City of Detroit hosts the ultimate free Halloween party and free neighborhood fall fair two weekends in a row

• ScareFest is on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Palmer Park 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Where Merrill Pleasant meets Pontchartrain, ending at Woodward Ave will be closed starting Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 a.m. to Saturday, Oct. 26 at 11 p.m.
• Fall Fest is on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Farwell Park 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., featuring a giveaway of 500 winter coats.
• One lane of Outer Drive from Fenelon St. to Sunset St. will be closed starting Saturday, November 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Early voting is available at both locations 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The City of Detroit is celebrating Halloween early with ScareFest 2024 this Saturday October 26. This free neighborhood Halloween party will be at Palmer Park (910 Merril Plaisance, Detroit, MI 48203), like last year, but bigger and spookier with a new time, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Families can expect a zombie trail of terror, thrill rides, fear factor/mystery eats, candy giveaway, haunted dinosaurs and dragon, face painting, inflatables, food trucks, vendors, live music and more!

To ensure safety, there will be a road closure where Merrill Pleasant meets Pontchartrain, ending at Woodward Ave. starting Friday Oct. 25 at 8 a.m. to Saturday Oct. 26 at 11 p.m. Shuttles will transport ScareFest attendees from designated parking and nearby areas to the event. The shuttle service will run every 5-10 minutes.

Palmer Park also serves as an early voting site 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Those registered to vote in Detroit are welcome to vote early at Palmer Park then get in line for ScareFest. There will also be volunteers available to hold attendees’ place in the ScareFest line as they vote.

The following Saturday, November 2, the City of Detroit is hosting its annual free Fall Fest. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. families can expect carnival rides, a s’more station, a petting zoo, rock climbing, fall crafts including pumpkin painting, pony rides and more all at Farwell Recreation Center and Park (2711 Outer Drive E. Detroit, MI 48234). During the event, the Detroit Pistons will have basketball giveaway and Detroit Animal Care and Control will have adoptable dogs for families to connect with. There will also be a giveaway of 500 children’s winter coats.

Farwell Recreation Center is an early voting site, so Fall Fest attendees will be able to cast their vote during the event.

To accommodate the event, one lane of Outer Drive from Fenelon St. to Sunset St. will be closed starting Saturday, November 2, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Public parking will be available along neighborhood streets and Outer Dr. with multiple shuttle routes circulating those areas. 

“The City of Detroit General Services Department prides itself in making parks and recreation centers a neighborhood resource and the fall season is no exception. For the third year in a row, our recreation division has put on these large-scale events to remind community there is nothing like fall in the D,” said Crystal Perkins, Director of City of Detroit General Services.