Thank you to The Henry Ford for providing tickets for the purpose of
covering this event! All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
If you’d told me five months ago that the next time I’d be writing a blog post, it would be right before Halloween, I probably would have been a little bummed, to be honest. This year has been a whole big bag of crazy pants, but it’s also taught me a lot about recognizing and really appreciating the simple joys in life—especially when things don’t go how I’d initially planned. And now, as the weather starts to get chillier and the days become shorter, I’m realizing how grateful I am for the people who are working so hard to figure out safe, fun ways to celebrate this season and bring little doses of “normal” to a very strange time.
A few weeks ago,
The Henry Ford
invited me to check out their 40th anniversary celebration of
Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village, an annual event that promotes a spooky, not scary, good time for visitors
of all ages. Brad and I had visited the event a couple of times in past years,
so although I knew there would be modifications to this year’s celebration, I
was excited to return for a night of familiar festivities, colorful
characters, and sweet treats.
And oh, yeah—this time around, we were going in costume.
*Cue dance music*
And oh, yeah—this time around, we were going in costume.
*Cue dance music*
Now, because Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village is typically an amped-up
trick-or-treat experience (this year, the format is set up more like a
festival without candy stations), it naturally provides the perfect opportunity to masquerade. In the past,
I’ve felt like kicking myself so many times for not participating, so when
Brad offered to dress up with me, I OBVIOUSLY couldn’t say no. After combing
through Pinterest, we agreed on going as Mary Poppins and Bert, and after a
few days of thrifting, ordering too many things off Amazon, and pretending
we knew anything about crafting, our classic Disney alter egos were born.
🎵 Oh, it's a jolly 'oliday at Greenfield Village... 🎶
On the evening our tickets were scheduled, Brad and I arrived at The Henry Ford around dusk and snapped some photos in front of the museum before masking up and heading inside Greenfield Village. I hadn’t been inside the village since last December or so, so walking in was like visiting the home of an old friend I hadn’t seen in ages. Except, of course . . . now, it was filled with lots of spooky creatures.
*Note: While the Hallowe’en Express is fairly tame for adults and older kids, there are some characters and lighting effects that could be scarier for younger children. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to book your ride, or consider scheduling an earlier daytime time slot when making your reservation (as of writing this in 2020, all Hallowe’en Express rides are complimentary with the purchase of your event ticket, but you must contact customer service prior to your visit to schedule and reserve your spot on the train). For more details and assistance, contact The Henry Ford directly.
Towards the end of the night, Brad asked me if I wanted to go take pictures at the covered bridge, one of the creepiest (and most photogenic!) spots in the village. If you've read any of my previous posts on Hallowe'en in Greenfield village, you'll more than likely recognize this sinister, green skull entrance. But oh, my dears . . . have you ever gone beyond the curtain?
Scary sounds, crazy lights, and plenty of mysterious fog made the bridge one of my favorite parts of the evening! It kind of felt like we were at a disco/dance club—if that club were haunted, of course. 😉
All in all, we made it out safely (phew!) and I was surprised by how quickly the rest of the evening flew by. One caramel apple and a front-row view of Ichabod fleeing from the Headless Horseman later, and it was time to call it a night.
