‘Ghosts on the Grand’ turns Grand Rapids into citywide Halloween scavenger hunt

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids is getting some unusual new residents this spooky season — and a few have been lurking around for more than a century.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 2, local interactive experience company City Games launched "Ghosts on the Grand," a monthlong, citywide supernatural scavenger hunt that runs through Halloween. The event combines local history, puzzles and mobile challenges to transform the city into an open-air game board.

Participants will hunt for an original cast of fictional local spirits, each tied to a distinct era of Grand Rapids history. The lineup includes "Heritage Hillary," a Victorian-era socialite wandering historic neighborhoods; "Trolley Molly," a spirit waiting for a long-defunct streetcar; "Disco Dot," a partygoer who refuses to leave the 1970s; and "Arcade Eddie," a ghost forever chasing a high score.

Rather than relying purely on digital displays, players must follow physical trails across the city. Unlocking a ghost’s story requires solving puzzles, answering local trivia, completing photo missions, and visiting participating local businesses. Fully completing a character's trail adds that spirit to the player's personal digital collection.

"Grand Rapids already has incredible history hiding everywhere," said Toby Shaver, founder of City Games. "For Halloween, we thought it would be a lot more fun if some of that history started talking back."

Organizers emphasize that "Ghosts on the Grand" is family-friendly and playfully spooky rather than frightening, blending the charm of classic haunted attractions with real-world exploration.

The experience runs Oct. 2-31. Players can join the hunt by visiting the City Games platform online.

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