In October, our Pure Michigan Facebook community shared a number of great photos from around Michigan including fall fun, stunning sunrises and sunsets and more. Check out a gallery of some of our favorites that we posted to the Pure Michigan Flickr page.
Which photo from October is your favorite? Share with us below!
Halloween is just around the corner, and there are tons of fun events around the state that are sure to put you in the spooky spirit! From haunted houses to family-friendly parades, below is your guide to celebrating Halloween in Pure Michigan.
Visit michigan.org full a full listing of Halloween events happening around the state!
Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village
Step back in time at Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford. Follow an endless path of hand-carved jack-o-lanterns and meet colorful characters along the way. Feel the whoosh as the headless horseman rides by, banter with a clever witch, and make stops at several treat stations spread throughout Greenfield Village.
When: October 26-28, every half hour from 6:30pm-9pm Fridays & Saturdays, Sundays 6:30pm – 8pm
Where: Dearborn
Spooktacular Weekend in Pentwater
It’s a Spooktacular Weekend in Pentwater October 26-28. The trick-or-treating takes place on Saturday, but the whole weekend is full of “spooky” events for the whole family including a parade, pub crawl, Rocky Horror Picture Show performance, a teen costume party and much more.
When: October 26-28
Where: Pentwater
Downtown Halloween Walk in Traverse City
Trick-or-treat your way around downtown Traverse City at participating stores during the Downtown Halloween Walk. Then, make a weekend out of it and bring your four-legged friend to The Dog Party! to celebrate the grand opening of Traverse City’s newest dog park with a costume contest and treats for both dogs and their owners!
When: Halloween Walk – October 26, 3:30-5 pm, Dog Party – October 27, 12-4 pm
Where: Traverse City
Halloween Trick-or-Treat and Halloween Spectacle in Marquette
Bring your little goblins and ghosts to downtown Marquette for the Halloween Trick-or-Treat and Halloween Spectacle. Fill your trick-or-treat bags with goodies from local businesses and stick around to see the zombie folk dancers, stilt walking spirits, a life-size dragon and skeleton marching band perform.
When: October 27, Trick-or-Treat 4-7 pm, Halloween Spectacle 7-8 pm
Where: Marquette
St. Ignace’s Trunk or Treat & Haunted Woods Walk
Make your way to St. Ignace’s Trunk or Treat & Haunted Woods Walk! In addition to the walk and hayride there is also a candy bar walk, apple bobbing, face painting, bean bag toss and football throw.
When: October 27, 7-8 pm
Where: St. Ignace
The Treat Parade in Downtown Ann Arbor
Black and orange balloons mean treats in downtown Ann Arbor this Halloween. The Treat Parade kicks off with story time at the public library followed by 65 participating businesses that will have balloons outside to signify that you can stop in for a treat.
When: October 31, story time-9:30 and 10:30 am, Treat Parade-11 am
Where: Ann Arbor
For more Halloween-related events happening in your community, visit michigan.org. How will you be getting into the Halloween spirit this year? Share with us below!
Fall colors in areas across Michigan have begun to peak, and Manistee County is no exception! Today, guest blogger Maralee Cook, a Manistee resident, fills us in on how you can still enjoy fall in its prime during a visit to her hometown.
Manistee County’s gloriously hot and sunny summer has become a brilliant, colorful autumn. The Great Lake Michigan is a deeper blue, the air is cool and crisp, and from the Manistee Pierhead light you can see north up the coast to Frankfort and south to the Point Sable Light. The trees are topped with leaves in hues you find on an artist’s palette: lemon yellow, gamboge, scarlet, vermilion, crimson, burnt sienna and more. They line the shores of Lake Michigan, the banks of over 270 miles of county rivers, and highways and back roads that carry us past miles of charming towns, farmland and orchards on gently rolling hills. Farm markets and Manistee’s Saturday Farmer’s Market offer bushel baskets overflowing with fall fruits and vegetables. Colorful mums and bright orange pumpkins wait by the hundreds to come home with you and decorate your front porch for Halloween. Come for an autumn drive, bike ride, canoe trip or to play golf or fish. And there are lots of festivals and events during the rest of October, to round out your stay.
Check out visitmanisteecounty.com with paper and pencil in hand, ready to mark on your calendar some of our special events.
