We’ve made it to September, which means fall has almost arrived, and here in Michigan that means cider mills.

And although the season technically doesn’t start for another three weeks, plenty of places around the state are already serving up cider and doughnuts.

Today, we’re taking a look at cider mills across Michigan, including which ones are open now and when others are kicking off their fall seasons.

Then, I’ll bring you a site that’ll help you track fall colors in Michigan.

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Regular and cinnamon sugar doughnuts at Dexter Cider Mill in Dexter on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

Nothing says fall in Michigan like a trip to grab doughnuts and cider — you may even catch stunning fall colors on the way.

From metro Detroit to Kalamazoo to the Flint area and beyond, there are plenty of local cider mills to patronize this season. Many offer family-friendly activities and a chance to pick your own pumpkins or seasonal produce.

Some Michigan cider mills are already open, harvesting apples and making the refreshing drink, and selling a variety of sweet baked goods. Other businesses still await their fall launch or are open now, but will begin making and selling cider come within the next few weeks.

The seasonal tradition dates back centuries and represents a cornerstone of local agriculture, with Michigan business owners carrying on family legacies of 19th century mills, serving up sweet treats for communities around the state.

Michigan’s official apple crop estimate of 25 million bushels (1.05 billion pounds) was announced Aug. 24. The 2026 estimate is under the average for the Michigan Apple industry.

Here’s what to know about cider mills in Michigan.

Random tidbits worth clicking on…

Track Michigan’s changing leaves with this fall color map. (Screenshot/michigan.org)

🍂 Michiganders know that planning the perfect leaf peeping trip can be deceptively tricky, since the windows always seem shorter than you’d think. This year get ahead of it with this fall color map that tracks the changing leaves from the beginning all the way to past peak colors.

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With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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