The harvest season — a period full of pumpkin patches, colorful gourds and cider mills. Michigan’s countryside comes into focus with a blaze of color. Harvest festivals abound, and farm-to-table fans get to pick their own apples. It’s time to indulge in fresh cider and doughnuts, and there are spook-fests galore for all the little goblins in your life. Go ahead and make a date with the state. Autumn days are an open invitation to enjoy what nature has to offer. It’s a beautiful time to explore. Here are some Michigan excursions to fill your fall calendar.
Family Fun | Home & Garden | By Land, Air & Sea | Art & Music | Great Tastes
In 1899, farmers in the Standish area donated a field to con-struct the town’s depot building along the Michigan Central Railroad. The vintage depot now serves as a museum and welcome center. Celebrate the history of the railroad era during the Arenac Heritage Route Authority Depot Days. Activities include carriage rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides and more. (989) 718-3021; standishdepot.org.
Come see Earth’s brilliance on display at the Greater Detroit Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show at the Macomb Community College South Campus Expo Center in Warren. More than 60 dealers make this the Midwest’s largest collection of gems, minerals, jewelry and fossils, with demonstrations, presentations and sales for both novice and expert collectors. (586) 531-1680; michmin.org.
Michigan’s capital city of Lansing is a glow with thousands of lights during the annual Electric Light Parade, followed by the lighting of the official state Christmas tree and fireworks over the Capitol building during the annual “Silver Bells in the City” celebration. (517) 487-3322; silverbellsinthecity.org.
Come see Earth’s brilliance on display at the Greater Detroit Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show at the Macomb Community College South Campus Expo Center in Warren. More than 60 dealers make this the Midwest’s largest collection of gems, minerals, jewelry and fossils, with demonstrations, presentations and sales for both novice and expert collectors. (586) 531-1680; michmin.org.
9th Annual International Wine, Beer & Food Festival returns to DeVos Place in Grand Rapids with a dazzling array of wines, beers, cheese, small-plate tastes and more. It is the largest show of its kind in the Midwest. More than 1,600 wines and 300 beers were offered in 2015, plus hard ciders and other spirits. grwinefestival.com
Explore the last intact copper smelter from America’s industrial age, where much of the original machinery used to turn ore into copper ingots is still standing, during the Quincy Smelter Tours near Hancock on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Operating from 1898-1971, what remains is the last smelter preserved in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (906) 369-3797; quincysmelterassociation.blogspot.com.
Calendar items may be submitted to events@promotemichigan.com two months prior to publication of the intended issue. Michigan BLUE is a bi-monthly magazine.
Explore these collective Michigan area websites for more regional events
Blue Water Area bluewater.org
Detroit Metro CVB visitdetroit.com
Great Lakes Bay Region gogreat.com
Harbor Country harborcountry.org
Pure Michigan michigan.org
Southwest Michigan Tourist Council swmichigan.org
Upper Peninsula Tourism & Recreation
Association uptravel.com
West Michigan Tourist Association wmta.org
Photography and illustrations courtesy of thinkstock
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