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Halloween
Capital of the World -
Anoka, Minnesota
 Anoka,
Minnesota is believed to be the first city in the United
States to put on a Halloween celebration to divert its
youngsters from Halloween pranks. When residents of Anoka awoke to find
their cows roaming Main Street, their windows soaped and
their outhouses tipped over, they decided something had to
be done.
In 1920,
George Green and other Anoka civic leaders suggested the
idea of a giant celebration. The idea was adopted by the
Anoka Commercial Club and the Anoka Kiwanis Club; both
giving their full support. In September of that year, a
Halloween committee was organized. Working hand in hand were
businessmen, teachers from the Anoka public and parochial
schools, parents, and students. For weeks before the big
event, more than a thousand Anoka school children made plans
and costumes for the big event.
 A
parade was scheduled for the evening. Participants included
local and neighboring bands, drum corps, the Anoka police
and fire departments, the Kiwanis club, the Commercial Club,
and the Anoka National Guard; all working together to make
the evening a success. Hundreds of bags of
popcorn, candy, peanuts and other treats were given away to
the children who marched in the parade.
 By the 1930s, the festivities
had expanded as had the attendance at the parades. There
were over 2,000 costumed children marching down Main Street.
It was estimated that 20,000 spectators lined the streets to
watch this night-time spectacle. In 1937, 12-year-old,
Harold Blair, donning a sweater embellished with a Halloween
Capital insignia, carried with him to Washington, D.C. a
proclamation naming Anoka the Halloween Capital of the
World.
 Anoka
has always worked to keep a family spirit alive in its
Halloween festivities. Activities have included pillow
fights, a kangaroo court, fireworks displays, royalty
coronations, concerts, dances, window painting contests,
house decorating contests, celebrity appearances, costume
contests, style shows, story-telling, races and, in the
1960s, a snake dance that took long lines of participants in
and out of area businesses and homes.
Anoka's Halloween celebration
continues to be world class. Participation in the night
parade and Grand Day parade has grown to include units from
all over the mid-west. The original concept of having
costumed students parade down Main Street continues on as
well on the Friday preceding the Grand Day parade. Anoka
residents can watch their grandchildren or great
grandchildren continue the tradition they started so many
years ago.
Click here for official information.
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When visiting or
investigating any spooky place be sure to
obey all local laws and always respect the
privacy of land owners and residents. Always
get advance permission to enter private
property. Never trespass on, take anything
from or damage anyone's private property.
Always show respect! |
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