Summer vacations may have ended, but Detroit's primetime outdoor events season for not only September, but the whole year, is just kicking off! Here are September's "Top Ten Outdoor Events near Detroit" that are coming down the pipeline this month.
September is all about mindset. For many Detroit region residents, September marks the return from lakeside refuges or foreign shores to "regular life." School, work, steadily darkening days. When viewed from this mindset, September can constitute one of the most mentally-taxing months of the year.
Then, there's the outdoor mindset. The one we hope that you will whole-heartedly adopt. Where "shoulder season" months like September are viewed as providing the best bang for your buck for experiencing unique outdoor opportunities.
For the Detroit region, our parks, campgrounds, waterways, and trails remain fine-tuned for exploration and relaxation all September long. Squeezed right in between peak-summer crowds and the legions of peak-fall foliage fanatics, September provides the ideal window to fully enjoy warm weather recreation without fighting for reservations, parking spots, or trail space. Better yet, there's a plethora of world-class outdoor events lined up for enjoying one of the best recreational months of the year.
So, without further delay, here are the Top 10 Outdoor Events near Detroit going down this September. We can't wait to see you out there!
1. Gaze into the Cosmos at a Dark Sky Preserve
September 7th | Point Pelee National Park | 8:00 p.m.
The days are finally getting darker as we approach the Fall Solstice this month, so the stars at Point Pelee National Park - the single best stargazing destination in the Detroit region - will be shining the brightest that they have all summer! Point Pelee's "Dark Sky Nights" are especially catered towards star-gazing tourists willing to brave variable conditions at night, with amenities including extended visitor hours (open until midnight this month), seasonal star charts, and the combined natural beauty of the park and the cosmos.
Who knows...maybe we'll even be treated to another primetime showing of the Northern Lights this month!
2. Catch a Tiger at Comerica Park's Hunting & Fishing Night
September 10th | Detroit, Michigan | 6:40 p.m.
This September, venture from the trailhead to the ballpark with Expedition Detroit! We are proud to partner with the Detroit Tigers on an exclusive offering of DISCOUNTED TICKETS to see the Tigers - one of the hottest teams in baseball - take on the Colorado Rockies this month.
But wait - there's more! These tickets are for Comerica Park's themed "Hunting and Fishing Night" game, so don't forget to sport your favorite outdoor gear to the ballpark! Talk about a perfect excuse to dust off your favorite camo just before hunting season.
*Limited tickets available
3. Fly Over to the Festival of Hawks
September 14th - 15th | Holiday Beach Conservation Area | 9:00 a.m.
Did you know that the Detroit region is home to one of the greatest migrations in North America?
That's right - and our friends over in Amherstburg, Ontario plan the perfect annual event to celebrate and catch a glimpse of this rare feat. This year, Holiday Beach Conversation Area will host the 2024 Festival of Hawks - aka HawkFest - during which bird watchers and nature aficionados will observe the migration of tens of thousands of hawks and raptors flying overhead on their annual journey to nesting grounds in the south. The festival will also feature a range of free educational activities and nature-themed programming, all included with the price of admission ($20 CAD per vehicle).
4. Light Up the Cut at Eastern Market After Dark
September 19th | Dequindre Cut Freight Yard, Detroit, Michigan | 6:00 p.m.
Celebrate Eastern Market After Dark down on the Dequindre Cut!
Accessible from Wilkins St. in Eastern Market, the Dequindre Cut Freight Yard is the perfect place to extend your Eastern Market After Dark celebrations. Enjoy drinks, food trucks, and bonfires with free s'mores, plus free face painting, giant lawn games, and interactive art activities with The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. All programming is family friendly and open to all ages. And yes, dogs on leashes welcome!
The Freight Yard is located along the Dequindre Cut, just south of the Wilkins Entrance to the Cut. Those attending Eastern Market After Dark can easily enter via the ramp at Wilkins + Orleans. Stop in for a second or stay all night!
5. Embrace Spooky Season by Dancing with the Devil (in the Dirt)
September 21st | Hell, Michigan | 6:15 p.m.
Fall officially kicks off in September, along with everyone's favorite autumnal microseason: Spooky Season. For Detroit's outdoor faithful, there's no better way to kick off a month+ of ghosts and ghouls than racing through the trails of Hell on a 50K, 50 mile, or 55 mile team relay trail run.
