By Laura K. Cowan
Now that The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal is covering a larger geographical area, I’m excited to explore kids’ events with you that are waiting just outside of Ann Arbor. Perfect for this new phase of expansion of the Journal are the fall festivals around Washtenaw County. You can get outside with your kids, eat a caramel apple, and relax in nature for a day of family fun.
Here are some of my favorite kids’ activities that will keep you and your kids healthy, active, and in the outdoors this fall in the countryside surrounding Ann Arbor.
The Frosty Apple
If you love apples and visiting the farm, The Frosty Apple is a different option northwest of Ann Arbor just north of Dexter. It’s a family-owned apple orchard run by Julie Frost whose late husband Jack started the orchard years ago. They have a fully mature orchard now that Frost manages with her sister Janet, where they grow dozens of popular varieties of apples at super affordable prices. The orchard requires people to order online. You can also order pies for the holidays online or pick up extra delicious little treats, as long as they last on site, when you pick up pies and apples throughout the fall months.
You can’t pick apples at The Frosty Apple, as they have full-size trees that require staff to reach the apples safely, but you get great quality apples (you should see what they consider seconds—they are flawless!). Make applesauce with the kids, bake pies, or keep a fridge full of apples to last the whole season.
We bought several pies last year for the holidays, and it eliminated the pressure of baking before parties. The pies are so delicious that they’ve become a family favorite. Do not miss. Note that this orchard allows apples to be picked up as each variety comes into harvest season, and that timing can vary. See the website for up-to-date instructions on how that works.
Contact the Frosty Apple at (734)707-9019 or visit them online at frostyappleorchard.com.
Webster Fall Festival
Just down the road from The Frosty Apple is the highlight of the year in Webster Township. Just northwest of Ann Arbor is the Webster Fall Festival. The festival runs at the end of September just as people are getting into the swing of all fall things. It includes many historic displays and events related to the township’s historical residents. Think of it as a cross between a small-town fall festival and Greenfield Village. Festival PR rep Virginia Davis told us that everyone was relieved the festival was returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The festival takes place on the grounds of the Webster Township Hall on Webster Road that connects Ann Arbor’s northwest outer burb neighborhoods with Whitmore Lake and Hamburg to the north. The historic Webster United Church of Christ sits just across the road—the longest continuously running church in the state of Michigan—and features historic architecture and a family feel.
“The festival is co-sponsored by the Webster Township Historical Society and the Webster United Church of Christ,” Davis explained. “The 2020 festival was going to be the 39th annual festival, but since that and 2021 was cancelled, this year’s festival on September 24, will be the 39th.”
Davis said that the festival offers “wholesome, old-fashioned country fun for the whole family. We have always focused on children’s activities such as the traditional farm-animal petting zoo (usually chickens, bunnies, llamas, goats, and cows), hayrides, barrel train rides, hands-on rope making, corn shelling, games, and craft projects.”
This year, the local Girl Scouts are going to help with the children’s activities. They will be dressed in period costumes that they will make themselves.
“We plan to offer hands-on demonstrations of traditional chores such as washing clothes in a wash bucket and then hanging on a line to dry, stringing sliced apples to dry, stringing green beans or ‘Leather Britches’ to dry, and possibly butter churning,” Davis said.
The Podunk one-room schoolhouse will have an in-costume school marm teach a few classes during the day. The resident blacksmith will give demonstrations throughout the day in the township’s historic working blacksmith shop. Kids can work with the blacksmith to make simple projects.
If that’s not enough, penny candy will be on sale in the Kleinschmidt General Store, and they are hoping to have the cake and cookie walk again this year.
“Older children may be interested in the collection of antique tractors, cars and farm machinery on display, and demonstrations of tatting and wool spinning,” Davis said.
One of the most unique features of the Webster Fall Festival is the old-fashioned base ball (two words was the original way to spell this, Davis says) game between the Chelsea Monitor Base Ball Club and the Union Base Ball Club of Dexter. Webster Fall Festival goes all out to feature some of the most unique and fun historic country fair activities in a festival that brings together residents from the area for a day of outdoor activities.
