If you’ve got your costume planned, spooky decorations hung and treats purchased, there’s only one thing left to do before you celebrate Halloween: Pick a party. We’ve got plenty of recommendations for events happening all weekend long, as well as family-friendly celebrations around the city. (Think of all the candy you could collect!)
We’ve also got festivities, art and a market to celebrate Día de los Muertos, and plenty to do if you’re not feeling the holidays. Think cat videos, a Caribbean dinner and some help upping your houseplant game as the weather makes us head indoors.
Here’s your Get Busy roundup, featuring the best things to do around Detroit this weekend, on Halloween and beyond.
Treats and family-friendly frights with the kiddos
🎃 There’s a lot happening this year for All Hallow’s Eve, and as much as we love spooky ghouls and goblins, we can’t forget about our little boos who are going to be celebrating with us. From local trunk-or-treating to fall festivals, here are activities the entire family can enjoy.
Friday-Sunday: Watch “Hocus Pocus” at The Henry Ford. Tickets start at $7.50.
Saturday: City of Detroit’s Halloween in the D Fall Fest with “Barbie Zone,” zip line, rock climbing, carnival rides and more at Clark Park. Free.
Saturday: Halloween at the Bailey Park NDC Hub with a haunted maze, petting zoo and more. Free.
Saturday: Brightmoor Trunk or Treat at Brightmoor Artisans Collective. Free.
Sunday: Halloween in the D Scare Fest at Palmer Park, with zombie laser tag, a dog costume parade, haunted hay rides and more. Free.
Tuesday: Halloween in the D Trunk or Treat at 18 police precincts and fire stations across the city. Free.
Tuesday: Halloween in the D Halloween activities at 11 recreation centers. Free.
Tuesday: Ella Fitzgerald Park Trunk or Treat. Free.
Halloween parties for the adults
😈 If you need an excuse to don an eye-catching outfit and dance the night away, this is your weekend. Halloween parties take over our fave venues, with haunting DJ sets, ’80s vibes and a beloved covers show — plus “The Rocky Horror Show,” tarot readings, drag, bowling and more.
Friday: WDET’s Jon Moshier hosts a rock-and-roll horror show with The Hentchmen and The 3-D Invisibles at Cadieux Cafe. $20.
Friday: Dress to scare at the Scream party at Masonic Temple, with DJs, stilt-walkers, aerialists and a host of other entertainers. $20+.
Friday-Saturday: Opera MODO and Marche du Nain Rouge take on “The Rocky Horror Show” with performers at an immersive mansion show in Boston Edison. $30-$45.
Saturday: Show off your monster mash on skates at MeanRed and Sleep Olympics’ Lexus Velodrome party, with sounds from Shawescape Renegade and others. $18.54.
Saturday: Head to Tangent Gallery in Milwaukee Junction for Samhain XXIII and a transformative party that won’t stop until 5 a.m., featuring T4T LUV NRG’s mobile sound rig. $35+.
Saturday: Thirst Wave + Industrial Is Not Dead’s Halloween Bash will take over Small’s in Hamtramck for post-punk, new wave, goth industrial and other dark and retro grooves, with prizes for the best costumes. $5+.
Saturday: The iconic Theatre Bizarre party is off this year, but you can still join the crew for a macabre costume party featuring the Theatre Bizarre Orchestra at the Loving Touch in Ferndale. $20-$25.
Sunday: MotorCity Wine hosts Tainted Love, an ’80s Halloween dance party in Corktown. Free.
Sunday: Hamtramck’s New Dodge Lounge hosts The Witching Hour, with poetry by candlelight, tarot readings and mystical vendors. $10+.
Tuesday: Enjoy the Dollhouse of Horror drag show at Time Will Tell in New Center, with a costume contest and free cocktail. $45, a portion of proceeds goes to Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center.
Tuesday: Cheaper Creepy returns to Lager House in Corktown, a beloved covers show featuring local bands channeling The Violent Femmes, The Pixies and more. $10.
Tuesday: Have a retro, PG-rated, good time singing and bowling your heart out at SCARYaraoke at Bowlero Lanes & Lounge in Royal Oak. No cover.
Día de los Muertos
🇲🇽 Although el Día de los Muertos is celebrated close to Halloween, the two are not to be confused or conflated. The Mexican holiday is a day where families gather to welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones, honoring them with ofrendas (altars) and their favorite foods and drinks. Here are a few places to celebrate and learn more about the holiday.
Open through Nov. 5: The Detroit Institute of Arts annual exhibit “Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos.” Free museum admission for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
Saturday: Día de los Muertos celebration at Robert C. Valade Park on the riverfront. Free.
Sunday: Día de los Muertos at Woodmere Cemetery in Springwells. Free.
Wednesday: Day of the Dead celebration at Detroit Public Library’s main branch, featuring stories, crafts and a performance from Ballet Folklorico. Free.
Thursday: Inaugural Día de los Muertos Tianguis/Festival at La Jalisciense Supermercado y Taqueria in Southwest Detroit, with an outdoor market, community ofrenda and music. $5-$10.
Even more
🖼️ MOCAD curators and artists revisit “Vision in a Cornfield,” a memorable 2012 exhibit from the museum. Join them on Thursday for a panel discussion. $10 suggested donation.
🥘 On Friday, enjoy modern Caribbean eats at Frame in Hazel Park with chef Lester Gouvia after his restaurant Norma G’s (mostly) closed this summer. $60.
🐱 The latest edition of CatVideoFest comes to the Detroit Film Theatre Friday-Sunday, bringing the experience of scrolling through adorable pet TikToks to a more communal, big screen. $8.50-$10.50.
🪴 Keep that green thumb growing this fall. Join Michigan State University Extension’s Lindsey Kerr on Saturday afternoon at the Detroit Public Library Jefferson Branch for an introduction to house pants. Register to save your place. Free.
🏮 🦉 Lace up your boots and head to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton for a Glow Hike on Saturday night. Team leaders will provide red lanterns to light your way without disturbing the wildlife. Free.
🐶 🧘🏽 Enhance a rejuvenating yoga session with the positive power of puppies as Rebel Dogs Detroit hosts a Puppy Yoga fundraiser on Saturday at Detroit Body Garage on the eastside. $35.
🐕 🍂 Return to the Detroit Body Garage with your canine companion on Sunday for pumpkin painting and treats for humans and pets alike at Rebel Dogs Detroit’s Pumpkins for Puppies Fall Festival. $15-$20.
🍺 Get your tickets to the Michigan Brewers Guild’s annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival, Sunday at Eastern Market. Your $55 ticket includes 15 tokens for beer samples. Designated driver tickets are $10.