2019 Halloween Happenings

by Aya Khalil

DON’T MISS THESE FUN FALL EVENTS

MacQueens Apple Stir and Crafts festival
Oct. 5 and Oct. 6, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
7605 Garden Rd., Holland
macqueenorchards.com
This yearly event will have barrel train rides for the children, a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables and children’s performances. Make sure to taste the funnel cakes and donuts and to pick your own apples!

Pumpkin Extravaganza at Erie Orchards and Cider Mills
Oct. 5 and Oct. 6, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Johnston1235 E. Erie Rd., Erie, MI
erieorchards.com
Time for pumpkin-picking this weekend at Erie Orchards and Cider Mills. There will be hayrides, a corn maze, pony rides and more. Sip on cider and munch on donuts during this fun family- friendly event.

43rd Annual Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest
Oct. 13, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Downtown Grand Rapids, Ohio
applebutterfest.org
This fest covers all of the bases: live music, food and historical reenactments along the Maumee River. This event draws in 40,000 visitors every year. Parking is $15 to help fund local nonprofit groups and school activities.

Little Boo at the Zoo
Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
2 Hippo Way | toledozoo.org/boo
Toddlers and preschoolers can enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the zoo while they admire our Toledo Zoo animals. Crafts, games, puppet shows and character meet and greets will keep everyone entertained! The Zoo provides perfect Halloween activities without being too spooky for young children.

Coco Movie Night
Oct. 18, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center
1225 Broadway St, Toledo
sqacc.org
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with family and friends. Admission is free. There will be a concession stand with Mexican pastries, candy, walking tacos and more.

Fall Festival: Truck or Treat at The Shops of Fallen Timbers
Oct. 19, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
3100 Main St., Maumee
theshopsatfallentimbers.com
Enjoy a fun afternoon at The Shops of Fallen Timbers filled with activities and food. Trick-or-treating will be at large vehicles. The event will take place in front of Dillard’s at the mall’s main entrance.

Sylvania Fall Festival
Oct. 20, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Main Street, Downtown Sylvania
sylvaniachamber.org/sylvania-fall-festival
Hosted by Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce, this Sylvania tradition is fun for all ages. Craft and food vendors, a parade, and performances will keep everyone entertained at the 34th annual festival.

Haunted Escape at Toledo Lucas County Public Library
Oct. 22, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
3340 Dustin Road, Oregon, OH
events.toledolibrary.org/event/2184902
Attend this Haunted Escape event at Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s Oregon branch — a perfect event for teens looking for a creepy challenge. Participants will solve puzzles to unlock clues and make their escape. Make sure to check out some spooky books afterwards!

Halloween BOO! Cruise
Oct. 24-27, see website to schedule
The Sandpiper, 1 Jefferson Ave, Toledo
sandpiperboat.com
Book a spooky Halloween cruise for the family this October! There will be festive Halloween activities and treats during the 30-minutes cruise. Prices range from $5 to $8/person.

Olander Park Halloween Hike
Friday, Oct. 26, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
6930 W. Sylvania Ave., Sylvania
olanderpark.com
Bring your family and friends for the 22nd annual Halloween Hike! Kids 12 and under will enjoy treats and story-telling. This is one of the park’s most popular events of the year.

OctoBOOfest
Oct. 26, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Downtown Perrysburg
downtownperrysburg.org/events
OctoBOOfest is back for their third Harry Potter event with a Horcrux scavenger hunt, costume contests, performances, trick or treating and more! Some of your favorites businesses will look like you walked into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Sponsored by the Perrysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and Mercy Health.

Children’s Halloween Pizza Train with Count Wakula
Oct. 27, 4:30PM boarding with 5:00PM departure
Blissfield, MI | murdermysterydinnertrain.com
Includes a 2-hour train ride, costume contest, pizza, salad, bread sticks, donuts and cider with a performance by Magician Count Wakula!