Maralee Cook is a freelance writer living in Manistee, Michigan.
Have you visited Manistee County this year? Share with us in the comments section below!
November in Michigan brings a unique combination of fall festivities and holiday cheer. From festivals to parades to local tree lightings, there’s always something happening throughout the month in Pure Michigan.
For a complete listing of Michigan’s November events, visit michigan.org/events.
Week of 11/1/12
Ann Arbor Annual Arts & Crafts Festival
November 3, 2012, Ann Arbor
This juried arts and crafts show features 50+ artisans with their unique handcrafted items. There is something for the entire family including concessions and door prize drawings for gifts created by the artists themselves. There is also a complimentary “Kids Kraft Korner” and face-painting. Admission is $2 (under 12 yrs no charge) and free parking and shuttle service is available. Held at the New Grace Apostolic Temple, 2898 Packard Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 from 10am-5pm. For more information, visit the website link or call (734) 368-8897.
Shipshewana on the Road
November 3, 2012, Mount Pleasant
Held at the Soaring Eagle Casino, the event features dealers from the famous outdoor market selling crafts, toys, jewelry, and more. The event runs on Saturday from 9am-6pm & Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is $4 at the door. Free parking. For more information, call (269) 979-8888.
Iceman Cometh Challenge
November 3, 2012, Traverse City
The Iceman Cometh Challenge is a grueling 27-mile off-road bicycle race through the Pere Marquette State Forest between Traverse City and Kalkaska. Rain, sunshine, sleet, snow or ice – nothing stops this race, which attracts 3,700 cyclists and 4,000 spectators from across the US and Canada. Phone (231) 922-5926 for more information.
Holly Daze on Drummond Island
November 3, 2012, Drummond Island
Come and enjoy local arts & crafts on Saturday, November 3, on Drummond Island from 10am to 3pm. Maps will be available the day of the show detailing the places of activities. Enjoy Door Prizes and Finger Foods. Call (800) 737-8666 for more information.
Toast the Season Wine Trail Event 2012
November 3-4, 2012, Suttons Bay
The annual Toast the Season wine trail tour features a special wine pour accompanied by holiday themed gourmet food at each of the Leelanau Peninsula member wineries. At your assigned starting winery, you will be given a souvenir glass, a holiday gift basket and an ornament. Tickets are $75 for couples or $50 for singles, and you may visit 8 wineries each day in whatever order you desire between the hours of 11am to 5pm Saturday and noon to 5pm Sunday. For more details call (231) 256-2829.
Week of 11/7/12
East Lansing Film Festival
November 7-15, 2012, East Lansing
The East Lansing Film Festival (ELFF) is the largest and most diverse film festival in Michigan dedicated to screening independent and foreign feature, documentary, short and students films from around the world. For more information call (517) 980-5802
Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival 2012
November 8-10, 2012, Grand Rapids
An annual pre-holiday event! This festival has established itself as Michigan’s premier event for the celebration and tasting of the finest foods, wines, beers and spirits. From the connoisseur who lives and breathes for the finer things in life to the novice looking for an introduction to the world of food and spirits, the International Wine & Food Festival will deliver a grand experience that is sure to please every palette. No one under 21 allowed. Admission is $15. Hours: Thurs 5-10 pm, Friday 4-10 pm and Saturday noon-9 pm. For more information on this event, visit the website link.
Blissfield Yuletide – A Season of Bliss
November 9-10, 2012, Blissfield
Join us for a weekend filled with holiday shopping, craft shows, train rides, Santa and his reindeer and so much more. For more information call (517) 486-3671.
Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremony
November 10, 2012, Paradise
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum presents the annual Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service at 7pm. The service includes reflections, music and the Call to the Last Watch Ceremony in which the ship’s bell is rung 29 times for each crewman who went down with the famous vessel, plus a 30th ring for all who have lost their lives on the Great Lakes. For more information call (800) 647-2858
Women’s Only Weekend
November 9 – 11, 2012, South Haven
The second annual Wow Weekend will have more events, more entertainment, more shopping, more pampering, and more fun! Tickets are $60 each ($50 ticket blocks of four or more through October 31st) and are limited. Tickets include complimentary food and beverage tastings, nightly entertainment, classic chick flicks, extra shopping perks, wine & cheese reception, comedy night, dueling pianos, plus: America’s #1 Neil Diamond Tribute Artist. For more information on this event, visit the website link or call (800) 433-9210.
