Fall Color Report: Oct. 20-26

It’s happening! Drive anywhere in Southwest Michigan this week and be wonderstruck by the vibrant hues drenching our forests and tree-lined streets. Deep-deep scarlets, sun-bright yellows, brilliant oranges, and rich russets will keep catching your breath mile after mile.

Our crystal ball predicts by October 26 you will see an 80 to 100% color blast. If you need further enticement, our weather looks good this week with temps in the low 60s. Grab your jacket or fleece and get ready to be wowed! 

Visit 11 Fall-tastic Towns 

There's no need to spend the entire day touring from your car. Check out these Southwest Michigan towns and see how they embrace this glorious season. They are only minutes from each other!

Explore our top fall towns

Stay beyond our incredible sunsets

Spend two to three days exploring what makes each town special and watching as many of our signature sunsets as possible during your stay. Our trees will amaze you — our hometown folks will make you happy to be here.

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Fall Color Report: Oct. 13-19

By the end of this week, about half of our hardwood leaves will have changed into their brilliant hues. A thin band of trees along Lake Michigan will stick with their summer greens most of this week, but these slow-changers will turn fiery shades after a few cool nights. 

This week is a good time to leaf-peep with us. You have many hotel choices, some with lake or river views. We are also running our Southwest Michigan Trail Challenge. Burn calories while hearing the wind rustling through the treetops and grasses. Be among the first 100 people to complete the challenge and earn prizes! 

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Favorite fall color hikes 

Nature has begun its yearly transformation and the best way to see it up close is by hiking one of the area’s many trails. Each has a unique landscape — giant dunes, vineyards, shaded woods, tranquil valleys and cityscapes. Join us for the best color over the next three weeks.

Best fall color hikes

Scenic bike rides

Choose your level of adventure, from leisurely to white-knuckle in Southwest Michigan. Mountain biking families especially enjoy Lakeview Trail’s beginners’ or intermediate loops that wind through Whirlpool Corporation’s campus. If you prefer to mix your bike ride with shopping, craft beverage tasting and delicious fall foods, pedal the flower- and tree-lined streets of our top 11 towns to visit this fall. 

Follow these colorful routes

Paddle below gorgeous leaves

Rise early for a misty morning paddle on Lake Michigan, our rivers, or inland lakes. Launch your craft as the afternoon sun streams through gold and crimson canopies. Or cruise at sunset when wildlife gathers along the banks and shores. This will become your favorite time of year to kayak, SUP, and canoe in Southwest Michigan.

Beautiful autumn paddles

Fall Color Report: Oct. 6-12

We eagerly await Mother Nature painting big swashes of fall colors across our tree-lined streets, forests, and farms, but she’s still splatter painting. Our recent cooler temperatures should create more sunny yellow, vibrant red, and fiery orange leaves this week. It will be another two to three weeks before the fall hues peak, but we have a spectacular color show you won’t want to miss happening now. Visit this week to take our NEW Murals Challenge and earn prizes! 

Throughout our communities, artists have turned building walls and streets into canvases to tell our colorful local stories — some are whimsical, others historical, inspirational, or puzzling. They beg you to stand before them and take a photo — exactly what we hope you do!

The first 100 participants to complete the challenge will not only have a blast doing so — they will earn two prizes. You can quadruple your prize-earning power by combining the Murals Challenge with our other three challenges. Here’s how easy it is to do!

Embrace autumn events and harvest happenings by playing Creative Connections

Just because fall colors are still ramping up doesn’t mean the festivities haven’t begun! Check out our rich arts, culture, and history scene by playing the Creative Connections game. The more destinations you visit, the more fun prizes you earn — and it’s FREE to play! Here are some upcoming happenings you won’t want to miss:

Candle Magic Class at O & Co., Oct. 8

Izard + Shelton Exhibition at the Roti Roti Art Center, Oct. 9-Nov. 2

C Is for Cooking Vintage American Food Traditions at Berrien County Historical Association, Oct. 9-Dec. 22

BoDeans at The Acorn, Oct. 10

New Fall Tree Painting at JLN Studio, Oct. 10

Stories Among the Stones Cemetery Tour, Three Oaks at  Berrien County Historical Association, Oct. 10

The Erly at The Acorn, Oct. 11

Halloween Boo Bash at the Silver Beach Center, Oct. 12

Dried Flower Magnet Class at O & Co., Oct. 12

Fireside Tales: Funny Bones at Berrien County Historical Association, Oct. 12 & 26

