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Visitors attend a school lesson at a past Fall Harvest Festival at Chippewa Nature Center. This year's festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

Volunteers demonstrate how to make apple butter at a past Fall Harvest Festival at Chippewa Nature Center. This year's festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

Celebrate the return of autumn at Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) annual Fall Harvest Festival at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Visitors of all ages can enjoy demonstrations and hands-on activities that reflect 19th century life on the farm at harvest time. Admission is free for all children under 18 and CNC members. Non-member adult admission is just $5.

Visitors can take a wagon ride to the Homestead Farm where they will have the opportunity to see demonstrations of apple butter and cider making and chair caning. At the Timber Frame Barn, they can learn about spinning and weaving as they experience the Sheep to Shawl demonstration presented by the Midland Fiber Arts Guild.

Hands-on activities include quarter-scale timber frame barn building, rope making, candle dipping, corn grinding, children’s loom, sheep craft and sachet making with the Valley Herb Society, as well as "milking" a pretend cow. There will also be a beekeeping demo and craft.

Visitors will also enjoy the Homestead Cabin, heirloom garden, root cellar and farm animals. CNC’s collection of historic woodworking tools will be used to show how farmers created many of their own furniture and farm tools.

There will also be activities in the children’s garden, and a special seasonally decorated photo backdrop. Small House Farm will offer a seed saving demonstration. Food concessions will be available from the Studley Grange (cash only). Visitors can also shop the pop-up Nature Center Store at the farm.

At the 1870s log schoolhouse, visitors can take part in classroom lessons, practice penmanship on a slate board and play outdoor games such as stilts and graces. Children’s activities will include yarn dolls and thaumatropes, an historical optical illusion craft. An antique threshing machine and mechanical reaper will also be on display. A story time with activities will take place every half hour. The Midland County Breastfeeding Coalition will provide a Rock-and-Rest tent, a place for parents to change a diaper or feed their baby.

Near the Sugarhouse, attendees can see demonstrations by the Max Carey Blacksmith Guild. The Oxbow Archeologists will be conducting a dig and will have items on display.

Volunteers are still needed for Fall Harvest Festival. For volunteer opportunities and time slots, contact Cathy Devendorf at  cdevendorf@chippewanaturecenter.org or at 989-631-0830.