Meadow Brook has always hosted fantastic Halloween celebrations – from the Dodge family parties in the 1920s to today’s series of spectacular fall events.
Dating back almost 2,000 years to its origins in Ireland, Halloween has undergone remarkable transformations through the centuries. By the 1920s, Halloween parties became a popular tradition in American households, marked by extravagant costumes, lively games, and festive decorations. At Meadow Brook Hall, this spirit was embraced wholeheartedly, with Daniel and Frances Dodge taking turns hosting annual Halloween parties.
The first notable Halloween celebration at Meadow Brook Hall took place in 1929, hosted by Frances Dodge herself. Advertised in the Detroit Free Press as the “Hallowe’en Dinner Event of the Week,” Frances invited twelve of her friends to a costumed affair on the estate. The press teased that “Hallowe’en games with witches and goblins will entertain guests.” During the 1920s, popular activities included bobbing for apples, carving pumpkins, and engaging in divination games, which promised to reveal one’s future—especially whom they might marry.
In 1931, Frances took her turn again to host a grand Hallowe’en masquerade dance, this time inviting 40 of her school friends to the estate. Frances thrilled her friends when she arrived dressed as a cowboy, complete with a tiny mustache. She was voted “funniest” in the costume contest, much to the delight of her guests.
Meadow Brook continues to celebrate Halloween in style, though the events have evolved to cater to broader audiences. This year, the estate welcomed families for a special Meadow Brook Hall-oween event, offering trick-or-treating across the estate grounds. The fall colors and perfect weather set the scene for little ghosts and ghouls who played yard games and created festive crafts.
Also this month, we hosted after-dark Flashlight Tours and four thrilling films were featured for Meadow Brook’s Dinner and a Movie series. Experiencing it projected on the big screen in the historic two-story Gothic-inspired ballroom made for an epic night out for all who attended.
Halloween at Meadow Brook proves that some traditions only deepen with time—casting a captivating spell on the imagination, weaving together nostalgia and new experiences.
Be captivated by the people, places and tales that make Meadow Brook Hall so remarkable. Our Estate Stories series unlocks the vaults, dives into the archives and seeks out tales of the Great Estate to pique your interest and enrich your life.
