As autumn hues sweep over the region and every street seems to stir with costume-clad excitement, the community of Brighton, MI, is gearing up for one of its most festive seasons. Halloween isn’t just a date on the calendar—it becomes an occasion where floats drift through downtown roads, local businesses join the fray, and families step into imaginative worlds together. The rhythm of trumpets, the gleam of lights on carriages, the laughter echoing from children showing off their outfits—all of this comes alive in Brighton and its neighbouring towns.
The thrill of a community parade is more than just watching. It is about participating, about feeling that local heartbeat where neighbours, shops, performers, and families gather to mark the season together. In 2025, Brighton and its nearby communities will provide multiple opportunities for this kind of shared enchantment. Whether you’re a parent plotting the perfect costume, a kid tallying how many pieces of candy you’ll collect, or a business owner looking to set up something special, this year has something to offer.
In the following sections, the article will cover where the parades and festivals are happening, how families can dive in, how local businesses get involved, and what smart tips to bring along for a smooth and memorable outing. The goal is to both inform and inspire—a guide to help you make the most of Halloween in and around Brighton, MI.
Where the Parades and Festivals Are Happening
In 2025, one of the key events in the Brighton, MI, area is the annual “Boo Fest” at the shopping centre Green Oak Village Place (9632 Village Place Blvd, Brighton). The event is scheduled for Friday, October 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and welcomes all ages to don their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat in participating stores. While this may not be a full-scale street parade with floats, it embodies the festival and community parade spirit: costumed participants, entertainment, and business involvement.
Nearby communities (within Metro Detroit / Oakland County / Livingston County) are also staging Halloween-friendly events. While they may be more “trunk-or-treat” or festival-style rather than grand float parades, they still offer that communal atmosphere.
For families and groups in Brighton, exploring the surrounding towns may reveal additional, larger processions with floats, large performances, or full-scale parades. Even if the big parade isn’t in downtown Brighton itself, this region is rich with community gatherings where Halloween is celebrated in parade-style or festival-style formats.
How Families Can Join in the Fun
Families looking to enjoy Halloween in the Brighton area should plan, as involvement can go beyond just spectating. Kids and parents can dress up in matching, creative, or hilarious costumes and head to Boo Fest (or similar events) to interact, take photos, and trick-or-treat in a safe, festive environment. The costumed procession around a shopping centre, or on the sidewalks of a parade route, offers visual fun and the chance for imaginative play.
Parents can plan together: pick a meeting point at the event, bring younger siblings and grandparents, and coordinate costume themes. Kids can be encouraged to wave at floats (or decorated cars if floats are limited) and participate in any contests that may be offered. At the Boo Fest, for example, there are face-painting stations, photo booths, and activities suited for different ages.
It’s also a good idea for families to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot if there is an actual street parade, or to secure a parking spot when attending festival-type events. Planning costumes that are weather-aware (Michigan evenings can be cool in late October) helps ensure everyone stays comfortable and keeps the fun going.
How Local Businesses and Vendors Contribute
Local businesses in Brighton play a key role in the Halloween parade and festival landscape. For instance, at the Boo Fest at Green Oak Village Place, participating shops open their doors for a trick-or-treat format. This not only draws families into the shops, but also integrates the business district into the Halloween experience.
Vendors—whether local artisan craft stalls, food trucks, face-painting specialists, or entertainment providers—help create the ambiance of the parade or festival. By decorating windows, dressing staff in costume, handing out treats, and partnering in event-sponsored contests or giveaways, businesses add sparkle to the community experience.
For business owners and vendors, involvement helps build foot traffic and community goodwill. For families, the benefit is visible: decorated floats or storefronts add to the visual richness, and vendor-provided giveaways or interactive stations (face-painting, photo-ops) make the hours festive. Businesses may also sponsor sections of a parade or festival stage, or provide prizes for costume contests—thus deepening the sense of shared celebration.
Tips for Parade or Festival Day Preparation
Attending any Halloween parade or festival in and around Brighton, MI, is more fun when you come prepared. One of the first things to remember is to bring chairs or blankets if you’re planning to watch a street parade: many routes run along sidewalks where seating is not provided, so getting your own ensures comfort for you and your family. Even for events in shopping centres, some seating or resting area can help children regroup between activities.
