When people think of fall, they think of favorite fall activities, like going to the cider mill, picking pumpkins and apples, going through corn mazes, trick-or-treating and seeing fall colors. If you’re in the mood for some nature fun, you can head to one of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Macomb County.
“Fall is a busy time for the parks in general and there are fall activities at each of the Metroparks in Macomb County,” says Danielle Mauter, Chief of Marketing and Communications for Huron-Clinton Metroparks.
Fall events at the Metroparks in Macomb County
The Metroparks make it easy to find fun fall events online. The fall page on the website is divided into different categories such as Pumpkins & Hayrides, Guided Hikes, Halloween Fun, Crafting & Art and Birding. Mauter offers some highlights, too.
“Make sure to check out Treats at the Beach at Lake St. Clair Metropark, Night of the Dragon at Stony Creek Metropark and Family Trick or Treat at the Farm at Wolcott Mill Metropark,” says Mauter.
As for guided hikes, Mauter explains why fall at the Metroparks is a great time to hike the trails.
“If you’re somebody that’s unfamiliar or uncomfortable hitting the trails by yourself, then guided hikes are a perfect option for you,” she says.
The Metroparks have a lot of programs that are great for beginners and for others with experience, and the Metroparks staff is mindful of providing the programming visitors are asking for.
“There are more crafting and art programs this year because our visitors and the general public wanted more art, according to our latest survey,” says Mauter. “For example, we have our Paint Like Bob Ross event, where an instructor comes and teaches you how to paint and walks you through each step.”
List of fall events at the Macomb County Metroparks
Lake St. Clair Metropark
- Paint Like Bob Ross (Oct. 1)
- Art in Nature: Fall Leaf Crafts (Oct. 8)
- Tots Halloween (Oct. 21)
- Treats at the Beach (Oct. 22)
- Fall Into Nature Hike (Oct. 22)
- Twilight Luminary Hike (Oct. 28)
- Wild Michigan: Bats (Oct. 29)
- Owl Hike (Nov. 10, Nov. 18)
Stony Creek Metropark
- Bats Abound (Sept. 22)
- Shelden Mountain Bike Fest (Sept. 30)
- Autumn Leaf Lanterns (Oct. 1)
- Homeschool Series: Autumn Adventure (Oct. 4)
- Bats Abound (Oct. 6)
- Fall Wagon Tour (Oct 7-8, 14, 21-22, 28)
- Friday Night Wagon Tour & Campfire Stories (Oct. 13 and Oct. 27)
- Night of the Dragon (Oct. 21)
- Nature Arts & Crafts: Halloween Pallet Board Deco (Oct. 28)
- Inwood Owl Hike (Nov. 3)
- Owl Prowl (Nov. 17)
Wolcott Mill Metropark
- Harness & Hitch (Sept. 26, Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 19)
- Pumpkin Patch Wagon Rides (Oct 7-8, 14-15, 21-22)
- Family Trick-or-Treat at the Farm (Oct. 27-29)
“When Fall hits and the leaves start changing colors, almost everyone thinks of cider mills and apple orchards along with farms,” says Mauter. “Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm is a great farm to check out — between the nature trails around the historic center, there’s fall color viewing. You can also do some hiking while you’re around there as well.”
Tips for attending events at Macomb County Metroparks
Make sure to check out their events calendar to find out when registration is and any information you may need to know beforehand. This will also show more information about the event, including what ages the event is for.
“A good majority of these programs require advanced registration,” she says. “We recommend page exploration early and register as soon as you can — especially for the Halloween events.”
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.