Royal Oak No. 2 Trick-or-Treating Town in America

More than 60 Royal Oak businesses are participating in the 32nd Annual Spooktacular, which will be held Oct. 25. (Photo courtesy of city of Royal Oak)

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Royal Oak’s upcoming Spooktacular, the big downtown extravaganza where more than 50 participating businesses hand out treats to kids, and the Detroit Zoo’s annual “Zoo Boo” combine to make Royal Oak the second-best town in America for trick-or-treating.

That’s according to The Daily Meal, a New York-based foodie blog, which said Halloween “isn’t simply about finding the perfect costume and collecting the best candy,” but about the excitement generated by local residents, who decorate their homes, and civic institutions that sponsor Halloween events.

Royal Oak had company on the list of the Top 25 Trick-or-Treating Towns. Saline came in at No. 10, and Grand Rapids was No. 17. Colorado Springs, CO, topped the list.

Criteria considered for the ranking also included safety and crime rates, the number of sex offenders in each municipality, Halloween-themed events, finally, and the town’s Zillow “walkability rating” to determine which are the easiest for trick-or-treaters to navigate.

The “Zoo Boo” continues from 5-8 p.m.Oct 16-18, and Oct. 23-25. It features a festively decorated half-mile trick-or-treat trail through the front of the Zoo. Elaborate pumpkin displays will line the treat trail, where greeters will pass out goodies to costume-clad children at treat stations along the route.

Davids said 3,000 trick-or-treaters are expected at the 32nd Annual Spooktacular, which will be held from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 25. More than 60 businesses will hand out treats for the event and many will offer specials.