Apples, pumpkins and mazes, oh my! The leaves are beginning to change and fall off the trees, blanketing the land with warm and vibrant colors. The deciduous trees are preparing for their dormant phase, and people are preparing for the cold months ahead. But before our winter coats make a resurgence in our wardrobes and the days get dark by dinner time, there is much to enjoy about fall in Washtenaw County. The cider is being brewed and bottled, and everyone is looking for a little autumn fun.The Voice is sharing information on the best, local and fun fall activities. Cider mills, apple orchards and pumpkin patches are open for all sorts of fall goodies and gatherings. Take advantage of the fall fruits that are in season in Michigan and eat from a local apple orchard, enjoying the season while supporting local agriculture. There’s also information on all sorts of spooky halloween frights, like scary movie nights at nearby theaters that will be sure to leave you creeping and crawling with style into the halloween holiday. The Voice will feature haunted houses, forest walks and corn field mazes, all to bring scares and delight this October. As William Cullent Bryant put it, autumn is “The year’s last, loveliest smile,” and that smile should be enjoyed before these last leaves fall.
Apples, Pumpkins, and More
Debucks Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
50240 Martz Road, Bellevile | Open through Oct. 29
Hours: Friday, 3–8 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Admission is $13, parking is free
Debucks features over 15 acres of corn mazes, farm homemade doughnuts and pulled pork, and plenty of family friendly activities like duck races and a barrel train ride.
Alber Orchard and Cider Mill
13011 Bethel Church Road, Manchester | Open through Nov. 7
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, Noon–6 p.m. | Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
No admission charge, but some activities have fees
Family owned and operated, Alber Orchard’s history goes back to the 1800s. This orchard focuses on that history, maintaining many strains of heirloom apples and preserving historical buildings on its property
Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill
10260 Warren Road, Plymouth | Open through Nov. 5
Hours: Monday–Sunday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
No admission charge, but some activities have fees
Home to a farm-zoo and cider mill, Plymouth Orchard also hosts family photography and live music. Plymouth Orchards also supplies cider, doughnuts and pie to the nearby Red Shed Market.
Wiards Cider Mill and Apple Orchard
5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti | Country Fair Sept. 29–Oct. 27
Hours: Country Fair Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Admission charges: Wednesday–Friday $13.75, Saturday–Sunday $17.75
Not just a place for u-pick apples and pumpkins, Wiards also hosts a county fair full of ‘agri-tainment’, mini-golf and wagon rides.
Dexter Cider Mill
3685 Central St, Dexter | Open through November
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
No admission or parking fees
New this year, the Dexter Cider Mill now has hard cider! The Mill also puts out the award-winning “Dexter Cider Mill Apple Cookbook”.
Lesser Farms and Orchard
12651 Island Lake Road, Dexter | Open through October
Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | Sunday, 1–6 p.m.
No admission or parking fees
Lesser Farms and Orchards is a family operated farm that has apples, cider and pumpkins, though not as u-picks.
Obstbaum Orchards
9252 Curie Road, Northville | Open through October
Hours: Saturday – Sunday 10 a.m. –6 p.m.
No admission or parking fees
Having been around for 40 years, Obstbaum Orchards opens its doors every weekend for people to come enjoy their cider and doughnuts, and for hayrides.
Wasem Fruit Farm
6580 Judd Road, Milan | Open through Oct.
Hours: Closed Monday and Wednesday | Tuesday– Sunday 9 a.m.– 6 p.m.
No admissions or parking fees
Wasem Fruit Farm takes pride in their high quality, u-pick apples, pumpkins and tart cherries. Wasem also has homemade cider and doughnuts made daily.
The Pumpkin Factory of Belleville Michigan
48651 Harris Road, Belleville | Open Oct. 1 – Oct. 31
Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m.– 7 p.m. | Monday–Thursday, noon – 7 p.m. | Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.– 10 p.m.
No admission or parking fees
Haunted hayrides, petting farm and pedal carts abound! Come to the Pumpkin Factory for tricks, treats and, of course, pumpkins.
