It’s that time of year again! Long, hot days and warm, evening breezes are giving way to early, pink-sky sunsets and crisp, cool air. Fall, one of the most beautiful and bountiful times of the year in Michigan, is upon us. Even the most seasoned and devoted summer lovers would be hard-pressed to deny the fact that a Detroit fall is pretty spectacular.
Mother Nature is on complete display, showcasing her beauty: the changing leaves are colorful and diverse; the corn, pumpkins, squash, and apples are ripe and plentiful; and the hardy mums, goldenrod, and chrysanthemum are popping with color. Let’s take advantage of all that this wonderful season has to offer! Grab a mug of warm cider, get cozy under a soft blanket, and read on to discover oodles of things to do, see, make, eat and enjoy in + around Detroit this glorious season!
Click below for a printable version of the Detroit Moms Blog Fall Bucket List
- Trick or Treat with your little ones and view the animals at the Detroit Zoo’s Zoo Boo. Zoo Boo will be held on October 11-13, October 18-20, and October 25-27. These Friday, Saturday, and Sunday events will run from 3 to 7:30 p.m. This year they will be opening the entire zoo to Zoo Boo attendees.
- Grab a hot chocolate and kick off the winter holidays with Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo. Wild Lights will be held from November 17-December 31.
- Enjoy an enchanting stroll through the Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village. View the show-stopping storybook characters along a path lit by over 1,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns. Hallowe’en will be held on October 11-13, October 18-20, and October 25-27.
- Experience Halloween Ghosts & Goodies at Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, featuring trick-or-treating, magic shows, and a ride on the famous Huckleberry Ghost Train Express!
- Have you been to Upland Hills Farm? It’s a DMB favorite! Check out the Farm’s awesome Harvest Moon Hayrides, a family-friendly, non-haunted treat each Friday and Saturday in October.
- Real Life Farm is another favorite. If you are looking for something fun to do with a group of friends, check out their Autumn hayrides.
- Pick your own pumpkin and tractor ride at Kensington.
- Participate in a time-honored Detroit Tradition: America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Put your skills to the test at the Long Family Orchard and Farm Corn Maze
- Test your luck at the Blast Corn Maze at Nixon Farms.
- With more than 15 acres of corn maze trails, a 20-acre, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and family-oriented fall attractions, Debuck’s Family Corn Maze offers some of the best fall fun in the area.
- Check out Halloween Science at Cranbrook Institute of Science.
- Head to Wolcott Mill and decorate your own haunted house.
- For a not-so-scary afternoon of Halloween fun, head to Indian Springs for Hoots and Haunts.
- Go on a fall wagon tour at Stony Creek Metropark.
- Join Peppa, George, and all of their friends at Peppa Pig Live at the Fox on Sunday, October 13.
- Enjoy the Disney magic here in Detroit when you take your family to see Disney On Ice Dream Big at Little Caesars Arena Thursday, October 17- Sunday, October 20.
- Take the family to see the new Disney Junior Holiday Party at the Fox on Wednesday, November 26.
- Romeo’s Terror on Tillson is one of the nation’s biggest Halloween displays! You can check out Jesi’s post to learn all the ins and outs.
- Go on a scenic hayride at Farmington Hills’ Heritage Park from September 20-November 1.
- Enjoy a free family day at Harvestfest on the Dequindre Cut in Detroit on Saturday, October 26 from noon to 4 p.m.
- The South Lyon Pumpkin Fest will be held September 27-29 in downtown South Lyon.
- Maybury Farm is hosting their Great Pumpkin Festival on October 12 and 13.
- With over 200 exhibitors, 20 food vendors, and live music all weekend long, you can’t miss the Art & Apples Festival in Rochester September 6-8.
- Enjoy a family-friendly weekend at the Plymouth Fall Festival September 6-8.
- Visit the longest running antique car show on America at the Henry Ford Old Car Festival September 7 and 8.
- Enjoy the Michigan Renaissance Festival each weekend August 17-September 29 in Holly.
- Step back into time at the Northville Heritage Festival (formerly known as the Victorian Festival) September 13-15.
- Be a part of the 10 city tour at the Detroit Free Press Food & Wine Experience on September 14 in Cadillac Square.
- Enjoy a free and safe family-friendly Halloween experience at the Plymouth Pumpkinpalooza in Downtown Plymouth on October 20.
