There are so many ways to make October magical for little ones. Washtenaw County offers a variety of family-friendly events all month long! Read on to learn more about the haunts and happenings around the Ann Arbor area.

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Leslie Science & Nature Center

Get ready for a night of not-so-spooky Halloween fun on Saturday, October 24!

Animal Haunts returns to Leslie Science & Nature Center for a family-friendly Halloween celebration filled with costumes, live animals, spooky science, crafts, games and fall fun. This candy-free tradition is the perfect way to celebrate the season together, with plenty to explore and discover for the whole family.

What to Expect:

• Explore Black Pond Woods on the Mystery Hike and meet costumed characters
• Visit live animals at the Critter House
• Experiment with spooky science
• Create a harvest craft to take home
• Enjoy games and activities at the Harvest Carnival

Choose your session:

• Daylight Session: 4–6:30pm
• Twilight Session: 6:30–8:30pm

Come dressed in your favorite costume and enjoy Halloween without the scares! Whether you’re bringing kids, grandparents, siblings, or friends, Animal Haunts is a fun fall tradition full of discovery and Halloween memories.

More Halloween and fall events

Ongoing

Glenlore Trails’ Fall Forest Walk “CARNEVIL 2”

A reimagined family-friendly Halloween forest walk with immersive lights, interactive games, and carnival-inspired fun. Ticketed.

Glenlore Trails, 3860 Newton Rd., Commerce

Night Terrors – Michigan’s Premier Haunted Thrill Park

A haunted thrill park packed with terrifying attractions for those who love a serious scare. Expect a full night of frights designed for brave visitors seeking an immersive Halloween haunt experience.

Wiard’s Orchards, 5565 Merritt Rd., Ypsilanti

Monster Matinees

Classic horror double features on the big screen, with Dracula, Frankenstein and other iconic monsters, plus live Halloween music between screenings.

Michigan Theater, 603 E Liberty St., Ann Arbor

Friday, Oct. 2

YPSIWEEN Street Festival

A Halloween street festival taking over downtown with art, music, food and performances to kick off the season.

Downtown Ypsi, Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti

Saturday, Oct. 3

Autumn Days: Harvest Kickoff

A fall harvest kickoff at a petting farm with carnival games, bounce house, giant bowling and pumpkins for sale. Saturday adds face painting and Kona Ice.

The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms, 3001 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor

2026 Apple Daze

A downtown fall festival with a classic car show, live music, pie contest, wagon rides, kids games and free vision screenings.

Monument Park, 8031 Main St., Dexter

Scio Fall Fun Festival

A free community fall festival with children’s activities, food, crafts and games.

Scio Community Church, 1293 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor

PumpkinFest 2026 at Tollgate Farm

A festive fall day on a 160-acre farm with wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, farm animals, live music, food and many hands-on activities.

Tollgate Farm and Education Center of MSU Extension, 28115 Meadowbrook Rd., Novi

MOOnster Mash 2026

Celebrate the spookiest season of the year at the annual MOOnster Mash! Guests can enjoy delicious plant-based food from local businesses, sweet treats, and plenty of fun for the whole family. Kids can trick-or-treat at festive stations, have their faces painted and show off their Halloween costumes for a chance to win a prize.

Animal lovers can also get up close with some of the farm’s adorable residents through the Pig, Goat or Potbelly Experiences. If you plan to participate, be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

All food served on the property is plant-based, and outside food containing animal products is not permitted. Please note that this is a human-only event, so animal companions must stay home.

Ticketed.

Barn Sanctuary, 20179 McKernan Rd., Chelsea

Trunk or Treat at PineView Church

A family-friendly trunk-or-treat event at a church, with decorated trunks, cider, donuts, hot dogs and a hayride for kids.

PineView Church, 6400 Textile Rd., Ypsilanti

Sunday, Oct. 4

Fall Family Day at the Kelsey!

A free family afternoon at the Kelsey Museum with scavenger hunts, stories, crafts and hands-on activities for kids.

The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, 434 S. State St., Ann Arbor

Panda Camp Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat

A family-friendly fall festival with trunk-or-treating, community vendors and space for small businesses.

