Fall Activities & Fun Ideas in Lansing + Beyond 2022
Changing of the leaves, brisk weather in the mornings with cozy sweaters and warm apple cider – the transition into fall and fall activities help remind us why we love Michigan’s seasons.
To quote Fraulein Maria in The Sound of Music, “then I don’t feel so bad” heading into the colder months. In fact, we can actually get excited about it!
From hayrides, apple picking, and pumpkin picking to beach trips, hiking, and fall activities, there are so many things to do during Fall in Lansing.
Fall Activities Around Lansing
Go to a Festival or Event
Apple Butter Festivals, hayrides, drinking hot apple cider while the kids enjoy fall activities – that is fall in Lansing, right?!
Check our calendar for our big list of fall activities.
Mark your calendar for these fall events and festivals:
1 – Charlotte Frontier Days
September 7-11, 2022
Eaton County Fairgrounds • 1025 S Cochran Ave, Charlotte, MI 48813
Charlotte Frontier Days highlights include the Michigan High School Rodeo, a parade with novel entries like the Dancing Deputies, great party fun at the Charlotte Frontier Days Saloon, bed races, cornhole, and lots of other fall events.
2 – Eagle Days
September 8-11, 2022
Eagle Park • 14331 S Grange Rd, Eagle, MI 48822
Enjoy midway rides, kiddie tractor pulls, a cruise-in, mud bog, an ox roast, food trucks, a demolition car scramble, and the parade at Eagle Days. The village of Eagle holds this annual festival the weekend after Labor Day and is a great way for families and friends to enjoy some end-of-summer fun.
3 – Meridian Heritage Festival
October 1, 2022
Meridian Historical Village & Nokomis Cultural Center • 5151 Marsh Rd, Okemos, MI 48864
Celebrate the community’s history with a day of entertainment, demonstrations, games and exhibits from Native American and early American cultures including children’s games, children’s fishing at the pond, cross stitching, rug hooking, inkle loom weaving, candle making, drop spinning, sewing and beading demonstrations, drumming and singing, and sweet grass braiding. The 7th Michigan Company B Volunteer Infantry will give a Civil War Reenactment Presentation. More info here.
4 – Grand Ledge Fall Festival
October 8, 2022
Jaycee Park • 525 E River St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Celebrate fall in Grand Ledge with crafters, vendors, food trucks, entertainment, pumpkins, handmade items, baked goods, pony rides, pottery, candles, jewelry, and much more. The Grand Ledge Fall Festival runs from 9am-5pm Saturday, October 8.
5 – St. Patrick Annual Fall Festival
October 15, 2022
Alton Park • 501 W Grand River Ave, Portland, MI 48875
Celebrate fall with the whole family at the St. Patrick Annual Fall Fest. The festival in Portland kicks off at 9am with a color run, followed by kids games, craft station, food trucks, a cider and donut booth, cotton candy, hot chocolate, an escape room, and local vendors in Alton Park.
Explore a Corn Maze
Getting lost in a corn maze is another right of passage for a Michigan fall! Luckily, the Lansing area has many pumpkin patch farms with corn mazes.
» Find corn mazes in the Lansing area
Find your way out at these Lansing area faves: Shawhaven Farm, Bestmaze Corn Maze, and don’t forget Uncle John’s Cider Mill.
Pick Pumpkins & Apple
Picking out the perfect pumpkin and creating all kinds of apple dishes are highlights for most Lansing families. It’s a real treat going to get them straight from the farm.
» Find pumpkin patches in and around Lansing
» Find u-pick apples and apple tree farms
Support and Shop the Local Farmers Markets
Most Lansing farmers markets don’t end their seasons until October or November, making this a very fun fall activity plus, a great way to support local. Many include orchards and farms selling lovely fall produce.
*Note: a couple are year-round locations!
» Find a Farmers Market
Fall Activities Bucket List
It’s time to break out the big knit sweaters, pour that warm hot chocolate or cider on the porch, and take walks in the brisk wind around town.
Take the Cider & Donut Trail
Deliciousness awaits around every corner of Lansing and beyond!
» Cider and donut shops
See The Changing Colors
It’s no secret that we have tons of trails and hiking destinations around Lansing. Many connect to each other, making it so you could hike for days! The great thing about these places in the fall is the variety of colors that show up on each trail!
Because of the different types of trees present, some are vibrant yellow, others magnificent orange, and some in a rainbow of reds!
Find fall color tours:
» The Lansing River Trails
» Nature Centers
» Fitzgerald Park Ledges and Trails
» Hawk Island
» Lansing Parks all over town
Visit Uncle John’s Cider Mill
There’s always something fun going on at Uncle John’s Cider Mill, especially during fall.
You can stop by to eat donuts, drink cider, pick pumpkins, jump on the big jumping pillow, watch the cider mill in action, and much more!
Uncle John’s also hosts epic events through the fall season.
» Uncle John’s Cider Mill
8614 N. US-127,
St Johns, MI 48879
Kayak or Boat to see the Fall Colors
You’ll see Lansing in a whole new light if you take in the fall colors by paddling along rivers and lakes.
» Find kayak and boat rentals in Lansing
Bike the trails
Get your bike out! If you need to rent a bike, here are some great places around town:
» Renova Bikes
Case St & E Grand River
Lansing, MI 48906
» River Town Adventures
530 River St
Lansing, MI 48933
» MSU Bike Service Center
Bessey Hall
434 Farm Ln Room B10,
East Lansing, MI 48824
Play at a Park or Playground
We love parks in the fall. Hours of play + less hot sticky weather + brisk breeze = little to no complaining.
