October & November 2016

October 2016

1-9	Grand Haven ArtWalk. Artists display their work in Grand Haven’s downtown and Centertown. This 18-day event ends Oct. 9.
1	Vander Fest 2016, Vander Cider Mill and Winery, 14921 Cleveland Avenue, Spring Lake. Vander Mill hosts its Fall Craft, Beer and Cider Festival. Local restaurant owners, beer and cider producers. 4pm-10pm.
1-9	2016 Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival, Grand Valley State University, Allendale Campus. Michigan’s oldest Shakespeare Festival attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year. Renaissance Faire, Greenshow, food, and more. This year’s Shakespeare production is "Measure for Measure". October 8th the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will perform "The Tempest".
1-15	"Tales Untold" - children's illustrator and storyteller Kat VanderWeele at the Nuveen Center, 106 E Colby Road, Whitehall. Emerging artist Kat VanderWeele brings her characters to life in acrylics, watercolor, colored pencils, pen and ink, graphite and gouache. Tuesday through Saturday, 10am - 5pm. Call 231-893-2524 during Gallery hours for details.
1-30	The Famous Pumpkin Train, Coopersville & Marne Railway, 311 Danforth Street, Coopersville. Train runs Saturday and Sunday through the month. Passengers will be entertained by The Grand Pumpkin, Scarecrow and Little Crow. Children pick a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch at the end of the train ride. Children under 2 ride free. Adults $17.50, Children 2-12 $15.50, Seniors 60+ $16.50. Call 616-997-7000 for information.
1	Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour, Muskegon. Self-guided touring route that visitors can drive or bike. Stop at all the designated sites and become eligible to win a wonderful prize. Call 231-724-3100 or visit www.VisitMuskegon.org for details.
7	Fire Truck Parade, downtown Holland. 7pm. Over 50 fire trucks will parade down 8th Street from College Avenue to the Holland Civic Center. Trucks will be on display afterwards and safety demonstration will be given at the Civic Center.
1-2	Annual Blue Coast Artists Fall Tour. 10am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday. Travel the back roads of Saugatuck, Fennville and South Haven while visiting local artist studios and galleries. Maps are available to direct you to eleven artist studios and can be downloaded. Call 269-236-9260 for info or visit www.BlueCoastArtists.com.
5	Classic Car Cruise, N. Whittaker Street, New Buffalo. 6-9pm. Classic Cars are free to join, no signup necessary. 50’s & 60’s music on the corner.
7-8	22nd Annual Buster Keaton Society Convention & Film Festival, Frauenthal Center, 425 W. Western Avenue and the Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 West Webster Avenue, Muskegon. Watch Buster Keaton films, TV footage, and more.
7-9	Annual Fennville Goose Festival, downtown Fennville. Goose Festival Parade, Wild Goose Chase 5k, classic car show, arts & craft show, petting zoo, live music and more. For more info, visit FennvilleGooseFestival.com.
8	10th Annual Lakeshore Harvest Country Road Rally, Departs from Barden's Farm Market, South Haven at 1pm. $20 per vehicle on the day; $15 in advance. A fun-filled ride through lakeshore country as teams follow clues and look for back road destinations. Trophy awarded to winning team.
8	Harvest & Wine Festival, Lions Beachfront Park, downtown New Buffalo. Wine tasting, live music, free children’s activities, pumpkin patch, bounce house, food, crafts, horse-drawn hayrides and more. Noon-10pm. Admission: $5. Children under 12 are free.
8	Pumpkin Fest and Fall Fest, downtown Montague. Farmers market, pumpkin painting, lunch, bake sale, biggest pumpkin weigh-in, pumpkin pie contest, Dowling Hill Pumpkin Roll and more. Registration at 9:30am and the fun begins at 10am.
8	Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour, Muskegon. Self-guided touring route that visitors can drive or bike. Stop at all the designated sites and become eligible to win a wonderful prize. Call 231-724-3100 or visit www.VisitMuskegon.org for details.