Panda Fit, 1501 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor

Monday, Oct. 5

Make It Monday: Watercolor Witch Scene

A watercolor mixed-media workshop for creating a witchy landscape, setting a spooky-season mood. Registration required.

Saline District Library, 555 N Maple Rd., Saline

Saturday, Oct. 10

Fall Festival at County Farm Park

A community fall festival with food trucks, local craft vendors, pumpkin displays, apple tasting, yard games and family-friendly activities.

County Farm Park, 2230 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor

Trick or Trick Story Trail

Families can dress up and trick-or-treat along the trail at Heritage Park, visiting more than 30 treat stations throughout the park. Ticketed.

Heritage Park, 1150 S. Canton Center, Canton

SASHA Farm’s Fall Fest and Chili Cook-Off

A vegan chili cook-off at a farm animal sanctuary with farm tours, live music, snow cones, and coffee treats. Taste and vote while meeting rescued animals.

Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary, 17901 Mahrle, Manchester

Sunday, Oct. 11

Halloween Cookie Decorating Class

A hands-on Halloween cookie decorating class where participants decorate six themed cookies using four icing colors, with step-by-step guidance and supplies to take home. 13+. Ticketed.

Yours Truly, 114 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti

Trick or Treat on the River

Paddle a canoe, kayak or pedal boat while trick-or-treating past costumed creatures along the river, with crafts, games, cider and donuts. Ticketed.

Gallup Park Canoe Livery, 3000 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor

Spooktacular

Celebrate the 6th annual Spooktacular with a free community event featuring pizza, popcorn, donuts and family-friendly fun.

Milan Area Historical Society, 775 County St., Milan

Monday, Oct. 12

Frankenwalnut Book Event

Meet Ann Arbor authors Don and Alex Hicks at a Halloween-themed children’s book event featuring a reading of Frankenwalnut, snacks and a book copy with proceeds benefiting Mott Children’s Hospital and The Trevor Project. Ticketed.

Zingerman’s Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Annual Trick or Treat on the Greens

A kid-friendly trick-or-treating event where children walk all 18 holes collecting treats from local businesses at each green.

Stone Mountain Family Fun Center, 1102 W. Russell Rd., Tecumseh

Saturday, Oct. 17

Autumn Days: Crafter’s & Little Crafter’s Market

A fall market featuring local artisans and young entrepreneurs, plus food, a spider launch activity, and seasonal fun at the farm.

The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms, 3001 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor

Pumpkin Patch in the Pool

Families can hunt for pumpkins in the Summit on the Park pool, enjoy open swim, then decorate pumpkins while enjoying apple cider and doughnuts. Registration is required.

LSummit on the Park, 46000 Summit Pkwy., Canton

Sunday, Oct. 18

Halloween Costume Swap

Pick out a gently used Halloween costume at the library’s free costume swap, with clean costumes accepted at any library location through Oct. 11 and no donation required to participate.

Ann Arbor District Library Downtown, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Saline Trunk or Treat

Families can enjoy a safe, accessible and family-friendly trunk-or-treat event with decorated vehicles and plenty of treats in downtown Saline.

Key Bank Parking Lot, 106 W. Michigan Ave., Saline

Friday, Oct. 23

Halloween Downtown at YDL Plaza

Celebrate Halloween at YDL-Michigan with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, putt-putt golf, a Spooky STEM Tent, community organizations and a visit from the BOO-kmobile.

YDL-Downtown, 229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti

Boo Bash

Families can enjoy a Halloween celebration featuring a pizza dinner, DJ and dancing, games, crafts, candy, a pumpkin hunt and a balloon drop. Registration is required.

Saline Recreation Center, 1866 Woodland Dr., Saline

A Huntrix Halloween

An interactive Halloween show for kids featuring Huntrix, with live performances, crafts, a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating and character meet-and-greets. Costumes encouraged. Ticketed.

Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave., Ann Arbor

Saturday, Oct. 24

Trunk or Treat at CMSAA

Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor hosts a free, family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat with decorated vehicles, candy, music, a costume contest and 50/50 raffle benefiting the school.

Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor Parking Lot, 5225 Jackson Rd., Ann Arbor

Autumn Days: Music & Fall Fun

Fall farm fun with live performances by the Saline Fiddlers, plus seasonal activities like Spider Launch and regular Autumn Days favorites.

The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms, 3001 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor

Drop-In Halloween Storytime & Craft for Ages 5 and Under

A drop-in Halloween storytime for ages 5 and under, with spooky books, songs, flannel board fun and a simple craft.

Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St., Dexter

The YPSI Halloween Festival

Celebrate Halloween at this fundraiser festival featuring spooky artisans, paranormal hosts, divination experts, witch performers, trick-or-treating, a magic show and an evening bluegrass concert, with children 13 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult.

The Ypsilanti Performance Space, 218 N. Adams St., Ypsilanti

Scary Hill Village: Kids’ Halloween Stroll

A kids’ Halloween stroll with trick-or-treating from studio to studio at a local arts warehouse, with themed activities along the route to nearby shops. Costumes are encouraged. Registration is required.

Cherry Hill Village, 50755 Cherry Hill Rd.,  Suite 10, Canton

Sunday, Oct. 25

Hotel Transylvania

A free screening of ‘Hotel Transylvania,’ the monster-resort comedy, with advance reservation requested.

Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor Trick or Treat Parade

Families can gather at the Ann Arbor District Library for a costume parade to Main Street, followed by trick-or-treating, pumpkin-themed games, dancing and family activities . 

Ann Arbor District Library Downtown, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

Free Trunk or Treat Event! | BIG Ypsi

Featuring candy stations, a costume contest, carnival games and more, with arcade cards, activities and food available for purchase.

BIG | Best in Games, 4095 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti

Halloween Costume Contest

Show off your most creative, cute, spooky or outrageous costume at Ann Arbor District Library’s annual Halloween Costume Contest.

Ann Arbor District Library Downtown, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

Downtown Ypsi Trick-or-Treating

A free downtown trick-or-treat route through participating businesses, followed by a Halloween dance party with music, games, snacks and a costume contest; the party has a $7 cover.

Downtown Ypsilanti, Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti

Witches Brew Tea Party at Saint John’s Resort

A Halloween tea party featuring a meal, magic show, tarot readings, games, raffles, a costume contest, and a pop-up shop, with proceeds supporting Love A Michigan Vet Project. Ticketed.

Saint John’s Resort, 44045 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth

Friday, Oct. 30

The Halloween Show!

Join AADL storytellers for a fun Halloween-themed show with stories, songs, and puppets! Wear your costumes and gather treats at the library afterward.

Ann Arbor District Library Downtown, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

Make + Believe Nature Masks for kids K-5

Kids can create their own animal or woodland creature masks at Gallup Park using clay and natural materials such as bark, leaves and sticks; preregistration is required and space is limited.

Gallup Park Canoe Livery, 3000 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor

Dexter Trick-or-Treating

The Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a family-friendly Trick-or-Treat event.

Downtown Dexter, Main St., Dexter

Halloween Character Immersion Trick-or-Treat

An indoor trick-or-treat experience at a historic mansion, with costumed characters, themed scenes, and candy. Suitable for young children, with timed entry slots. Ticketed.

Stone Chalet Bed and Breakfast Inn and Event Center, 1917 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor

Downtown Milan Trick or Treating

Families can dress up and head downtown for Milan Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Trick-or-Treat, with local businesses and organizations handing out candy and additional treat stations throughout downtown.

Tolan Square, 1 Tolan Square, Milan

Saturday, Oct. 31

Autumn Days: Halloween Finale

A Halloween finale at a petting farm with a costume contest, pony rides, a haunted caboose, pumpkin carving and fall hayrides.

The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms, 3001 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor

Halloween Storytime

Bring the family to hear some not-too-scary stories, play some games, and make a craft. Wear a costume or make a mask at the program to wear in a costume parade around the library.

YDL-Whittaker, 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti