Fall Events and
Festivals in the Great Lakes, U.S.A.
Illinois
ILLINOIS - Travel/Events Hotline 1-800-2CONNECT
·
www.info@scarecrowfest.com St. Charles - October 6-7-8,
2006
o
Each
year, 100+ hand-crafted scarecrows gather in historic, just one hour
west of Chicago, during the Original Illinois Scarecrow Festival in
October. Enjoy free, live entertainment, great food, numerous free and
interactive children's events, the famous Autumn
on the Fox Art & Craft Show and so much more at this NON-alcohol, family
fun festival!
·
www.galenacountryfair.org/
Galena -
October 7-8, 2006
o
Galena
Country Fair boasts more than 150 vendors offering original, handmade
arts, crafts and fine arts. Held in picturesque Grant Park overlooking
historic Galena, Illinois, the fair is a Columbus Day weekend tradition.
·
www.PumpkinCapital.com Morton, IL - Pumpkin Festival: Sept
13-16, 2006
Punkin Chuckin':
Oct 21 & 22, 2006
o
Morton is the "Pumpkin Capital of the World". From opening day
ceremonies to the giant festival parade, the Morton Pumpkin Festival
delights all ages with family style entertainment, carnival rides, foot
races, food tents, merchants tent, craft
show, parade and pumpkins. The food is delectable. Butterfly pork chops
and pumpkin pie are our specialty, but have you ever tried pumpkin ice
cream, pumpkin pancakes or pumpkin fudge?
●
All
Hallows’ Eve,
Rockford -
October
21, 2006
o
www.midwayvillage.com All Hallows’ Eve at Midway Village has
become a Rockford area tradition. Our historical buildings are decorated
by local businesses and organizations, and their members are on hand to
greet the kids and hand out the candy! In addition to trick or treating
through our safe village buildings, families can participate in other
fun family activities.
Children's costume parade
Make and take creepy crafts
Tour the Haunted
Forest -
Tours begin at 4:30pm
●
Autumn Gathering, Rock City - Sept 30th – Oct 1st
o
www.stephenson-county-il.org Enjoy the color and fragrances of
autumn as you mosey through the "Witches Garden". Cider making, live
music on the "Pickin' Porch" and a cottage
filled with autumn floral, primitives, and folk art. Refreshments and
door prizes.
●
The
Great Pumpkin Patch, Arthur, - Sept
15th - Oct 31st, 2006
o
www.thegreatpumpkinpatch.biz Nestled in the beautiful farm land of
east central Illinois, we offer over 400 varieties of pumpkins, squash
and gourds on our working farm. We grow over 6000 harvest mums and
feature mazes, farm animals, a sweet shop and concessions, a 1912
one-room schoolhouse and a gift shop in a barn showcasing harvest gifts
and decorations. We have numerous displays and provide a visual
celebration of the beauty of fall.
● Fall Color
Festival Weekends, Lisle, - October
weekends
o
http://www.mortonarb.org A month long extravaganza celebrating the
beauty of Autumn
Indiana
INDIANA - Travel/Events Hotline 1-888-ENJOY-IN
·
34th
Annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival, Noblesville - 9/23 to 10/31/2006
o
www.stonycreekfarm.net 317-776-9427
·
50th
Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, Rockville - 10/13/2006 to
10/22/2006:
o
www.coveredbridges.com (765) 569-5226
County wide. Communities celebrate world
famous covered bridges with shopping, food,
demonstrations, and entertainment.
·
60th
Irvington Halloween Festival, Indianapolis - 10/28/2006
o
www.irvingtoncouncil.com/Events/html (317) 353-2308
·
Apple
Festival of Kendallville, Kendallville - 10/7/2006 to 10/8/2006
o
www.kendallvilleapplefestival.org (260) 350-1119
Pioneer festival, 1830-1860. Skilled
demonstrators, primitive area,
entertainment, kid’s activities, antiques, crafts, contests and food
·
Autumn
on the River Festival, Bethlehem - 10/21/2006 to 10/22/2006
o
www.EnjoyIndiana.com (812) 265-4137
Michigan
MICHIGAN - Foliage Hotline 1-800-644-3255
·
Harvest Festival, Sleeper State Park -
Caseville - 9/29/2006 - 10/22/2006
o
Halloween related activities on weekends in October
·
Fall Festival, Double JJ Resort - Rothbury
- 9/29/2006 -
10/29/2006
·
Great Jack-O-Lantern Carnival & Haunted House, Chesaning - 9/30 -
10/22/2006
·
The Famous Pumpkin Train,
Coopersville &
Marne Railway - Coopersville
- 9/30 -
10/29
·
Country Corn Maze,
Shiawassee
County Convention & Visitors Bureau
– Owosso - 8/26-11/5
·
Pumpkin Fantasy Land, Montrose - Oct 1 - 31, 2006
o
810-639-6971
·
Pumpkinfest
, Zeeland - Oct 5
- 7, 2006
o
616-772-2494
·
Tuscola County
Pumpkin Festival
,
Caro - Oct 5 - 8, 2006
o
989-673-2511
·
Red Flannel Festival
, Cedar
Springs - Oct 6 - 7, 2006
o
616-696-2662
·
Boyne Area Fall
Harvest & Heritage Festival
, Boyne City - Oct
7 - 8, 2006
o
231-582-6222
·
10th Annual Great
Lakes Lighthouse Festival
, Alpena - Oct 12
- 15, 2006
o
586-566-1603
·
Davison Pumpkin
Festival
, Davison - Oct
13 - 14, 2006
o
810-653-2191
·
Bangor Apple Festival
,
Bangor - Oct 13 - 15, 2006
o
269-427-5831
·
Apple Festival
, Charlevoix -
Oct 13 - 15, 2006
o
231-547-2101
·
Appleumpkin - Apple Festival ,
Tecumseh - Oct 14
- 15, 2006
o
888-261-3367
·
Ann Arbor Antiques Market
, Ann Arbor - Oct
15, 2006
o
352-771-8928
·
Grand Bridal Expo -
Castle Farms ,
Castle Farms - Oct 15, 2006
o
231-237-0884
·
Northern Michigan C.S.
