Michigan Bucket List: 8 Family-Friendly Fall Festivals

A Healthier Michigan

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Key Takeaways
  • Discover eight family-friendly fall festivals in Michigan featuring seasonal food, live entertainment, pumpkins, harvest activities and community traditions.
  • From Grand Rapids to Detroit, these Michigan fall festivals offer activities for families, including games, hayrides, crafts and entertainment.
  • Celebrate autumn at Michigan festivals featuring apples, pumpkins, German traditions, Renaissance experiences, harvest celebrations and other seasonal activities.
  • Plan a Michigan fall festival visit in September or October with these dates, locations and family-friendly events across the state.
Fall is a wonderful time of year, filled with crisp air, beautiful foliage and plenty of festivals across the state of Michigan. Here are eight fall festivals perfect for the whole family to enjoy: 

Oktoberfest Grand Rapids

  • When: Sept. 25-26.
  • Where: Riverside Park, 3061 Monroe Ave. NW, in Grand Rapids.
  • More information: oktoberfestgr.com
Details: Oktoberfest Grand Rapids brings German food, music, games and family-friendly entertainment to Riverside Park. The festival features German bands, alphorns, games and root beer for kids, along with German beer and other beverages for adults. The event is free to attend and open to all ages.

Rockford's 50th Annual Harvest Fest

Details: Rockford's 50th Annual Harvest Fest celebrates five decades of fall traditions with family activities throughout downtown. Visitors can enjoy a classic car show, chili cook-off, make-and-take scarecrows, craft vendors, an inflatable corn maze, local nonprofits and other fall activities. Admission is free.

Michigan Renaissance Festival

  • When: Weekends through Oct. 4. Festival Friday is on Oct. 2.
  • Where: 12600 Dixie Hwy., in Holly.
  • More info: michrenfest.com
Details: The Michigan Renaissance Festival is a trip back to Medieval times. Enjoy culinary creations, jousting, falconry exhibitions, birds of prey shows, more than 150 artisans, live entertainment and themed weekends. Feel free to dress up in Medieval garb or go as you are. The festival is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Jousting is held three times daily at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

Zeeland Pumpkinfest

  • When: Oct. 1-3.
  • Where: Downtown Zeeland.
  • More info: holland.org
Details: Zeeland Pumpkinfest celebrates all things fall with food, music, kids activities and plenty of pumpkin-themed fun. The festival includes a parade, tractor pull, pumpkin roll, corn hole tournament, face painting, horse-drawn rides and other family-friendly activities throughout downtown.

Holland Fall Fest

  • When: Oct. 2-3.
  • Where: Downtown Holland, including 8th Street.
  • More info: holland.org
Details: Family-friendly fall fun awaits at Holland Fall Fest. The two-day celebration features professional pumpkin carving, children's activities, an artisan market, hayrides, community tulip planting, a Touch a Truck event and the Holland Farmers Market.

Detroit Harvest Fest

  • When: Oct. 3 to 4.
  • Where: Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, 1801 W. Jefferson in Detroit.
  • More info: detroitriverfront.org
Details: Detroit Harvest Fest brings a full weekend of fall fun to the Detroit Riverfront. The festival features food trucks, live entertainment, local vendors and seasonal activities, while kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, fall-themed activities and opportunities to play throughout the park. Advance tickets are $5 each, family four-packs are $15 and tickets are $8 at the door.

Apple Festival in Charlevoix

Details: This annual celebration in downtown Charlevoix gives visitors the chance to enjoy freshly harvested apples and locally grown and made fruits, vegetables and foods. The festival includes a farmers market, food booths and an arts and crafts show, with vendors filling East Park and Mason Street.

Urban HayDay

Details: Head to downtown Hudsonville for a day full of classic fall activities. Urban Hay Day features cider, donuts, hayrides, pony rides and other family-friendly entertainment. One of the festival's unique traditions is the pumpkin drops on Harvey Street.
Image: Getty Images 
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