Ok friends, now that Labor Day Weekend has passed, the cooler breezes of autumn are going to blow across the state from Lake Michigan. As a Michigan native, I've always thought the Great Lakes State offers quintessential Fall fun, thanks to all the apple cider mills, the perfect pumpkin patch, football and fall color tours, from southwest Michigan on up to the Upper Peninsula. But the best part? The annual Michigan Fall festivals.
And don't forget those key festival features often appeal to the whole family: food trucks and food vendors, car shows, pony rides, wagon rides, live entertainment, maybe a craft show or two, corn mazes, and the occasional carnival rides. To help you plan, we're breaking down 26 of the best fall festivals in the state, listed from A-Z!
The Best Fall Festivals in Michigan...
1. Ann Arbor
Autumn Days at the Farm at The Petting Farm - every weekend in October. This event features hay rides, Chamberlain pony rides for kids, bounce houses, costume contests, and the Spinner's Flock Fiber Market featuring Michigan wool, handspun yarn, raw fleeces, quilting batts, and more. More info.
2. Battle Creek
Friday Night Market - October 9, 2026. Tis the season to Weizen... and that means Friday Nite Beats & Bites at the Battle Creek Farmers Market. This family-friendly event includes farm vendors, craft vendors, food trucks and live music. Bonus: Free admission! More info.
3. Chelsea
This and That Market (formerly Finders Keepers) - September 20, 2026. My hometown knows how to put on fun at the Fairgrounds. Go for a great time in the fall season including 200+ vendors, locally made products, vintage + new decor dealers, boutique trucks and food trucks. More info.
4. Detroit
Detroit Harvest Fest & Food Truck Rally - October 3-4, 2026. We spent 10+ years in metro Detroit but always found time to enjoy downtown Detroit. This 'Fest by the Detroit River Conservancy includes food trucks and live music, but also 2 trick-or-treating alleys, a pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating for kids, and spooky science activities. More info.
5. Escanaba
UPtoberfest - October 10, 2026. Zip to the Upper Peninsula for some adult fun at the U.P.’s longest-running beer and wine festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! UPtoberfest includes live music, food, games, brewing demos, and more. Just keep in mind you must be 21 and up to attend. More info.
6. Flint
The Ruth Mott Foundation Fall Harvest Festival - October 3, 2026. This annual event offers visitors of all ages a day to learn about history, eat locally-sourced food, acquire "new skills" as their website boasts (photos show kids using an apple press), and experience the enduring legacy of C.S. and Ruth Mott. More info.
7. Grand Rapids
ArtPrize - September 18-October 3, 2026. ArtPrize, recognized as the world's largest art event, features over 1,600 artists exhibiting their work in downtown Grand Rapids. The festival includes three grand parades, live music, a dazzling fireworks display, and lets visitors determine the $100,000 grand prize winner for their artwork. More info.
8. Holland
Fall Fest - October 2-3, 2026. Festival organizers promise a weekend of family fun including professional pumpkin carving demonstrations, street performers, artisan market featuring local artists and their wares for sale, and more. And true to their Holland roots, visitors can volunteer to plant tulip bulbs for the May bloom. More info.
More of the Best Fall Festivals in Michigan...
9. Iron Mountain
Oktoberfest - September 26, 2026. Another perfect time to celebrate this fun tradition! The annual Iron Mountain Oktoberfest offers delish German food, stein holding competitions, and a lively children's area with bounce houses and outdoor games. More info.
10. Jackson
The K105.3 Fall Fest & Chili Classic - September 26, 2026. The description of this fest feels so Midwest with $5 chili tastings, a playful children's area, a fun run, and refreshing autumn weather. Loved spotting their lead sponsor - Industrial Steel Treating - who employed my dad while I was growing up. I see you Levy fam! More info.
11. Kalamazoo
Portage Fall Festival - September 19, 2026. Enjoy historical and cooking demos at Celery Flats, tasty food truck treats, live music by the Bourbon Brothers, horse-drawn rides, fall crafts, and a petting zoo. This is also a free event! More info.
12. Lansing
BealFest - September 17, 2026. The Beal Botanical Garden’s annual fall celebration welcomes the MSU community back to campus with Wild Harmony, celebrating the balance between campus life and the natural world. Expect games, treats, music, community partners, and a special performance by Makinsey Rosser, plus a chance to snap a pic with Sparty! More info.
13. Mackinac Island
Halloween Weekend - October 23-25, 2026. While not a traditional festival, this weekend's festivities mark the end of the season for most island businesses. Visitors can enjoy the Great Turtle Trail Run, trick-or-treating for kids downtown, and an adult costume contest at island establishments. More info.
