Friday, October 11, 2019

HALLOWEEN IN GREENFIELD VILLAGE

halloween
A Geek Daddy received complimentary tickets to this event
My family had a TERROR-ific time attending the first night of 2019's annual Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village event at The Henry Ford. This year's festivities take place on the weekend evenings of October 11 - 13, 17-20 & 24-27, 2019 leading up to Halloween. You are sure to enjoy wandering through a haunting landscape filled with costumed characters and Halloween decorations illuminated by more than 1,000 hand-carved Jack-o-Lanterns. Don't hesitate to make advance reservations if you want to go because the dusk to 10 pm time slots for this ticketed event do sell out.

jack o lanterns


Children and parents alike are invited to follow a pumpkin-lit path that weaves through the historic structures that makeup The Henry Ford's Greenfield Village. There are ten stations doling out goodies to trick-or-treaters along the Jack-o-Lantern trail which takes about an hour to traverse. Candy including Dum Dums Suckers, Laughy Taffy, M&M's, Milky Ways, Skittles, Snickers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Twizzlers are what is primarily given out.

My wife and I sorted through everything before the kids dove into their trick or treat bags to filter out what they couldn't have due to their food allergies and this dad blogger ate whatever wasn't safe. Sometimes you just have to take one for the team! We all agreed the favorite treat given out during the evening were the bags of Better Made Potato Chips. We love Better Made because their products don't have any issues for us to worry about for our kids' food allergies and taste great.

better made potato chips


Ever wonder if any of the buildings in Greenfield Village are haunted? The ghosts and ghouls emerge from the shadows for Halloween fun! Scarecrows come to life, specters try to scare you, monsters go bump in the night, dancing skeletons provide some merriment and a headless horseman gallops around during Greenfield Village's Halloween festivities. Spirits even take over the classic carousel!

ghosts
ghosts


This year parts of the trick-or-treating trail had a Wizard of OZ theme. You could get your picture taken with Dorthy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, or the Wicked Witch. A haunted forest filled with flying monkeys had to be walked through before you could get to the city of OZ for a chance to chat with the Wizard himself in his throneroom. Instead of following a yellow brick road for your adventure it was an orange path of pumpkins.

halloween
wizard of oz


There were a variety of interactive elements to participate in during our evening of spooky fun at The Henry Ford's Green Village Halloween. The clairvoyant Madam ZaZa told our fortunes while she gazed into a crystal ball. We walked across a troll bridge filled with fog and lit up with black lights. Had a chance to try on Dracula's coffin for size. My daughter's favorite part of our Greenfield Village Halloween was the Broom Hilda's flying lessons. She had a good time jumping on a giant sized broom and getting some tips about how witches fly on them.

flying brooms


In addition to the scares and treats being given out for Halloween at The Henry Ford's Greenfield Village there was also plenty of entertainment going on throughout the evening. The Top Hat Side Show was amazing filled with magic tricks, sword swallowing and fire spitting. I could have spent all evening hanging out there but my kids dragged me away because they didn't want to miss out on trick or treating. My son's favorite part of the night, beyond getting candy, was watching 1930s era Halloween cartoons that were being shown on a silver screen near a Gobblin' Stop that was selling deserts and beverages. Those cartoons really were a treat to view!

greenfield village halloween


At other spots they had Halloween themed musical performances by groups with names such as The Transylvania Trio and Potion Sisters.  There also were sessions where spooky stories where being read by flashlight in the dark of night to audiences who braved these dramatic presentations of Hansel & Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood and The Tell-Tale Heart. Even the Grim Reaper got in on the action making an appearance at a bon fire.

halloween


My favorite part of the night though was The Pirate Revue. A rowdy bunch of drunken pirates were hanging around by Greenfield Village's lagoon.  They were telling jokes, singing and engaging in some sword play. Ahoy mateys, if ur ever wanted be a pirate this was the place to be! Definitely a highlight of our Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village that this dad blogger really appreciated.



The best part of Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village though was seeing my children having a lot of fun while the whole family was having a good time together. This event at The Henry Ford is an evening out where everyone in the family can enjoy themselves. While there are some scary aspects of this Halloween event for the most part it is more light hearted spooky fun than horrifying so that all ages should be comfortable participating.

halloween


Have yourself a Happy Halloween with a visit to Greenfield Village! Tickets for Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village are $17 for anyone over 2 years old for general admission or members of The Henry Ford get a discounted price of $14. For more information, go to thehenryford.org 

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