City of Detroit kicks off Halloween in the D today with events at Clark and Palmer Parks

2023
  • Fall Fest at Clark Park is set for Oct. 28
  • ScareFest is Oct. 29 at Palmer Park
  • Trunk-or-Treat events offered at 11 Police stations and 7 Fire stations on Halloween
  • Halloween parties to be offered at 11 recreations centers across the city on Halloween
  • New this year is Haunt Your Home, a contest for the best decorated Detroit homes

Kicking off Halloween in the D today, the City of Detroit General Services Department, Parks and Recreation Division is hosting a free, two-day Halloweekend celebration with a myriad of activities at Clark Park on Saturday, October 28 and at Palmer Park on Sunday, October 29.  

ACTIVITES ON HALLOWEEN The fun continues on Halloween, Oct. 31 with trunk-or-treat events at 11 Detroit Police precincts and seven select Fire stations. The Parks & Recreation Division is planning a variety of activities for children and teens at recreation centers on Oct. 31. Activities include haunted houses, carnival games, trunk-or-treat, picture station, arts-n-crafts, face painting and more. Go to halloweeninthed.org for details.  

FALL FEST | Oct. 28 from 1 - 5 p.m. Clark Park, 1130 Clark Street Fall Fest features carnival rides/games, hay and pony rides, petting zoo, archery, axe throwing, rock climbing, zip lining, a Barbie Zone, video game truck and mobile bowling alley. Other activities include pumpkin and face painting, arts-n-crafts, inflatables, S'mores, food trucks and other vendors.  

SCAREFEST | Oct. 29 from 4 - 8 p.m. Palmer Park, 910 Merrill Pl. Palmer Park will transform into a place of fun and fright for children and adults with the Zombie Trail of Terror and laser tag, Fear Factor Zone, haunted hay and trolley rides, face painting, dog costume contest, candy drop, carnival games, inflatables, aerial artist and entertainment. Scarefest will also include vendors and food trucks. Fall Fest and Scare Fest will feature a free winter clothing giveaway for youth in attendance. Sponsored in part by the generous donations of DTE Energy, Enbridge, Emerald Media, and several locally-owned businesses.

HAUNT YOUR HOUSE Residents can vote on their favorite Halloween-decorated home by following @cityofdetroit on Facebook and Instagram to see the homes featured. Each week, a different set of homes will be highlighted. The winner gets a small prize. In addition, residents can suggest homes to include in the contest by sending a direct message on either social media platform.

HALLOWEEN IN THE D BY THE NUMBERS Halloween in the D has continued to grow in popularity since it was first introduced. During Halloween in the D in 2022:

  • Total Pieces of Candy Distributed / 1 million+
  • Total Amount of Money Donated / $81,567
  • Total Number of Volunteers / 397
  • Attendance at Police Precincts and Fire Stations / 20,000+
  • Attendance at the Two Park Events / 8,000+
  • Attendance at Recreation Center Events / 12,394

ASSISTANCE STILL NEEDED While the City is taking care of most of the planning and logistics, residents and businesses are encouraged to donate candy or volunteer to decorate a car for trunk-or-treating at police precincts and fire stations.

How to Get Involved For more information on activities or to volunteer, visit halloweeninthed.org or call (313) 224-4415.  

CORPORATE SUPPORT This year’s sponsors, who have provided $93,950 in cash and in-kind donations so far. Ryan Hubbell Auto Parts and Homrich Wrecking are the lead sponsors with donations of $10,000 each. Title Sponsors

  • Ryan Hubbell Auto Parts, Inc.
  • Homrich Wrecking  

Major Sponsors

  • Ambassador Bridge
  • Cadillac Asphalt
  • Michigan Recreational Construction Inc. (MRC)
  • Priority Waste
  • Rocket Companies
  • Skillman Foundation  
  • Corewell Health
  • Downtown Detroit Partnership
  • Giorgi Concrete
  • Hubbell, Roth & Clark Inc.
  • Hunter Pasteur and Oxford Capital Group
  • KEO and Associates, Inc.
  • Marathon Petroleum Company
  • Motor City Grounds Crew
  • Motorola
  • Waste Management
  • Reset Ventures

Other sponsors include:

  • All Pro Color Printing
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • CNS Healthcare
  • Comcast Cable
  • DMC Consultants
  • DeAngelis Diamond
  • Detroit Thermal
  • DivDat
  • Gandol Inc.
  • Jenkins Construction
  • Operating Engineers Local 324
  • Salenbien Trucking and Excavating Inc.
  • WCI Contractors  
  • DTE Energy
  • VITEC
  • Motor City Electric

Companies and organizations that want to sign up as Halloween in the D sponsors or volunteers should send an email to [email protected] or call (313) 236-8521.