Date: Sat, Oct 4, 2025

Time: 10 am-4 pm

Where: Chippewa Nature Center, 400 S Badour Rd, Midland

Admission: FREE for all children under 18 and CNC members

$7/non-member adult

Celebrate the return of autumn at Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) annual Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 4 from 10 am to 4 pm. Visitors of all ages will enjoy demonstrations and hands-on activities that reflect 19th century life on the farm during harvest season. Admission is free for all children under 18 and CNC members. Non-member adult admission is just $7.

Visitors can take a wagon ride to the Homestead Farm where they can see demonstrations of apple butter making and press apple cider. At the Timber Frame Barn, the Midland FiberArts Guild will do a Sheep to Shawl demonstration showing how wool is processed into a usable item and teach about spinning and weaving. CNC’s collection of historic woodworking tools will be used by demonstrators to show how farmers created many of their own furniture and farm tools. Hands-on activities include quarter-scale timber frame barn building, rope making, children’s loom, wool sheep craft and sachet making. Visitors can explore the Homestead Cabin, see a chair caning demonstration and enjoy live music by The Swollen Fingers String Band.

Visitors will also enjoy the heirloom garden and learn about the vegetables planted by early settlers, how food was stored in the root cellar and have the opportunity to visit the farm animals. See how 5Heart Earthworm Farm turns food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. At the Children’s Garden, there will be a dress a scarecrow and fall gardening activities. At the wagon barn, there will be candle dipping and corn grinding and a seasonally decorated photo backdrop.

At the late 1800s one-room Log Schoolhouse, visitors can take part in classroom lessons, practice penmanship on a slate board, recite tongue twisters to sharpen your elocution and play outdoor games such as stilts and graces. Hands-on activities take-home crafts, farm and harvest activities and pretend cow milking. Visitors can learn about beekeeping and the importance of honeybees to a successful harvest, as well as enjoy a taste of honey. There will also be a bee craft and a beekeeping demonstration. An antique threshing machine and mechanical reaper will be on display.

Near the Sugarhouse, attendees can see demonstrations by the Max Carey Blacksmith Guild, and the Oxbow Archeologists will have items on display and share information about archaeology at CNC. Food concessions will be available for purchase from Sawadee Midland and Lou’s Donut Co.

Fall Harvest Festival is sponsored by Arbury Insurance Agency, ITC, Jolt Credit Union, Pizza Sam’s, RetroFoam of Michigan, Marianne and Fred McKelvy, Jim Malek, Morley Companies and the Studley Grange.

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Chippewa Nature Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect all people to nature through educational, recreational and cultural experiences. Enjoy free admission to 19 miles of trails from dawn-to-dark, 365 days a year. The Visitor Center, located at 400 S Badour Rd, is open 8 am-5 pm Monday-Saturday and 12-5 pm Sunday and select holidays. Learn more at www.chippewanaturecenter.org.

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Celebrate Autumn Traditions at CNC’s Fall Harvest Festival Oct 4