Allen Park's 'great pumpkin'

Even if you are neither a mass merchandiser nor a specialty store that sells seasonal items, the Halloween season provides ways to get involved in the season.

Ask Mark Bailey, owner of McNally’s Shoes in Allen Park. For 16 years, Bailey has been organizing Allen Park’s huge Halloween event, known as Pumpkin Patch, for the Elks. Bailey estimates attendance at the event has grown to nearly 10,000 children and parents.

“It started as an Elks event aimed at providing Halloween fun for the area’s disabled kids who might not be able to go trick-or-treating—and in many communities that is still the focus of Elk’s Pumpkin Patch,” he explained.

But Bailey—known to his friends as “Beetle”—wanted to make the event bigger, so he used his retail connections to get the whole downtown and downriver area involved.

The event has become an extravaganza for the whole family, and nearly 300 retailers and other businesses and organizations contribute—either by volunteering at the event or donating money, services or products.

Every year, a city block in downtown Allen Park is transformed for the event.

“We build this whole scene, complete with a haunted graveyard and hundreds of wandering costumed characters. We use a theatrical fog machine to create an eerie atmosphere.

“There’s live music, food and surprises, and kids can beg for candy and other novelty items about every 10 to 15 feet along the pumpkin-lined path along the street,” Bailey said.

Tom’s Lawn & Garden Center brings in yards and yards of dirt for the “graveyard,” which is set up in the parking lot of Roll Models, a bicycle shop. Flower retailers donate flowers for the graveyard, as well as carnations for the fearless moms escorting kids around. Moscheck’s Meats even provides carcasses and bones to give the graveyard some chillingly realistic details.

Fire and police departments, schools and other area organization get involved as well. “The fire truck is a big draw for the little ones, and officers pass out safety-oriented coloring books, badges and stickers,” said Bailey.

Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum donates hundreds of carved pumpkins. Bailey has even enlisted Ford, the Detroit Red Wings and Frito Lay as event sponsors.

Some businesses find ways to increase their visibility at the event, like the dentists who give out toothbrushes with their names on them or stores that print up coupons, magnets or other novelties to be handed out with the goodies. All supporters are listed in a flyer distributed at the event as well.

But for many supporters, it’s just a good cause that brings the community together for fun and involvement. Jacqueline Gibson, owner of The Browsery, a Hallmark shop near McNally’s Shoes in Allen Park, has been an enthusiastic supporter since the beginning.

“It’s been just amazing to watch it grow to the huge event it is today—everyone seems to be involved,” said Gibson, who gives money to the event.

“It’s unbelievable, the way Beetle and his group decorate the street. I bring my grandkids every year, and they just love it,” she added.

The time and energy Bailey puts into this event are widely appreciated. John Kuptz, president of the Michigan Elks Association, said: “A lot of lodges would like to have Mark, as he is very dedicated to the charity work of the Elks, especially for special needs children.”

The consensus from people associated with this event is that Allen Park Elk’s Pumpkin Patch is the Halloween event for the whole downriver area.