Fall is a great time of year. Michigan summers are so wonderful, but I truly enjoy the fun of visiting cider mills, the changing leaves on the trees, and all the great events in the area. Here is my Fall Bucket List of 20 things you should try this fall. Enjoy!
- Take a bite out of the Art & Apples Festival, Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8
- Ride your bike or take a walk down the Paint Creek Trail and collect different colored leaves.
- Visit the Rochester Cider Mill. They have a great selection of apples, ciders, donuts, and different activities for the kids. I found the antique tool wall very interesting, too.
- Find a hidden treasure at the Junk In the Trunk Sale, Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Farmers’ Market.
- Enjoy Fall Family Field Day at Dinosaur Hill, Saturday, September 21 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. This event is for all ages. You’ll make caramel apples, leaf-print t-shirts, along with other activities and games. Sounds really fun, but make sure you register online because spaces fill up fast!
- Cozy up at Fall Family Night Campfires at Dinosaur Hill, Friday, September 27 from 7:30 until 8:30 p.m. Register online.
- Run the Brooksie Way Half Marathon, Sunday, September 29. If you’re not ready to run a half marathon, then go ahead and run the 5k or walk either event.
- Visit Goodison Cider Mill or Yate’s Cider Mill.
- Window shop downtown at Rochester Posed, Thursday, October 3 from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. Live “mannequins” will be posing in participating stores’ front windows, with a special Norman Rockwell reveal at 6:00 p.m. Sounds like an interesting evening full of fun!
- Shop the Mom 2 Mom Sale at Crittenton Hospital, Saturday, October 5 from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Fill-in your child’s winter wardrobe with great deals on gently used clothing.
- Attend the Stonewall Pumpkin Festival, Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m until 9:00 p.m. Pumpkin bowling and carving as well as other activities are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the lighting of the pumpkins will be from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m.
- Head downtown with your ghosts and goblins for Trick-or-Treat, Saturday, October 19 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m.
- Stop by the Baby Fair at Crittenton Hospital, Saturday October 26 from 10:00 a.m until 1:00 p.m. There will be local vendors and demonstrations for expectant parents or parents with young children. I went last year and loved it! I learned a lot and met a lot of great people.
- Make applesauce. Here’s my favorite recipe:http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sarahs-Applesauce/. It tastes great and freezes well!
- Trick-or-Treat at the Farmers’ Market, Saturday October 26 from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
- Smash pumpkins. I am not even kidding. (But smash your own!) One of my top favorite fall activities is to smash our leftover Jack-O’-Lanterns. It makes such a mess but it is really fun! I love giving kids a few hammers and let them go to town on the gross rotting pumpkins that have overstayed their welcome. It’s great fun and will keep them entertained for quite awhile.
- Make handprint owls. These are super cute!
- Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. Share the joy and love of the Christmas season by choosing gifts to send overseas to an orphan in need. Boxes are collected by mid-November!
- Make Scarecrow Crunch. A delicious blend of fall junk food that you will not be able to stop munching on!
- BOO a friend. This is such a fun activity. Drop a treat and a flyer onto the porch of a friend. Don’t forget to ring the doorbell and run!
About Meghan Zeile