Lewis Festival
, Petoskey - Oct
27 - Nov 19
o
231-347-4337
·
Shipshewana on the Road @ Birch Run Expo Center
, Birch Run -
Oct 28 - 29, 2006
o
269-979-8888
Ohio
OHIO - Travel Hotline 1-800-282-5393
● Fall Festival,
Cleveland Lakefront Euclid Beach pavilion —Oct. 22, 7-10 PM
o
Come
dressed for a costume contest and an evening of family fun with a
haunted hayride, bonfire on the beach, storytelling, crafts and games.
(216) 881-8141, ext. 3001.
● Family Fall
Fest
Petros
Lake Park, Canton - 10/14/06
o
http://www.starkparks.com This non-scary fall festival sponsored by
the Stark County Park District celebrates the changing of the seasons
with activities for the whole family, including crafts, live wildlife,
hayrides, contests, hikes, music and games. Costumes are optional.
● Fall Festivals
- Ramseyer Farms,
Wooster -
Oct 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
o
www.ramseyerfarms.com Enjoy the adventure of the two 8 acre corn
Mazes. Try the challenging Master Maze, rope maze, plus 3 mazes for the
younger kids. Create your own scarecrow. Visit farm animals before or
after your scenic hayride around the farm. Choose from acres of pumpkins
for your fall decoratives. Festival days are
● Haunted Ship -
Battelle
Waterfront Park,
Columbus -
10/26/2006 - 10/28/2006
o
www.santamaria.org/index.php For three days the Santa Maria becomes
a Haunted Pirate Ship. A family oriented venue- Look out for the spiders
and rats! Don't be surprised if we come under attack! Bring your family
and friends, Watch out for your skeletal kin, and
NEVER TURN YOUR BACK!
● Mohican-Kokosing
Valley Fall Foliage Tours, Mount Vernon
-
10/1/2006 - 10/31/2006
o
www.visitknoxohio.org Enjoy Knox County’s beautifully colored
autumn and bronzing trees throughout the whole month of October. Driving
tour maps are available to guide you through this scenic fall route.
● Apple Butter
Making Week -
Sauder
Village, Archbold
- 9/19/2006 - 9/23/2006
o
www.saudervillage.org/home/default.asp The scent of apples and
spices mixed with wood fires and falling leaves signals a change of
season and the annual Apple Butter Making festival. For the 28th
consecutive year, guests can watch as we boil the cider down, add the
thinly sliced apples and then cook them in copper kettles over an open
fire. There will be plenty of other extra apple-related activities going
on throughout the Historic Village as well as apple treats for sale in
our Bakery, Sweet Shoppe and Barn Restaurant.
Wisconsin
WISCONSIN - Foliage Hotline 1-800-432-TRIP
·
Outdoor
Arts and Crafts Fair Wade House, Greenbush - Sunday, Sept. 11
o
Browse
more than 140 booths displaying a variety of handmade wares and
traditional craft creations ranging from dolls and baskets to wood
crafts and jewelry. Nominal admission fee for those not touring Wade
House.
·
PumpkinFest,
Portage, WI - October 22
o
www.portagewi.com Show off your uniquely design pumpkin along with
hundreds of fellow carvers. 608/742-6242;Help
Portage set the world record for most carved or decorated pumpkins in a
row. Festival organizers will line the Wisconsin River levee with
pumpkins at dusk intent on eclipsing the previous record.
