Halloween

These events are low on scares but high on fun for younger ones:

Board The Great Pumpkin Train for a riotous ride with a wacky cast of singing and dancing character, plus a FREE pumpkin for kids 2 and under. October Saturdays & Sundays.

Zoo Goes Boo! is nine days of trick-or-treating, costumes, entertainment, cool decorations, games and fun at John Ball Zoo. Oct. 13-15, 20-22 & 27-29.

Hallowee-ones at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park invites kids to dress up in a garden-related costume, listen to Halloween-themed stories and go on a Halloween hunt. Oct. 20.

Kids can gather goodies without going from house to house at the Deep Roots Produce Trunk or Treat (Oct. 27) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Trunk or Treat (Oct. 31). Many more trunk or treats will be announce in the weeks to come, so stay tuned to this space.

These attractions and events offer fun for all ages:

Prepare for the holiday at the West Michigan Halloween Expo, featuring decorations, costumes, entertainers, classes and more. Sep. 23.

See terrifying dinosaurs come to life around you at Jurassic World Live, an action-packed adventure at Van Andel Arena. Oct. 20-22.

The Walker Pumpkin Bash features mini pumpkin giveaways, cider & donuts, a pumpkin decorating station, a magic show, petting zoo, trick or treating, and more. Sept. 30.

Kentwood Glow in the Park features a variety of glow-themed activities including a light-up playground, games and crafts, music, food and a fun run/walk. Oct. 7.

The Park Before Dark Halloween Event at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park includes games, trick-or-treating and safari rides to see the animals. Oct. 14 & 15.

The Caledonia Halloween Hustle 5K and Fun Run encourages costumed entrants (and awards prizes). Oct. 28. 

The Zombie 5K Trail Race & Kids Magical Mile proceed through the woods at Cannonsburg Ski Area. Adult runners, watch for zombies and other scary monsters! Oct. 28.

The Zombie Dash 5K in downtown Grand Rapids requires you to dodge ravenous zombie hordes from sunset to darkness. Oct. 28.

Grand Rapids’ Día de Los Muertos Festival is a free cultural and educational event with music, Latino food, workshops, crafts and Latin American altars honoring family and friends who have passed away. At Roosevelt Park October 28 & 29, with a Day of the Dead procession on Oct. 29.

Test your fear factor on a trek through hair-raising attractions and spooky city streets:

Experience 50,000 sq. ft. of pure terror at The Haunt – a Halloween tradition for more than 20 years. Fridays, Saturdays and select Thursdays & Sundays from Sep. 29-Nov. 4. There’s a special (less frightful) Kids Haunt on Oct. 29.

New Salem Corn Maze dares you to enter the Haunted Corn Maze or the two twisted trails in the Witches Woods. A Daytime Corn Maze and the after-dark Halloween Light Spooktacular are appropriate for younger ones. Fridays & Saturdays from Sep. 23-Oct. 29.

Venture into the Bloody Butcher Corn Maze, experience 3D Terror under the Big Top and wander through a serial killer’s workshop at Abandoned Acres Farm Haunted Attraction. Open Fridays & Saturdays from Sep. 22-Oct. 28, plus Oct. 31.

Learn about the city’s eerie history on the GR Haunted Tour (Oct. 13, 20 & 27), the Ghosts of Grand Rapids Walking Tour (Oct. 7 & 30) and the Grand Rapids Ghost Tour (available 7 days a week).

Grand Rapids Running Tours offers a number of terroriffic treks through the city, including the Heritage Hill Hauntings Walking Tour, Greenwood Cemetery Walking Tour and Saints & Spirits Walking Tour.

Opt for family fun in the daytime or thrills ‘n chills after dark:

The Deep Roots Produce Farm Corn Maze in Caledonia offers three trails varying in length and difficulty (open Sep. 1-Oct. 31). Venture into the maze after dark on Glow Night (Oct. 8) and Fright Night (Oct. 21 & 22).

The Apple Valley Fun Farm Corn Maze is open Saturdays & Sundays from Sep. 23-Oct. 9. Apple Valley also offers hayrides, pedal karts, a giant pumpkin jumping pad, spooky mansion slide and more. Saturdays & Sundays from Sep. 23-Oct. 29.

