Halloween 2020: Where to Eat, Drink, and Dress Up in Detroit

Like everything else, Halloween in Detroit is getting a COVID-19 makeover in 2020. Packed parties with dancing and apple bobbing simply aren’t safe this year, nor is door knocking for the traditional trick-or-treating. While it might feel a bit like Halloween is canceled this year, it’s still here. It’s just wearing a pumpkin-printed cloth mask with plenty of physical distance. Here, find a handy guide to how to celebrate the spooky season around metro Detroit.

What’s up with trick-or-treating this year?

Trick-or-treating isn’t prohibited in Detroit. However, state and local health departments are urging families to take extra precautions. According to the city, people must wear a mask over their mouth and nose (not a costume mask). Groups should be sure to wash hands or carry hand sanitizer, and keep six feet of distance between themselves and people outside their household. The city also recommends distributing bags of candy set on a table or at a distance, rather than distributing candy face-to-face at the door. High traffic areas should be disinfected regularly. People hosting parties should consider keeping them outdoors and limiting the number of people at those gatherings. For more information for how to distribute candy safely, head to Eater.com.

Looking for alternatives to the usual trick-or-treating route? Families can register for the Saturday, October 24 (Not-So) Spooky Saturday at Robert C. Valade Park, put on by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. The event features a pumpkin patch, children’s music, spooky kids yoga, children’s stories, and candy bags. The city is also setting up several drive-thru trick-or-treating sites.

Which restaurants, cafes, and bars are doing Halloween stuff?

Folk: Corktown market-cafe Folk is selling carving pumpkins, decorative corn, and apple cider for fall, as well as a special Halloween collaboration package with the Film Lab in Hamtramck. The Fright Night Movie and Treats package comes with two virtual passes to stream 12 Hour Shift plus spooky cookies, caramel corn and umami bomb popcorn seasoning, caramel apples, peanut butter cups, popcorn, and cider. Order everything online for $50 or purchase the package at the walk-up window.

Second Best: Brush Park bar Second Best is accepting reservations for a Saturday, October 24 pumpkin carving party benefiting Covenant House in Detroit. Purchase a ticket online for a table for two. Each reservation includes two pumpkins, a carving kit, a pitcher of beer, and roasted pumpkin seeds. There will also be a la carte pumpkins available for sale as well as boozy hot buttered cider, timber totes and s’more kits, and free pumpkin painting for kids.

Pie Sci: The pizzeria is keeping Halloween-themed specials on rotation all month long with names like Shellraiser and the Muenster Squad. Call ahead at 313-818-0290 to place an order for curbside pickup.

The Film Lab: Bar and cinema the Film Lab has spooky Halloween movies on rotation throughout the month of October with screenings of Evil Dead 2, Labyrinth, Nightmare on Elm Street, and more. Tickets may be purchased online and drinks are available on site. On Wednesday, October 28, Tim Burton fans can head to the heated tent at Honest John’s for a double feature of Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Matt & Mo’s: Hazel Park’s Italian beef sandwich stand is celebrating All Hallows Eve with a kid-friendly to-go menu featuring Screamsicles (vanilla and orange cream soft serve ice cream in a cone, cup, or milkshake), Halloween sprinkle-wrapped ice cream sandwiches, cider slushes, and doughnut sundaes. Costumes are encouraged at the Saturday, October 31 event.

Tangent Gallery: The party at Tangent will be hosted in a new outdoor biergarten area from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, October 31. It will feature live music and art. Costumes are encouraged and masks are required. The cover charge is $20.

Alley Deck: The Magic Stick’s rooftop venue is hosting a Haunted House-themed costume party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, October 24. Masks are required, as is social distancing, and sanitizing. Groups are limited to eight people or less. Food and drinks will be available at the bar and at Sgt. Pepperoni’s. This is a 21 and up event with live music and a $10 door charge.

Detroit City Distillery: Eastern Market’s Detroit City Distillery is saying farewell to its street bar seating on Saturday, October 31 with a Halloween party featuring music, a costume contest with prizes, and food from Midnight Temple.

Sister Pie: Buckwheat cookies trade chocolate chips for Kit-Kat pieces and orange and black M&Ms all week at this West Village bakery. Pre-order six packs online.

Lost River: Get a spooky horror movie-themed cocktail to-go from Lost River. Choose from options like the Wicker Man or It Follows and place orders online for pickup.

Louisa: Get fall-themed pastries delivered right to your door from local baker Brenna Welch. This week’s treats include caramel corn krispies and cream cheese brownies with orange and black sprinkles. Place orders online.

Honcho: This Clarkston restaurant is offering four-packs of Halloween-themed donuts for pre-order online. The selection includes Boo Berry (blueberry lemon cheesecake filling, topped with frosting and a spooky fondant eye), Mummy (cookies and cream filled and wrapped with frosting), Vampire (raspberry filling and frosting), and the Moonstruck (chocolate crunch whip filled with frosting, a fondant moon, and a chocolate tree).

Schramm’s Mead: This Ferndale meadery is selling fall cheese boards to-go with special treats included like Dare Maple Leaf Creme cookies, caramel and cheddar popcorn mix, candy corn, and pretzels. Place orders online for curbside pickup.

• We Asked Heath Experts About the Safest Methods for Trick-or-Treating in 2020 [E]
• Trick-Or-Treating Makes Detroit’s List of High-Risk Halloween Activities [ED]
• Michigan Officials Urge Families to Wear Proper Face Masks for Halloween Trick-or-Treating [ED]