5 Pre-Halloween Outings for Kids in Ferndale, Metro Detroit this Weekend

The Henry Ford in Dearborn is hosting Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village this weekend through Oct. 25. (Photo courtesy of The Henry Ford)

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The Detroit Zoo’s — wait for it — Zoo Boo kicks off this weekend. It’s billed as a “merry not scary” event for kids ages 2 and older. Costumes are encouraged. Read more about Zoo Boo here.

• Where: Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak
• When: 5-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and again Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25
• Cost: $8 in advance, $12 at the door (if available); parking $6. Pre-register here.

You can also head to The Henry Ford in Dearborn for the historically themed Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village, where the kids can stroll streets and alleys lit by more than 1,000 carved jack-o-lanterns and “haunted” by lavishly costumed characters, including a headless horseman who will ride out of the shadows of Firestone Farm’s fields. Read more here.

• Where: Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
• When: Every half hour from 6:30-9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, Oct. 9-11, Oct. 15-18 and Oct. 22-25
• Cost: $16, free for children under 2. Buy tickets here.

Why settle for just carving the pumpkin? Head to Rochester Hills Saturday to bowl with pumpkins, too, and stay into the evening to take a gander at thousands of lighted jack-o-lanterns at the Stonewall Pumpkin Festival. Whimsical scarecrows decorated by community members will also be on display before they head to downtown Rochester Hills, where they’ll haunt the streets through Oct. 31. Read more here.

• Where: Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road
• When: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
• Cost: $7 (children under 2 free)

Head over to Novi for a hayride, to pick a pumpkin and visit farm animals at the annual Tollgate Pumpkinfest Read more here.

• Where: Michigan State University Tollgate Education Center and Farm, 12 Mile and Meadowbrook roads, Novi
• When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11
• Cost: free (you-pick pumpkins and food available for purchase)

Ferndale offers hay and pony rides, trick-or-treating, carnival games, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, crafts at the annual Hilton Fall Festival. Read more here.

• Where: Martin Road Park, 1615 E. Lewiston Ave., Ferndale
• When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
• Admission: $5 for kids, $2 for ages 16 and older

Tell Us

• What other Halloween and fall-themed events are going on around Metro Detroit this weekend?