Not confirmed at the time I talked to Davis were possible sheep dog demonstrations or search and rescue dogs at this year’s festival. For adults, you might enjoy live music on the Corncrib stage, arts and crafts for sale, homemade jams and baked goods in the Taste of Webster located in the Boy Scout Cabin, “a soup and sandwich luncheon in the church, a quilt and art display in the sanctuary, hot dogs, chips, ice cream, and beverages for sale during the day, and a pulled pork sandwich beginning at 1 p.m. And I can't forget the Braun and Hellner antique auction at 9 a.m., and the flea market in the Scadin barn throughout the day.” Whew. Is that enough to draw a crowd? This year we can’t miss it!
Learn more about the Webster Fall Festival at websterfallfestival.org or email websterfallfestival1@gmail.com.
Wiard’s Orchard
Wiard’s Orchard is an old favorite of many Ann Arbor townies, because it has everything you could want from a fall festival: apple picking, classic fall treats in their country store, plus a haunted house, hayrides, and more.
Wiard’s has changed many things for the sake of safety during the pandemic, so be sure to check their website for hours and rules of operation before your visit. During Covid, they created outdoor sanitizing stations, emphasized social distancing, and closed events they couldn’t keep clean, like the corncrib.
The country fair has remained open, and the giant slides. Wiard’s even hired a sanitation team to keep outdoor exhibits extra clean these last two years. Masks were worn anywhere people couldn’t easily distance by six feet.
Wiard’s has a moonwalk and a full haunted house plus haunted hayrides that run through the woods on a tractor-pulled wagon. They also run corn mazes. Wiard’s host corporate picnics as well, so if you want to host a large party, you can get all the favorite activities and some special add-ons like mini golf, kids’ games, and bubbles for your extravaganza.
Wiard’s created no less than 45 stations for hand sanitizers and hard surface sanitizers this last year. The country fair is different during the week than on the weekends. Wiard’s event planner Rose Timbers says the best way to plan ahead is check out the Wiard’s website to see what’s happening at the “Country Fair Wed-Fri or Sat-Sun.”
Any day you visit you can plan on the petting farm being open, plus the corn maze, and some outdoor events. Believe it or not, there’s more!
Visit Wiard’s Orchard online at wiards.com or give them a call at (734)390-9211.
Whitmore Lake Library Events
Just off the second exit on US-23 north of Ann Arbor in downtown Whitmore Lake is the beautiful and historic Northfield Township Library, which is known for its fabulous children’s events. Director Zaley Nelson has continued a tradition of extensive educational, fun groups and festivals that make this a destination for local families looking to entertain their kids rain or shine.
Nelson told us that continuous programs will run in the fall including the NTAL Sprouts Story Time every Wednesday from 11-11:30 a.m. with Ms. Hillary, the Sprouts Sensory Play Group every Friday from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., and for older kids the Michigan Education Trust meeting is on September 13th to talk about saving for college. The Northfield Area Township Library also has a Teen Advisory Board to discuss library matters and plan events.
But, the really special event is the Annual Fall Fun Fest, September 24th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. This event features a petting zoo, outdoor games, chalk art, bubbles, and a special fall-themed craft for kids alongside a craft fair. We used to take our daughter to this event when she was a toddler and in early elementary, and it was one of the highlights of the year for her. Beyond the fabulous collection of children’s books at this well-curated library staffed with enthusiastic librarians, you could not ask for a better way to make a kid excited to go to the library.
For more information, you can contact the Northfield Township Library or check out their calendar of events online at ntal.org, call (734)449-0066 or email info@ntal.org. The Northfield Township Library is located at 125 Barker Road, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.
More Events in Whitmore Lake!
Want more fun in Whitmore Lake while you’re at it? Whitmore Lake has its own events calendar published on the Northfield Township website, including events and meetings for teens and public get-togethers for families. Through mid-September, you can join the Movies Under the Stars event near the post office, which is essentially a community drive-in movie for families. From Encanto to Sonic the Hedgehog, you can bring your kids to an outdoor end of summer early fall family event overlooking beautiful Whitmore Lake for a last hurrah of outdoor parties.
Learn more at Whitmore Lake community events at https://twp-northfield.org/calendar.php or call (734)449-2880.
Saline Oktoberfest and Halloween Kids Events
Are you on the other side of Ann Arbor south of town? Saline has Oktoberfest in the fall, full of kids’ events. Oktoberfest is on September 16 and 17 in downtown Saline at 101 S. Ann Arbor Street. Oktoberfest includes food, concerts, and kids’ crafts.
