Depot to Depot: Self Guided Fall Color Tour

Date: October 1-October 31
Location: Muskegon Union Depot (Muskegon) & White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau (Whitehall)

Event Description:
Experience the beauty of Michigan’s autumn foliage at your own pace with the Depot to Depot Self-Guided Fall Color Tour. This scenic route stretches from the Muskegon South Pierhead Light at Pere Marquette Beach to the White River Light Station on the White Lake Channel, connecting Muskegon and Whitehall, and into Montague, along the West Michigan Pike Byway.

Start your journey at one (or both!) of Muskegon County’s historic train depots:

• Muskegon Union Depot Visitor Center (1895 Richardsonian Romanesque style, featuring historic memorabilia, public art, and a classic caboose).
• White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau (home to the 90702 historic caboose, celebrating 100 years in 2024, with stunning views of White Lake).

Pick up your free Scenic Route Map, insider tips, and a special fall-themed postcard at either location to kick off your adventure. Visit both depots to collect the complete postcard series!

Along the way, enjoy:
🍂 Brilliant fall colors at their peak mid-October
🍂 Lake Michigan and inland scenic drives
🍂 Local shops, restaurants, and breweries
🍂 Historic sites, trails, and lakeshore views

Depot Hours:

• Muskegon County Visitor Center – 610 W Western Ave, Muskegon
  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 AM – 3 PM
• White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau – 124 W Hanson, Whitehall
  Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 3 PM

Tips for Your Tour:
📸 Bring a camera for fall photos
🥾 Wear comfy walking shoes
☕ Make time for local food & seasonal treats
✉️ Fill out your free autumn postcard—we’ll mail it for you!

Click here for downloadable map.

Fall Family Fun @ Weesies Brothers Garden Center

Celebrate the season at Weesies Brothers Farms! Enjoy a wagon ride to the U-pick pumpkin patch, a custom playground, two more tractor rides, autumn air, smiles, and laughs. Our extensive Fall Activities Program at our Montague Garden Center is a sight to behold! Join us this Fall for guaranteed family fun!

A pumpkin from the patch is included with your ticket. 

Register here.

Open Mic Night @ North Grove Brewers

Join us every Tuesday night at North Grove Brewers for Open Mic Night.

Montague Fire District: Fire Prevention Open House

Bring the whole family to learn about fire safety and enjoy fun activities at the Montague Fire Prevention Open House!

• Fire truck rides
• Meet the Fire Pup
• Explore the Smoke House
• Spray the fire hose
• Enjoy cider & donuts

Hosted by: Montague Fire District

Carved Pumpkin Open Studio

Drop into the ACWL-Nuveen to get started on your pumpkin for the annual Carved Pumpkin Contest hosted by the ACWL-Nuveen & Greenridge Realty as part of Pumpkinfest! Chris Rogers will be on-hand to share tips and tricks for creating your unique pumpkin.

We will have pumpkins available for FREE – please register to ensure we have a pumpkin available for you! You are also welcome to bring your own.

About the Facilitator:

Chris Rogers is a jack of all trades when it comes to art! She’ll dabble in anything and everything, but her biggest passions lie in henna, lapidary, and wire wrapping.

ACWL-Nuveen classes are supported in part by grants from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nuveen Benevolent Trust.

Yoga for All @ Renew You Fitness

Every Wednesday 12-1pm, and every Thursday 6-7pm.
A supported, restorative practice for all levels.

Book Here: Yoga for All

Books, Bikes & Brews

Join fellow readers and riders for a cycling meet-up followed by laid-back conversation at Fetch Brewing! Whether you stop in before or after your ride, we’ll be chatting about I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger—the 2025 Big Read Lakeshore selection. Enjoy the breeze, the brews (if you’re 21+), and the bookish banter. Don’t choose to refuse and miss the ride—or the discussion!

NOTE: the ride starts at 6pm, returning to Fetch around 7 for the conversation. You are welcome to do 1 or the other, or both!

The Thorntons @ The Book Nook & Java Shop

The Thorntons!
The constant pursuit of originality. This music doesn’t fit neatly into the standard record business genres. Some call it singer songwriter. Progressive folk music. Alt country. It is harmonically progressive. Intellectually embracing. Alternately dark and whimsical. Real Music.

Afternoon Hang @ The White Lake Library

Join a fun group of tweens (ages 10+ invited) on Friday afternoons. Make new friends, do some crafts, play some games, eat some snacks, or just hang out. Each week we’ll have the Switch and the VR headset out for gaming as well. See you there!

Puppy Pals Live @ The Playhouse at White Lake

Adopted and rescued dogs perform amazing stunts, tricks, and laugh-out-loud comedy in this nationally touring family show. Full of surprises and audience participation, it’s fun for all ages!

🎟 Tickets: $15 adults / $10 kids (Family of 4 Pass available)
⏱ 60 minutes with a short intermission

Get your tickets early—this show is likely to sell out!

2025 Pumpkinfest

Pumpkinfest is a family-friendly day in Downtown Montague with many pumpkin-inspired events, contests, and features.

There will be activities such as: Arts & Crafts Festival (click here for application), Artisan Market and Farmers Market, bake sale, best pumpkin pie contest, biggest pumpkin weigh-in contest, pumpkin painting, cider mill, pumpkin seed spitting contest, pet costume contest, carved pumpkin contest, pumpkin launching, hayrides, kid’s activities, food vendors, and more!

The pumpkin freestyle roll is back this year and will take place beginning at 11am. Pumpkins will be available to purchase ($4), and folks of all ages can go up the hill and roll their pumpkin. There will also be an Arts and Crafts Fair from 10:00am until 3:00pm with vendors selling a wide variety of items including holiday decorations, jewelry, clothing, photography, wood crafts, food dips, and more.

This 29th Annual event is a community favorite where folks come from near and far to enjoy and take in the festivities. For more information, contact the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau at 231-893-4585.

Thank you to our event sponsors who make this possible!
Gold: Northland Insurance Services
Silver: Durga Insurance Group, Hope Bible Chapel, Scheid Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, and Shoreline Restoration & Construction
Bronze: Aludyne, MasterTag, Shelby State Bank, White Lake Beacon

Hike the Lights – Sunset-10PM