17th Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Saturday, Oct. 12, 10am-6pm.
Visit the farm and garden center in Holland for the 17th annual festival. Activities include games, crafts, straw maze, pumpkin and face painting indoors, and a petting zoo, hayrides, pumpkin patch, and pony rides, and local food vendors outdoors. Hoen’s Garden Center, 1710 Perrysburg/Holland Rd., Holland. 419-865-6566. hoensgardencenter.com
Free

Scarecrow Workshop & Contest
Tuesday, Oct.15, 5-7pm.
Create a fun or scary scarecrow using provided materials. Bring your own clothes to use. Prizes up to $100 will awarded. Register to enter. 5-7:30pm. Wood County Historical Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green. 419-352-0967.
woodcountyhistory.org Free

Trunk or Treat
Tuesday, Oct.15, 6-8pm.
Get spooky at this fun family event. The metroparks will have treats hidden around the park, storytime, and
a scavenger hunt. Toledo Botanical, 5403 Elmer Dr. 419-270-7500.
metroparkstoledo.com
Free

Ghosts of Providence
Friday, Oct. 18, 7pm.
The Towpath Trail will be visited by ghosts of the past! Take a guided hike encountering historical reenactors as they share their spooky tales of pioneer life in Ohio. The event will be hosted throughout the month of October. $7. 7pm. Providence Metropark, 13801 S. River Rd., Grand Rapids.
419-407-9700. metroparkstoledo.com

at the Zoo
Saturday, Oct. 19 & Sunday, Oct. 20, 10am-4pm.
Visit the Zoo for a spooky walk through the campus. Encounter costumed characters, trick or treating, magic shows, bounce houses and more. $8-$18 plus admission.
Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way.
419-385-5721. toledozoo.org/seniors
Free

Annual Fall Festival
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 4-9pm.
The Historical Museum will host its annual fall festival. Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, scarecrow and carved pumpkins on display, a cider press demonstration, and tricks and treats for all ages. Wood County Historical Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green. 419-352-0967.
woodcountyhistory.org
Free

Howl-O-Ween at ONWR
Saturday Oct. 26, 1-3pm
The boardwalk loop will be decorated and costumed volunteers will be passing out treats. Kids will answer a nature question at each station in order to get their treats! It’s a fun trick-or-treating event that’s also educational! Spooky storytime and a crafts station will also take place in the Visitor Center.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 14000 OH-2, Oak Harbor.
419-898-0014. friendsofottawanwr.org
Free

THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

Country Lane Tree Farm
3525 N. Bolander Rd., Genoa.
419-461-1298 | countrylanetreefarm.com
Facebook: @CountryLaneTreeFarm & @PanicInThePines

The big-time Family Favorites winner— who earned the titles of Best Place for an Outdoor Birthday Bash, Best Horseback Lessons, and runner-up for the Summer Day Camp, Family Activity and Animal Encounter categories— will be home to autumn activities and fall fun throughout October. 

From 11am-4pm on Saturdays and Sunday in October, the Family Fall Festival offers interactive animal encounters, hayrides to a U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, a straw maze, corn wagon, corn cannon, an animal tour where kids can milk a cow, hold baby ducks, chickens and bunnies, the opportunity to feed larger animals, and more family-friendly fall day activities. Admission is $10 per child and $5 per adult and includes every single activity on the farm. Pumpkins cost $0.30 per pound. 

For thrill-seekers, adventure into the Panic in the Pines Haunted Hayride, Trail and Woods for some seasonal screams on every Saturday in October. Ticket sales begin at 7pm, with the last ticket sold at 10pm. Tickets are $20 each and include all three attractions. The first hayride of the night begins at 8pm. For more info, visit panicinthepines.com. This attraction is not recommended for young children but is a blast for teens and adults. 

Boyd’s Retro Candy
954 Phillips Ave, Toledo
boydsretrocandy.com
One way to guarantee you’re the coolest house on the block this Halloween? Handfuls of candy from Boyd’s Retro Candy! Be the only ones in the ‘hood handing out Bulls Eyes, wax bottles, Razzles, candy buttons and more.

Cedar Point Halloweekends
1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky
419-627-2350 | cedarpoint.com/halloweekends
At Cedar Point’s annual Halloweekends, guests will be scared silly from haunted mazes, live shows and outdoor scare zones. Check the website for the select dates and times. For the little ones, not-so-spooky activities will be at The Great Pumpkin Fest on Saturdays and Sundays. Enjoy arts and crafts, mazes and trick-or-treating.

The Corn Maze at Wheeler Farms
11455 Obee Rd, Whitehouse
419-872-1731 | wheelerfarms.com/corn-maze
There are four mazes at Wheeler Farms with different designs every year, and visitors are welcome to try all four mazes or just one. Pop into the adjacent Butterfly House to see hundreds of beautiful butterflies. Rates vary from $8 to $10 depending on age. Those under 3 are free. Open Fridays 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Saturday noon – 11:00 PM, Sunday
noon – 8:00 PM.

