Halloween arrives early at ‘Haunted Hazel Park’ art fair

HAZEL PARK — David Monastiere has always loved Halloween and the creativity it inspires. The horror-themed musician, who goes by the stage name “Slasher Dave” and even illustrates his own vinyl album covers, sees the same love for the season each year in his hometown of Hazel Park.

But lately, he feels the city lacks a Halloween event to call its own. That all changes soon when the Haunted Hazel Park Halloween Art Fair gets underway on Saturday, Oct. 12, next to the Community Center at Green Acres Park, 620 W. Woodward Heights Blvd.

Monastiere is organizing the event, which is sponsored by Hazel Park Parks and Recreation. The fair is suitable for all ages, and free to attend. Despite the theme, it’s a daytime event that runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Attendees can look forward to artists and vendors with offerings themed around Halloween, horror, the fall season, or all of the above. There will be mixed-media 2D and 3D art, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, clothing, accessories, soaps, candles, shot glasses, 3D printed toys and more — even a mask dealer for last-minute costume shopping.

Many will be set up in an “artist alleyway” leading to the Haunted Trail — the main park loop, reimagined with gravestones, spiderwebs and other suitably creepy decor. A selfie station in the middle will feature a giant cardboard cutout of a jack-o’-lantern, with holes in the eyes and nose where guests can peer out for pictures.

Piping softly over speakers will be Monastiere’s “Slasher Dave” music — a nostalgic ’80s-tinged soundscape that draws upon a range of influences, from John Carpenter horror films to bands like Black Sabbath.

On the other side of the trail will be a children’s area at the pavilion with art and vendors tailored to kids, plus activities like face paintings and Halloween crafts. There will also be food and drinks to enjoy, from barbecue sliders and chips to fresh doughnuts and apple cider.

Topping it all off is a car show with a macabre twist: all of the rides are hearses, decorated for the season. That particular attraction is sponsored by Dead Sled.     

The event is a big undertaking on a limited budget, and Monastiere said he hopes the event will become a tradition that grows grander each year.

“My whole point of doing this was influenced by the actual residents of Hazel Park, who go all out each year decorating for the Halloween season,” Monastiere said, citing examples of homes on Battelle and Hazelwood avenues. “The level of passion that people have in this town for Halloween made me think that Hazel Park really deserves to have its own dedicated Halloween event.”

Monastiere also runs a bike-riding group called the Hazel Park Pedals. He said he has seen many well-decorated homes in the community while biking around town with his group.

One member of the Pedals is Hazel Park City Councilman Andy LeCureaux. This led to the conversation where Monastiere pitched his idea for a Halloween-themed art fair.

“And I said, ‘Let’s do it!’ It just sounded great,” LeCureaux said. “It’s something to start small, this being the first one, and hopefully turn it into something we do each year.

“I go to a lot of art fairs every year, and I always see different macabre-type displays. Like at one fair there was a guy with framed tarantulas — spooky stuff amongst the different artists. Yet there are no Halloween art fairs that I know of. There are haunted houses and hayrides and this and that, but no Halloween art fairs,” he said. “So it sounded like an opportunity for us to capitalize on.

“Especially with ‘Slasher Dave,’ who knows so many people for haunted rides and music and the arts. He’s so well-connected,” LeCureaux added. “I’ll be volunteering at this one, hoping it becomes the first of many. I’m excited about it. And for our residents, it will be another outlet for them to get creative as well.”