The 10-acre Dinosaur Corn Maze at Fruit Ridge Hayrides incorporates three interactive games that are fun and challenging for all ages. There’s a one-acre mini corn maze for smaller ones. Other attractions include hayrides, pony rides and rides on a pig train or fire engine. Weekends in fall.

Fall Fun Land activities at Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm include a corn maze, playground, farm animals, bounce pad, wagon ride, barrel train and pumpkin patch. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. The annual Pumpkin Smash ‘n Bash, dropping a massive pumpkin on top of a car, takes place Oct. 28.

The “Down on the Farm” Corn Maze at Schwallier’s Country Basket requires groups to work together to find clues and make it through. Schwallier’s also offers u-pick apples, a play area, rides and petting zoo. Saturdays & Sundays (and some Friday afternoons) in Sep. and Oct.

Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery features a family-friendly 6.5-acre corn maze designed in the shape of a bee, plus u-pick apples, hayrides, a petting zoo, jumping pillow and, for the adults, wine and hard cider made right on the farm. Open 7 days a week from Sep. 5-Nov. 5.

A corn maze is just the beginning of the fun at Post Family Farm – there’s also hayrides, train rides, u-pick pumpkins, friendly farm animals, giant tube slides and homemade pumpkin donuts & cider. Monday-Friday from Sep. 11-Nov. 3, plus two Saturdays: Sep. 9 and Nov. 4.

Beyond the Barn at Lowell’s Red Barn Market includes a corn maze, yard games, petting arm, tractor tire mountain and u-pick apples and pumpkins. Opens Sep. 1.

Tackle the 10-acre “African Safari” Corn Maze ­– there are both long and short routes – then shop for fresh baked goods and just-picked produce at Heidi’s Farmstand & Bakery in Lowell. Daily from Sep. 15.

Treat yourself to frightfully entertaining movies, games and laughs:

Wealthy Theatre offers a month’s worth of spooky movies: Return of the Living Dead (Sep. 26), Blow Out (Sep. 27), Coraline (Oct. 3), The Blair Witch Project (Oct. 10), The Frighteners (Oct. 17), Tales from the Hood (Oct. 24) and a Triple Creature Feature of The Wolfman, Frankenstein and Dracula on Oct. 31.

Halloween Bash at The Market features local artists, live entertainment and all things magical, mysterious and macabre at Fulton Street Farmer’s Market. Oct. 1.

Weird & Creepy! An Art Exhibition and Shopping Event at Cocoon Art Space showcases spooky (but family-friendly) art and products from Oct. 6-Nov. 5.

ArtRat Gallery presents A (Spooky) Afternoon with Tiyi Schippers, when the author and storyteller will relate true ghost stories based on her own encounters with the otherworld. Oct. 15.

The Superstitions in Art Tour at the Grand Rapids Art Museum explores eerie and interesting superstitions throughout history and various cultures represented in artwork. Oct. 21.

Bass Country Halloween is a killer lineup of 12 music acts at The Intersection’s three stage venues. Oct. 21.

Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics is an evening of Halloween-inspired music performed by a string quartet under the gentle glow of candlelight at Fountain Street Church. Oct. 28.

The Pyramid Scheme welcomes Carrie: The Musical, a stage production based on the Stephen King novel. Oct. 28-29.

Make it a date night or get together with a group of your Halloween-loving friends at these adult-oriented events:

The Zombie Pub Crawl! Includes music, dancing and drink specials at 6+ local venues plus a totally awesome after-party. Oct. 21.

Not to be outdone, the Halloween Bar Crawl is two days of visits to nine local venues, food & drink specials, a costume contest and more. Pay once and crawl either or both days: Oct. 27 & 28.

Celebrate Halloween and goth culture at Cabaret du Mortel, a showcase of the dark (performance) arts in West Michigan. Don your best formal gothwear for the costume contest. Oct. 27.

This one might scare your parents – the Grand Rapids Tattoo Festival comes to DeVos Place with 200+ tattoo artists from around the world offering tattooing, art making, merch selling and more. Oct. 27-29.

Creston Brewery hosts Midnight at the Masquerade, a Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner. Enjoy a dinner buffet before you work with fellow guests to solve a fatal crime. Oct. 28.