News Summary
This Halloween season, Grand Rapids is alive with festive spirit as local resident Dusty VanDermeer transforms his neighborhood with elaborate decorations, drawing in hundreds of visitors. In addition, the John Ball Zoo’s ‘Zoo Goes Boo’ event offers families a unique trick-or-treat experience amidst animal exhibits. Nationally, Halloween candy sales are soaring, and states like Utah lead the way in purchases. The early enthusiasm for decorations and community events showcases the vibrant Halloween culture in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids is buzzing with excitement this Halloween season as local resident Dusty VanDermeer’s elaborate Halloween decorations draw hundreds of visitors to his Covell Ave. and Kenning Dr. neighborhood. VanDermeer, who has been decorating his yard since childhood, has turned this tradition into a neighborhood attraction that has gained significant local recognition.
Last Halloween, VanDermeer’s remarkable decorations attracted between 80 to 90 trick-or-treaters, and his efforts were highlighted on grkids.com as one of the top Halloween-themed homes in the area. The display is expected to continue attracting visitors this year as families look for festive activities leading up to Halloween.
In addition to home decorations, the John Ball Zoo is adding to the Halloween festivities by hosting its annual “Zoo Goes Boo” event over three weekends leading up to Halloween. This popular event features 13 trick-or-treating booths scattered throughout the zoo, allowing families to enjoy the animal exhibits while collecting candy. The unique combination of trick-or-treating and wildlife entertainment provides a family-friendly option for Halloween celebrations.
Parents such as Jessica Metts express the value of the early trick-or-treating experience offered by the zoo, emphasizing its role in helping their children prepare for Halloween night. The event not only excites children but also helps ease the transition into the traditional trick-or-treating routine.
Beyond local festivities, nationwide trends indicate a surge in Halloween-related purchases. According to Instacart data, October is marked as one of the most festive months of the year, with candy purchases peaking significantly. Specifically, candy purchases on Halloween (October 31) in 2024 were reported to be 100% higher than the average for the rest of the year. The heightened demand is reflective of the increasing enthusiasm for Halloween across the United States.
Utah leads the nation in candy purchases during October, boasting a rate that is 50% higher than the national average. Other states in the Mountain West and Midwest regions, including Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho, and Nebraska, have also shown significant increases in candy sales leading up to Halloween.
The top-selling candy for October 2024 is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, with Peanut M&M’s, classic M&M’s, Kit Kat, and Snickers following closely behind. Interestingly, candy corn continues to represent 2-3% of all October candy orders on Instacart, although its popularity can vary from state to state.
As Halloween approaches, many households are beginning to decorate earlier each year. Notably, there has been an increase in orders for Halloween décor starting as early as August 24 in recent years. This early enthusiasm for Halloween home decorations showcases the growing trend of seasonal celebrations in American culture.
The combination of VanDermeer’s local decorations and the zoo’s family events reflects the vibrant community spirit typical of Halloween. With children eagerly preparing to celebrate and families enjoying the festive atmosphere, Grand Rapids is embracing a Halloween season filled with decorations, candy, and delightful experiences.
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Additional Resources
- WZZM 13: Grand Rapids Gets in the Early Halloween Spirit
- WZZM 13: Grand Rapids Getting in the Halloween Spirit
- Grand Rapids MN: Halloween Sweet Tooth
- Travel MI: Michigan Halloween Events
- Fox 47 News: Halloween Events and Trick-or-Treat Times
- Wikipedia: Halloween
- Google Search: Halloween trends
- Google Scholar: Halloween candy sales
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Halloween
- Google News: Halloween 2023
Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER
GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
