Fall Getaway Triple Play

Three Ways to Spend an Autumn Weekend Up North

By Kristi Kates | Sept. 22, 2018

Whether you’re a bibliophile, a beer enthusiast, or a fan of the humble apple, the Little Traverse region and Charlevoix are the places to be in autumn. Craft a color tour to or from any of these events — M-119 and US-131 are rife with farms, forest, orchards, and outstanding water views — for an unforgettable day away, or pack a bag and book a room along the route for a relaxing weekend.

Harbor Springs Festival of the Book 
Sept. 28–30
Held right in downtown Harbor Springs and featuring nationally published authors and illustrators across a wide range of literary genres, the Festival of the Book, now in chapter — uh, year — three, is mostly free to the public (with the exception of some special highlight events), and offers readers and author fans the chance to interact for an entire weekend in the beautiful northern Michigan hamlet of Harbor Springs.

This year’s presenters, all part of the fest’s plan to make Harbor Springs a “literary hub,” are another eclectic bunch. Favor Fiction? The fest is welcoming in the likes of Rene Denfield (“The Child Finder”), Janet Fitch (“White Oleander,” “The Revolution of Marina M.”), Mark Sarvas (“Memento Park”), Steve Yarbrough (“The Unmade World”), and Marisa Silver (“Little Nothing”), to name just  a few.

Crave books on cooking? Meet Joshua McFadden (“Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables”) and Edward Lee (“Buttermilk Graffiti”).

Prefer poetry? The fest has you covered with Pino Coluccio (“Class Clown”), Peter Markus (“Inside My Pencil”), and Nick Twemlow (“Attributed to the Harrow Painter”).

Mystery novels, nonfiction, youthful readers, and picture book fans are covered too — and all of the authors will be appearing in a variety of events: special lunches, panels, “in conversation” presentations, food tastings, and an all-authors book signing and happy hour.

Get the Info: www.hsfotb.org

Harbor Springs Brew Festival
Oct. 6
The picturesque Harbor Springs waterfront is the place to be the afternoon of Oct. 6 for the latest edition of the city’s brew festival, a beer extravaganza on Bay Street sure to please even the most discerning brew connoisseur.

Sponsored by the Harbor Springs Downtown Development Authority, the event will feature local beverages from a variety of brewers, including Maple Moon Sugarbush Winery, Pond Hill Farm, Tunnel Vision Brewery, Resort Pike Cidery, Petoskey Farms and Vineyard, and Mackinac Trail Winery.

Tickets — $20 at the event or $15 in advance at Stafford’s Pier, Resort Pike Cidery, Mackinaw Trail Winery, Polished on Main, or Colin’s Corner Cafe —includes two tastings, with more sips and samples available for purchase.
Brand new for 2018, you can judge a Taco Competition event. Purchase a taco ticket for $20, and enjoy one taco from each competition participant (Paper Station Bistro, The New York, The Pier, and Pierson’s) from 2pm to 4pm, then vote for your favorites. Additional food from local restaurants will also be available for purchase throughout the fest.

And while you’re enjoying your beer, tacos, and other festival treats,  you can also treat your ears to live music from the Pistil Whips (2pm–4:30pm) and the Matt Gabriel Band (5pm–7:30pm.)

Get the Info: facebook.com/harborspringsbrewfestival

Charlevoix Apple Fest
Oct. 12–14
The 2018 Charlevoix Apple Fest, now in its 40th year, features more than 30 varieties of apples, but there’s a lot more than those perfect pommes and cider to enjoy. Its accompanying farmers market will also offer up eggs, crepes, honey, meats, mustards, and soups, while local food booths will serve up kielbasa, Irish apple cake, hot cocoa, chili, and more.

Looking for a one-of-a-kind holiday gift? Get a head start at the fest’s greatly expanded arts and crafts show, with over 165 exhibitor booths full of unique goodies crafted by artists and artisans from all over the country.

Bring your apple-cheeked kids, and get them further embellished with some fun face painting and other youthful activities, and get the whole family involved in the Apple Fest fun run (a single mile and 5K version) on Saturday.

Get the Info: www.charlevoix.org