Looking for fall and Halloween happenings in Monroe County? Here's our list of activities

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·7 min read

Three years ago, Kelly Harper Allen started a small trunk-or-treat event in Luna Pier.

"This little idea has blown up to something so special," Allen said. "In 2021, I wanted to do something fun for the kids in the community and bring attention to my new business. I had hoped to get people to hand out candy and 50 treaters. I started asking for volunteers. We ended up with 35 cars and over 1,000 people walking through our parade of trunks.”

In 2022, her business, Luna Pure Nutrition, closed, but Allen still offered the trunk-or-treat.

“Last year we added a classic car club from Toledo. We had about 40 trunks. It was a very cold and windy day, but I ended up giving out 250 treat bags in one hour. About 500 people still showed up," Allen said.

Mary Jo Feldkamp, head instructor for Temperance ATA Martial Arts, gives candy to Autumn Walerius, then 7, dressed as a witch, and Kaleigh Mack, then 8, dressed as a cat, at a previous trunk-or-treat at the Bedford Branch Library. Several trunk-or-treat events and other fall and Halloween activities are planned this season throughout the county.
Mary Jo Feldkamp, head instructor for Temperance ATA Martial Arts, gives candy to Autumn Walerius, then 7, dressed as a witch, and Kaleigh Mack, then 8, dressed as a cat, at a previous trunk-or-treat at the Bedford Branch Library. Several trunk-or-treat events and other fall and Halloween activities are planned this season throughout the county.

Allen’s hoping for even more participants at the third annual Luna Pier Trunk-or-Treat, set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18 at Luna Pier Plaza, 10552 Evans Drive.

“I have 50+ trunks. Businesses and residents from Luna Pier, LaSalle, Erie and Newport have contacted me to reserve a spot. I have also contacted a food truck. Everyone is coming together to give back to our community and neighboring communities' kids. My goal is to get sponsors to make it a one-day weekend event in the future. Until then I will continue to do this because I love giving back and volunteering," Allen said in an email message.

The Luna Pier Trunk-or-Treat is one of many fall and Halloween events planned this season in Monroe County and surrounding areas.

A new one is Ghost, Goblins & Grief, a trunk-or-treat offered by Gabby’s Grief Center. It will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 next to the Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE) building in the Mall of Monroe parking lot, 2121 N. Monroe St. If weather is inclement, it will be in the mall’s community room.

Community agencies will give out candy and information.

“I’m really excited about it. Some of these agencies are going all out. We’ll share a lot of resources with our parents and guardians,” Kayne Lani Rafko Wilson from Gabby’s Grief Center said.

Other upcoming fall activities (some require reservations):

• All month: Halloween Coloring Contest, Erie Branch Library, 2065 Erie Road, Erie.

• All month: Toledo Zoo’s Harvest Fest, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Lane, Toledo.

• All month: HUSH Haunted Attraction, 37550 Cherry Hill Road, Westland.

• Every weekend in October: Outdoor Haunted House, Michigan Museum of Horror, 44 S. Monroe St.

• Through Oct. 27: Costume Swap, Monroe Family YMCA, 1111 W. Elm Ave.

• Oct. 10: 6:30 p.m., Joe’s Spooktacular Comedy and Magic Show, Ellis Library & Reference Center, 3700 S. Custer Road.

• Oct. 12: 4-7 p.m., Ladies Night/St. Julian Horror Story “The Ghost of Dundee," St. Julian Winery, 700 Freedom Court, Dundee.

• Oct. 13: 4:30-6 p.m., Ghosts, Goblins & Grief Trunk-or-Treat, Mall of Monroe, 2121 N. Monroe St. Sponsored by Gabby’s Grief Center.

Participants at last year's Luna Pier Trunk-or-Treat are shown. This year's event is Oct. 18. Dozens of fall and Halloween activities will be held throughout the county and the region this month.
Participants at last year's Luna Pier Trunk-or-Treat are shown. This year's event is Oct. 18. Dozens of fall and Halloween activities will be held throughout the county and the region this month.

• Oct. 13-14: Spooky’s Fun House, Monroe Fraternal Order of Police Hall, 1051 Strasburg Road.

• Oct. 13-15: Spooktacular Horse Show, Monroe County Fairgrounds, 3775 S. Custer Road.

• Oct. 13-14: 6-10 p.m., Octobernight, River Raisin Territorial Park, 3815 N. Custer Road. Sponsored by Monroe County Museum System.

• Oct. 14: 2 p.m., Howl-O-Ween Bark in the Park, St. Mary’s Park, 111 W. Elm Ave. Sponsored by city of Monroe Parks & Recreation.

• Oct. 14: 2-5 p.m., Trunk-or-Treat, Dundee High School, 130 Viking Dr., Dundee. Sponsored by Dundee Vikings Band Boosters.

• Oct. 14: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Spooktactular Farmers Market and Vendor Show, Ash-Carleton Park, 12899 Horan, Carleton. Sponsored by Ash-Carleton Park.

• Oct. 15: Dundee Rotary Halloween 5K Fun Run/Walk, Dundee.

• Oct. 18: 6-8 p.m., Luna Pier Trunk-or-Treat, Luna Pier Plaza, 10552 Evans Drive.

• Oct. 19-20: Little Boo at the Zoo, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Lane, Toledo.

• Oct. 20: 5 p.m., Blue Bush Boo Bash, Blue Bush Branch Library, 2210 Blue Bush Road.

• Oct. 20: 6 p.m., Family Movie Night: “The Haunted Mansion,” Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance.