October 26 is a separate festival for Halloween in Saline called Trunk & Treat. It runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Saline and is free for all. “There’s absolutely nothing scary going on at this Halloween party!” the event hosts say. Bring your little kids for trick or treating, flame swallowing performers, and much more.
Learn more about Saline’s Oktoberfest and Halloween events at salinemainstreet.org or call (734)717-7406.
Milan Fall Festivals
Just down the street from Saline is Milan, also on the south side of Ann Arbor. Milan has an event called Scarecrows on Main for kids during their fall harvest festival, where kids can create their own scarecrows which are then used to decorate the downtown streets. The harvest festival includes free hayrides, donuts, music, and food.
Separately, there is a Milan Fall Craft Show that’s a big favorite among families and collectors. It’s now held at the Milan High School cafeteria in Milan. This event is not specifically aimed at kids, but it is a fun family event to bring a kid to if they love arts and crafts. The Fall Craft Show features handmade, homemade, and homegrown items for sale. Fall decor is available for sale, and there is a coffee bar and sandwiches.
If you can wait to shop until November, there is also a Pop on Main Street event that combines Small Business Saturday (the Friday after Thanksgiving) that encourages people to shop local with popup events, food, and special deals at local retailers.
Learn more about Scarecrows on Main online at milanmich.org/departments/main_street/festivals_and_events.php, and the Fall Craft Show at festivalnet.com/8586. For other events happening in Milan visit milanevents.org call (734)301-9719.
Dexter Cider Mill
It’s no accident that the Dexter Cider Mill feels like a historic charming way to spend a fall weekend with the kids. This cider mill has been operating since 1886 west of Ann Arbor right on the Huron River and still cooks up the same favorites—from caramel apples and cinnamon sugar donuts to real raw apple cider made on site in old wooden presses.
The Dexter Cider Mill is super packed on weekends, but they open practically at the end of summer and don’t close until the very end of the fall, so you’re sure to find a time to go. They’re open all day starting in August and sell pies and other extra treats on the weekends.
“Our cider mill is an active working mill and is proud to be a member of the Michigan Cider Makers' Guild,” the owners said. “With a passion of preserving our history, The Dexter Cider Mill has had very few changes to our processes over the past 132 years. From the authentic oak press and using a variety of local Michigan apples to create our own unpasteurized cider, to our natural setting along the Huron River… it's a little step back in time to how things used to be and have always been for us.”
One thing to note is that like any cider mill, The Dexter Cider Mill has a lot of bees swarming around the grounds because of the sweet sticky apple juice on the premises. If you or your kid is allergic to bee stings, please come prepared or plan to hop in for a bag of donuts and then eat off the premises.
The Dexter Cider Mill can be combined with a day trip kayaking the Huron River or biking along Huron River Drive with the family. There is a new paved sidewalk stretching from Dexter near the Cider Mill to the west side of Ann Arbor at Zeeb Road to offer a safer sidewalk alternative for young kids just starting to bike.
Learn more about the Dexter Cider Mill online at dextercidermill.com.
Ypsilanti Library Events
If you have a kid in Ypsi, or one who loves clubs instead of fall festivals, one final alternative is the awesome events at the Ypsilanti Public Library. There is a PrideZone group for 12-17-year-olds that meets in the fall at the library. “PrideZone is a social and support group for teens 12-17-years old who identify as LGBTQ+,” the event hosts said. “It is a safe place to socialize, build community, and have fun in an open, queer space. Help us plan events like board game night, movie night, coming out over coffee, field trips, and craft nights.” They also meet at Ozone House in Ann Arbor.
Have a budding gardener in the family? The Seed Saving Group is another cool event for kids that goes from summer into fall!
Learn more about programming at the Ypsilanti Public Library by visiting online at ypsilibrary.org or call (734)482-4110.
I hope that gives you some ideas for outdoor family fun before the cold weather closes in. With the weather as hot as it has been this year, we’re hoping for some sunny days before the rain. I’ll see you around Washtenaw County with the littles!
Laura K. Cowan is the Kids in The Community columnist for The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal and the Healers of Ann Arbor columnist. She is a tech and wellness journalist from Ann Arbor, and also runs Cronicle Press, an Ann Arbor tech blog and content marketing consultancy for tech startups and small businesses. You can learn more at cronicle.press. You can reach Cowan at laurakcowan@gmail.com.
