Michigan’s Fall Feast: Food Festivals, Exclusive Dinners, and Craft Brews Await

Food events are popping up all over Michigan this fall. Through October, visitors can pick from more than 15 different tastings, festivals, and special dinners.

Monroe welcomes the state's first Craft Distillers Festival. For three days, guests can sip spirits made by Ann Arbor Distilling Co., Detroit City Distillery, and Grand Traverse Distillery, among others.

On September 20, San Morello transforms into a street fair for the Festa di San Gennaro. Six local chefs will cook endless plates of Italian classics. Between bites of sausage, spiedini, and braciole, guests can play games and dance to live music.

Plant-based food takes center stage at the Ypsi Vegan Fest on September 21. Oak & Reel welcomes New York's Jaime Young on September 18. The guest chef will create six special dishes as part of the restaurant's Culinary Collective series.

Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel sets the table for Cork & Fork from October 10-12. Sara Moulton, who trained under Julia Child, leads a weekend of wine and meals prepared by top chefs.

This month, seven Detroit eateries added plant-based choices to support green dining. Spots like Yum Village, Ivy Kitchen & Cocktails, and Parc now offer these options.

Royal Oak's Michigan Craft Beer Stroll returns October 4. Twenty restaurants will pair dishes with local brews. New this year: a battle to find the best chili in town.

At Black Star Farms, chef Jimmy Schmidt joins other Michigan cooks for a special vegetarian dinner on October 23. Cameras will roll as they prepare this harvest feast for a new film.