13 Spooky Happenings Up North

Halloween events for all ages

By Geri Dietze | Oct. 25, 2025

It’s hard to find a town or village that does not have some sort of Halloween fun planned for residents and visitors. We’re courting the goblins by only listing 13 events here, but check out area websites for many more events to get your scare on.

1. Boyne Mountain Halloween Hoopla

Boyne Falls

Let the Hoopla begin Oct. 24-25, with loads of family fun. Disney characters will meet and greet their fans at Skybridge Michigan, and kiddos can enjoy a magic show, face painting, wagon rides, trick or treating, movies, storytime, Avalanche Bay Glow in the Park haunted adventure, plus so much more. boynemountain.com/upcoming-events/halloween-hoopla

2. Halloween House 4th Annual Trunk or Treat Food Drive

Cadillac

Can you be scary and altruistic at the same time? Yes, at Zombiestock! Bring three non-perishable food items for admission at Diggins Hill on Oct. 25 from 5-8pm. Free hot dogs and popcorn, music, best costume and best trunk-or-treat vehicles contests, and a twilight screening of The Addams Family all benefit Cadillac Food Pantry and Vets Serving Vets. Visit the Halloween House of Cadillac on Facebook for details.

3. HalloWINE! at Bel Lago

Cedar

Come in costume or come as you are, but don’t miss this harvest afternoon of mulled wine, delicious things to eat, celebrated vintages, fresh cider, surprise tricks and treats, and the stylings of the always-entertaining Dominic Fortuna Friday, Oct. 31, from 12-6pm, with music starting at 3:30pm. bellagowine.com/events/hallowine-at-bel-lago

4. VUE’s 5th Annual Halloween Party

Charlevoix

They call it “frightening fun,” and we’re definitely intrigued. Head over to this beautiful location on Pine River channel at the bridge in Charlevoix, Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8-11pm. Special cocktails, a costume contest, and lots of scary surprises await. (No cover!) vuecharlevoix.com

5. Scarecrow Stroll, Downtown Trick or Treat

Cheboygan

Downtown Cheboygan has celebrated its festival of the scarecrow for the entire month, and now these scarecrows make their final bow for Halloween Trick or Treating on Main Street, Oct. 31 from 3-5pm. Visit downtown businesses for candy, enjoy music and games, and check out the witchy talents of the Twisted Sister Dancers. cheboyganmainstreet.org/event/downtown-trick-or-treating

6. Halloween Concert “The Ride”

Gaylord

Celebrate Halloween night with “The Ride,” northern Michigan’s wildly popular country-rock masters, at the Lakeside Pavilion next to Iron Pig Smokehouse. Music starts at 7pm; costumes are encouraged and the contest winner will be announced at 9pm. Enjoy a full bar and the Iron Pig’s food truck. theironpigsmokehouse.com

7. Pond Hill Farm Fall Fest

Harbor Springs

It’s the last weekend of Fall Fest, so dress up for the Halloween costume contest Oct. 25, with prizes for youngsters and their pets, at 2pm. (Register at 1:45.) Come early, and stick around after, for the largest Corn Maze in Michigan—13 acres! You can also partake in pumpkin bowling and pumpkin smashing; squash rocket and apple cannon; and hay rides. Free activities include live music, Gnome House Hunt, hiking trails, lawn games (human foosball!), and the livestock barn and trout pond. Food options include the café, grill, and fresh cider and a donut truck. pondhill.com

8. The Ghost Ship

Manistee

Choose from two versions of being scared silly—one for the youngsters, and then later for the teens and adults—aboard the S.S. City of Milwaukee, a retired Lake Michigan railroad car ferry and National Historic Landmark that transforms into the Ghost Ship at Halloween. Kids “Scaredy Pants” Night runs 3-6:15pm, with the lights on and the major scares under wraps. At 7:30pm, the scare factor ramps back up for a ghoulish good time for the older set. $15 for most; kids six and under free. And don’t miss the 25th anniversary celebration for the Ghost Ship, on Saturday the 25th! carferry.com/ghostship

9. Halloween Party Northport Pub & Grill

Northport

Channel your inner Grateful Dead with Touch of Grey tribute band on Halloween night from 8:30-11:30pm. Themed cocktails, a costume contest, and candy during trick or treating hours are all on the menu. (npgrille.com) P.S. Earlier in the week, be sure to catch Witches’ Night Out in Northport or a double feature of the Hocus Pocus films at Around the Corner Food & Fun on Oct. 25!

10. Magical Trivia at Elder Piper Beer + Cider

Petoskey

Costumes are optional, but we suggest you put on your spooktacular best, gather your team (of up to six people) and test your trivia knowledge about all topics spooky and scary, from myths to witches to magic. This is your opportunity to be not only the scariest but also the smartest ghoul on the block. And look for Stiggs BBQ Wagon, the on-the-road foodie extension of Boyne City’s Stiggs Brewery. (Because trivia can work up an appetite.) Oct. 31, 7-8:30pm. elderpiperbeer.com

11. Book or Treat

Suttons Bay

Kids 0-12 are invited to the Suttons Bay Bingham District Library between Oct. 27 and Nov. 1, 10am-5pm, for Book-or-Treat, a scary-good opportunity to pick out a brand new book of their choice. (We all like candy, but a book is forever!) While supplies last. sbbdl.org/event/book-or-treat-5/2025-10-27

12. Traverse City Whiskey Co. & Right Brain Brewery

Traverse City

Two parties, just a short walk in between. Head to TC Whiskey’s Stillhouse on Halloween night at 8pm, with music from DJ Zeb. Dress in your scariest duds for the costume contest, with prizes. Spooky cocktails will be crafted just for the occasion to get you in the Halloween spirits. (tcwhiskey.com) If beer is more your pace, Right Brain Brewery has teamed up with Up North Pride for a Halloween Dance Party and costume contest, complete with a haunted happy hour from 4-6pm on Oct. 31. (rightbrainbrewery.com/99/halloween-dance-party)

13. Two Weekends, One Holiday

Traverse City

If you want to post up in one spot and enjoy a day full of Halloween haunts, head to Front Street in Traverse City. There, you can explore the Haunts & Harvest Window Walk (ongoing), get in on the Halloween celebration on Oct. 25 (complete with trick-or-treating), and race the Zombie 5K Run (also on Oct. 25; tczombierun.com).

Then, bop around town throughout the week to enjoy a lantern-lit hike and celebration on Oct. 30 at the Grand Traverse Conservation District ($5 per person; natureiscalling.org/events/halloween-lantern-lit-hike-1); the Halloween Parade at Traverse Area District Library on Oct. 31 (tadl.org/event/copy-halloween-parade-16971); and Mocktails and Mock Tours at the Dennos Museum on Oct. 31 for a Halloween-themed improv experience (dennosmuseum.org/events/community-programs.html).