I’ll admit, I haven’t been to Greenfield Village in several years. Truly a gem in the Motor City. Well, that changed on Sunday as my wife purchased tickets for their Hallowe’en celebration, which included dinner at the Eagle Tavern. I LOVE this kind of stuff, going back in time, eating family style under candlelight.
I wondered why it was spelled Hallowe’en. According to the pamphlet they hand out “The night before the feast – All Hallows’ Even – was abbreviated as Hallowe’en, a spelling that remained in place into the 1930s.”
I highly recommend going sometime this season. I believe the dinners are sold out, but dress up and take the kids through the village, as the pumpkins are lit and the classic buildings are dressed up for the haunting season.
As for dinner, that was fantastic. It started out with the “owner” of the Eagle Tavern, Calvin Wood, talking about the history of the building, which was originally in Clinton, Michigan. It was a stop on the stagecoach ride between Detroit and Chicago. He wrapped up his speech with a toast – May the best day of your past, be the worst day of your future.
Another must-see is the Top Hat Sideshow. Magic, juggling, fire, balancing acts, all wrapped up with clever banter. That was fun!
We also took the train. I loved it! As you ride through the village, a disembodied voice describes all the different attractions you come across. Bigfoot, witches, werewolves, and more. Our ride was at 7:45. Perfect as the sun was down and added to the scary atmosphere. The train ride is about 20 minutes, and great for kids of all ages.
Take a look at some of the pictures below.
-Meltdown-
