Fall is a beautiful time to be in Detroit and the entire state of Michigan. Surrounded by four of the Great Lakes, Michigan offers spectacular views as the trees begin to put on a show. The foliage features vibrant orange, yellow, and crimson hues, and the weather is crisp. In addition to enjoying the area’s natural beauty this season, there are also plenty of outdoor events to enjoy with the family, as a couple, or solo.
Here are 10 ways to celebrate fall in the greater Detroit area.
Glass Pumpkin Fest
Venture west to Ann Arbor to see a more delicate type of pumpkin at Glass Academy’s 14th Annual Glass Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 15-16. The event will feature live demos, and there will be many glass-blown pumpkins for purchase. There will also be live glass pumpkin demos at the eighth annual Ann Arbor Harvest Fest the weekend before, on Oct. 8-9, in the Kerrytown Market.
Detroit Fall Beer Festival
On Oct. 22, shop local vendors, snack on savory treats, and enjoy live tunes (all while sipping fresh, local brews) at the Detroit Fall Beer Festival. The 13th annual Michigan Brewers Guild event will be at the Eastern Market. General admission is from 1 to 6 p.m., and the gates open at noon for a VIP hour for Enthusiast Members. Tickets are $55 per person in advance and $65 at the gate.
Frankenmuth Oktoberfest
This September, let loose to polka music, feast on traditional German food, and enjoy a few pints of beer from Frankenmuth Brewery at the 32nd Anniversary of the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest. The four-day event will run Sept. 15-18 in the city dubbed Michigan’s Little Bavaria. On Saturday, September 17, make your way to the Harvey Kern Community Pavilion to see the Wiener-dog races as 50-to-100 dachshunds will race their way across the complex.
Harvest Festival
On Saturday, October 8, Detroit’s People for Palmer Park is hosting its annual Harvest Festival. The celebration will be near the Palmer Park Splash Park and playground from 1-4 p.m. The festival will feature several outdoor activities and events for adults and children. Folks can participate in pumpkin picking and decorating (the first 150 people to participate will get a free pumpkin!), apple picking, arts and crafts, guided nature walks, and more.
Crane Orchards U-Pick and Corn Maze
Go apple picking or lose yourself in a 20-acre corn maze at Crane Orchards U-Pick and Corn Maze in Fennville. The maze opens on Labor Day weekend and will be open daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Adult tickets are $7 and children aged six to 10 years old are $5. Children five years old and younger can get into the maze for free.
Hayride Central at Heritage Park
Hayride Central at Heritage Park is back for another season of fun! This year, hayrides will depart every half-hour on Friday evenings. (Hayrides run from Friday, September 30, to Friday, November 4.) Hayrides are $5 per person and free for children two years old or younger. Afterward, snack on s’mores and drink hot cider while sitting by a cozy campfire for an additional $1 per person.
Scarefest Scream Park
Snag a ticket for Scarefest Scream Park in Detroit before it’s too late! Scarefest Scream Park features four main attractions: the family-friendly Hayride of Doom, Forest of Darkness, Terror Zone Maze, and the more intense Castle of the Dead. While it is free to enter the park, each attraction requires a ticket. Due to high demand, you must buy your tickets online.
According to the Scarefest Scream Park website, this event is unsuitable for children six years old or younger. The park attractions open Sept. 16 and run exclusively on weekends through Halloween from 8 p.m. until midnight.
Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village
This October, celebrate Halloween at Henry Ford’s Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village. See ghostly performances, stroll through harvest markets, and ride the Hallowe’en Express through Greenfield Village. (Tickets for Hallowe’en Expres are available online.) During the day, attendees can enjoy a family-friendly, harvest-themed atmosphere. At night, the village transforms into a spooky Hallowe’en town.
General admission to Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village is $21.25 for members and $25 for the public. Tickets for the Fairy Tale Feast Dining Package and Eagle Tavern Harvest Supper Dining Package are available at an additional cost.
Historic Cemetery Tour
Tour a different cemetery every Saturday in October with Preservation Detroit. Tours begin October 1 and run through October 29. During the tour, you’ll learn about how the cemetery was established and hear stories of famous (and lesser known) Detroit residents.
From pumpkin picking to Halloween frights, there’s no shortage of fun fall activities this year.
About Post Author