Fleitz Pumpkin Farm
7133 Seaman Rd, Oregon
419-836-7613 | fleitzpumpkinfarm.com
Fleitz Pumpkin Farm offers several corn mazes: a free mini corn maze, a one-acre corn maze and a five-acre corn maze. After or in lieu of the maze, kids can hop in the corn sandbox and enjoy a hayride. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM until Oct. 31.

Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm
13639 Mulberry Rd, Ottawa Lake
517-486-2237 | gustbrothers.com
Spend the day at Gust Brother’s Pumpkin Farm this fall picking out your favorite pumpkins, squash and gourds. Make sure to check out the farm animals and get some warm donuts and apple cider slushies. Free parking. Open from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily. Hayrides on Saturday and Sunday.

Johnston Fruit Farms
2790 Airport Hwy, Swanton
johnstonfruitfarms.com
Johnston Fruit Farms has apple and pumpkin picking, fresh donuts, and even a petting zoo! If you’re lucky, there might be a few sunflowers available for picking, which includes the vase. A not-so-spooky family excursion with all the fall feels.

Kackleberry Farm
6421 North Stoney Creek Rd, Monroe, MI
734-240-0825 | kackleberryfarm.com
Spend the perfect day at Kackleberry Farm: reserve a bonfire to stay warm, walk the 12-acres of corn maze, shop and eat. Enjoy the pumpkin patch, barrel train rides, hayride, Little Farmers Playland and more. Prices start at $8. Thursdays from 5PM – 10 PM, Fridays 5PM – 11 PM, Saturdays noon – 11 PM and Sundays noon – 10 PM.

ScreamAcres Haunted Attractions
0064 Co Rd 16, Napoleon
419-599-1570 | screamacres.com
Walk through ScreamAcres haunted fields, filled with terrifying monsters and research specimens that broke loose and mauled everyone around them! The PanDEMONium Project is a haunted, high-action activity for teens and adults. If those are too scary, head on over to the Barnyard for fun activities for children: face-painting, inflatables, pumpkin-picking and plenty of food options as well. See website for dates and times as they vary.

Trabbic Family Pumpkin Farm
1560 E Sterns Rd, Erie, MI
734-848-4049 | trabbicpumpkinfarm.com
Trabbic Family Pumpkin Farm is a year-round working farm with over 40 acres of pumpkins. The whole family will enjoy this farm that has been in the business for over 100 years with rides, donuts, cider, animals and a corn maze.

HALLOWEEN MONSTER MASH PARTY

How to throw a party that will be a graveyard smash
By Raegan Nelson

With minimal cost and resources, you can host the best Monster Mash Halloween party for kids of all ages. Get the scoop on these simple decorations, snacks, and activities to create the most Spooktacular event for all the little monsters in your life.

Party Decorations

Monster Door
Using craft paper, tape, and paper plates, transform your door into an adorably scary monster. Experiment with several eyes, crazy-colored hair or silly teeth.

door

Monster Garland
These easy monster garlands are the perfect way to decorate for all of your ghoulish guests.

Supplies

  • Craft feather boa
  • Hot glue gun
  • Smooth foam balls
  • Googly eyes
  • Twine or string

Directions
1. Cut the length of the boa that you need to wrap around the outside of the foam ball.
2. Using a hot glue gun, glue the boa around the circumference of the ball, leaving the middle open to make the eyeball.
3. Glue the googly eye to the middle of the white, exposed circle.
4. Glue the backside of the eyeball to twine or string so the eyes don’t move around.

Monster Snacks

Monster Rice Krispie Treats
Dip your rice krispie treats into different colored candy melts and decorate with candy eyes for monster-ific treats.

Rice-Krispie-Treat-Monsters_150

Monster Sandwiches
Grab a circular cookie cutter and all your favorite fixings to throw together the cutest monster sandwich all the kids will love. Between the two circles of bread and meat, add cheese teeth by simply cutting jagged edges around half of a slice of cheese. Add eyes by putting olives on toothpicks and inserting into your sandwich.

Spooky Crafts

Paper Bag Monsters
Using the folded side a paper lunch bag, decorate using anything you have around- googly eyes, pom poms, scrap paper, paint, sequins, etc. Turn the fold of the paper bag into the monster face by adding eyes to the top and teeth or a tongue under the flap.

Monster-Bags_150

Monster Headbands
To help the kids get into character, grab a few plain plastic headbands, glue on some pom poms, and add a few googly eyes.

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