11 can’t-miss fall festivals in Michigan

Because no one should go through life without visiting fall festivals in Michigan that involve carving a boat out of a giant pumpkin and racing it down a river, am I right?

Michigan knows how to do fall—not only are we the #2 apple-producing state in the entire country, but we’re also world-renowned for our dazzling autumnal leaf displays (check out our leaf-peeping guide for the best places and times to catch the leaf show). We’re a state that proudly celebrates the farming harvest season. Fall was typically a time of celebration for many agriculture-centered states, like Michigan, as hard-working farm families gathered to rest and celebrate what their fields had brought them. Plus, the cool fall area was often a break from the harsh Michigan summer heat, let’s be honest.

As a result, it’s only natural that Michiganders celebrate the rich season of fall with a festival or two (or 11, because who’s counting?). We found all the fall festivals in Michigan you could hope to visit, featuring everything from pumpkin launchers and fireworks to professional pumpkin carvers and a pumpkin boat race. May the best pumpkin win!

1. Shop and Sip Fall Festival

Address: Mt. Holiday, 3100 Holiday Rd, Traverse City

Cost: Free

Date: October 4, 2025

Fall in Traverse City is a beautiful time. (If you haven’t visited in the fall, you must plan a tour, especially if you’re a wine drinker, because the vineyards come alive in the autumn months.) But the up north fall fun just got even better with a brand-new TC event.

Traverse City Shop & Sip, a premier handmade market, is offering its first Fall Festival at Mount Holiday on October 4th. The specific event details haven’t been released yet, but with peak fall colors, local makers, food trucks, live music, face painting, and more, it’s a Northern Michigan event you don’t want to miss! Oh, and we almost forgot to mention one of the best parts: Cider sipping from local orchards!

2. Michigan Apple Fest

Address: Downtown Sparta

Cost: Free

Date: September 19-20, 2025

I have incredibly fond memories of attending the Michigan Apple Fest as a kid—the petting zoo was always a hit, and I remember being amazed at the apple-themed attractions throughout the entire day, such as the apple pie-eating contest and the annual apple pie-baking contest.

There’s also plenty of other fun to enjoy through the weekend, including a craft show and artisan marketplace, live concerts and performances, apple trivia, kids’ crafts and games, and family wagon rides out to the hay bales.

3. Fall Festival in the Woods 

Address: Hawk Woods Park and Campground, 3799 Bald Mountain Road, Auburn Hills

Cost: $5

Date: October 4, 2025

For only $5 per person, Auburn Hills families can enjoy an enchanting fall-themed day outdoors with plenty of fun, including hayrides, craft-making for kids, horse and carriage rides, a guided nature hike, live music, a bounce house, and of course, cider and donuts.

This fall festival is a great option if you happen to have any princess enthusiasts in your crowd, because the big day also includes a Princess Meet and Greet by Enchanted Princess Party!

4. Pumpkin Festival

Address: Romulus Historical Park, 11147 Hunt Street, Romulus

Cost: Free

Date: September 19-21, 2025

The town of Romulus, Michigan, does its fall festival right, kicking off the weekend of fun Friday evening with the Parade of Lights, lighting everything up from bicycles to cement trucks. The street festival’s festivities continue all weekend with a classic car show, historical building tours,  music, food, crafts, bingo, and games for all ages. Plus, as you may have guessed from the name, the Pumpkin Festival includes pumpkin-themed events, such as the Pumpkin Chuckin’ Competition, Pumpkin Painting, and the Pumpkin Pub at the Pavilion.

5. Fire and Flannel Festival 

Address: Downtown Wyandotte, Wyandotte

Cost: Free

Date: September 26-27, 2025

Fall evokes a lot of fire and flannel here in Michigan, which is why the Fire and Flannel Festival makes perfect sense as an autumnal celebration. Bring the whole family out for flannel-wearing fun involving lumberjack shows, axe throwing, fire performers, glass blowing, and live chainsaw carvings.

Plus, there’s a kids’ zone, along with plenty of live music, food trucks, and a bar for the flannel-wearing adults in the crowd.

6. Menominee Giant Pumpkin Festival 

Address: Menominee Marina, 920 Doyle Dr, Menominee

Cost: Free

Date: September 20, 2025

You can’t possibly go through life without visiting a fall festival where attendees carve a boat out of a giant pumpkin and race it down the river—which is exactly why you need to visit Menominee’s Giant Pumpkin Festival this September.

Along with the Giant Pumpkin Boat Race (where the winner gets the coveted annual trophy), enjoy pumpkin-themed games like Pumpkin Bowling and a Carving Contest. You can also brush off your competitive side with other competitions like Pumpkin Seed Splitting, the Pie Eating Competition, the Scarecrow Contest, and the Pool Noodle Race. The whole family can join in on the pumpkin weekend fun, with kids’ crafts and face painting.

7. Downtown Holland Fall Fest 

Address: Downtown Holland

Cost: Free

Date: October 3-4, 2025

Downtown Holland’s Fall Fest is the only fall festival in Michigan to feature the nation’s best professional pumpkin carvers, including Food Network alumni. So if you want to be blown away by pumpkin art, downtown Holland, October 3rd-4th, is where it’s at.

The whole family can also enjoy street performers, pumpkin painting, hay rides, a fire truck parade (kids will also have the opportunity for hands-on truck touching!), tulip planting, and a full fall artisan market. Check out the festival’s full schedule for details on all the fall fun!

8. Hemlock Sawdust Days Festival 

Address: Richland Township Park, 398 Colorado Ridge Drive, Hemlock

Cost: Free

Date: September 19-21, 2025

Logging has a long history here in Michigan, and Hemlock Sawdust Days Festival celebrates that heritage with logging-inspired entertainment and fun. There is live music, a community parade, face painting, and friendly competitions like Beards & Braids to crown festival royalty.

9. St. Joseph Fall Fest

Address: Lake Bluff Park, St. Joseph

Cost: Free

Date: September 20, 2025

If you’ve ever wished you could walk through a real hot air balloon, now is your chance—St. Joseph’s Fall Fest offers attendees the opportunity to walk through a partially-inflated hot air balloon and imagine life in the skies. Families can enjoy further fun at the festival overlooking Lake Michigan, from a petting zoo to interactive games to crafts.

10. The Highlands Annual Harvest Fest

Address: 600 Highlands Drive, Harbor Springs

Cost: $20 for non-lodging guests

Date: October 11, 2025

Lodging guests and visitors alike in Harbor Springs’ Highlands can enjoy the resort’s annual harvest festival featuring scenic chair lifts to take in the peak fall colors, along with interactive fun like face painting, cookie decorating, burlap sack racing, a juggler, pumpkin ring toss, yard games, cider, and donuts. Kids can also participate in the Halloween Costume contest with a chance to win a prize, and adults can stop by the Diageo Spirits tent for a bourbon tasting. Kids five and under have free entry to this family-friendly event.

11. Pumpkin Spice Fest

Address: 4500 W River Dr NE, Comstock Park

Cost: $30-$70

Date: October 4, 2025

Grand Rapids area residents may want to mark their calendars for the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Fest taking place this October at the LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. The festival promises “cozy fall vibes” and includes everything from live music, food and drinks, and local vendors to family-friendly activities, such as professional pumpkin carvers, horse-drawn hayrides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin launcher, and a grand fall fireworks finale.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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