Week of 11/14/12
Festival of Trees
November 15-25, 2012, Muskegon
The Muskegon Museum of Art will host its Festival of Trees event November 15 through Sunday, November 25. For the Festival, MMA volunteers, staff, and professional designers transform the largest gallery space in the museum into a holiday panorama with themed trees, seasonal decor, a gingerbread village and model train station. Festival admission includes access to museum exhibits. The festival and the museum will be closed for Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 22. Festival admission: $5 per adult, $2 per child ages 3 to 17 (under age 3, free), $3 for MMA members. All-Festival Pass: $10 per person. Call (231) 720-2570 for visitor information.
Grand Haven Light Night
November 16, 2012, Grand Haven
Enjoy downtown Grand Haven as the lights begin to turn on in the trees for the first time this holiday season. Participating stores will be holding their holiday open houses with excellent ideas for everyone on your gift list. Luminaries will be lining the street as we kick off the holidays from 5pm to 9pm! For more information, contact the Grand Haven Main Street Downtown Development Association at (616) 844-1188.
Ladies’ Weekend Expo 2012
November 16-18, 2012, Lansing
Gather your female friends and family and head to the ultimate women’s outing! Enjoy a weekend full of activities designed specifically with you in mind. You don’t want to miss the show with amazing vendors featuring jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, home decor, giveaways and more. Admission is $7 at the door. The event takes place from 10am-7pm Fri & Sat and 11am-5pm Sunday. For additional information, visit the website link or call (616) 466-4451.
Detroit Christmas WonderFest
November 16-25, 2012, Detroit
WonderFest is a European Style Outdoor Christmas Market. Highlights of Christmas Wonderfest will include an International Marketplace featuring gifts and goods from countries across the globe, a local showcase and gallery featuring work from the region’s finest artists, and a Central City Marketplace offering mementos from Detroit’s most beloved landmarks and cultural institutions. Christmas WonderFest will take place in the city’s central plaza, Campus Martius Park—home of Detroit’s official Christmas tree and popular ice-skating rink. Wonderfest will kick off the holiday season in grand style during two of the highest traffic periods annually in downtown Detroit—beginning with the ceremonial Holiday season tree-lighting event on November 16 and continuing through the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade festivities, ending Sunday November 25. For more information on this event, visit the website link.
Brighton’s Holiday Glow
November 17, Brighton
Brighton’s Holiday Glow launches the holiday season with festivities that will bring a glow to the faces of all in attendance. The event begins at 4pm with holiday music, dance performances, hay rides, train rides, a nativity petting farm, a station to write letters to Santa and tasty holiday treats. Santa and Mrs. Claus will join the mayor of the City of Brighton and Mike Marino and John King of WHMI’s “Morning Crew” at approximately 5:45pm at the Millpond in downtown Brighton where Santa will magically light the trees to orchestrated synchronized music. For more information contact (810) 227-5086.
Week of 11/21/12
America’s Thanksgiving Parade
November 22, 2012, Detroit
The Parade starts-off at Woodward Avenue and Mack in downtown Detroit and ends at Woodward Avenue and Congress. Detroiter’s have enjoyed the rich tradition of going downtown to celebrate Thanksgiving for generations. The route will honor this Thanksgiving Day tradition that began more than 80 years ago while providing parade-goers the opportunity to enjoy the transformation of our great city. This year’s Parade will have crowd favorites and new surprises with more than 75 Parade units including floats, balloons, award-winning marching bands, clowns, specialty acts, celebrities and The Parade Company’s own Distinguished Clown Corps. Call (313) 923-7400 for more details.
Charlevoix Christmas Tree Lighting
November 22, 2012, Charlevoix
Get in the spirit of the season and join the festivities at the Community Christmas Tree Lighting complete with a visit from Santa, ornament making and hot cocoa and cookies. Santa lights the tree at 6pm sharp. For more information contact (231) 547-2101.
