from “le détroit” · the strait
Detroit is closing out its ninth annual Halloween in the D with a free, all-ages Fall Fest at Chandler Park on Saturday, November 7, featuring pony rides, a petting zoo, a s'more station and food trucks.
Detroit's Halloween season doesn't wrap up when the trick-or-treating ends on October 31. The city is capping its ninth annual Halloween in the D program with a free Fall Fest at Chandler Park on Saturday, November 7.
The celebration is for all ages, set near the fieldhouse and playground at Chandler Park, 12300 Chandler Park Dr. There's a lot packed in: pony rides, a petting zoo, a s'more station, inflatables, arts and crafts, carnival games and food trucks. Admission is free.
The city's announcement, posted October 13, lists the date and place but no start time, so check halloweeninthed.org for hours before you head out. That site carries the full Halloween in the D schedule.
Fall Fest is the calm finish to a loud few weeks. Halloween in the D began in 2018, and this makes the event's ninth year. The city says the program reaches more than 30,000 Detroit residents and families and hands out more than 1.5 million pieces of candy across the city each year.
Most of that lands on October 31, when more than 20 locations across Detroit host trunk-or-treat, generally between 4 and 8 p.m. The season opened with ScareFest at Palmer Park on October 24, with a haunted trail, thrill rides, laser tag and candy giveaways.
"Halloween has become a time of great fun for children and families across Detroit, with plenty of opportunities for them to trick or treat at fire stations, police precincts and play at recreation centers and city parks," Mayor Sheffield said in the announcement. "Halloween in the D gets better every year and that's thanks to the great work of city employees and our many sponsors."
The program leans on sponsors to stay free. "Halloween in the D is a night when Detroit shows up for its kids, and we're proud to show up for Detroit," said Kara Martini of Barton Malow, one of the partners.
So once the pumpkins stop glowing, there's still a pony to pet and a s'more to roast. Bring the kids to Chandler Park on November 7.
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