Halloween is right around the corner and every year Grand Rapids and neighboring towns hold events to help locals get in the holiday spirit. Here is a compiled list of what you don’t want to miss this season.
John Ball Zoo goes Boo
John Ball Zoo is hosting the “Zoo Goes Boo” event from Oct. 11-27. There will be 13 treat stations scattered across the zoo for children to trick or treat. Along with that, decorations will be set up for guests to browse. Tickets are $22.95 for adults and $16.95 for children 3-12 and seniors 62 and up. The zoo is located at 1300 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI.
Autumn Nights at Frederik Meijer Gardens
Every Tuesday in October, “Autumn Nights” will be held at Frederik Meijer Gardens. This event features the “Autumn glow garden” along with live music at the Amphitheatre, a pumpkin carving demonstration and food trucks. The event begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for children 3-13 and $15 for seniors 65 and up as well as students with a valid ID. On Oct. 28, there is also an event by the name of “Hallowee-ones” that will be for children to trick or treat in the Lena Meijer children’s garden from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can find Frederik Meijer Gardens at 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI.
Open Projector Night: Halloween Edition at Wealthy Theatre
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Wealthy Theatre at 1130 Wealthy St SE in Grand Rapids, invites you to attend a special edition of their open projector night. They will be showing short films made by local Michigan filmmakers, all in the Halloween genre (horror, thriller, etc.) Doors open at 6 p.m. and the films start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 for members and students.
Abandoned Acres Farm
Every Friday and Saturday in October, Abandoned Acres Farm is open to the public. There are three experiences to choose from, all being immersive haunted mazes with live actors and scary settings. Two of the three choices are haunted corn mazes, one being carnival themed. The third is titled: “The Old Eli Experience” and takes place indoors. Tickets can be purchased at the door at $35 per person. Abandoned Acres is located at 7737 Fruit Ridge Ave NW, Sparta, MI.
The Haunt
The Haunt is a walkthrough with live actors, strobe lights and scary scenes. In October, it is open from 6:30 -10:30 p.m. every Thursday and Sunday and from 6:30 -12 a.m. every Friday and Saturday. There is a special instance on Wednesday Oct. 30 where they will also be open until 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 each with a $5 discount on groups of 12 or more. The Haunt’s address is 1256 28th St SW, Wyoming MI.
New Salem Corn Maze
New Salem Corn Maze in Dorr doubles as a corn maze and pumpkin patch during the day and haunted attraction at night. They are open weekends in October. Daytime activities include a non-haunted corn maze , hayrides, as well as access to a pumpkin patch, playground and farm animals. Admission is $8 during this time. Nighttime activities include a walk through the haunted corn maze, wicked woods or twisted trail and the light spectacular. Tickets vary depending on which activity you choose. You can find New Salem at 4516 24th St Dorr, MI.
Grand Rapids Ghosts Tour
The “Grand Rapids Ghosts” hold tours beginning at 8 p.m. nightly at Riverwalk Promenade on Lyon St. The tour takes place for an hour and covers about a mile of the most haunted locations in downtown GR. Tickets to take part are $31 for adults and $21 for children.
Other local pumpkin patches and apple orchards
Robinette’s is over 100 years old and is open year round. It is home to a corn maze, petting zoo, wagon rides and more. It is located at 3142 4 Mile Rd NE, Grand Rapids Charter Township, MI.
Hill Bros houses award winning apple cider made from apples grown on their land. Here, you can pick a variety of different apples to take home. Their address is 6159 Peach Ridge Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI.
Wells has a “U-pick” pumpkin patch and sells cider, jams, fruit butter, salsa, pies, popcorn and dried fruit grown right on the farm. It is located at 8993 Kenowa Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI.
Open year round, their fall activities include a “U-Pick” pumpkin patch and “U-Pick” apples. They also have live music every friday and saturday, as well as a bounce pad, playground and corn maze. Their address is 3025 6 mile Rd, NW Grand Rapids, MI.
