Frightfully Good Fun For 2024
Halloween becomes its own treat for visitors to the Saugatuck/Douglas area with unique events, including spooky trails and costumed cruises. From traditional community events for kids to our famous Douglas Halloween Parade for Adults, featuring an extravaganza of creativity in costuming and performances, the spookiest time of year also becomes the most special time here.
Join us for the Ox-Bow Goes to Heck event on October 19, when the famed school of the arts will host a day of family-friendly frights on their campus, including haunted cabins, an outdoor carnival, games, crafts, and more. Also, on October 19, indulge in a special Bloody Brunch prepared by guest chef and artist MAGNET. The experience includes an unparalleled brunch buffet and bottomless Bloody Mary bar, concluding with an hour-long exclusive tour of Ox-Bow’s hallowed (and perhaps haunted) grounds. Your ticket price includes a one-of-a-kind glass produced in Ox-Bow’s on-site glass studio.
Conjure up something special with a Haunted Spirits Cocktail Class at the New Holland Spirits Saugatuck Tasting Room during the evening of October 25. Get ready to brew some spine-tingling cocktail concoctions perfect for the season with New Holland’s expert bartenders. Whether you’re a witching-hour pro or just dipping your toes into the cauldron, this class promises to be a wickedly good time!
Grab your little ones and join the fun at the Family Halloween Walking Parade & Party on October 26. Show off your best costumes as you stroll through Saugatuck, with the parade starting at 11:00 am at Wicks Park. Afterward, enjoy family-friendly Halloween-themed games, a costume contest, and spooky activities. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes in various age groups, including a special prize for the best group costume. Registration begins at 10:15 am.
For a ghoulishly good time on the evening of October 26, don your best costume and hit the Ox-Bow House’s Cavern Tavern, a free pre-party happening before the Douglas Halloween Parade for Adults. Enjoy drinks for sale and frighteningly alluring art spectacles on display both indoors and outdoors. The Great Lakes Brass Band will be entertaining the crowd before leading a group of Ox-Bow friends and staff to march in the most highly anticipated Halloween event of the year!
Later that evening of October 26, you definitely won’t want to miss our renowned Halloween Parade for Adults, happening in downtown Douglas. The party starts at 10 pm with a Giant Pumpkin King rising from the ashes to officially commence the festivities. For years, this outrageous event has drawn thousands of spectators from around the country who come to gawk and marvel at the unleashed creativity. Anyone in costume can feel free to strut their stuff down the parade route, but be sure to leave the kids at home for this mature-themed event.
After the parade, get ready for the biggest Halloween party in the area at The Dunes Resort on October 26. Sing Karaoke, dance the night away, and enter the midnight costume contest. This wickedly wonderful event is for big ghouls and boys only.
New for this year, the Felt Estate invites you to a spine-tingling journey with Unveiling the Unseen: A Paranormal Experience, featuring renowned paranormal investigator Adam Berry from the hit Travel Channel series “Kindred Spirits,” joined by John E.L. Tenney and Jessica Knapik of the “What’s Up Weirdo” podcast. From October 25-27, dive into real ghost stories, explore the afterlife, and—for the brave—participate in an exclusive VIP paranormal investigation of the Felt Mansion and Carriage House. Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or simply curious, this is your chance to uncover the mysteries of the unknown. Don’t miss out on this spooky adventure—advance ticket purchase is required.
For those who appreciate an immersive spooky experience, visit the Allegan Forest Museum of Campfire Stories, a new local museum dedicated to bringing the area’s creepiest urban legends and campfire stories to life. Learn about the lore of the Melon Heads of Saugatuck, The Demon Tree, The Yellow Motel, Camp Lakewood, Satan’s Tomb, and The Road of the Dead, and then receive the GPS coordinates to explore the locations on your own in the Allegan Forest. And don’t forget your flashlights!
Bring your little ghouls and goblins to Trick-or-Treat at The Felt Estate on October 31 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. This free indoor event offers a safe and fun Halloween experience, perfect for young trick-or-treaters. Rain or shine, kids can stay warm and dry as they collect treats from each spookily decorated room inside the historic Felt Mansion.
Unveil the mysteries of the Felt Estate on October 31, November 1, or November 2 during their Hauntings & History Nights. Considered one of the most haunted attractions in the state, the Felt Mansion has been home to unexplained happenings throughout the years, including the presence of shadowy figures and doors that open and close themselves. Delve into eerie legends and ghostly encounters during an immersive presentation. Then grab your EMF detector and infrared thermometer and embark on the Path of Shadows self-guided candlelight tour, which provides explorers access to the mansion, carriage house, grounds, and the estate’s rarely-seen corners during the dark of night. Whether you’re drawn to the mansion’s haunted history or eager for a ghostly encounter, this adventure is not to be missed. Advance-purchased tickets are required.
