Fall is without question my favorite time of year, especially October for all of the fun Halloween activities and events there are to enjoy with friends or a significant other. From carving jack-o-lanterns to sipping hot apple cider on a autumnal stroll, I love it all. As Sept. 22 marks the first official day of fall, here are my suggestions for the best dates to try with your partner or a friend this season.
Attend an Eastern Michigan University football game
While sporting events aren't always my cup of tea, there is something fun about going to a football game on a crisp fall day. To make it more fun, try wearing matching outfits or face paint to represent EMU in the stands. The next home game is Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at 1 p.m., when the Eagles take on Lindenwood University. For the full 2026 football schedule, check out The Eastern Echo website.
Set up a picnic at Frog Island or Riverside park
I love an opportunity to pack a lunch, go to the park and have a picnic. One of my favorite spots to do just that is on the perimeter of Depot Town. Both Frog Island and Riverside Park offer riverside views and grassy fields.
Support one of the many local businesses in the area by getting takeout from restaurants such as Maiz or Aubree’s, or pick out some snacks from the Ypsilanti Food Co-op and go sit by the Huron River to admire the changing fall colors of the trees.
Alternatively, if you and your date aren’t hungry, you could grab a coffee from nearby Hyperion or Vertex and take a stroll through the area. One way I like to make my picnic dates even more fun is to bring along a sketchbook and some art supplies and taking turns sketching!
Attend a festival
Over the next few months, there will be many creative events happening in the area. A few to check out include the following: Freak Fest, a music and arts festival taking place across multiple venues around Ypsilanti from Oct. 2-4; Holy Bones: Magic, Mystery and Mischief, an artisan marketplace at the Michigan Firehouse Museum, happening Oct. 4; and the Ypsi Food Co-op Fall Festival, a community gathering featuring a potluck, crafts and more activities, occurring Oct. 17.
Go thrifting for coordinated Halloween costumes
There are many secondhand stores around Ypsilanti to explore. Find a day where you and your date can go on a thrift store crawl to hunt for unique couples costumes. A few suggestions on stores to check out include the following: The Thrift Depot, Ypsilanti Thrift Shop and Value World. If you have the creativity and patience, you can piece together some very interesting costumes from everyday items you find thrifting.
Take a trip to the orchard
Wiard’s Orchards and County Fair has many activities for you and your date to choose from. During the day, you can pick apples or pumpkins, take a hayride, visit the petting farm or just enjoy some apple pie and hot cider. If you’re feeling courageous, you can go at night and visit one of the many attractions within Night Terrors at Wiard’s Orchard.