Spicer Orchard
10411 Clyde Road, Fenton | U-Picks open through Oct. 31
Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Daily
Celebrating 50 years in Hartland, Spicer Orchard hosts wine tasting and a farmer’s market, along with their u-pick apples, pumpkins, and other fruit. Spicer is also home to many petable, feedable farm animals, corn mazes and a zip line.
Erwin Orchards
61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon | Open daily through Nov. 5
Hours: Cider mill 6 a.m.–7 p.m. | U-Pick, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | Daily, weather permitting
A third-generation family farm managing 200 acres of orchards and berry patches. Erwin Orchards is also home to other unique attractions, like a sunflower garden and a goat walk.
Haunted Attractions
Terrorfied Forest
145 Swarthout Road, Pinckney | Open through Oct. 31
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.–midnight | Sunday, Oct. 8, 15, 22, 8–10 p.m. | Oct. 29–31, 8–11 p.m.
Bubbles Fun House $20 | Terrorfied Forest $10 | Combo $25
The Terrorfied Forest takes you into 30 acres of dark forest. Beware, your screams will draw more monsters! The Bubbles Fun House is an indoor attraction, featuring a scary circus clown.
Talladay Farms Corn Maze
6270 Judd Road, Milan | Opens: Oct. 6 – 28
Hours: Friday and Saturday, Dusk–10 p.m.
Cost: Haunted Maze $7
This year, Talladay Farm’s corn maze features the seven continents. You can also come for their after dark haunted maze, which is separate from their main maze.
The Pumpkin Factory of Belleville Michigan
48651 Harris Road, Belleville | Opens: Oct. 1–Oct. 31
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 7–10 p.m.
Haunted Hayride $10 | Haunted House $10
Haunted Hayrides featuring live scary story telling, and a haunted house full of ghosts and ghouls! Visit the Pumpkin Factory website.
Night Terrors
5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti | Open through Oct. 31
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 7:15–11:30 p.m. | Sunday and Halloween, 7:15–10:30 p.m.
Single Attraction $18 | Haunted Hayride $20 | Four Attractions $44, $34 on Sunday | Six Attractions $54, $44 on Sunday
Wiard’s popular after dark attraction, features the Ultimate Haunted Barn, Alien Caged Clowns, the Asylum, The Mineshaft, Hayrides of the Lost and SplatterTown—haunted paintball!
Rotten Manor
13245 Dixie Highway, Holly
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.–midnight | Thursday and Sunday, 7–11 p.m.
Tickets: $25 per attraction | $40 for combo ticket | $10 for “skip-the-line” VIP pass
Rotten Manor boasts the “the largest, most realistic custom structures of any attraction in Michigan,” and also has old school carnival games, photo ops, and casket rides.
Illustration by Dorothy Gacioch | Washtenaw Voice
Scary Movies
Michigan Theater
603 E Liberty St., Ann Arbor
Cost: General Admission $10, Student ID $8
- Hocus Pocus Oct. 1
- Dracula Oct. 2
- Firestarter Oct. 5
- Frankenstein Oct. 9
- Bride of Frankenstein Oct. 9
- The Thing Oct. 12
- Friday the 13th Oct. 13
- The Mummy Oct. 16
- The Mist Oct. 19
- The Wolfman Oct. 23
- Phantom of the Opera Oct. 25
- Poltergeist Oct. 26
- Mad Monster Party Oct. 28
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show Oct. 28
- Monster Squad Oct. 30
Redford Theater
17360 Lahser Road, Detroit
Cost: Tickets $5
- Psycho Oct. 27
- Halloween Oct. 28
Michigan Theater of Jackson
124 N Mechanic St., Jackson
Cost: Tickets $5
- Friday the 13th Oct. 13
- The Crow Oct. 20
35310 W Michigan Ave., Wayne
Cost: Tickets $10
Lead by the Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show Oct. 13, 14, 27, 28
