15 Fall Highlights in South Haven

A Playbook for Crisp, Coastal Escapades

Wrap yourself in the warm hospitality of the West Michigan coast in South Haven, where cozy getaways, crisp trails, and festive streets invite you to discover joy in a fresh patchwork of special moments. This season, we’re here to inspire—with the best local flavors, events, and hidden gems that make autumn along the lakeshore unforgettable.

From apple-picking afternoons to viewing the cosmos under campground skies, South Haven has everything you need to make this fall unforgettable. Read on to explore our top recommendations!

1. South Haven Storywalk at The Bailey Museum

At the childhood home of Liberty Hyde Bailey Jr.—a foundational figure in modern agriculture—the Museum & Gardens interprets his work through gardens, trails, exhibits, and outreach. Take a crisp fall StoryWalk® through the backwoods sanctuary. Free and family-friendly; check the museum’s site for the current title and hours.

Learn more at libertyhydebailey.org

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The Bailey Museum's Pumpkin Walk returns October 26.

2. A New Season with Fresh Voices at the South Haven Center for the Arts

This fall, the South Haven Center for the Arts (originally a Carnegie Library) presents its Annual Juried Exhibition (Sept. 27–Nov. 8), alongside intimate Pocket Galleries with works by Dorothy Sherrod and Margarita Kulys.

Learn more at southhavenarts.com

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The SHCA is an architectural wonder, even among other Carnegie Libraries.

3. Line Up Your Weekend with Unique Dining Experiences

South Haven serves up more than just scenery—round out your weekend with a visit to our two favorite local speakeasies:

The Groovin’ Grove – A former blue-collar burger joint reborn as a 70s-inspired music lounge. From formica tables to vintage couches, every seat sets the stage for rockabilly, classic rock, and Americana shows. Pair the tunes with a limited menu and cocktails in this 21+ speakeasy-style venue. Caftans encouraged!

The River Bottom – Tucked beneath Black River Tavern, this hidden gem channels a 1930s speakeasy into a unique Mediterranean dining concept. Weekly chef-inspired specials, international brews, craft cocktails —all in a setting that feels worlds away from the everyday.

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The Groovin’ Grove flips the script, earning the 2025 Visit South Haven Main Event Award for transforming a defunct space into a funky destination.

4. Enjoy Cocktail Classes, Trivia, and Live Music at New Holland Spirits Tasting Room

Test your smarts at Sunday Trivia, peruse the lineup of musicians, or become your own mixologist thanks to New Holland's popular cocktail classes hosted by resident experts It's all at newhollandbrew.com!

Local Tip: Check out the tasting room's daily specials, like Mocktail Mondays and the after school special for folks in the education industry.

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New Holland began distilling in 2005, making it one of Michigan's first distillers since the Prohibition Era.

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New Holland Brewing Co.

5. Explore West Michigan Wine County

Take a tour of area wineries in style with Happy Trails Wine Tours & Limo Service, or chart your own fall excursions into West Michigan wine country with our handy maps of The West Michigan Pike and Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail. Whether you're exploring Michigan's oldest wineries in Paw Paw or exploring the flavors of coastal provenances, the area is ripe with opportunities to broaden your palate.

Wine Tasting in and Around South Haven:
Gravity Tasting Room and 12 Corners Tasting Room – Conveniently located in downtown South Haven, both offer a laid-back setting to sample local wines.
Warner Vineyards Tasting Room – Situated in the charming Old Harbor Village, this spot combines historic ambiance with Michigan-made wines.
Cogdal Vineyards – Just a five-minute drive north of town, this scenic vineyard offers tastings with stunning views, especially vibrant during fall color season.
Vintage Inn at Veritas Estate Winery – South Haven’s newest addition features an on-site winery, housemade wines, and chef-prepared meals. Overnight stays available for a full vineyard escape.

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Scenic pull-offs, hidden gems, and wineries—discover them all along the West Michigan Pike.

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Radiant Landscapes Photography

6. Catch the latest thriller at The Michigan Theatre

Take in the latest flick at The Michigan Theatre in downtown South Haven! Enjoy first-run films with affordable tickets in the heart of Downtown South Haven.

Local Tip: Monday Movies are only $4!

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Follow @cinematreasures on Instagram

7. Make it a Market Morning under The Pavilion

Discover autumn's abundance at the South Haven Farm Market! Located downtown at the Huron Street Pavilion, the freshest produce from local farms is available Saturdays through October 12. Other local farm stands include Barden's Farm Market and Phoenix Farm Market.