14. Niles
Four Flags Area Apple Festival - October 1-4, 2026. The dreams Michigan festivals are made of. A grand parade for starters, but the fun escalates to rides, games, fair food, and nightly entertainment. Stock up on all things apple from cider to pastries - each attendee also receives a free apple! More info.
15. Orion Township
Canterbury Village Down on the Farm Festival - September 26-27, 2026. Another Fall festival true to the hype during the best times of the year - visitors are treated to pumpkin bowling, a hay bale pyramid, petting zoo, lawn games and more. Definitely stop at the Yates Cider Mill for apple cider and fresh donuts. More info.
MORE FALL FUN THIS WAY:
More of the Best Fall Festivals in Michigan...
16. Petoskey
Fall Fest Weekends at Pond Hill Farm - Every Saturday & Sunday, September 19-October 25, 2026. A little outside Petoskey but one our whole family loves - this weekends-only fest includes all-things-pumpkins, a corn maze, pumpkin bowling, hayrides, pumpkin smashing, squash rocket, apple cannons, cider & donuts, and so much more. Do not, I repeat, do not, miss the glorious Gnome House Hunt hike - it's a great way to keep bigs and littles occupied. More info.
17. Quincy
Pints in the Park - September 26, 2026. A beer and music festival designed to promote and support Michigan breweries, wineries, and distilleries? RSVP us a yes. Layer in great food booths along Main Street and maybe a beer tent, and you know it will be good times. More info.
18. Rochester
Paint Creek Center for the Arts Art & Apples Festival - September 11-13, 2026. What do you get when you combine a 30-acre city park, a Meijer kids' activities area, art demos, and a three-day weekend? This festival. When you're done, stroll the streets of the so-sweet Rochester. More info.
19. Saginaw
Frankenmuth Oktoberfest - September 17-20, 2026. Known as Michigan's little Bavaria, Frankenmuth knows how to put on an event. This annual German food festival includes good food, drinks, and souvenirs, but its highlight is the large wooden dance floor. More info.
20. Outside Traverse City in Suttons Bay
Suttons Bay Fall Artisan & Wine Walk - October 16, 2026, from 5-8pm. Stroll from store to store in one of my favorite northern Michigan towns while enjoying work from local artisans, sampling local fare and refreshments, and exploring participating businesses throughout Suttons Bay. A walking guide highlights participating merchants, the artists they’re hosting, and wineries sponsoring the event. Collect stamps along the way for a chance to win $150 in gift cards from participating businesses! More info.
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The Last of the Best Fall Festivals in Michigan...
21. Utica
Nightmare on Auburn Street Fall Festival - October 3, 2026. The prize for the most unique of Michigan festivals goes to this gem. Channeling Halloween, the streets come alive with a find Bigfoot contest, zombie walk after dark, and apple cider and donuts, all topped off with a Michigan craft beer tent. More info.
22. Van Buren Charter Township
DeBuck's Family Farm Fall Festival - September 12-November 1, 2026. My path crossed with owners Eric and Scott DeBuck in college, and it's amazing to see how their family business has evolved since. This annual Fall Festival offers everything you wish it did - a corn maze, combine slide, jumping pad, straw mountain, as well as a 20-acre pumpkin wonderland. It's like all the fun fall activities in one spot. Tell them Jeanine says hi. More info.
23. Warren
St. Anne Sausage Festival - September 25-27, 2026. Three days of Polish dancers, carnival games and carnival rides, live entertainment and a Vegas tent = an annual event the whole family will love. More info.
24. eXeter Township
Kackleberry Farms Fall Festival - September 12 - November 1, 2026. Offering over 30 farm fun activities, visitors will love the Unlimited Super Mega Slide Rides, acres of zinnias and sunflowers, and try your hand at their new stationary paintball activity (report back bc we're dying to know what this means!). More info.
25. Ypsilanti
Rasa Festival - September 19, 2026, from 4-6pm. An innovative India-themed multi-arts festival celebrating the richness and abundance of Indian cultural heritage. Head to the Riverside Arts Center for a classical Indian dance show featuring multiple styles of traditional dance, presented by Akshara. More info.
26. Zeeland
Pumpkinfest - October 1-3, 2026. From a 5K to pumpkin bowling to corn hole tournaments and other exciting yard games, to pumpkin painting, to pie eating contests, this annual event is entering its 42nd year and is one of the best places to round out our A-Z fun. More info.
