From spooky to photogenic, fall is the season with something for everyone. And there’s no better place to enjoy the season than the middle of the mitten.
Fall Food & Drinks
For a classic way to celebrate the season, consider a trip to an orchard or farm.
You’ll find
Witzgall’s Orchard at 5179 Two Mile Road. Witzgall’s is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Cider, fresh donuts, and produce all await.
The Farm at Apple Acres, located at 2282 E. Salzburg Road, offers ice cream, donuts, cider, and special events. Follow the business Facebook page for details.
If you want to sip a cider in the city, you also have options.
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Taylor LenhardThe animal-shaped fountains inside Carroll Park on Bay City's East Side were freshened up this summer. The Jefferson Market hosts its
Friday Night Market at 409 1st St. on Sept. 27, Oct. 11, and Oct. 25. The evenings include music, food, produce, and vendors.
Buy a ticket to the
Dine & Unwind 2024 fundraiser for the CAN Council and you’ll enjoy an evening of food, drinks, beverages, and philanthropy.
Dine & Unwind takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 3 at the Doubletree by Hilton Bay City, 1 Wenonah Park Place. Tickets are $75 each and include autumn-inspired dishes, Michigan wine and cider. Vendors also are offering craft beer and Michigan-made non-alcoholic craft beer.
Haunted Adventures
If spooky fun is more your style, grab your bravest friends and hit the USS Edson or the Historic Masonic Temple.
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Photo courtesy of USS EdsonThe USS Edson has gained fame in recent years among paranormal investigators—such as Metro Paranormal Investigations from Macomb and the TV show, Destination America’s Ghost Asylum.Every year, the USS Edson transforms into an award-winning haunted boat. This year’s
Edson Incident runs on Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 2. For tickets and details, visit the website.
Before you step onboard, read this
Sept. 16, 2021 Route Bay City article about the history of the Edson.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly experience, try the ship on Sun., Oct. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. At that time, the Edson offers a “light creepy walk through. No scary actors or gory props. Just lights and sound.”
The Edson also hosts a Veterans Day Memorial on Mon., Nov. 11. More details will be on the website and Facebook page as the event gets closer.
One word of warning, the address is 1680 Martin St. but you’ll need to type “USS Edson, Bay City, MI 48706” into Google Maps to get accurate directions.
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Taylor LenhardTrails wind through the Bay City State Park and Tobico Marsh area, creating picture-perfect views of the trees changing color this fall.The
Historic Masonic Temple, 700 N. Madison Ave., offers "Gothtober Fest," on Fri., Oct. 4; Ghost Tours on Fri., Oct. 11 and Sat., Oct. 12; and the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Fri., Oct. 18, Sat., Oct. 19, and Sat., Oct. 26.
Family-Friendly Fun
For more family-friendly events, bookmark the
Great Lakes Bay Parents website.
Here you’ll find an often-updated
calendar of events plus links to
programs, sports, and camps throughout the region.
The
2024 Family Fall/Halloween Guide for the Great Lakes Bay Region includes trunk-or-treat events, pumpkin farms and corn mazes, haunted houses, and more.
Color Tours
If you live here, then you know there’s no need to travel north to enjoy fall color. Mother Nature puts the photo-worthy special on right here.
Paved and rustic trails wind near the Saginaw River and through the woods of our community.
Some prime places to visit for color tours include the
Bay City State Park at 3582 State Park Drive. Within the park, you’ll find several different trails including the
Tobico Lagoon Trail.
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Taylor LenhardFall colors are only beginning to arrive in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Soon, though, even the parking lot near Tobico Marsh will be filled with color.The park recently renovated. Learn more in this
Sept. 5, 2024 Route Bay City article.
Follow the
park on Facebook for details about special events including the Mother Nature Halloween Trail On Sat., Oct. 12. The haunted nature trail highlights some of Mother Nature’s most misunderstood wildlife such as bats and spiders. The event is not spooky and children are invited.
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Taylor LenhardChipmunks, deer, and other wildlife frequent the trails near the Bay City State Park.For still more trails, check out the
Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy’s nature preserves. The preserves, which are open year round, offer hiking opportunities in Bay, Saginaw, Arenac, Shiawassee, Ogemaw and Huron counties.
One of the Conservancy’s newest parks is at
Riverbest West Nature Area at 480 Marquette St. A paved trail through 8 1/2-acre site takes visitors past natural habitats leading to a Saginaw River overlook.
Parks & Rec in the City
Parks in more urban settings also offer fall fun.
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Taylor LenhardInside Carroll Park, you can play pickleball or walk across a picturesque bridge over a small pond.Carroll Park, located at the intersection of Groveland Road and Park Avenue, underwent a renovation this year. The pond is full and the playful whale, dolphin, and seal fountains are back in action.
The nearly 14-acre park was established in 1875, making if the oldest park in the city. In addition to the pond and fountains, the park is home to playground equipment, pickleball courts, a pavilion, and picnic areas.
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Taylor LenhardCooler fall days make it a little more comfortable to play disc golf inside the Ted Putz Nature Area on Bay City's West Side near the Saginaw River.Another city park, the
Ted Putz Nature Area at 1105 S. Arbor St., also got a new look this year.
The 4-acre park on Bay City’s West Side has a brand-new, nine-hole disc golf course. The City Parks Department worked with John Bellsmith and Craig Prime to design the course and select the equipment.
For details and updates, check out the
Putz Putt and Approach Disc Golf Park on Facebook. The page is run by a disc golf enthusiast and includes links to sale prices on equipment and tips for playing the game.