2019 Guide to Manchester Halloween activities

Michigan’s greatest small-town Halloween is getting bigger! This year, in addition to the annual events on October 31st, Manchester is offering up Halloween-y fun on the Saturday before!

Saturday, October 26

9 am to 1 pm – the Lions Club will be selling apple cider on the street at the corner of M52 and Main and off the sidewalk at the corner of the Post Office and Marathon. $5 for a half gallon. 

10 am to 4 pm – Fall Harvest Festival at The Shoppes of Alber Mill, including a pet parade at noon and a pet costume contest at 12:15pm, as well as vendors, a food truck, and pumpkin painting.

11am to 1pm – Frank’s Place will be holding a Hogwarts Feast, including a meal, butter beer, treats, photo opportunities, house sorting, and costume contest. Limited space, costumes encouraged. Tickets $15.

Noon to 4 pm – Cornhole Tournament in the parking lot at Over the Edge, including prizes. Registration fee of $25/team of 2, must register by Oct. 20th.

5:30 pm to 8 pm – SRSLY Manchester will be holding Haunted Hallways in the Ackerson building, 410 City Rd., including Halloween frights, ghoulish games, and sweet treats, games and activities, and a sensory hallway for those who like a less scary adventure. $5 per person, $15 for families of 4 or more, ($1 off ticket price if you wear a costume! For family deal, $1 off ticket price for each person who wears a costume)

7pm & 8:45pm – Manchester Area Historical Society’s Walking Tour of Haunted Manchester, meet at Kingsley-Jenter House, 302 East Main St., ages 12 and up. Tickets $15 in advance and $20 that evening. SOLD OUT

Thursday, October 31

4 pm to 7 pm – The Lions Club will have pumpkin bowling at the gazebo in support of the caramel apple event and will go until they run out of apples or kids.  All participants will receive candy but for those who knock all the pins down in one or two tries will be put in the drawing for the HUGE stuffed animal which will be held at the end of the night. 

4:45 pm – Costume contest for kids 10 & under at Shoppes at Alber Mill

5 pm to 7 pm – Village-wide trick-or-treating

5 pm to 7 pm – Free caramel apples for kids, provided by the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce at the gazebo in Wurster Park

5 pm to 7 pm – The Friends of the Manchester District Library will be near the gazebo handing out books and treats during Trick-Or-Treat time. There will be books for children of all ages.

5 pm to 7 pm – Manchester United Methodist Church will host its annual Trunk or Treat at the parsonage (located at 330 Ann Arbor St. directly across the street from the Snoopy mailbox); congregation members will set up their decorated car trunks along the driveway and pass out candy to trick-or-treaters

5 pm to 7 pm – Bobbing for doughnuts and the “Guess What It Is” game at Shoppes at Alber Mill, ending with costume contest at 7 pm.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.