8	Harvest Days Chili Cook-Off, Skip’s Restaurant on the corner of Red Arrow Highway & Lakeshore Road, New Buffalo. Eleven teams compete for the Best Chili Award. 1-5pm. $10 entrance fee, ½ price for children. 269-469-3341.
8	Country Fair, Sarett Nature Center, 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor. 11am-3pm. Free. Rummage sale, kids’ activities, country kitchen lunch, wagon rides and more. Call 269-927-4832 for more information.
8-9	Gallery Weekend, downtown Saugatuck and Douglas. Noon-5pm.
9	Chili-Cook-off, Wicks Park, Water Street, Saugatuck. 1-5pm. Admission $5.00, children free. Eat chili from some of your favorite area restaurants. Live music. Call 616-886-0749 or e-mail cowhill777@yahoo.com for more information.
9	Skip’s Open-Air European Farmers Market, corner of Red Arrow Highway & Lakeshore Road, New Buffalo. Open-air European market selling food, jewelry, flowers, clothing, soaps and more. 1-5pm. 269-469-3341.
15	DeGrandchamp’s Cranberry Harvest Day, DeGrandchamp Farm, 76241 14th Avenue, South Haven. 10am-4pm. Hay wagon rides to the cranberry bogs to watch the harvesting of ripe cranberries. Shop for cranberries and other farm fresh products in the farm store. Call 888-483-7431 for details.
15	Depot to Depot Fall Color Tour, Muskegon. Self-guided touring route that visitors can drive or bike. Stop at all the designated sites and become eligible to win a wonderful prize. Call 231-724-3100 or visit www.VisitMuskegon.org for details.
16	Star of Saugatuck Cruise, Water Street, Saugatuck. Last trip of the season. 1pm.
22	Wedding Walk, downtown Grand Haven. Upscale open-house bridal show event for future brides interested in bridal fashion, décor, tablescapes and much more. 11am-4pm. Call Cassie at cassie@whitedressevents.com for details.
22	Haunted Museum, Tri-Cities Historical Museum, 200 Washington Ave., Grand Haven. 2-4pm. Museum members and the Central Park Players will be ready to haunt visitors. Free. Call 616-842-0700 for details.
28	Glow in the Park, Beery Field Douglas. 7-10pm. A family friendly event where "anything that glows goes." Come in full glowing costume or get your glow on when you get there with face painting and black light areas.
29	Halloween Harvest Festival, downtown Saugatuck. Noon-5pm. Children’s Halloween Parade, Pet Halloween Parade, live music, craft booths, storytelling, entertainment and more. Family costume parade at 4pm. 269-857-1701.
29	Adult Halloween Parade, downtown Douglas. Parade begins at 10pm. Various locations in the area, such as the Dunes Resort, will host costume parties and contests immediately afterwards. Grab a costume and join the parade. Great fun.
30	Halloween Parade & Trick or Treat, downtown New Buffalo. Mechanic from Thompson to Harrison. Contact Bonnie at 269-469-3180 for details.
30	Trick or Treating along Washington Ave. in downtown Grand Haven. Local merchants provide treats for families with children in this fun annual event. 4-6pm.
31	Halloween Trick or Treat, downtown St. Joseph. 4:30-6pm. Kids go trick or treating at participating area stores.

November 2016

5	Mona Shores Holiday Arts & Crafts Show, Mona Shores High School, 1121 W. Seminole, Muskegon. Annual arts & crafts show held the first Saturday of November. Over 165 Michigan exhibitors. 9am-3pm. Admission $1.00. Call 231-780-4748 for more information.
18-30	Mistletoe Market, South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix Street, South Haven. This annual holiday boutique is a perennial favorite with lakeshore shoppers. Over 40 local artists represented. Portion of proceeds benefit the Center for the Arts. Preview Party for Members Only on November 13th from 5-7pm. Market runs through Dec. 24th.
18	Light Night, downtown Grand Haven. Grand Haven turns on their holiday lights. Holiday open houses at participating stores. Luminaries line the streets. 5pm – 8pm. Call 616-844-1188 for info.
17-27	Festival of Trees, Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Avenue, Muskegon. For 11 days, visitors to the museum will be able to view trees and wreaths decorated by local artists. A silent auction for these creations will be held. Other activities include a Teddy Bear Breakfast with Santa and a holiday movie festival. Ends November 27. Call 231-720-2571 for more information.
18	Luminary Festival, downtown St. Joseph. 5 to 9pm. The holiday season begins as stores stay open late and 1000 luminaries light the streets. Refreshments, free horse-drawn trolley rides. Vote for your favorite holiday window.
18-19	White Lake Area Holiday Walk. Ride the free Muskegon trolley between Whitehall and Montague to start your holiday shopping. Visit with Santa. Carriage rides, carolers, and more. Friday:10am - 8pm, Saturday: 10am - 6pm.
19	Saturday Holiday Kerstmarkt, Eighth Street Market Place Holidays, Holland. 9am-3pm. Open-air European Christmas market. Saturdays till Dec. 10th. Call 616-394-0000 for more information.
19	Holiday Preview, Saugatuck/Douglas. Downtown shops and galleries welcome the holiday season. Stores open until 9pm. Luminaries will line Center Street. Merchants offer free refreshments. Free trolley transportation between the villages of Saugatuck and Douglas. 269-857-1626.
23	Ice Rink Opens for the Season. Huron Street Pavilion, across from City Hall, downtown South Haven. Covered pavilion, ice skate rental. Call 269-639-1113 for open skate hours.
27-30	Parade & Festival of Trees, City Hall, 539 Phoenix Street, South Haven. 269-637-4342. Annual fund-raising event offers holiday trees and wreaths for sale. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Parade on Nov. 27th. Festival ends December 6th. 269-637-4342.
26-27	Holiday Tours, Hackley & Hume Historic Site, downtown Muskegon. 5pm-8pm. The Hume site’s holiday decorations celebrate the late 1800s and early 1900s; the Depression Era Scolnich House is decorated circa late 1920s. Free horse-drawn carriage rides between the sites. Call 231-722-0278 or visit www.LakeshoreMuseum.org
25	Friday Holiday Kerstmarkt, Eighth Street Market Place Holidays, Holland. 11am-5pm. Open-air European Christmas market. Call 616-394-0000 for more information.
26	South Haven Steelheaders River Tournament, South Haven. Fishing tournament. DNR Rules Followed. Paid for Heaviest Fish: Salmon, Brown, Steelhead. Overall length for tie breaker. $10 entry fee.
26	Family Christmas, Hackley Park, downtown Muskegon. Carolers, tree lighting, hot cocoa and holiday activities. Call 231-724-3180 for details.
26-27	The Santa Train Excursion, Coopersville & Marne Railway, 311 Danforth Street, Coopersville. Train runs Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 20th. Elves escort children to sit with Santa who has a reserved seat in each of the train’s vintage passenger cars. A princess will read from The Polar Express. Every child receives a gift. Cars are heated; each car has a restroom. Children under 2 ride free. Adults $17.50, Children 2-12 $15.50, Seniors 60+ $16.50. Call 616-997-7000 for ticket information.
27	Miracle on Whittaker Street, downtown New Buffalo. Breakfast with Santa at the Michigan Thyme Café, 9am-Noon. Santa and the Reindog Parade at 4pm on Whittaker Street. While children visit Santa, adults can enjoy hot chocolate and shopping at participating businesses. Annual tree lighting and caroling at 6pm.
29	Holiday Market, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Shop for fresh greens, plants, wreaths, artisan gifts, baked goods, jams, jellies, cocoas and teas.
29	Parade of Lights, Eighth Street, Holland. 6:30pm. Santa arrives in Downtown Holland during the annual Parade of Lights escorted by bands, floats, vehicles, and individuals, all decked out in sparkling holiday lights! Over 50 different entries will illuminate the streets of downtown Holland.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Lake Effect Living photographs are the work and property of Sharon Pisacreta.