Fall Fun Events, 2024 Edition

As much as I live for summer, there is something so special about fall in Michigan. Maybe it’s the weather, the colorful leaves or the fact that all the tiny humans are herded back to school; regardless, fall is a magical time! We’re easing back into articles this September taking a look at fall fun events happening in the metro-Detroit area this fall.

Plymouth Fall Festival, 9/6-9/8

Yes, Plymouth’s Fall Festival is happening THIS upcoming weekend! Dating back to the 1950s, Fall Fest evolved from a Rotary fundraiser into a multi-day carnival-like event. Unlike Art in the Park and the Ice Festival, Fall Fest is all about having some great fall fun without excessive amounts of sweat or shivering.

In downtown Plymouth you can find:

• Carnival rides (kids of all ages!)
• Craft show
• Local vendor booths
• Food trucks
• Fundraisers
• Entertainment (love that Fife and Drum Corps!)
• Pet show

The signature event of the Fall Festival is the Rotary Chicken BBQ, happening on Sunday afternoon. This fundraiser features a boxed dinner with chicken seasoned so deliciously my father buys two dinners so he can have leftovers (Sorry, Dad, I’m outing your secret!). They sell out every year, so grab your tickets early if interested!

Special thank you to Frank Agostini, owner of E.G. Nick’s in Plymouth, for inviting me to be a sponsor in their entertainment tent this year. Stop by to see my gorgeous banner (above). I designed it myself, and I’m as proud as a kindergartner who colored inside the lines!

Michigan Renaissance Festival, through 9/29

This event is the only reason I look forward to the end of summer! The Michigan Renaissance Festival is a weekend event in Holly, MI running early-August through the end of September. Every weekend has a specific theme with related fun extras.

As you can see from the cover photo, the Dabkowski family is INTO IT, elf ears and all! The festival features live jousting, live shows such as music, comedians and various off-beat talents, activities for the kids, a pub crawl for the adults and SO MANY vendor booths. To date, we’ve watched the glass-blowing, weapon hammering, met a mermaid, took a picture with a pegasus, drank mead, ate enormous turkey legs, been knighted by the King, watched the Green Knight celebrate triumph after the joust and purchased a crystal ball.

My top tips for visiting the Renaissance Festival:

• Pull into the parking lot 30-minutes before the gates open so you have time to park and walk the 10-minute trail to the gates. By 3pm, the park crowd is heavy, and you’ll be ready to head home.
• Close-toed shoes are your friend because there is dirt, mulch and (sometimes) mud. The easiest way to spot a first-timer is to look for anyone wearing sandals. (The Mathematician identified this mistake our first year.)
• Wear a renaissance, fantasy or really any costume to amp up the fun or buy one while you are there.
• Eat lunch by 11:30 am so you can avoid the longest food lines.
• Take cash – lots of it. The live shows will all shill for tips to support their performances so bring small bills. It’s also easier in most cases to pay with cash, and some vendors will give a cash discount.
• Hit the port-a-potties early and often because by mid-afternoon you’re only going in if you’re desparate.
• Start your day with a loose plan of any specific things you want to do, but know that your day will go off the rails as you get sucked into the random fun things you find along the way.

I could write an entire article about this event, so feel free to hit me up for more information if you’re considering attending this year.

Northville Skeletons

Every year, Northville businesses and residents get into the Halloween spirit by decorating the downtown with wild skeletons. This year, the skeletons are kicking off on October 4 from 6 pm to 9 pm with The Skeletons are Alive! launch party.

The launch party will feature:

• Stilt walkers
• Balloon twisters
• Face painting
• Good to Glow
• John Angevine, pumpkin carver
• Ghostbusters on site to ensure the “supernatural” doesn’t crash the party!
• Bands rocking in Town Square.

This event is free to attend and is billed as “family friendly.” Food trucks will be onsite to tempt your taste buds. Now, I have not attended this event before, so we’re hoping to check it out this year.

If you can’t attend the launch party, the Skeletons will be on display in downtown Northville throughout the Halloween season. You can check them out at your convenience.

What awesome events are you attending this fall?! Drop a comment below.

As always, thank you for joining me this week. I’m here to help with all your homeowner questions!