Frankenmuth Holiday Celebration & Candlewalk
November 23, 2012, Frankenmuth
The Frankenmuth Holiday Celebration is the perfect way to start the Christmas season. The night kicks-off with hot chocolate and cookies at 6pm and the ceremony starts at 6:30pm. Candlewalk from the River Place to the Chamber Platz for the lighting of the Tannenbaum. Santa will be in the Pavilion from 7-9pm. Call (800) FUN -TOWN or (989) 652-6106 for more information.
Starry, Starry Night
November 23, 2012, Grand Marais
Local merchants and shops stay open late with spectacular Christmas Specials. Look for signs for great deals to kick off your Christmas shopping. For more information contact (906) 494-2447.
Great Macaroni and Cheese Bake-off
November 24, 2012, Traverse City
The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula will host some of the area’s top restaurant chefs who have turned the classic comfort food dish of Macaroni & Cheese into culinary marvels! This rich and creamy fare is paired with wines from Old Mission – Rieslings, Pinot Grigios, Chardonnays and more. Discover and enjoy what our local chefs have cooked up this year! Tickets are $40 and include a souvenir wine glass and plate. Call (231) 933-9787 for more information.
Week of 11/28/12
Lego® Architecture: Towering Ambition
November 3, 2012 – February 24,2012, Dearborn
Childhood’s favorite bricks re-create some of the world’s most famous and fanciful buildings including The Empire State Building and John Hancock Tower. The exhibit also features a hands-on LEGO® Play Pit to create your own masterpieces in. For information call (313) 982-6001.
Dutch Winterfest
November 17 – December 8, 2012, Holland
Historic downtown Holland provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday festival which kicks off with an open house complete with luminaries and roasting chestnuts, and continues with events for the entire family! Enjoy the creatively lighted floats and imported “lampions” in the Parade of Lights. Visit with Sinterklaas, the Dutch St. Nicholas and his mischievous Zwarte Piet helpers, and stroll through the “Kerstmarkt”, a European open-air Christmas market. There are holiday theatre and musical performances, a greens sale, Victorian Christmas teas, special exhibits, and, of course, Santa himself. Holland’s warmed cobblestone sidewalks, unique shops and galleries, specialty import shops and open-air market provide one-of-a-kind holiday shopping throughout the festival. Call (800) 506-1299 for more information.
The Nutcracker
November 30 – December 2, 2012, Midland
Leap into the holiday season with the most beloved ballet of all time: The Nutcracker! Share the magic and rekindle the tradition – or start a new one – as the Grand Rapids Ballet Company returns to bring this timeless classic to life. Experience the magic of the dazzling sets, costumes and choreography combined with the MSO performing Tchaikovsky’s timeless score for an enchanting performance the whole family will enjoy. Nov 30, 2012, 7:30pm; Dec 1, 2012, 3pm; Dec 1, 2012, 8pm; Dec 2, 2012, 3 pm. Tickets available starting now. Call (800) 523-7649 or (989) 631-5930.
Hometown Christmas
November 30 – December 2, 2012, Ontonagon
Hometown Christmas features a parade, mule-drawn wagon rides, community tree trimming, light tours, a dance and crafts over the course of the first weekend in December. For more information contact (906) 884-4837.
Caro’s Gingerbread Village
November 30 – December 5, 2012, Caro
An old-fashioned holiday in Caro is where true happiness is homemade. Events include gingerbread house competitions for all ages, baking contest, family fun fest, raffles and visits from Fred and Ginger Bread, the mascots of the event. For more information contact (989) 673-5211.
Don’t miss your chance to see what else is happening in cities across Michigan throughout the month. Visit michigan.org for a complete listing. What event or festival are you most looking forward to in November?
Looking for something fun to do with your family to get into the Halloween spirit? There’s still plenty of time to check out The Great ZooBoo at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek! Today, Kari Parker, Binder Park Zoo’s marketing manager, fills us in on this family-friendly event and other happenings at the zoo this year.
Q: What is ZooBoo and who should attend ZooBoo?
A: The Great ZooBoo is a merry not scary Halloween event that has been ongoing and beloved by families and Zoo visitors for 26 years. This ever popular trick-or-treating experience is a wonderful way for families to be immersed in a festive fall atmosphere, while creating memories with their children. What better way to celebrate fall than meandering through the Zoos many trails of lighten jack-o-lanterns with crunchy leaves underfoot while sipping hot apple cider! Weather depending, visitors will even get to see some of our more cold weather-hardy animals like the American black bear cubs that we rescued from Alaska this past summer or the graceful and endearing snow leopards among others.