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Open 8am-2pm Saturdays through October 11.

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Gulotta Imagery

8. Pick Some Apples, Harvest the Memories

Orchards like Dutch Farm Market and Overhiser Orchards offer more than fresh air and ripe apples—they’re the perfect backdrop for quality time. Whether you’re making memories with little ones or stealing a crisp afternoon with someone special, a stroll through the rows sets the pace for a day well spent.

Local Tip: Apple season in Michigan is from mid-September through mid-October.

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Dutch Farm Market

9. Dog Days of Summer are OUT. Doggy Days in the Maze are IN.

Nothing says fall like getting lost in golden rows of corn beneath crisp blue skies. Bumbleberry Acres takes it up a notch with Doggy Days in the Maze—your pup can join the adventure too! Beyond the maze, this family-friendly working farm offers a petting zoo and hands-on demonstrations that give kids a true taste of farm life, down to the jams and jellies!

Find out what makes it "Bumbleberry Good"!

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The Long and Winding Rows of Bumbleberry Acres

10. Explore the Studios of the Blue Coast Artists

Each October, the Blue Coast Artists Fall Tour invites you on a self-guided journey through working studios tucked along South Haven’s backroads. From pottery and glassblowing to fine art and multimedia creations, you’ll meet the makers, watch demonstrations, and discover one-of-a-kind pieces in the spaces where they’re created. It’s a weekend of creative connection, wrapped in the sights and colors of lakeshore autumn.

Local Tip: Can't make the tour? No problem, click here to browse hours for each location and plan your visit.

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Dawn Soltysiak crafting a ceramic piece.

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Khnemu Studio

11. A Different Kind of Fall Pick at Lake Effect Acres

Tucked just outside town, Lake Effect Acres offers a uniquely South Haven experience—chestnut harvesting. Available weekends in October, it’s a quiet, hands-on escape where you can gather your own nuts straight from the source. Simple, seasonal, and a little unexpected.

Local Tip: Save some of those chestnuts for Holiday in the Park in November—the one thing Santa loves more than visiting South Haven are chestnuts roasted over an open fire pit!

12. Explore Fall Scenes in One of Michigan's Most Beautiful Social Districts

The South Haven Social District lets you take your favorite alcoholic beverage and enjoy it as you explore downtown. With designated outdoor zones and fresh autumn air all around, it’s a relaxed way to slow down and experience the season one sip at a time.

Local tip: Clementine's Pumpkin Martini has been a community staple for years, available for a limited time!

13. Cruise the Black River in the Lindy Lou

Step back in time with the Michigan Maritime Museum aboard the Lindy Lou, an electric-powered replica river launch that recalls the leisurely cruises of the late 1890s. Once used to ferry resort guests and picnickers along the Black River, the Lindy Lou now offers visitors the same relaxing pace of days gone by. On fairweather days in October, it's a marvelous way to experience the foliage along the river, and to see town from a unique perspective!

14. Book a Fall Campout or Glamping Getaway

Cool nights and campfires under the cosmos—fall is perfect time for sleeping under the stars! Spend the night in a cabin or skoolie at Kal-Haven Outpost, go luxe at Off Map Glamping or the nationally recognized Fields of Michigan, or stargaze under the open grounds at DayDreamer Domes. Families will also love the events at Covert/South Haven KOA and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park.

15. Watch Bogs fill with Crimson Cranberries at DeGrandchamp Farms

On the first two Saturdays in October—the 4th and 11th—DeGrandchamp Farms comes alive in brilliant red as cranberries are harvested from the bogs. Take a trolley ride to watch the harvest, then stop by the farm market for jams, salsas, baked goods, and other cranberry treats. A South Haven tradition that’s as colorful as it is delicious.

Learn more about Cranberry Days

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DeGrandchamp Farms

Bonus: Capture a Brilliant Autumn Sunset on Lake Michigan

No matter how full your day is—apple picking, trail biking, or sipping wine at a local vineyard—everything seems to pause when the sun starts its descent. South Haven’s sunsets are pure magic, especially this time of year. From the lakeside bluffs to soft-sand beaches, the sky bursts into an ever-changing masterpiece of fiery oranges, bold purples, and dusky pinks. With more than a dozen public beach access points to choose from between Van Buren State Park to the South and Casco Township Nature Preserve to the North, there’s always a perfect perch for this nightly show.

Related: Choose Your Perfect Beach Day: A Quick Guide to South Haven’s 10 Public Beaches

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@kota_graphy