MegaBeatles at The Acorn, Oct, 12

Rocky Horror Picture Show The Musical at The GhostLight Theatre, Oct. 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 and Nov. 1, 2, 3 

Bryan Lubek “Echoes of Barcelona” at the Box Factory for the Arts, Oct. 19

The Mousetrap at Twin City Players, Oct. 18-Nov. 3

Beethoven and the Heavens at Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 26

Boo Ball at The Acorn, Oct. 25

Trick or Treating at the Museum at Berrien County Historical Association, Oct. 31

Support local artists’ work for sale at Chartreuse Gallery — look for fall paintings, photographs, cards, stained glass creations and sculptures

Walk the gorgeous trails at Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve

Sip on wine while admiring art in the gallery at Golden Muse Winery

See the most recent display of a local artist’s work at The Gallery at Harbor Shores

Pick up a unique, glass-blown pumpkin, ghost, or cat made by local artists at Water Street Glassworks all month long

A non-Creative Connections event you will also want to attend is the Halloween Train Rides at Eden Springs Park, on Oct: 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27.

Find More Fall Events

Fall Color Report: Sept. 29-Oct. 5

Fall officially arrived on Sept. 22, and slowly our forests and tree-lined city streets are getting the message it’s time to do their fall color explosion. Most of our leaves are still green, but this week expect our fall color to be at 20 to 40% peak with splashes of bright red and sunny yellow foliage. However,  there are some incredible bursts of color if you are up for an adventure! Drive into our countryside to the north of St. Joseph to marvel at our acres and acres of blueberry fields that are now a sea of crimson-red bushes. 

Another brilliantly red show stopper is DeGrandchamp’s Cranberry Harvest, Oct. 5 and 12. Ride the trolley to the bog and watch them rake in ripe cranberries. Learn how they sort and package these scarlet gems; sample delicious ways to prepare cranberries; play kid games; and check their market for everything cranberry to bring home — jams, salsas, baked goods, and frozen, fresh, and dried fruit.    

Celebrate Oktoberfest on our Makers Trail 

Prost! Several of our craft beverage Makers have special menus, drinks, and festivals planned in the coming weeks to celebrate Oktoberfest. Embrace German gute Zeiten by visiting some of these stops. Download the Visit Southwest Michigan app and take the Makers Trail Passport Challenge. At each participating location, scan the code and get that much closer to earning Makers Trail merch! Then you can keep coming back to visit more locations until April 30, 2025. Here’s where to celebrate Oktoberfest this year: 

• Ghost Isle Brewery - Märzen-vasion and Bavarian-style soft pretzels
• North Pier Brewing Company - Marzen Lager and large pretzel
• Round Barn Brewery & Public House - Kölsch Style Ale
• Silver Harbor Brewing Company - Das Gute Zeug “The Good Stuff” and for a limited time, their best yet Oktoberfest menu
• Seedz Brewery - Fourth Annual Oktoberfest Celebration, Oct. 5 - lager beer, food and live music.
• The Livery - house-made spent-grain pretzel bites

Fall Color Report: Sept. 22-28, 2024

As you drive from Lake Michigan to the vineyards along our region’s eastern border, Southwest Michigan's leaves are mostly still green. You will likely spy an occasional maple tree ablaze with bright red leaves along our fall color tour trails, or bright yellows along State Street in downtown Saint Joseph. This week, our weather predictors call for sunny to partly sunny days and temperatures in the upper 70s. This is perfect weather to participate in our new Trails Challenge or see our other source of amazing fall colors — our farms and markets. Our autumn harvest hues are ready to fill stew pots, pies, casseroles, and salads or decorate your home or porch.

Planning a fall trip to Michigan? Be sure to consult the Pure Michigan Fall Color Report Graphic for the latest updates.

Feast your eyes on colorful fruits, vegetables, grains, and flowers.

Southwest Michigan is nationally renowned for its beautiful apple, pear, nectarine, and plum orchards. But the magic of stopping at our orchards and farm stands is in the burst of fresh-picked flavor you get with each juicy bite. 

From now to October, our farms offer hayrides to their u-pic orchards, corn mazes, outdoor games, and harvest festivals. Their markets have row after row of plump orange and white pumpkins, purple and white cauliflower, eggplant, beets, cabbages, kale, and beans. There are boxes of traditional and heirloom tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro to make salsa. Bring home rainbow carrots and brown, red, and purple potatoes. Snack on fresh donuts and cold or hot cider. Find decorative gourds, bales, corn stalks, wreaths, and a gorgeous array of mums.

This is what’s available now and where to stop and get it.

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