Hospital grounds in Traverse City are a recurring subject of Halloween-themed events.

Bars, breweries, and music venues host themed Halloween parties across multiple weekends in October. These often include DJ sets, live music, and costume prizes. The Traverse City bar scene and breweries are especially active Halloween weekend, with events sometimes running Thursday through Saturday.