» Make your own park bucket list using this guide
Visit Potter Park Zoo
The big draw to Potter Park in the fall is Fall Zootacular! Seeing the animals at Potter Park Zoo during any time in the fall is what we consider one of the best times to visit.
The cooler weather brings out the fun and playfulness of the animals, and their interaction with visitors makes this place a blast.
*FREE admission for Ingham county residents on non-holiday Mondays from 9am-Noon.
» 13 reasons to visit Potter Park Zoo year-round
1301 S Pennsylvania Ave
Lansing, MI 48912
Walk the Gardens
Fall is an awesome time to visit garden grounds! Lansing has gardens all over the city, from community gardens to larger MSU projects.
The MSU arboretum has several gardens in one, and the Children’s Garden offers interactive play throughout. The other gardens have their own unique flare and in the fall can transport you to what feels like another world.
» Find a map to visit MSU Children’s Garden & Horticulture Gardens
1066 Bogue St,
East Lansing, MI 48823
» Cooley Gardens & Scott Sunken Gardens
125 W Malcolm X St,
Lansing, MI 48933
» LCC Shigematsu Memorial Japanese Garden
598 N Capitol Ave,
Lansing, MI 48933
Explore a Nature Center
Each nature center in our area is fabulous. They each have many year-round interactive opportunities for kids and families.
Fenner Nature Center holds the Apple Butter Festival every year and it’s a fall must-do!
» Find a Nature Center
Fun at Capitol Area BMX
Get out on the bike track at Capitol Area BMX or just watch all of the action and fun from Nip N’ Sip.
» Capitol Area BMX
2809 N East St,
Lansing, MI 48906
Play a Game of Disc Golf
There are courses all around town and this is so much fun! If you haven’t been before here’s all you need to know to get started:
» Find where and how to disc golf in Lansing
Try Mini Golfing at The Falcon’s Epic Course
Mini Golfing at The Falcon is Hawk Hollow’s amazing nine-hole links-style golf course.
P.S. don’t forget the bug spray!
» The Falcon Course at Hawk Hollow
15101 Chandler Rd,
Bath Twp, MI 48808
Feed the Horses
Visit and feed Horses at the MSU horse barns.
Bring the horses apples and whole carrots only and enjoy a peaceful day with these gorgeous animals.
» MSU Horse Barns & Teaching Center
3327 Collins Rd,
Lansing, MI 48910
Relax in Horrocks’ Beer Garden
Going to Horrocks in the fall is like a wonderland of cozy vibes and delicious smells. Their beer garden entrance is one of the best ways to spend a fall evening.
There’s room to be socially distanced outside where you can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere with a bevy and food of choice.
Plus shop their seasonal food, plants, and amazing atmosphere.
» Horrocks Farmers Market
7420 W Saginaw Hwy,
Lansing, MI 48917
Try Horseback Riding
Fall is such a nice time to go horseback riding because of the breezy weather and tree color changes.
» Sundance Riding Stables
9250 Nixon Rd,
Grand Ledge, MI 48837
» Northfork Farms and Outback
3637 Morrice Rd,
Webberville, MI 48892
Take the Lansing River Trail and Explore Downtown, Old Town, & REO Town Lansing
Start your stroll near Brenke Fish Ladder and then stroll around Old Town. Continue on the Riverfront Trail to downtown and on to REO Town for more fall fun and shops to explore.
» Things to do in Downtown, Old Town, & REO Town
Feed the Fish at Preuss Pets
Feed the Koi Fish in both the outdoor and indoor ponds at Preuss Pets.
Also, we were so excited to hear from a Preuss employee that petting koi is totally a thing! It’s fun for ALL and just $1. While you’re there, try petting the fish!
» Visit Animals and feed the fish at Preuss Pets
1127 N Cedar St,
Lansing, MI 48906
Watch a Movie at the Drive-In
Drive-In Movie theatres are all over Michigan. This family favorite has made a comeback as of recent and we hope it never goes away!
» Find a Drive-in movie theatre
Spartan Tailgating
Brisk air and Autumn vibes mean football season has arrived! Who’s ready to scream Go Green! Go, White!?
» Tips on Tailgating with the Family
Go on a boating or Tubing Adventure
You can tube down the Muskegon River with Wisner Rents Canoes and many more that stay open through the fall!
» Find tubing options on this unbeatable list
Take a Fall Road Trip
As the leaves are changing, fall is one of the most entertaining times to take a road trip. Here are some places where the destination is pretty great during this time as well:
The Beach
» Find a beach on Michigan’s west and east Coasts for your fall trip
Detroit
» Find more ideas of epic places to visit in Detroit
Grand Rapids
» Find great fall ideas while you’re there
Kalamazoo
» Use this Fall Fun guide while visiting
Traverse City area
» Use my free guide for your fall trip
Halloween Activities
Celebrate and dress up for Halloween!
Lansing doesn’t play around when it comes to Halloween, find the daily fun listed here.
Halloween Fun in Lansing
There are several ways to celebrate Halloween in Lansing. Trick or Treat activities, Trunk or Treats, Events, and the list goes on.
Here are the Halloween fun lists to get you started:
» Halloween Events
» Trunk or Treat
» Trick or Treat
Stay Connected this Fall with the LFF Newsletter
We’d love to keep you up to date during this Fall season. Stay in the know each week with the twice-monthly LFF newsletter.
This is where you’ll get highlights and fun tidbits. It’s also a great way for us to stay connected as a parent community.
Have a great Fall Season, Lansing!