Double, double toil and trouble. We’re on the search for all things spooky in Southwest Michigan! It’s been a fun-packed fall with even more to come through the end of the month. With everything from trick-or-treating and spooky-themed classes to Halloween parties, activities for the whole family and more! Keep reading for festive events leading up to Halloween. 

TRICK-OR-TREATING

OCTOBER 24
The City of St. Joseph hosts Truck or Treat from 4p-6p on Lake Boulevard. 

OCTOBER 29
Caretel Inns St. Joseph hosts Community Trick or Treat (indoors) from 6p-7p. 

OCTOBER 30
Downtown St. Joseph and the Benton Harbor Arts District host Halloween Trick-Or-Treat, sponsored by Holt Bosse, from 4:30p-6p.

OCTOBER 31
St. Joseph City-wide trick-or-treating is scheduled from 6p-7:30p.

Slackers Family Fun Center Trunk-or-Treat from 6p-8p.

FRIGHTFUL FAMILY FUN

Throughout the month of October, find the witch hidden in thirteen participating locations in downtown St. Joe! Pick up your Where’s the Witch passport from the St. Joe Today Welcome Center and start the search. Visit stjoetoday.com/wheresthewitch for a full list of participating businesses!

Downtown Spooktacular returns to downtown St. Joe on Saturday, October 17, from 11a-4p. ⁠Attendees will enjoy a variety of events, including a hayride through downtown, a Spooktacular Market, a pumpkin patch, magic shows, a Spooktacular Costume Parade, a pumpkin carving display and demo, Spooky Lighthouse Tours, Hay Maze, a Spooky Trolley, downtown decorations and more! Visit stjoetoday.com/spooktacular for a complete schedule. 

SWMI businesses and restaurants will display their decorated pumpkins during Pumpkins on Parade, October 19-31! Visit participating locations to view their decorated pumpkins and vote online for your favorite. Voting will be available at stjoetoday.com/vote from 10a October 19 to 11:59p October 30. Winners will be announced on October 31! 

The St. Joseph/Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library hosts a few Halloween-themed programs this October! Join them for a Teens Mini Pumpkin Painting Contest on October 7 from 4p-5p; Fall Storytime, Wednesdays at 10:30a through December 16; Bad Art Night Redux: Ghoulish Self-Portraits on October 13 from 6p-7:30p. Head back on October 27 for Maud’s Makers - Halloween Garland Making from 6p-7p (part of the Arts, Crafts and Mindfulness Club - ages 13+). 

Enjoy a Halloween Event hosted by Slackers Family Fun Center on October 9 from 6p-10p. Attendees will enjoy Unlimited Arcade (no tickets or prizes), Unlimited Bounce House, Unlimited Laser Tag, Game Rooms, Candy and more! Head back on October 17 for Haunted Laser Tag from 7p-11p! Cost $20/Non-Members, $15/Members.

Head to Eden Springs Park for Halloween miniature train rides on select dates throughout October! Catch these spooky train rides on October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 30 from 5p-8p. Cash only. These original House of David engines and passenger cars have been lovingly restored by the Eden Springs team of volunteers and train experts. 

Join the Silver Beach Carousel for their 5th Annual Boo Bash on October 10 from 5p-8p. Attendees will enjoy magic shoes, photo op with The Sanderson Sisters, snacks, a spirited bar for the adults, free Carousel rides and free admission to the Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone! Tickets are limited. 

Trinity Lutheran Church hosts The Great Pumpkin Caper on October 23 from 5p-7p! Families are invited to a fun fall evening filled with a variety of activities, including pumpkin carving, pizza and apple cider, face painting, flag football, a petting zoo, kiddies candyland and more! 

Halloween-themed fun for the whole family at Peat’s Cider Social during their Bowl-O-Ween on October 23 from 4p-10p. Enjoy a DJ spinning Halloween jams (6p-9p), spooky drink specials and more! Costumes encouraged - dress up your group and enjoy discounted lanes. 

Something wicked is coming at Sarett Nature Center! On October 24, families are invited to Sarett’s Spooky Halloween from 3p-8p. Attendees will enjoy a stroll through the trails, spooky crafts, game stations and more. If you’re looking for a fright, visit the scary trail! Tickets are $6/person (ages 2 and older) and book fast, so reserve your spot today.

WIZARDING WORKSHOPS

JLN Studio hosts a variety of workshops throughout October! Join them for two of their upcoming classes: a Haunted House Acrylic Painting Class on October 8 from 6p-8p and an Abstract Workshop on October 18 from 3p-6p.

Paint a decorative Fall sign with The Mural Artist at Filkins Vineyards Fall Workshop held on October 17 from 11:30a-1:30p. Pick out your favorite fall design and start creating! 

Lazy Ballerina Winery hosts a few October workshops! Check out their DIY Fall Candle Making Classes from 1p-4p on October 6, 13, 20, 27. Head back on October 18 for a Halloween Wine Glass Painting Class 1p-2:30p. Space is limited, reservations required. 

Create spooky season crafts with Fernwood Botanical Gardens at their Creature Craft Party on October 25 from 12p-3p. Attendees will get to choose a craft inspired by seasonal creatures - bats, spiders, toads and more + enjoy hot cider, popcorn and sweets! Check out the gardens, trails and the pumpkin house. Costumes encouraged! 

ENCHANTING EVENTS

Head to Evermore Juice Bar for Halloween Henna & Blind Date with a Book on October 15 from 6p-8p! 

River Saint Joe Brewery hosts their 7th Annual Dog Halloween Costume Contest on October 24 from 1p-3p. $5 donation to enter the costume contest! All proceeds go towards the Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Group.

Join the Morton House Museum for Chili and Chills: Ghost Stories From Michigan on October 24 from 6:p-8p! Attendees will enjoy five varieties of chili (including vegetarian and gluten-free), desserts and Halloween-themed mocktails. Settle by the fire to hear ghost stories from around Michigan. $20/person; $35/person includes a post-event ghost investigation of the 1849 Morton House. 

Join Fernwood Botanical Garden for Herbal Fortune Telling with the Michiana Herb Society on October 18 from 2p-4:30p.

Support The Acorn during their fundraiser, the Boo Ball, on October 23 from 8p-11p. Attendees will enjoy a costume contest, delicious food from Classic Catering, spook-tacular music from Expo ‘76 & Total Pro Horns, a silent auction, live auction and more! 

Coach’s Bar & Grill hosts a Halloween Party on October 24 from 10:30p-1a. Attendees will enjoy music by DJ Hunter, a costume contest, drinks specials and a late nite snack menu!

Solve the case at Journeyman Distillery during their Murder Mystery Dinner - A Masquerade at the Featherbone on October 30 from 6p-9p. Guests will enjoy a chef-crafted dinner and handcrafted cocktails while becoming part of an immersive murder mystery. Interview suspects, collect clues, solve puzzles and work with your friends to crack the case! Guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion in their finest cocktail attire, evening gowns, tuxedos and masquerade masks. Space is limited!

Watermark Brewing hosts their annual Halloween Party at the Solarium on October 30 at from 8p-11p! $10/person (must be 21+).

Celebrate the spooky season with The Inn at Harbor Shores during their Spookeasy Halloween Party on October 31 from 8p-11p. Attendees will enjoy a night of music, dancing and a little mischief. Costumes encouraged - prizes awarded for the costume contest!