- Bring the family to Upland Hills Farm Fall Festival every Saturday and Sunday in October to enjoy hayrides, magic shows, animals, and fresh donuts.
- Create new family memories at a popular Rochester tradition: Halloween Hoot. This takes place at Dinosaur Hill and will run from October 18-20.
- Oktoberfest at Frankenmuth will be held September 18-22. Enjoy live polka music and dancing, traditional German food, wiener dog races, and a glass of beer from Frankenmuth Brewery.
- Sample the state’s crisp Pinot Grigios, fruity Rieslings, and dry Pinot Noirs at one of the state’s wine trails: The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail and Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula Trails near Traverse City; the Bay View Wine Trail in the PetoskeyArea; the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail in southwest Michigan; and the Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail near Jackson.
- Enjoy the beauty of Michigan along M-22, perhaps Michigan’s most famous scenic drive, with glimpses of the lake peeking through the brilliant foliage all along the Leelanau Peninsula shoreline. Travel “Up North” to see the Fall Colors in all of their glory; check out the Fall Colors Report for peak areas and times!
- Visit Mackinac Island. As the temperatures drop, so do the crowds at many of Michigan’s prime attractions. Take advantage of the lingering sunshine and the quiet and head to the state’s hot spots, off-season.
- Sneak away to Bay Harbor in Petoskey to enjoy the beautiful, October colors. Luxury with off-season prices! Or, take the kids along to enjoy Trick and Trunk or Treat in the Village.
- The Michigan v. Michigan State Football Game will take place at the Big House in Ann Arbor on November 16.
- Detroit Lions kick off their season at Ford Field on September 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
- Watch the first puck drop of the 2019-2020 season as the Detroit Red Wings have their home season opener at LCA on October 6 against the Dallas Stars.
- Enjoy Street Murals at Detroit’s Eastern Market. Each September, 50 mural artists visit Detroit’s Eastern Market, brushes in hand, with the goal of brightening otherwise bare warehouse buildings.
- Test your bravery in the half-mile long, four story, tower of terror Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac.
- For families with small children, check out the The Haunted Forest at Adventure Park.
- Theatre Bizarre is a must-see, annual event at the Masonic Temple on October 12 and 19 or the more intimate Masquerade Gala on October 11 and 18.
- Take a glance at the darkest historical moments of the Motor City at the Haunted History of Detroit Tours.
- Catch the broadway show Cats at the Fisher September 3-15.
- When summer’s heat subsides, it’s a perfect time to go for a long run. Test your mettle with a full or half marathon in the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Marathon in Detroit on October 19 and 20.
- Earn an extra helping of stuffing by burning off calories running in the Turkey Trot!
- Get your girlfriends together and participate in the Run4Wine Run/Walk on October 12, benefiting the Old Newsboys of Flint, whose motto is “Let No Child Be Forgotten”.
- Take a walk/jog at your favorite park or MetroPark. The leaves are just amazing!
- Go ice skating at Campus Martius Park on those cold days or nights.
- Volunteer as a family for Blessings in a Backpack.
- Host a local Coat Drive.
- Help sort and pack food with your children at your local Gleaners.
- Volunteer to feed the hungry at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
- Take a batch of Halloween-themed cookies to your local fire station.
- Carve a pumpkin with your kids to display on Halloween.
- Help your little one make Footprint Ghosts to remember the size of their small feet.
- Create Hand-Print Turkeys to give to grandparents at Thanksgiving.
- Tissue Paper Pumpkins are an easy and quick craft to do with your preschooler.
- Get creative with Corn Cob Painting.
- Make a Paper Plate Football while watching the Lions game.
- Teach your kids how to spell their name with these cute Feather Letter Turkeys.
- Your kids will love making an Autumn Tree Painting with cotton balls.
- Snag up everyone’s favorite fall staple: Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks.
- Enjoy a pumpkin, apple, or any other flavor of pie from Achatz Handmade Pies, a metro Detroit gem!
- SISTER PIE. Have you been? You must go. Their Instagram feed alone makes our mouths water!
- Treat yourself to a seasonal favorite Pumpkin ice cream at Ray’s Ice Cream in Royal Oak.
- Take the family to enjoy an afternoon picking fresh Michigan apples at Blake’s U-Pick Apples in Armada.
- Get a Cider Slushy at Parmenter’s early in the season while it’s still warm.
- Grab a dozen fresh donuts at Franklin Cider Mill.
