Michigan Travel · Lansing
Lansing-area Halloween: free HIDE Fest fills Lake Lansing Park South with seven bands, trick-or-treating and indie films on Saturday
HASLETT, Mich. — Looking for something to do in the Lansing area on Halloween that is not another trunk-or-treat? A new, free festival takes over Lake Lansing Park South on Saturday, Oct. 31, with seven bands, trick-or-treating, a costume contest and a full day of independent films.
The inaugural HIDE Fest, short for Haslett Independent Discoveries and Entertainment Fest, is the work of independent filmmaker Paul Rothman, who grew up in Okemos and lived in Haslett. Festival profits will go toward repairing damage from the 70-mph winds that tore through the park in September, Lansing City Pulse reported.
Why he started it. “One of the biggest reasons we created HIDE Fest was to give something back to the community. Lake Lansing Park South is a special place, and after the damage from September’s windstorm, we wanted to do our part. Any profits from the festival will be donated to the county and go toward helping repair and restore the park,” Paul Rothman, founder and organizer of HIDE Fest, said in an email to The Mitten Daily. “If we can bring people together, celebrate independent art, and help preserve a place that means so much to the community, I’d consider that a success.”
The schedule. According to the organizer’s event page:
Live music runs at the park from 11 a.m. until sunset, with seven bands covering folk, emo, punk, metal, pop-rock and indie. The metal band Honeyfoot headlines.
Across the street, Mayfair Bar screens independent films from Michigan and around the world from noon to 10 p.m., including the area premiere of Rothman’s feature “Small Business” at 8 p.m. Rothman told City Pulse the film blocks run family-friendly early in the day and get bloodier and more mature into the evening, so plan the kids’ visit for daytime.
“For film fans, I’m especially excited about our Great Lakes filmmaker showcases and the local premiere of Small Business at 8 PM,” Rothman said. “We’ve also got seven fantastic bands performing throughout the day, and I encourage people to come early, explore, and discover something they might not have otherwise experienced.”
At the park, there is free trick-or-treating and a costume contest with a cash prize. Water and snacks cost $2.
“What I’m most looking forward to is seeing the community come together for something completely different. … There’s really something for everyone,” Rothman said.
What it costs. General admission is free, and online registration is encouraged. Ingham County Parks is waiving the park’s parking fee for the day. An optional $30 VIP ticket adds reserved indoor seating at Mayfair Bar, two drink tickets, a covered VIP tent for the music and a merch bundle. The organizer’s page lists no refunds on paid tickets.
Rain or shine. City Pulse reported the festival goes on rain or shine, so pack a jacket and a costume that can handle Michigan weather.
“It’s a great way to get families out of the house and get some fresh air,” Rothman told City Pulse. He said he wants the event to give young people something to do and new filmmakers a stage: “I really wanted to do something that gets young or new filmmakers activated, shows them it’s not that hard.”
Where. Lake Lansing Park South is at 1621 Pike St. in Haslett. Mayfair Bar is directly across the street, so festivalgoers can walk between the music and the films.
Updated Oct. 28, 2026: Added comments from HIDE Fest founder and organizer Paul Rothman, received by email Oct. 28.
Sources:
Paul Rothman, founder and organizer, HIDE Fest, email to The Mitten Daily, Oct. 28, 2026 (quotes)
Lansing City Pulse, “First-ever HIDE Fest celebrates movies, music and Halloween at Lake Lansing Park South,” Oct. 28, 2026 (Rothman background and quotes, storm-damage profits, rain or shine, parking fee waived, film blocks), https://lansingcitypulse.com/first-ever-hide-fest-celebrates-movies-music-and-halloween-at-lake-lansing-park-south/
HIDE Fest event page on Humanitix (Oct. 31 schedule, music 11 a.m. to sunset, Mayfair Bar films noon-10 p.m., free admission, $30 VIP, $2 water and snacks, costume contest, 1621 Pike St., no refunds), https://events.humanitix.com/hide-fest
Photo: Don Scarborough, “Trick or Treater.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/), cropped and color-adjusted; derivative shared under the same license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trick_or_Treater.jpg
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