Fall is in full swing across West Michigan, and there’s no shortage of fun things to do this October! From running or walking through the vineyards at Fenn Valley Winery, to getting up close with 300 yaks at Maple Valley Meat Co.’s Yak Festival, there’s something a little different around every corner. Frederik Meijer Gardens is celebrating the season with autumn colors, live music, a Harvest Beer Garden and its Fall Bonsai Show, while Grand Haven, Holland and the Coopersville & Marne Railway are bringing on the Halloween and family fun with witches, decorated skeletons, Fall Fest activities and the popular Pumpkin Train. It’s a great time to get outside, enjoy the beautiful fall scenery and make some autumn memories in West Michigan!
Vine Wine’d at Fenn Valley Winery – October 3; 10:00 a.m.
Get ready to Wine’d your way through the vines at Fenn Valley Winery in Fennville! Their annual Vine Wine’d 5K and 1-Mile Race and Walk is tomorrow and is always a highlight of the grape harvest season. Choose the more challenging course through vineyard rows, meadows and forest, or take the easier route — there are no clocks and no pressure. Just enjoy a beautiful fall day in the vineyards! Registration is $40 for the 5K and $25 for the 1-Mile and includes a T-shirt, plus your choice of a glass of wine or cider. Add a post-race meal for just $5. Then stick around and enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of the harvest after you’ve Wine’d your way through the vines!
Maple Valley Meat Co. – Yak Festival – Jones, Michigan; October 11; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Grab the family and head to Maple Valley Meat Co.’s family farm in Jones, Michigan, on October 11th for a one-of-a-kind fall adventure at their annual Yak Festival! Come meet their gorgeous herd of 300 yaks, including the baby yaks, along with miniature goats. Enjoy live music, children’s activities, a scavenger hunt, corn hole, ax throwing and even a recreation of a French colonial-era hunting camp. And come hungry! You can dig into yak burgers, yak hotdogs and brats, maple-marinated pork chops, maple beer onion rings, fries, baked beans, cinnamon rolls and more. The festival is free — you just pay for your food and drinks. There’s also a special Yak Dinner on October 10th, with tickets available online. It’s a truly unique fall family event in Southwest Michigan — and yes, there really are 300 yaks!
Frederik Meijer Gardens – Autumn Weekends & Fall Bonsai Show – October weekends; Fall Bonsai Show October 3–4
There’s no better place to soak up the beauty of fall in West Michigan than Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids! Imagine more than 8,000 colorful mums, amazing carved pumpkins and plenty of autumn fun for the whole family. At the Farm, kids can enjoy hands-on activities, and on October 24th and 31st, little ones can join the Hallowee-Ones Parade, complete with storytime and play activities. Every weekend, grab some food from the food trucks, challenge the family to a game on the Piazza lawn, or kick back in the Amphitheater for an afternoon of live music, food, drinks and harvest-inspired fun. And tomorrow and Sunday, don’t miss the Fall Bonsai Show, showcasing the beautiful Japanese art of growing and shaping miniature trees. They’re truly extraordinary to see!
And there’s lots going on in Grand Haven and Holland this month, with plenty of fall and Halloween fun for the whole family!
Grand Haven’s Witches & Warlocks Night Out is tonight, so grab your broomsticks and get ready for a full evening of Halloween fun, starting with the Witches Walk at 5 p.m. It’s a fun night out in downtown Grand Haven with plenty of spooky spirit!
Also in Grand Haven, Bones About Town is happening through October 24th. Keep an eye out for more than 150 decorated skeletons scattered throughout Downtown and Centertown, and be sure to vote for your favorites! Then, on October 24th, it’s time for the Fall Fest Celebration, where your little ghouls and goblins can enjoy trick-or-treating at participating Grand Haven businesses.
And today and tomorrow, Holland kicks off its annual Fall Fest, featuring professional pumpkin carving, community tulip planting, a Makers Market, hayrides and children’s activities at Windmill Island Gardens, plus a fire truck parade through Downtown Holland.
And nearby Coopersville, the Pumpkin Train is back! There are several dates throughout October to climb aboard the Coopersville & Marne Railway for this favorite fall tradition. It’s a fun-filled train ride the kids are sure to love!