Bringing candy bags or trick-or-treat sacks is a smart move—especially at events where costume-based trick-or-treating is part of the proceedings. It’s fun to have a bag ready to collect treats, and to compare at the end of the evening how many pieces each child gathered (if that’s part of your family ritual).
Also consider weather-appropriate clothing: in late October in Michigan, evenings can be chilly. Costume layers or warm outerwear help the fun last without cold interrupting. If there’s a parade, bring a flashlight or glow accessory (especially for dusk events) so children can be seen and feel extra festive. Personal water bottles, snacks, and basic first-aid items (like band-aids) are helpful for families spending several hours at the event.
If the event involves moving from location to location (for example, trick-or-treating through stores), plan logistics: where to park, what time to arrive, meeting points in case children get separated, and how to get home afterward. And always check the event’s official schedule ahead of time (some change due to weather or local conditions) so you’re there at the start of the big moment.
Choosing the Right Event for Your Family
Not all Halloween celebrations are the same—some are full street parades with floats and marching bands, others are festival-style with costume contests, trick-or-treat booths, and performances. In the Brighton area, Boo Fest at Green Oak Village Place is a strong family-friendly festival option with interactive elements and trick-or-treating in stores. For families seeking full parade action (floats, street processions), exploring neighbouring communities may offer rich alternatives.
When selecting an event, consider the age of your children, the energy level you want (large crowd vs more relaxed gathering), and how far you’re willing to travel. For younger kids, a festival-style event that ends early and offers close-in parking might be ideal. For older children or teens, a larger parade or street event with more spectacle might be exciting. Also check if costumes are required, whether there are appropriate age-based activities, and whether any part of the event involves frightful elements (some events lean more into “spooky” or “haunted” as opposed to purely fun).
For 2025, families in Brighton can pick their ideal fit and treat it as an opportunity for making memories—costumes, treats, photo-ops, and community spirit all come together nicely.
Safety and Accessibility Considerations
When attending a public Halloween parade or festival, it’s wise to keep safety and accessibility in mind. In the Brighton region, some events take place in shopping centres or closed-off street zones, which tend to be easier to manage for families with younger children, strollers, or special-needs family members. Ensuring there is a clear meeting point, that children know to stay within sight, and that parents are aware of the event’s route or layout, increases comfort and enjoyment.
Make sure costume footwear is comfortable and safe (especially if walking longer distances), that any props or accessories are non-hazardous, and that visibility (for dusk or evening events) is strong—adding glow sticks, reflective tape, or small flashlights is a good idea. For children with sensory considerations, some festivals may offer quieter zones or early-entry options; checking ahead with organisers (for example, the shopping centre event host) may help.
Finally, treat all event schedules as provisional—weather, local traffic, or municipal changes may cause adjustments—so arrive a little early, have a backup plan for parking or transit, and communicate with your group about when and where to meet if someone gets separated.
The Halloween season in and around Brighton, MI, offers families, businesses, and community members a vibrant platform for participation, fun, and celebration. From the lively festival environment at Boo Fest, with its costumed trick-or-treating, to the broader range of regional community parades and events, the opportunities to engage are rich. When the streets or shopping-centre grounds fill with floats, lights, music, and laughter, the spirit of the season comes alive.
For parents and kids alike, showing up, dressing up, and joining in turns the event into a memory rather than just an outing. Local businesses and vendors increase the sparkle by providing treats, photo-ops, façades, and interactive elements that turn a parade into a shared experience. And with a bit of preparation—chairs, blankets, candy bags, warm layers—attendees can fully enjoy the evening without distractions.
So whether you’re standing on a curb, waving as a float rolls by, or strolling store-to-store in costume, the community energy of Halloween in Brighton and the region is available to embrace. This year, let the parade lights, the costumes, the sweet treats, and the collective joy carry you into a truly memorable celebration.
Sources: allevents.in, oaklandcountymoms.com, explorebrightonhowellarea.com, griffithrealty.com, brightoncitymi.gov
Header Image Source: oaklandcountymoms.com