Q: What’s the history of ZooBoo at Binder Park Zoo and how has it grown over the years?
A: Binder Park Zoo first opened in 1977 as a small children’s petting zoo. With great dreams and aspirations a team of dedicated volunteers and staff set out to mold and shape Binder Park Zoo into the leading cultural attraction it is known for today. With the growth of the Zoo came new exhibits and events like The Great ZooBoo. In 1987 the very first ZooBoo took place and remains much the same today, a merry-not-scary family Halloween event. ZooBoo has been added to the must do list for families for years and continues to be a fall tradition that many look forward too. Binder Park Zoo is a non profit so we rely on gate admissions and fundraising events like The Great ZooBoo to help feed and care for our animals. The funds raised during ZooBoo allow us to feed and care for our animals all winter long. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes and even though we close for the winter we still have a group of dedicated fulltime zookeepers working around the clock to look after all of our animals. When families come to The Great ZooBoo, not only are they spending time together and making memories, they are helping to instill a love for nature in their children and helping us to continue our many conservation efforts.
Q: What are some new attractions or activities at this year’s ZooBoo?
A: Halloween wouldn’t be complete without trick-or-treating, and The Great ZooBoo offers that and lots more! The Miller Children’s Zoo is transformed from a petting zoo into the exciting BooVille Carnival where youngsters can enjoy the carnival atmosphere and play a variety of games to win fun prizes. The Binda Conservation Discovery Center will also be open, offering a place where children can view several small animal exhibits, participate in interactive activities, and take in the nightly entertainment venues. As always, there will be hayrides, train rides, and a festive fall atmosphere like none other!
Q: Are there other fun events or activities happening at Binder Park Zoo this fall?
A: During our winter months the Zoo is anything but still! We offer a variety of educational opportunities for children like the popular Knee-High Naturalists, a program perfect for your pint-sized conservationist. All of our education programs are designed with kids in mind and provide an outlet for little ones to express creativity, explore nature and wildlife, as well as to broaden their world of experiences. As a leader in conservation education, approximately 75,000 children and adults received the benefits of the Zoo’s formal and informal education programs. Our strongest educational efforts take place here at the Zoo through the roughly one third of a million people who visit each year.
In addition to off season education programs each year, the Zoo offers an event called Holiday Nights in December. This is a wonderful way to experience wintry evenings at Binder Park Zoo. Guests stroll along lighted paths and can view some of our weather-hardy animals on exhibit enjoying the winter season. These special evenings include carousel rides, special holiday activities, dinner with Santa and his animal friends, and story time with Mrs. Claus. Holiday Nights run each evening December 14-16 & December 20-23.
Q: What types of conservation programs is the Zoo currently involved it?
A: Binder Park Zoo is home to 38 endangered or threatened species and participates in 18 different Species Survival Plans (SSP) and 20 Population Management Plans (PMP). Global conservation efforts take place at Binder Park Zoo in cooperation with organizations like the International Snow Leopard Trust and the Cheetah Conservation Fund, in Kenya Africa. The Zoo also participates in local conservation restoration efforts as well like the Michigan Piping Plover Recovery Program, Karner Blue Butterfly conservation, Adopt and Beach and Highway programs and helped contribute to the success of the bald eagle’s comeback.
Q: Where can people go for more information?
A: For more information about Binder Park Zoo, visit www.binderparkzoo.org or call the Zoo office at (269) 979-1351. To stay on top of all the latest Zoo news, find Binder Park Zoo on Facebook.
Kari Parker has been the Marketing Manager for Binder Park Zoo for a total of 8 years. She received her education at Western Michigan University where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree specializing in marketing.
Are you planning to attend ZooBoo at Binder Park Zoo? If you’re looking for something closer to home, here’s a list of several other Michigan zoos taking part in similar events:
For other ZooBoo and Halloween-themed events happening across the state, visit michigan.org.
Incredible video of the Northern Lights in Michigan
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Explore Pure Michigan’s Wineries this Season
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Turnip Rock in Port Austin, Michigan. Photo by Lars Jensen.
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