Opera, Art & Spooky Fun This Weekend
Metro Detroit plays host to a bunch of spooky events this season so you'll have plenty of chances to fill your October weekends with Halloween fun. It is also the season for appreciating the arts, the Opera season begins October 16, and the 25th Annual Our House event gives Michigan artists a great venue to show their work.
Spend a night enjoying the sounds of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" at Michigan Opera Theatre's opening weekend. There will be five performances between October 16 and October 24, and ticket prices range from $29 to $121.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the Detroit Opera House box office (1526 Broadway, Detroit), by calling 313-237-SING, or online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or by calling 800-745-3000.
The City of Birmingham hosts the 25th annual Our Town Art Show and Sale. The event takes place from October 14 to October 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Community House (380 South Bates Street).
There will be the juried all-media art show (open to the public), and several exciting events spread throughout the program.
For reservations, contact The Community House, 380 South Bates Street, Birmingham, 248/644-5832. For more information about the OUR TOWN Art Show and Sale, visit The Community House website at www.communityhouse.com.
It's the Spookiest time of year, and Metro Detroit has all sorts of Halloween-themed events for all ages.
Littler ones will love the festive half-mile trick-or-treat trail at the Detroit Zoo's annual Zoo Boo celebration! Zoo Boo will be held rain or shine from 6-8 p.m. October 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31.
Come see elaborate pumpkin displays will line the treat trail, where greeters will pass out goodies to costume-clad children at treat stations along the route.
There's the Haunted Reptile House, where friendly witches, vampires and other monsters have taken up residence for the Halloween season. In the Ghouly Games Tent, sponsored by Blue Care Network of Michigan, there will be Halloween-themed games, prizes, arts and crafts and a hay maze. The popular live mini-musical "Zoo Boo Revue" will be performed in the Main Picnic Grove. New to Zoo Boo is the Zombie Zone, sponsored by Tim Hortons, featuring ghastly games, spooky activities and pumpkin-carving demonstrations, and a costume contest.
Advance tickets for Zoo Boo can be purchased at Booth One at the front of the Detroit Zoo or online . Tickets are $7 per person ages 2 and up.
For the adult crowd, 2010 marks the first ever Pontiac Hauntfest! Be a part of the fun as the streets of Downtown Pontiac come alive with street performers, band stand, haunted house, pub crawl and art exhibits - Saturday, October 16 from 7 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Your excitement can begin by enjoying dinner at one of the many eateries or taking in an art exhibit. Move on to visit Erebus Haunted Gallery - the World's largest walk through haunted house. While you wait to enter the Haunted Gallery, you will be entertained by street performers - jugglers, musicians and dancers. After making your way through the four story haunted attraction, your fleeing feet will turn into dancing feet while local bands and DJ's from Deadbeat Entertainment perform on center stage on Saginaw Street below the Phoenix Center.
For more information regarding the Pontiac's Hauntfest, please visit http://www.pontiacchamber.com .
Head to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum of Auburn Hills on Sunday, October 24 from 2-4 p.m. for "Trunk or Treat" a day of spooky family fun.
Trick-or-treat throughout the Museum's three floors for candy and trinkets from rumble seats, trunks and truck beds. A special scavenger hunt will guide guests to the treasures with prizes awarded to lucky ghouls whose completed scavenger hunt sheets are drawn from those of all Trunk or Treaters.
Families can also get in the Halloween spirit with Halloween crafts, presented by Paint Creek Center for the Arts, in Rochester, souvenir photos in the "Graveyard Special Prowler," tricked out in Halloween splendor, and Refreshments, a Halloween coloring station and music.
Special Trunk or Treat admission - in advance and at the door - is $4 per person for ages two and up and includes all activities and treats. Admission is free for children under two and $3 for members.
Additional information and advance registration is available by contacting the Walter P. Chrysler Museum at www.wpchryslermuseum.org, events@wpchryslermuseum.org or 248-944-0450.
Enjoy a spooky forest trail full of scary surprises. "A Terror in Townsend Forest" will be presented by the Oakland County Sportmen's Club (4770 Waterford Road) from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., weather permitting, on Oct. 15 and 16, 22 and 23, 29 and 30. The exhibition includes one-quarter mile of terror-filled forest trails.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. VIP admission for $15 allows no waiting. Call 248-623-0444 for more information.
Mix some physics into your Halloween season at The Lake Orion Pumpkin Launch Saturday October 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come to the Orion Oaks County Park (2301 Clarkston Road) and remember to bring your own trebuchet if you plan on launching!
Pumpkin launchers under 15 can compete in the Junior Division, and all ages are welcome in the Open Division. Registration is $25 per team. Daily park pass or Annual Vehicle Permit is required for park entry. To register, visit here
There is even fun for four-legged friends! Oakland County Parks and Recreation will host the Canine College Howl-o-week Bash from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Lyon Oaks Dog Park (52221 Pontiac Trail).
