Fall is officially in full swing, which means the leaves are changing, the temperatures are dropping and somewhere in Michigan, somebody has already complained that it's "too cold."
So, have you picked out your Halloween costume yet?
A new YouGov poll asked Americans which fall activities they're looking forward to the most. And apparently, we're all pretty predictable once the pumpkin decorations come out.
1. Watching scary movies
This came in at number one.
And Michigan has plenty of opportunities for this. Just wait until you're driving down a dark country road at 10 p.m. and your GPS suddenly tells you to "turn left onto an unpaved road."
Congratulations. You're now starring in your own horror movie.
2. Pumpkin-flavored foods and drinks
Pumpkin spice has officially returned to Michigan.
Pumpkin spice coffee. Pumpkin spice donuts. Pumpkin spice cereal. Pumpkin spice everything.
Pretty soon we'll be putting pumpkin spice on a Coney dog.
Please don't give anybody ideas.
3. Putting up Halloween decorations
Nothing says Halloween like turning your front yard into a graveyard and then forgetting to take everything down until Thanksgiving.
In Michigan, that's called getting your money's worth.
4. Handing out Halloween candy
Handing out candy made the list, although we're wondering why the survey didn't specifically include eating Halloween candy.
Because that's the real event.
You buy three bags of candy for the neighborhood kids and somehow one bag disappears before Halloween even gets here.
And you know exactly who did it.
You.
5. Carving a pumpkin
Nothing beats sitting around the kitchen table, scooping pumpkin guts out with your bare hands.
Then five minutes later you're wondering why you didn't just buy the plastic pumpkin from Meijer.
6. Dressing up in a Halloween costume
Adults still enjoy dressing up, although choosing a costume gets harder every year.
Especially in Michigan.
You can always dress as a construction barrel, a pothole or someone who's trying to merge onto I-75 during road construction.
7. Visiting a pumpkin patch
Nothing says fall in Michigan quite like a pumpkin patch, cider and donuts.
And then spending $47 on a pumpkin that will sit on your porch for three weeks before becoming a science experiment.
8. Taking a child trick-or-treating
It's a great family tradition.
Although parents know the real job isn't supervising the kids.
It's quality control on the candy haul.
"That Reese's looks suspicious. Dad will take care of it."
9. Going to a Halloween party
Costume parties are great until somebody shows up wearing the exact same costume.
That's when you both spend the rest of the night pretending it was intentional.
10. Playing tricks on friends, family or neighbors
This one made the Top 10.
Which brings us to the big Michigan question:
Is it still considered Halloween fun if you toilet-paper somebody's house, or is that just a good way to spend Saturday morning cleaning up toilet paper from a tree?
Just missing the Top 10 were hayrides and haunted houses.
Which is surprising because Michigan has no shortage of either.
So grab the cider, find the biggest pumpkin you can carry and start thinking about that costume.
Because before you know it, you'll be standing on your porch in 42-degree weather, wondering why you bought full-size candy bars instead of the little ones.
Happy fall, Michigan.