That's right - our friends at RF Events are hosting their annual "Dances with Dirt" race in Hell, Michigan this month. Don't let those distances completely scare you off, however; this event includes a post-race "bash" with food and drinks, finisher medals, age group awards, and eternal badass bragging rights.
6. Welcome Autumn at a State Harvest Festival
September 27th - 29th | Proud Lake State Recreation Area | 12:00 p.m.
Is there a better way to kick off fall in Michigan with a weekend camping trip? We can only think of one way: adding in a Harvest Festival to the trip!
Just in time for the Harvest Moon, campers at Proud Lake State Recreation Area will enjoy a Michigan DNR-hosted "Harvest Festival." The festival will include haunted hayrides, friendly hayrides, bonfires, crafts, scavenger hunts, archery, bounce houses, site decorating contest, costume parade, trick-or-treating, dancing, a popcorn bar, and other activities. This event is only open to registered campers, so be sure to visit MIDNRReservations.com ASAP to reserve your spot!
7. Fuel Up on Caffeine at the Coffee Classic Run
September 28th | Indian Springs Metropark | 8:00 a.m.
Coffee. Run. Repeat. That's the motto for our #ExpeditionPartners over at Running Venture for "National Coffee Day," and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than joining their "Coffee Classic Run" at Indian Springs Metropark!
The Coffee Classic Run starts at 8 a.m. at the Meadowlark Pavilion. Both the 5K and 8 mile races follow along the metropark's beautiful paved trail, while a special "Kid's Run" sprints off at 9:30 a.m. All runners will receive a custom shirt, finisher medal and mug, complimentary refreshments, and - you'll never guess - COFFEE. There will also be special awards for the top male and female finishers in each event, along with top 3 in each age group!
EXPEDITION DETROIT+ SUBSCRIBERS SAVE 20% ON THIS EVENT!
8. Celebrate National Public Lands Day with a Free Hike
September 28th | 11 Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas
Did you know that over 28% of Michigan comprises of publicly-owned land? That's right - well over a quarter of our beautiful state belongs to all of us, which is a fact worth remembering, protecting, and celebrating this month on National Public Lands Day!
In honor of National Public Lands Day, Expedition Detroit is offering YOU the opportunity to participate in one of our offered day hiking trips - FOR FREE - on September 28th ONLY!
Use discount code "PUBLIC LANDS" to reserve your hike today!*
*Limited spaces available
9. Send It at the Shelden Mountain Bike Fest
September 28th | Stony Creek Metropark | 3:00 p.m.
Peak summer riding may have past, but fall still represents prime time for riding on the Detroit region's best mountain biking trails! Riders of all skill levels can get into the action during this month's Shelden Mountain Bike Fest, hosted jointly by the Huron-Clinton MetroParks and the Clinton River Area Mountain Bike Association. Riders will experience the thrill of the newly redeveloped Shelden Trails with fellow mountain bike enthusiasts, visit vendor and bike-related booths, enjoy some great food vendors, grab a beer to enjoy by the bonfire, and relax after hitting the trails with free s’mores from REI!
10. EXPLORE YOUR STATE PARKS WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT
Throughout September (and beyond) | 11 Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas
Fall colors are JUST AROUND THE CORNER, and there's no better way to experience them than at our regional Michigan State Parks! Not sure where to explore? No problem - we've curated dozens of guided trips intended to showcase the best of the best of the Detroit region's outdoors.
And in case you missed it...our Labor Day Deals are live ALL SEPTEMBER LONG! For our guided trips, we're offering not only 30% off any guided trip, but a "Book Two, Get One Free" special. So don't let those post-summer blues bring you down - there's an adventure or two (alright, three) waiting for you along the Detroit region's best trails.
CHECK OUT OUR NEW "EXPEDITION LOOP" DAY TRIP AT PROUD LAKE RECREATION AREA
The Expedition Detroit team is proud to represent the Michigan DNR's largest commercial provider of guided hikes, backpacking expeditions, and trail running coach across ELEVEN of the Detroit region's most pristine state parks and recreation areas. Each of our guides has the field experience, wilderness first aid training, park knowledge, and outdoor passion that you can - and should - expect from any world-class trail experience.
P.S. Subscribers to our content get the inside scoop on discounts for our guided trips AND online store items.....
Do you host an upcoming outdoor event that you would like to be featured in a future article? If yes, then we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com to discuss Expedition Detroit feature opportunities.
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