Roaming Cows and Tipped Outhouses: The Minnesota Halloween Story You Won’t Believe

Welcome to October, where spooky reigns supreme! Get ready to dive into the hilariously bizarre origin of a beloved Minnesota Halloween tradition.

In a time when Halloween wasn't nearly as popular as it is today, one Minnesota town was fed up with kids doing tricks rather than enjoying treats, so they did something about it, and started a Halloween tradition that is still going strong today.

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Around 1920, city leaders and residents of Anoka, Minnesota were shocked to find cows roaming down Main Street, tipped over outhouses, and windows with soap on them all over town, so they became the first known city in America to organize a Halloween celebration for the town.

City leaders and local clubs organized a Halloween committee, and what they came up with still continues to this day, a giant parade and Halloween celebration.

According to the official history of the event, more than 1000 school children in Anoka prepared for the event by getting costumes ready for the big day. By 1937, the parade grew to include over 2,000 kids in costume, and over 20,000 people gathered to watch.

1937 is also the year that Anoka proclaimed itself "The Halloween Capital of The World", the slogan is now a registered trademark for the city. But it's more than a self-proclamation, they actually have a declaration from the United States Government.

The event has included many activities over the years including giant pillow fights, fireworks, concerts, celebrity appearances, house decorating contests, costume contests, and much more.

The event even got some national recognition when, in 1970, winners of the TV game show 'The Dating Game' were given a trip to Anoka to participate in the parade.

Anoka's Halloween celebration this year includes the "Grande Day Parade" on October 26th, with entries from all over the Midwest. They have also added a second parade, the "Light Up the Night Parade", that happen the week before on October 19th.

They also have a house decorating contest, their Gray Ghost Run, which features a 5k and one-mile walk, and several other events throughout the month to celebrate Halloween!

As someone who grew up near Anoka and attended Anoka High School, I have fond memories of this parade. It was an annual highlight. The "Great Halloween Snow Storm" of 1991 stands out – I was working at the Haunted House when we had to shut down because of the snow.