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Best Alternatives To Trick-Or-Treating In Your Neighborhood Around Detroit

Trick-or-treating is a time-honored tradition in Detroit, but for many parents, safety is a growing concern. With Halloween on a Wednesday in 2012, nighttime trick-or-treating might interfere with homework, after-school programs and other extracurricular activities. Rather than upsetting a school night and braving the risks of taking candy from strangers, explore these weekend events and alternatives to tromping through the neighborhood.

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Family Halloween Party

University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
1109 Geddes Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-0480
www.umich.edu

Date: October 28

Both entertaining and educational, the Family Halloween Party gives kids a safe place to celebrate the spooky holiday. Costumes are recommended and treats will be provided. Kids have the opportunity for hands-on learning at various stations throughout the museum as well as interaction with live animals. All ages are invited. There is something for everyone and admission is free.

Halloween Parade Kids (credit: thevillagegp.com)

Grosse Pointe Halloween Parade
The Village, Downtown Grosse Pointe
(313) 886-7474
www.thevillagegp.com

Date: October 31

Costumed kids 12 and under take to the streets of The Village in Grosse Pointe for the annual Halloween parade. Area stores welcome trick-or-treaters for an afternoon of spooky fun. Free books are available from the Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library. The parade runs from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. along Kercheval Avenue between Cadieux and Neff.

Related: What's the Age Limit on Trick or Treating?

Halloween Hocus Pocus (credit: northvillemarquistheatre.com)

Halloween Hocus Pocus
Northville's Historic Marquis Theatre
135 E. Main St.
Northville, MI 48167
(248) 349-8110
www.northvillemarquistheatre.com

Dates: October 19-21 and 26-28

The Marquis Theatre in downtown Northville caters to kids with an active theater camp program and special performances for schools and scout troupes. Halloween is no exception. The theater holds an annual Halloween-themed kids show. Children and adults alike will enjoy the fun, non-scary event where costumes are encouraged for both the actors and the audience. The Marquis offers several Halloween weekend performances: Friday night at 7 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and matinees at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Halloween Costumes (credit: thehenryford.org)

Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village
The Henry Ford
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124
(313) 982-6001
www.thehenryford.org

Dates: October 19-21 and 26-28

Travel back to the late 1800s to experience the sights and sounds of early American Halloween traditions. A headless horseman and clever witch headline the cast of characters that pop up along the way as you walk a path lined with 800 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns. Themed treat stations provide a tasty stopping point and a full dinner package is available to purchase. Costumes are welcomed and special treat bags will be handed out. Tours run every half hour from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Corn Maze (credit: talladayfarms.com)

Talladay Farms Corn Maze
6270 Judd Road
Milan, MI 48160
(734) 439-2313
www.talladayfarms.com

Dates: Now through October 28

Instead of walking door to door trick-or-treating, take the family on a stroll through Talladay Farms' corn maze and have fun getting lost together. The corn maze covers 7.5 miles of paths cut into 27 acres of corn. Maps are available for $1, which is refunded if you make it through the maze without consulting the map. Kids will enjoy the checkpoint game, collecting letters at the various checkpoints to turn in for a grand-prize drawing. The maze runs through 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Navigating the maze with darkness falling lends a bit of a spooky feel. There is also a haunted maze for those seeking a more intense Halloween experience. Note that credit cards are not accepted at Talladay Farms. It accepts cash or checks only.

Related: Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Jennifer Walker is a freelance writer living in Detroit. She earned her Bachelor's degree in animal science from Michigan State University. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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