Disclosure: The Henry Ford provided my family with tickets to Greenfield Village Hallowe’en. All opinions are my own.
Over the years one of our family’s Halloween traditions has been attending Greenfield Village Hallowe’en.
About Greenfield Village Hallowe’en
At Greenfield Village Hallowe’en, guests follow a pre-defined path lined with jack o’lanterns through the Village. Along the path there are costumed presenters, vignettes, and treat stations. Treats are provided for all guests.
Hallowe’en is offered on Thursday-Sunday nights from mid-October through the end of October. Admission tickets are purchased for a particular half-hour block starting at 6:30p. There are still limited tickets available for the 2016 event. Most of the remaining tickets are for Thursday nights or for late admission times on Friday through Sunday.
2016 Changes at Greenfield Village Hallowe’en
Over the years, Greenfield Village Hallowe’en has changed slightly. In 2015, there were performers added at various points in the route. For 2016, there are more performers. There were several locations with story times such as Hansel and Gretel and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Hallowe’en also featured a new path this year. Last year’s route added the Liberty Craftworks section. This year’s route was expanded in the Porches and Parlors section.
5 Tips for Hallowe’en at Greenfield Village
Check out our tips for attending Hallowe-en at Greenfield Village.
Note they have changed the format after COVID. The event no longer uses a set path. You can freely roam through the village.
Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tip #1: Come in Costume
Hallowe’en is for everyone. Costumes are encouraged for all guests. As an added bonus on most nights, costumes provide protection from the elements. Saturday night was warm, so my daughter was hot in her costume this year. For us, it has also been a test run for the practicality of my daughter’s costume. Last year, her Minecraft Enderman proved to be a difficult costume since the head frequently shifted away from the eye holes. This year’s Captain Phasma mask stayed in place much better.
Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tip #2: Bring a Bag for Everyone
Treats are for everyone – adults and kids alike. While bags are available, I prefer bringing our own. Your bag does not need to be large since there are less than 10 treat stations. We each received a bag of chips, a postcard, and a few small pieces of candy – Laffy Taffy, Twizzler, Hershey Bar, etc.
Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tip #3: Eat dinner before attending
I recommend eating dinner before attending Hallowe’en. Some food and beverage stands are open with limited offerings. Highlights were warm drinks and mini-donuts. Taste of History is open during Hallowe’en and likely has dinner options. However, it is about 2/3 of the way through the route. Unless you have the earliest entry time, it would be a late dinner. It took an hour for us to reach Taste of History.
Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tip #4: Plan ahead – Leave Plenty of Time
Most time slots for Hallowe’en at Greenfield Village sell out. Parking can be difficult particularly in the middle of the evening. My husband dropped my daughter and I off at the Ticket Window and went to park the car. He parked in the Henry Ford Museum lot which was fairly full. When we left at 9:45p, the lot was very full. Once early entrants leave, you may be able to find a closer spot.
While my husband parked the car, I picked up our tickets. Then my daughter used the bathroom and put her costume on. With a set path, it is a great idea to use the restroom before entry.
We arrived at 7:40p and were barely ready by 8p. I recommend planning to arrive about 30 minutes before your entry time. That leaves you a cushion for traffic, running late,
Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tip #5 – Dress for the weather
Hallowe’en is all outdoors. The path winds through the entirety of Greenfield Village. The buildings are closed. Expect to spend anywhere from 1-2 hours outside. The night we attended was warm, so we did not have to bundle up. My daughter was actually warm in her costume. Hallowe’en happens rain or shine. Ponchos are a great option for rainy days.
Our Thoughts on Greenfield Village Hallowe’en
We had a great time at Hallowe’en. I definitely recommend it for Ann Arbor families. We are looking forward to attending again next year.
However, as much as we enjoyed Hallowe’en, we are really looking forward to Holiday Nights in December. Holiday Nights is my favorite time to visit Greenfield Village. I prefer Holiday Nights since the houses and shops are open. Each home celebrates the holidays in a different time and place.
Get Your Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tickets
Greenfield Village Hallowe’en Tickets are $16/person(ages 2+). Tickets are available online. Many time slots are already sold-out. The best availability is for Thursday and Sunday nights. The later time slots also have more availability.
