Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the City of Maumee has set citywide trick-or-treating for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. That is a two-hour window. The other events that make up a Maumee October are set by the Chamber, the Uptown business association, the Maumee Indoor Theater, two churches, a country club, the Eagles and the historical society, and many of them land on Tuesdays.
Count the Tuesdays from here to the end of the month and the pattern is plain. Every Tuesday in October has a free Halloween movie scheduled on Conant Street. Two of them also have trick-or-treating. If your family plans only around Saturday night, you miss most of the season.
The Tuesday Calendar
The Maumee Indoor Theater at 601 Conant St. is running a free Halloween movie series on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., and seating is first come, first served. E.T. opened the series on Oct. 6. Three Tuesdays are left, and the city and community groups have added events around them.
| Tuesday | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 13 | — | M3GAN, Maumee Indoor Theater, 5:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 20 | Maumee Chamber of Commerce Trunk-or-Treat, Appliance Center on Illinois Avenue, 4 to 7 p.m. | The Extraordinary Caterpillar, Maumee Indoor Theater, doors 6 p.m.; series listing also shows Casper at 5:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 27 | Uptown Maumee trick-or-treating, 3 to 5 p.m. | St. Paul's Lutheran Trunk or Treat, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; A House with a Clock in Its Walls, 5:30 p.m. |
Oct. 13 is the quiet one, with only a movie. On each of the last two Tuesdays, several groups have scheduled events for the same evening.
Oct. 20 Has Two Listings for One Screen
The Chamber's Trunk-or-Treat runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Appliance Center on Illinois Avenue. That leaves time to get over to Conant Street for the evening, but which film is showing there needs a check.
A City of Maumee notice posted Oct. 5 says the Maumee Environmental and Tree Advisory Commission will host a free public screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar at the Maumee Indoor Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the film starts at 6:30. The documentary covers native plants, insects and animals, and how they connect in ordinary places like suburbs, empty lots and city parks. Representatives from Sacred Grounds, Lucas County Soil & Water, the Green Ribbon Initiative, the Oak Openings Region Conservancy and Wild Ones will have information about keeping natural habitat in the region.
The theater's Halloween series, as listed on Toledo.com, puts Casper at 5:30 p.m. on the same date. The city's screening is the confirmed event. If you're going for Casper, check the theater's event page that Tuesday before you go.
Oct. 27 Stacks Three Events Into One Evening
The last Tuesday of the month is the busiest one. The Maumee Uptown Business Association will host trick-or-treating at Uptown businesses from 3 to 5 p.m. A 3 p.m. start puts it in the late afternoon, before the evening events begin.
Two more events start as Uptown wraps up. St. Paul's Lutheran, 112 E. Wayne St., holds its Trunk or Treat from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with hot-dog dinners for a free-will donation. At 5:30, the theater shows the last film in its series, A House with a Clock in Its Walls. The three events run back to back, so one evening could include Uptown trick-or-treating, a hot-dog dinner at St. Paul's and part of the movie.
Friday on Conant Street Is for Grown-Ups
The theater keeps showing films after the family series ends. Three days after the last Tuesday movie, on Friday, Oct. 30, Conant Street hosts two events for adults.
Witches Night Out runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Participants pay $10 for a punch card and visit participating businesses around Uptown. The night starts at Uptown Pizzaria & Wine Bar, 422 Conant St., and the best-costume prize is awarded at 9 p.m. Comfort Keepers organizes the event to support the Alzheimer's Association. The city's notice doesn't list which businesses are taking part, so you'll find out the route when you pick up your card.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show plays at the Maumee Indoor Theater, 601 Conant St., from 8 to 10 p.m. The theater's site mentions prop bags and T-shirts.
Both events are on Conant Street, and they overlap for their last two hours. You could do the punch-card route early and still make the 8 p.m. show.
The Weekend Events Come Earlier and Spread Out
Outside the Tuesdays and that Friday, the season's events are scattered across the map. Most are on weekends, and most come before the last week of the month.
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Maumee United Methodist Church, 405 Sackett St., holds its free indoor Annual Fall Festival from 1 to 3 p.m., with games, Candy Bar Bingo, dancing, pumpkin piñatas and a costume parade.
- Sunday, Oct. 11: Sunshine Communities hosts its Spooky Boardwalk from 2 to 4 p.m. at its Main Campus, 7223 Maumee Western Road. Toledo Parent's fall roundup describes trick-or-treating across the campus and an open barn, with all ages and abilities welcome.
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Road, hosts a free Halloween Craft Party for ages 6 to 10 from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21: Maumee Eagles Aerie 2562, 708 Scott St., holds a public Trunk or Treat from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with decorated vehicles and candy, and moves indoors if the weather is bad.
- Saturday, Oct. 24: Free Kite Nite at Rolf Park, 2115 Cass Road, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 25: Brandywine Country Club, 6904 Salisbury Road, hosts a free Trunk or Treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Anyone decorating a trunk has to register.
The Wolcott Heritage Center runs the late-night events. The Maumee Valley Historical Society offers private, three-hour paranormal investigations on Saturday nights through Oct. 17, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Groups can explore the first floor and basement of the Wolcott House, the Monclova Church and the Train Depot while the buildings are closed to the public. The minimum is $250 for a group of up to five, plus $50 for each additional person, with a limit of 10 per group. Investigation kits rent for $15, and everyone must stay with a historical society member. The society's events page shows Oct. 17 as sold out, so Oct. 10 is the last night you can still book. The page doesn't list a public ghost walk this season.
Two Newer Places to Eat on Dussel Drive
With so many weeknight events, an early dinner or an afternoon stop helps. Two newer businesses are on the same stretch of West Dussel Drive.
Lamb and Littles Play Cafe, at 451 W. Dussel Dr., combines a coffee shop with a play space. Owner Ashley Kolasinski told 13abc in July that it is "a coffee shop first," with handcrafted drinks, baked goods and sweets.
Mi Casa Agave, at 551 W. Dussel Dr., is run by Carlos Fuentes and family. WTOL reported that the restaurant planned a grand-opening celebration in September with mariachi music, food and family activities. The team said it wants to bring people together for "good Mexican food, music, family and good times."
Saturday, Oct. 31
The day begins at the library. Maumee Branch Library at 501 River Road hosts "Exploding Pumpkins" for ages 6 to 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. It's free, but you have to register.
Citywide trick-or-treating runs from 6 to 8 p.m. The city recommends going in groups with adults along for young children, staying on well-lit, familiar streets, carrying flashlights or glow sticks, and using sidewalks and crosswalks. It's the best-known night of the season and the shortest. Everything else on Maumee's calendar happens in the three weeks before it.
If this October has you wondering what it would take to live within walking distance of Conant Street for future Halloweens, Chirley Lima can help you put together a clear, unhurried plan. Book A Consultation.
