MANISTEE — Things are set to get a little spooky in Manistee on Oct. 28 as more than 20 events are slated to take place as part of the Manistee Fall Festival.
Fall staples like Boos, Brews and Brats and the United Methodist Church Block Party will be accompanied by new events such as a guided haunted forest tour, presented by the Manistee High School National Honor Society and Friends of Orchard Beach State Park.
Youngsters can go trick-or-treating from noon to 2 p.m. at participating downtown businesses on River, Division and Maple streets.
The Manistee County Library will hold a spooky science event from 10:30-11:30 a.m. where kids can learn about bats, owls and other things that go bump in the night. At 11:45 a.m. kids can line up for the Children’s Costume Crawl, a mini-parade to show off their Halloween getup before they begin trick-or-treating.
The Manistee Elks Lodge No. 250 will hold Boos, Brews and Brats from 6-11 p.m. The event will feature beer vendors, brats, a costume contest and music from Sufferin Suckatash.
Pets can get in on the costume fun, too, as Port City Emporium is holding a virtual pet costume contest the day of the festival. Owners can post a picture of their pet on Instagram using the hashtag #manisteepetsarethebest. The post with the most likes wins a gift bag including goodies for the pet.
The Manistee Recreation Association will hold its Zombie Run 5K at 4 p.m. The race begins at the Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Manistee Waterfront. The entry fee is $15 until Oct. 24 and $20 after that. The first 100 registrants get a water bottle and all finishers will receive a medal. Costumes are encouraged. Visit app.teamlinkt.com/register/find/manisteerec to register.
The full slate of Manistee Fall Festival activities can be found at bit.ly/manisteefallfest.
The festival won’t the only source of Halloween-themed fun in Manistee County.
A Halloween party and dance fundraiser for American Legion Post 531 is scheduled to be held 7-11 p.m. on Oct. 21 at 18843 Cadillac Hwy. in Copemish. The top costumes will receive cash prizes. Call 231-970-9068 for more information.
The Armory Youth Project is slated to hold its Spooktakular Youth Party 4-8 p.m. on Oct. 27. All students in grades six through 12 are invited to enjoy pumpkin-painting, Halloween bingo and other games, various contests and more. Admission is free to registered youth. Call 231-299-1205 or visit armoryyouthproject.com to register.
Calvin Lutz Farms will hold a Haunting of Whoville Corn Maze from 8-10 p.m. on Oct. 27-28 at 10537 Nine Mile Road in Kaleva. Tickets cost $10 per person. Regular corn maze hours are noon to 5:45 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Walsh Post No. 4499 has a Halloween party planned for 3-7 p.m. Oct. 29. The event will feature a chili cook-off and karaoke. Attendees are encouraged to show up in their favorite costumes. Those seeking more information are asked to contact the VFW by calling 231-723-9220 and ask for Bobbie.
A number of trick- and trunk-or-treating opportunities will be held throughout Manistee County, including: