Saturday night at the Eastpointe Community Garden was pure magic – the kind that happens when months of planning, an army of incredible volunteers, and a community ready to celebrate all come together under the stars.

Our 2nd Halloween event (and Shay and Kat’s first event together!) kicked off at 6:30pm on October 25th, and honestly? People started showing up early. That’s when you know you’ve got something special brewing.

Three Days of Transformation

This kind of magic doesn’t happen overnight. A bunch of us spent Thursday, Friday, and all day Saturday transforming the garden into something extraordinary. And Saturday morning started with one of those perfect Michigan moments Bill captured: a line in the sky with blue to the south and clouds to the north. Then the clouds drifted away and gave us exactly what we needed – perfect planting weather for potatoes and garlic, followed by an ideal Halloween evening.

Sure, it got a little chilly by the time the event started, but for October 25th? We could have been dealing with cold rain or snow. Instead, we got the weather we needed when we needed it.

The Dream Team Made It Happen

Kat and Shay spent months pulling all the pieces together for their first collaborative event, and they absolutely crushed it. But planning is just the beginning – it takes a whole village to bring this kind of thing to life, and our village showed up big time.

Glenn ran the food stand like a champion, keeping everyone fed with free food and cider all night long. And in what became my favorite running joke of the evening, Steve (Glenn’s dad) and Glenn accidentally matched by both not dressing up. Someone pointed out that Steve came as “older Glenn” while Glenn dressed as “younger Steve.” Perfect costumes, guys. Nailed it.

The food situation was next-level thanks to our community. Melanie took apples from Justine’s trees and dehydrated them into healthy treats for everyone. We had homemade dog treats because of course the pups deserve Halloween fun too. East Detroit Bakery donated dozens of donuts (dozens!), and multiple people including the Villa Restaurant provided candy and snacks to share.

Jeff, Bill, and I spent Thursday and Friday putting together the haunted maze in the back of the garden. Then during the event, Bill and Jen kept the fire going all night, making sure everyone stayed safe while running the s’mores station. There’s something perfect about roasting marshmallows in a garden on a fall night. As Bill put it, “The fires were super fun to tend to.”

Vendors, Activities, and Creative Chaos

We had an amazing lineup of vendors who brought the spooky vibes:

• Tarot card readings
• Handmade jewelry
• Germaine with her bookmarks (she stocks our little library!)
• Clothing and spooky accessories
• Face painting for the kids

Sam ran the crafts table and heard something that made all the work worthwhile. One of the parents told her this was their favorite Halloween event – that most trunk-or-treats just rush you through, but our event let families actually spend an entire evening together. That’s exactly what we’re going for.

We even spray-painted checkerboards on top of some of the rental beds, turning them into impromptu game stations. When you’ve got raised beds and creativity, why not?

The Haunted Maze Was Everything

Cola was volunteering in the haunted maze, and she got really into character. Like, really, really into character. You could hear kids screaming and adults laughing throughout the night – everyone was having so much fun with it. As Kat put it, “My favorite part was seeing the kids coming out of the maze either gleaming with excitement or crying in terror!”

Cola’s take? “My favorite part was scaring the kids, seeing it all come together and Glenn working the snack station.” Simple pleasures.

Bill summed up the whole vibe: “I also giggled at the screams and the crying kids. We had a super Blast.”

The Pickle Boys Stole My Heart

But my absolute favorite part of the night? The Pickle Boys from South Warren Community Garden.

Their mother was tabling at the event, and these kids just… jumped in. They didn’t wait to be asked. They didn’t need instructions. They saw what needed doing and did it. They helped scare people in the haunted maze (naturally). They took it upon themselves to pick up garbage, helping to keep the garden clean. They became part of the crew.

Watching them take ownership like that, becoming part of the inside group of volunteers – that’s what this whole thing is about. That’s the future of Urban Seed right there.

One of the boys won a raffle basket, and then he gave his brother, Jeff, and me matching bracelets. I’m not saying I got a little emotional about it, but I’m also not not saying that.

By the Numbers (And Beyond Them)

We recorded 288 families who came through the garden last night. Two hundred and eighty-eight groups of people who showed up to celebrate with us, support the garden, and be part of something bigger than themselves.

They arrived before we officially started at 6:30pm. Some were still hanging around after 9pm when we were supposed to wrap up. That’s the kind of energy that tells you you’ve built something real.

As Bill reflected on the whole day: “I love seeing the garden busy with workers doing things together. Laughing with each other. Tons of smiles all day. A little dancing. After our break when we got back it was starting to fill up with vendors. Kids and parents were a bit early. But everything was coming together… Everyone seemed like they had a blast.”

What It All Means

Events like this don’t just happen. They’re built by people like Kat and Shay who spend months organizing their first event together. They’re powered by volunteers like Glenn, Steve, Melanie, Katie, Jeff, Nick, Bill, Jen, Cola, Sam, Germaine, and so many others who showed up to make magic happen. They’re supported by donors like East Detroit Bakery and Pamela from Fraser who went out  of her way to grow and donate 60 pounds of pumpkins for the event.

And they’re celebrated by 288 families who could have spent Saturday night anywhere else but chose to spend it with us in a community garden in Eastpointe.

This is what we’re building together. This is what Urban Seed looks like when it’s firing on all cylinders – a place where kids learn to volunteer, where neighbors become friends, where a haunted maze can create memories, and where everyone leaves with full bellies, warm hearts, and maybe a few new bracelets.

Thank you to everyone who made Harvest of Horrors 2025 unforgettable. We can’t wait to see what next year brings.

Want to be part of future events? Join us for Garden Party every Saturday from 10am-2pm at the Eastpointe Community Garden (16425 Nine Mile Road). No experience needed, no registration required – just show up and become part of the story.