Happy Halloween! by thomasgvsu

Welcome to 'The Week' for October 27-November 2. This is where we will be posting comments such as news items, interesting blog posts, cool video and media, coming events, new web sites added to Absolute Michigan and other items of note.

We invite you to do the same!

Halloween is going to dominate the weekend activities around the state and we invite you to check out our 2008 Michigan Haunted Houses, Mazes & Attraction page. The Michigan Department of Agriculture is reminding families to use the following food safety tips to ensure a fun-filled and safe Halloween. If you still are looking to get your hands on a pumpkin to carve up check the Michigan U-Pick Farms & Farmers' Market Directory. Want to see some wickedly cool pumpkins? Then check out the extreme skills of Michigan's own Ed Moody, Tom Nardone and Patrick Harrison.

The US Census Bureau gives us a glimpse of 'Halloween by the Numbers':

The observance of Halloween, which dates from the Dark Ages, has long been associated with thoughts of witches, ghosts, devils and hobgoblins. Over the years, the customs and rituals associated with Halloween have changed dramatically. Today, many of the young and “young-at-heart” take a more light-hearted approach — donning a scary disguise or one that may bring on smiles when they go door-to-door for treats or attend or host a Halloween party.

“Trick or Treat!”
36.4 million
The estimated number of potential “trick-or-treaters” — 5- to 13-year-olds — across the United States in 2004, a decline of 381,000 from 2003. Of course, many other “kids” — older than 13, and younger than 5 — also go “trick-or-treating.”

6
Number of states that, contrary to the national trend, experienced an increase in their elementary school-age population (children between 5 and 13) between 2003 and 2004. Arizona (8,400), Nevada (7,500) and Florida (7,100) led the way, with North Carolina, Colorado and Georgia rounding out the list.

In 2004, Utah had the highest proportion of its total population in the 5-to-13 age group (14.9 percent), followed by Alaska (14.1 percent).

106 million
Number of potential stops for “trick-or-treaters,” i.e., housing units occupied year-round.

Jack O’ Lanterns and Pies
998 million pounds
Total pumpkin production of major pumpkin-producing states in 2004. Illinois, with a production of 457 million pounds, led the country. Pumpkin patches in California, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York also produced a lot of pumpkins: each state produced at least 70 million pounds worth. The value of all the pumpkins produced by these states was $100 million.

Where to Spend Halloween?
Some places around the country that may put you in the Halloween mood are:

Transylvania County, N.C. (29,525 residents).

Tombstone, Ariz. (population 1,560).

Pumpkin Center, N.C. (population 2,228); and Pumpkin Bend township, Ark. (population 307).

Cape Fear township in New Hanover County, N.C.; and Cape Fear township in Chatham County, N.C. (with populations of 15,711 and 1,170, respectively).

Skull Creek township, Neb. (population 291).

Candy and Costumes
1,271
Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2003. These establishments employed 43,379 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. California led the nation in the number of chocolate and cocoa manufacturing establishments, with 146, followed by Pennsylvania, with 120.
see also

519
Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured nonchocolate confectionary products in 2003. These establishments employed 23,343 people and shipped $7 billion worth of goods that year. California also led the nation in this category, with 79 establishments.
see also

25 pounds
Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2004; it is believed a large portion of this is consumed by kids around Halloween.

2,581
Number of formal wear and costume rental establishments across the nation in 2003.

Editor's note: Where to Spend Halloween? How on earth did they overlook Hell, MI!!!!!

And now for something completely different...
A 500 pound pumpkin smashing a car! (Frankfort, Michigan - Fallfest 2008)