Dog owners are encouraged to dress their dogs in costume and participate in the "best doggie costume" contest. There also will be activities for dogs, pet demonstrations, adoptions and vendors, and special keepsake photos.
An Annual Vehicle Permit or daily park pass is required for park entry. Visit here for more information.
The Addison Oaks Boo Bash will take place Saturday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 23, at Addison Oaks County Park (1480 W. Romeo Road)
The campground recreation program features camper and pet costume contests, witch cackling contests, and campground trick-or-treating. All visitors can enjoy a Trail of Terror, haunted hayride, face painting, craft making, bike parades, puppet shows and inflatables.
An Annual Vehicle Permit or daily park pass is required for park entry. For more information, visit here.
Don the Halloween costumes a week early and head to Southfield for three evenings of Halloween fun with Boo at the Burgh, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, October 21, through Saturday, October 23 at the Burgh historic site located on the corner of Civic Center Drive and Berg Road.
The family-friendly event will feature trick-or-treating through haunted walking paths, Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin Patch, bat exhibit, mad scientist laboratory, storytelling, and hayrides through the haunted forest.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Southfield Parks and Recreation Department, 26000 Evergreen Road, for $3 per person for residents; $5 per person for nonresidents. Tickets at the door are $5 a person for residents; $7 per person for nonresidents. Free parking and shuttle buses will be available at the First Center parking lot on Northwestern Service Drive. All children must be accompanied by an adult and are encouraged to come in costume. Call 248-796-4620.
Adults ages 18 and older with developmental disabilities are invited to Halloween Happiness from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, October 21, at the Southfield Civic Center (26000 Evergreen Road).
The event includes dinner, music and dancing. Cost is $8 per person. Space is limited. Pre-registration and payment are required by Monday, Oct. 18. To register or for more information, visit here.
For the older crowd spend a night in Clawson at Witch's Brew, a costume party and fundraiser which will be held October 22 at Leon and Lulu's in Ambassador Roller Rink, (96 W. 14 Mile Road in Clawson).
Witch's Brew will be hosted by 106.7 The Beat of Detroit on-air host, Lisa Lisa. The event features a costume contest, beer tasting, cocktails, food and shopping. Tickets are $25 each for those with a costume, and $30 per person without costume.
All proceeds from this event and 10 percent of the sales at Leon and Lulu's n that day will go to HAVEN. Visit here or call 248-288-3600.
Start the day off right at the Halloween Pancake Breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, October 23 at the Rochester Community House (816 Ludlow)!
Fun and games will be provided for families throughout the morning including prizes and costume contests. Tickets must be purchased in advance, call 248-651-0622.
Franklin's first annual Franklinstein Frenzy is October 23 on Main Street. Merchants will offer extended hours, in-store savings and decorated storefronts to celebrate the holiday festivities. In addition, the Frenzy will feature a frightfully fun kids and pet costume parade at 4 p.m., trick-or-treating with the merchants, a corn stalk maze, a pumpkin decorating contest, and scary stories around a bonfire.
Visit here for more information:
For your science-lover, there is the perfect spooky day planned in Independence Township! Families can take part in the Mad Science Spooktacular from 10 a.m. to noon or from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, at the Wint Nature Center (9501 Sashabaw Road)
Participants will make a "glow" worm, hear a spoon scream, eat bugs like a bird, keep an eyeball in orbit, and meet creepy creatures. Cost is $3 per person. Pre-registration and payment are required by Saturday, October 16. To register or for more information, call 248-625-6473.
The Annual Pumpkin Patch and the Annual Halloween Parade is Sunday, October 24 in downtown Birmingham!
The Pumpkin Patch runs from 1-4 p.m. at The Community House and activities include moon bounces, face painting, pumpkin bowling, crafts and healthy refreshments. TCH Ballet Ensemble will perform at 2 p.m. followed by the Halloween Parade at 4 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes. For information on the Pumpkin Patch call 248-203-9841, for information on the parade call 248-644-1700.
Enjoy a Haunted Halloween Lunch with food, live music, costume contest, raffles, and prizes in Waterford! The event begins at noon Thursday, Oct. 28, at the Waterford Senior Center (3621 Pontiac Lake Road)
Cost is $7 for members senior center members and $8 for nonmembers. Reservations are required by Friday, Oct. 22. To register or for more information, call 248-682-9450.
Go down to the D for "Freaks Come Out at Night," a costume bash and night of Halloween-themed fun. Head to the Roostertail (100 Marquette Dr.) on October 30 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. for a virtual labyrinth of verve, music and fun. There will be a haunted tunnel entrance plus awesome displays of magic, tarot readers, palmists, fortune tellers, and tattoo artists.
Each party-goer will have the chance to win one of three prizes for Best Costume — 46" flatscreen TV, a weekender package at Greektown Casino or a uniquely crafted trophy to memorialize the event. Tickets on sale now here Call 248-469-2099 for more information.