·
Terror
on the Fox Haunted House & Train Ride, Green Bay - Oct
7-8,14-16,20-23,25-31 & Nov 4-5
o
www.terroronthefox.com Vintage train ride along the Fox River
guaranteed to provide a scare. Rated one of the top 10 Halloween
attractions in the U.S. by "Haunted Attraction" magazine, animatronics,
cutting edge props and live ghouls create a frightful edge-of-your-seat
experience. 920/437-7623
·
Candlelight Hikes - various Wisconsin State Parks - October 22nd
o
wiparks.net
Seasonal colors, fresh air and family-friendly Halloween fun, all in one
package. Between the guided hikes, skits, snacks, and bonfires, you can
guarantee your whole family - even the little ones, will enjoy these
only mildly-spooky Halloween activities. 920/989-1106
·
12th
Annual Fall Art Tour, Baraboo, Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Spring Green
-10/14–16
o
www.fallarttour.com Southwestern Wisconsin’s finest artisans
showcase their skills. Potters, sculptors, painters, weavers, jewelers,
photographers and woodworkers converge in this rare gathering of some of
the state’s finest artisans. 608/987-3787
·
Hogs to
Bogs, Wisconsin Rapids - September 15 – October 31
o
www.visitwisrapids.com Experience fall colors and vibrant cranberry
bogs along Wisconsin's Central Coast. Three picture perfect back-roads
getaways lie ahead for motorcycle riders to enjoy autumn's brilliant
seasonal hues and the cranberry harvest. A popular event among all modes
of traveler, calling ahead to reserve your spot on a cranberry marsh
tour is advised. 715-422-4650
·
Mid-Continent Railway Autumn Colors Train, Baraboo - October 7 – 9 &
14 – 16
www.midcontinent.org Enjoy Central Wisconsin's seasonal foliage on
the rails
A
leisurely 50-minute train ride
ideal for enjoying the state's brilliant fall colors in the Baraboo
bluff country. 608/522-4261
·
Fall
Open House at Kohler
Andrae
State Park, Sheboygan - October 9
o
Free
admission to fall colors and special attractions. Enjoy the
Sanderling
Nature Center, a special hike through the area's potpourri of colors,
children's games and entertainment and a visit from Smokey Bear.
920/451-4080
·
Autumn
Harvest Fest, Wisconsin Dells - October 15 – 16
o
www.wisdells.com Celebrate the season in the Dells with great fall
colors and fun. Scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin decorating and a ride
aboard an amphibious duck boat through the area's brilliant fall
foliage. Celebrate the autumn harvest with delicious food, a microbrew
tasting, farmers' market, a craft fair and
great music. 1-800-223-3557
·
Oktoberfest, La Crosse - September 30 – October 8
o
www.oktoberfestusa.com One of the Midwest's largest German
festivals. Authentic German music, arts and crafts, cuisine and
tradition combine to create one of the Midwest's largest autumn
festivals. You won't want to miss Thursday's Torchlight Parade.
608/784-FEST
·
Fall
Festival, Sister Bay, Door County - October 14 – 16
o
www.doorcounty.com One of Door County's popular autumn
celebrations. An old-fashioned soap box derby, ping pong ball drop and
helicopter rides highlight this annual tradition held during Door
County's peak color period. 920/854-2812
·
Autumn
on the Farms, Old World Wisconsin - Eagle, WI - October 15 – 15
o
www.oldworldwisconsin.org A first hand look at what harvest season
was like in 19th century America. Experience how settlers worked and
lived in early America as costumed interpreters provide demonstrations
of farm chores and family life. 262/594-6300
·
Harvest
Moon Ball, Elkhart Lake - October 28 – 30
o
www.osthoff.com An autumn weekend of music and dance ideal for a
couples' getaway. Elegant dining, luxurious accommodations,
professional dance instructions and ballroom dancing provide a respite
from the daily routine. 920/876-3366
·
Bayfield Apple Festival, Bayfield - October 7 – 9
o
www.bayfield.org Celebrate one of America's favorite fruits
It's quintessential
Wisconsin in one of the Midwest's ideal vacation towns. More than 10
varieties of apples, gourmet pies, strudel, frosted apple cuts, apple
sundaes, apple chili and even apple bratwurst, an apple-peeling contest
and Big Top Chautauqua performances make this festival a hit.
1-800-447-4094
·
Kohler
Food & Wine Experience, Kohler - October 28 – 30
o
www.destinationkohler.com Famous chefs from around the world share
their talents and tastes. Michelle Bernstein, executive chef at
Azul in Miami;
Sebastien Canonne, owner/master
pastry chef of The French Pastry School in Chicago; and
Alpana Singh, master sommelier at Everest in
Chicago are on hand for food and wine tasting, cooking and wine
seminars, pastry demonstrations and even a Celebrity Chef's dinner on
Saturday night.
1-800-344-2838
·
Autumn
Art on the Marsh, Horicon - 9/24/2006
o
www.horiconchamber.com 31st annual fine arts & crafts show with the
work of more than 130 talented artisans and crafters. Good food and
fun.
·
Halloween Candlelight Cave Tour, Chilton - 10/20 - 10/21/2006
o
www.co.calumet.wi.us/departments2.iml?dept_id=70 Tour a cave
by candlelight! Family-oriented event (kids 5+) with the focus on
education, not fright. Costumed guides. Not too scary; caves entered by
stairs and ladders. Wear old clothes and layers. Anticipate getting a
bit dirty. (Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.)
top of page
|