• Oct. 20-21: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 20 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 21, Craft Show and Bake Sale, Monroe Missionary Baptist Church, 14260 S. Dixie Highway.

• Oct. 20-21: Spooky’s Fun House, Monroe Fraternal Order of Police Hall, 1051 Strasburg Road.

• Oct. 21: 6-7:30 p.m., third annual Trunk-or-Treat, Norman Towers, 810 W. Elm Ave.

• Oct. 21: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., annual Fall Garage Sale and Flea Market, Monroe County Fairgrounds, 3775 S. Custer Road.

• Oct. 21: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Fall Craft Show, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse, 610 W. Elm Ave. Sponsored by the IHM Senior Living Community.

• Oct. 21: 2-4 p.m., Trunk-or-Treat, ProMedica Health & Wellness Center, 5700 Monroe St., Sylvania, Ohio.

• Oct. 21-22: Pumpkin Patch, Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Lane, Toledo.

• Oct. 22: 4-5:30 p.m., seventh annual Trunk-or-Treat and Kids’ All-Star Day, 4-H Activity Center at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, 3775 S. Custer Road. Sponsored by 4-H Teen Ambassadors.

• Oct. 23: 7-8 p.m., Historical Hauntings of Monroe, Ida Branch Library, 3016 Lewis Ave.

• Oct. 24: 5-6 p.m., Trunk-or-Treat, Vivian Branch Library, 2664 Vivian Road.

• Oct. 24: 6-7:30 p.m., Trunk-or-Treat, Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance.

• Oct. 25: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Adult Pumpkin Craft, South Rockwood Branch Library, 5676 Carleton-Rockwood Road, South Rockwood.

• Oct. 25: 5:30 p.m., Nevermore Academy Halloween Party, Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance.

• Oct. 26: 5 p.m., Pumpkin Painting Party, Ellis Library & Reference Center, 3700 S. Custer Road.

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• Oct. 26: 5 p.m., Pumpkin Parade, Frenchtown-Dixie Branch Library, 2881 Nadeau Road.

• Oct. 26: 7 p.m., Historical Hauntings of Monroe, Ellis Library & Reference Center, 3700 S. Custer Road.

• Oct. 26: 10:30 a.m., Storytime, Kreps Apple Barn, 12500 Minx Road, LaSalle. Sponsored by Great Start Collaborative.

• Oct. 27: 6 p.m., “Not So Scary Halloween Party" for Kids, Christ Lutheran Church, 225 East Elm Avenue.

• Oct. 28: noon-1:30 p.m., Trick-or-Treating, downtown Monroe. Sponsored by Downtown Monroe Business Network.

• Oct. 28: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Trunk-or-Treat, Monroe Missionary Baptist Church, 14260 S. Dixie Highway.

• Oct. 29: 1-5 p.m., Bay Creek Farm’s Fourth Annual Trunk or Treat, 2348 W. Samaria Road, Temperance.

• Oct. 29: 1-3 p.m., Trunk-or-Treat, Friends of Companion Animals, 2532 N. Dixie Highway.

• Oct. 30: 4 p.m., Halloween Science, Erie Branch Library, 2065 Erie Road, Erie.

• Oct. 30: 6:30 p.m., Haunted Happenings: An Evening with Erie Shores Paranormal Investigators, Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance.

• Oct. 31: 4-6 p.m., Annual Downtown Dundee Halloween Bash, downtown Dundee. Sponsored by The Independent.

To report other fall events, pumpkin patches and apple orchards to The Monroe News, email events@monroenews.com.

Gourds, mums and pumpkins are shown at Kreps Apple Barn in LaSalle. Kreps is one of many area pumpkin patches and cider mills.
Gourds, mums and pumpkins are shown at Kreps Apple Barn in LaSalle. Kreps is one of many area pumpkin patches and cider mills.

Pumpkin patches and cider mills

Apple Charlie’s Orchards, 38035 S. Huron River Drive, New Boston

Bennett’s Orchard, 5647 Consear Road, Ottawa Lake

BJ Farm, 9777 Secor Road, Temperance

Creekside Farm & Sunflowers, 6686 N. Stony Creek Road

Demski’s Orchard, 1255 Erie Road, Erie

Ellison Family Farm, 12120 Sumpter Road, Carleton

Erie Orchards & Cider Mill, 1235 Erie Road, Erie

Gust Brothers Pumpkin Farm, 13639 Mulberry Road, Ottawa Lake

Harnica Kid's Pumpkin Farm, 12406 Bigelow Road, Dundee

Kackleberry Farm, 6421 N. Stony Creek Road

Kapnick Orchards, 4245 N. Rogers Hwy., Britton

Keeney and Miller Orchard, 10387 S. Dixie Highway, Erie

Kreps Apple Barn, 12500 Minx Road, LaSalle

Lavoy Pumpkin Farm, 3115 W. Rauch Road, Temperance

Price’s Orchard, 8696 US Turnpike Road, Newport

Pumpkin Hook’s Pumpkin Farm, 180 Pumpkin Hook Road, Dundee

Ruhlig Farm, 24508 Telegraph Road, Flat Rock

LP Stotz Farm, 8771 Albain Road, Ida

Trabbic’s Pumpkin Farm, 1560 E. Sterns Road, Erie

Wasem Fruit Farm, 6580 Judd Road, Milan

J. Webb Farm, 4262 Post Road, Newport

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Fall and Halloween happenings planned in Monroe County region