In Detroit and Metro Detroit, Devil's Night is a traditional day on which citizens used to commit disproportionate acts of arson or other acts of vandalism such as toilet papering houses. In some recent years, there have been more than 300 fires set in the city of Detroit on this night, a much higher number than would be typical.

Several years ago, Detroit City officials organized and created Angel's Night on and around October 30th. Each year, as many as 40,000 volunteers successfully monitor the streets of Detroit on and around October 30th to prevent crime.

Devil's Night was fictionalized in the movie The Crow. The term is rarely used in official news reports, but the term is commonly used by Michigan citizens.

The name Devil's Night is used by various pranksters in the US and Canada, although the acts are far less destructive, criminal or violent.