Lighted pumpkins, fine art and haunts: Things to do this weekend in metro Detroit
Fall festivities are flourishing across metro Detroit this weekend, and they feature everything from 30,000 square feet of horror to a wall of pumpkins to fine art. Here's what to expect.
A2 Artoberfest Fine Art Fair
This second annual art fair presented by the Guild of Artists & Artisans will feature 100 jury-selected artists showcasing jewelry, ceramics, paintings, glass, photography, fiber and more. Food vendors are also part of the mix, and adult beverage offerings include craft cocktails from Ann Arbor Distilling Co., mead/cider from Blom Meadworks, wine from Riboli Family Wines featuring Stella Rosa and beer from three local breweries: Rivers Edge Brewing Company, Brew Detroit, and Drafting Table Brewing Co. Fairgoers who are 21 and older will be able to stroll the event while enjoying their beverages.
There will be live entertainment by Reverie, DJ Batz, Ann Arbor School of Rock and Reina Mystique. The Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum, TeaHaus and Mindo Chocolate will provide activities and creative projects for fairgoers.Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday on North Fourth (between Huron and Catherine) and Ann (between Main and Fifth) in downtown Ann Arbor.
Fall into Pride with Macomb County Pride
This second annual festival presented by Henry Ford Health will feature midway rides and games, a street fair featuring more than 80 vendors and nonprofit resources, a children’s area and family-friendly activities from the Arc of Macomb County, Anton Art Center and the Discovery Center.
Live performers include Nikki Holland & the Dirty Elizabeths and Alisabeth Von Presley. The stage will be hosted by Tik Tok influencer Ryan Redoute and drag star Jadein Black.
A Pride Pub Crawl takes place 6 p.m.-midnight Friday and Halloween costumes are encouraged. The street fair and performances are noon-8 p.m. Saturday on Macomb Place and North Walnut in downtown Mt. Clemens. Pet-Palooza is noon-3 p.m. Sunday and includes a pet (and owner) costume contest on Macomb Place. The carnival on Main Street in downtown Mt. Clemens runs 4-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Columbia Street Fall Fest
Columbia Street in the District Detroit area will be transformed for the next few weeks by the sights and tastes of autumn. Hundreds of pumpkins will line the corridor accented by hay bales, cornstalks, fresh flowers, windmills, life-size animal statues, a hay couch and a hall of pumpkins. Nearby restaurants will serve pumpkin-inspired food and drinks.
On select dates there will be live music, hot chocolate and cider carts, a farm stand and interactive activities such as a pumpkin painting station, inflatable ax throwing and bobbing for apples.
The Fall Fest runs Oct. 6 -Nov. 13 on Columbia Street, which is next to the Fox Theatre between Woodward and Park in Detroit. Tickets are not required for entry.
Eloise Asylum
Known as one of America’s most haunted locations, the Eloise Asylum has expanded in size and length for its walk-through experience of terror. This year, there will be more than 30,000 square feet of high-tech horror and 100 event staff and scare actors nightly. The walk-through experience lasts 35-40 minutes. Escape rooms will be available
Eloise Asylum, at 30712 Michigan Ave. in Westland, is open through Nov. 5. Go to https://eloiseasylum.com/ for tickets
Stone Wall Pumpkin Festival: Pumpkin Carving & Fall Activities
Daytime activities at this fall event will include pumpkin bowling, live entertainment, crafts, cider and doughnuts from Yates Cider Mill,, food and more. Guests are invited to carve a pumpkin and place it on the stone walls surrounding the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. They can then return in the evening to see all the pumpkins lit up. Last year, more than 1,000 pumpkins were lighted at once.
Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday for pumpkin carving and fall activities; the pumpkin lighting is 7-9 p.m. The fun takes place at 1005 Van Hoosen in Rochester Hills. $5 members, $10 non-members, free to children younger than 2. A pumpkin is included in the admission price. The museum provides stencils and carving tools, but guests are also encouraged to bring their own carving tools from home.
Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. To subscribe, go to freep.com/specialoffer.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pumpkins and fine art: Things to do this weekend in metro Detroit
