** NORTHVILLIANS,
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During our fall series, I’ve written about our Victorian Heritage Festival, Northville Cider Mills, and the “Skeletons Are Alive” event, along with our spectacular Fall colors and homecomings in the Ville. Today concludes the series as we celebrate our Norman Rockwell-type Halloween activities in the town we love.

Last weekend (as you know), Main Street was alive with multiple bands playing both Saturday and Sunday with tables, chairs and heaters scattered throughout the Social District. Sunday was a wild and exciting “Streets of Treats” where an estimated 5,000 - 7,000 children with their parents trick-or-treated. Additionally, Northville’s football team continued to make headlines with a victory over Livonia Franklin (35-14) and will face the #1 Cass Tech team this Friday (Halloween night). Go 'Stangs!

Before looking at our Halloween traditions, let’s see what's happening today:
* Maybury Corn Maze – Through 11/2 on weekends (Link ([link removed]) )
* Scream 4 Special Movie Screening at Marquis, 10/29, 7:30PM – Filmed in Northville, lots of familiar locations! Appearance by Devin Scillian and pop-up store in lobby from Dancing Eye Gallery. Link ([link removed])
* Trick-or-Treating in Town, 10/31, 6-8 PM – The fire station’s siren will signal the start and end times.
* Skeletons Are Alive – Come experience the 250 Skeletons and the spider wall downtown through October.
* Parmenter’s Cider Mill (Our local apple source since 1873) … Enjoy this award-winning placemaking area with your family or friends Link ([link removed])
* Upcoming Music/Concerts/Events – Chamber/DDA Link ([link removed]) , Marquis Link ([link removed]) , Northville Winery Link ([link removed]) , NOMI Link ([link removed]) , Genitti’s Link ([link removed])

INFO FOR CITIZENS...
TASK FORCE MEETINGS
* Bicentennial Task Force Mtg - 12/3, 7:00 PM City Hall (Rick Sharpe – Chair)
* Cemetery Restoration Task Force - 12/8, 7:00 PM City Hall Link ([link removed]) (David Marold – Chair)

PROJECTS AROUND TOWN
* FORD FIELD – The Vista overlook & ADA entry are closer to completion. The Fort Griswold playscape has been removed & the new one is being constructed, a new bathroom building is scheduled for ’26. Additionally, with grant funding, a connected Ford Field East Park & South Main Park by the Water Wheel will be engineered in Spring.
* RIVERWALK – The River Park at the “Downs” will be dedicated in Spring, the crosswalk bridges over the stream will be positioned Wednesday. Pathways are starting to be poured this week. The historic Log Cabin is resting on new foundations readying to be the park’s Welcome Center. Overall, five sections of the Riverwalk are being planned.
* DOWNS INITIATIVE – Progress continues on Wayne County’s 1^st Roundabout (Sheldon & 7 Mile) that will be done by Thanksgiving.
* FARMERS’ MARKET – This week is the last of the season (Thurs., 10/30). Don’t miss it! The market is hosted at the Township’s & City’s Market Commons Area (550 W. 7 Mile)
* GRANTS that Support Northville’s Community Initiatives – Ford Field East added. Link ([link removed])

Let's look at some Halloween activities of the past...

1908 – The Record reported that on Halloween night, some young pranksters took the front steps off a residence in the Historic District. Fast forward to 1938, it was reported that SUGAR BEETS were being tossed around in Orchard Heights as part of Halloween activities.
1951 – The Ted Simms’ orchestra, all decked out in scary costumes, played for the Northville Halloween masquerade dance sponsored by the American Legion, with a “Boogie Woogie” Halloween scary pianist dressed as Count Dracula.
1953 – The VFW & Foreign Legion sponsored the community Halloween dance which took place at the High School gym (OVS), with an orchestra dressed in Halloween costumes.
1956 – Halloween festivities began with hours of free Scary Movies at the Marquis Theatre. Also, in 1956 a high school Halloween dance was held at the Community Center where 45 award-winning jack-o-lanterns were displayed (sponsored by the Mothers Club).
1960 – Many Northville trick-or-treaters collected money on Halloween from generous residents for UNICEF, a fundraiser sponsored by the local churches.
1965 – The Northville Fire Department started their annual Halloween event and received great recognition regionally. Northville firefighters popped corn and gave out hundreds of local apples. Guernsey Dairy donated the popcorn machine, Casterlines provided the apples and Mayor Allen the popcorn. This tradition has continued to this day (60^th Year in 2025).
1983 – Northville firefighters hosted thousands of folks at their annual Halloween event. Chief Allen observed that “it just keeps growing, like Halloween in the Ville!”
2010 – The Northville Record wrote about family-themed Halloween displays each year for trick or treaters (some for close to 30 years). Themes mentioned were Pirates of the Caribbean, Wild West, Monster Mash, Trolls, Star Trek, and Ghostbusters – just to name a few.
2011 – The DDA debuted “Skeletons Are Alive” in downtown Northville, with 10 skeletons that were the delight of the community. This fun event continues to grow yearly with over 250 skeletons now on display. We now have a spooky pirate ship built at the Clock Tower and hundreds of spiders crawling up the walls in Town Square… the event grows each year.
2025 – Northville will once again close streets around town 6 - 8PM for our youthful trick-or-treaters. The Fire Department will be hosting their annual Halloween open house … and Dunlap & Main Street will be closed for vehicle traffic to keep our children and parents safe. We are preparing for over 10,000 tricker treaters this year in our downtown area.

Come enjoy downtown Northville to experience the ambiance and the multiple Halloween displays on Dunlap St. and Main St. This year, that includes the Ghost Busters’ 3-story Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, the downtown giant rooftop pumpkin and, of course, the Skeletons and Spiders.

This concludes our “Fall Series” in the Ville. We’ll transition to “Remembrances in Town” over the coming weeks, including Historic Elections in the Ville, Veterans Day, past Thanksgivings and much more.

Keep that Northville Halloween Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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