Are you searching for a new fall tradition for your family in Southwest Michigan? If so, plan to spend an hour or two at Dinges Fall Harvest in Three Oaks, Michigan, this fall!
This welcoming local farm is geared toward families with kids aged 2 - 10 and offers plenty of kid-friendly activities like hayrides, bounce houses, and train rides. Older kids will love the corn maze and haunted trailed, parents will enjoy the crisp fall atmosphere and watching the kids enjoy the farm.
Keep reading for a local's guide to visiting Dinges Fall Harvest.
Dinges Fall Harvest Near New Buffalo – Apple Picking, Pumpkins, and Kids’ Activities
First Up: Where is Dinges Fall Harvest? This family farm is located in the rural outskirts of Three Oaks, Michigan and 7 miles east of New Buffalo. Looking for things to do in New Buffalo, MI? The farm is roughly a 15-minute drive from our New Buffalo & Michiana rental homes.
When to Visit Dinges Fall Harvest: The farm and pumpkin patch opens in late September and runs through mid to late October. The farm is open daily from 10 AM – 6 PM and hosts special weekend events and activities, like Horse-Drawn Hay Rides.
Cost & Payment: Dinges Fall Harvest is a cash-only event. You can choose from different pricing packages depending on which activities you and your family want to participate in. Expect to pay about $20–30 per child and be sure to bring enough cash to grab a few heirloom pumpkins and gourds for your front porch.
All the Fun that Dinges Fall Harvest Has to Offer
Corn Maze: Although the theme of the corn maze changes each year, it always features unexpected twists and turns through the corn stalks, providing a fun challenge for the whole family. You’ll be given a card before going through the maze, and after finding all the hidden spots and platforms inside, you can get your card punched to prove you mastered the challenge. This provides a sense of accomplishment for kids and adults alike!
Activities for Kids and Families: Great The farm offers tons of fun activities for kids. Young kids will love jumping in the giant pumpkin bounce house, climbing on the playground, riding the adorable train around the farm, crawling through the corn tunnels, or meeting the animals in the the farmyard petting zoo.
Spooky Semi: Ready to get spooked right before Halloween? The “Spooky Semi” is a haunted house inside a semi-truck. It’s moderately scary (not too frightening to older kids), so take a quick tour through the trailer before heading back out into the sun soaked fall fun.
Produce and Pumpkins: Though there isn’t a u-pick pumpkin patch, there is a wide variety of pumpkins and produce available for purchase from white pumpkins to heirloom gourds. Select one, or eight, to bring home for carving or long lasting fall decor.
Hayrides
Cozy up on a horse-drawn hayride as you wind through the vineyards and farmland surrounding New Buffalo and Union Pier, MI. Breathe in the crisp fall air, take in the sweeping views of Lake Michigan wine country, and enjoy a slower pace before heading back to your Third Coast Vacations rental home. Of course, that serene moment might only last until one of the kids pipes up with a question—but that’s all part of the fun
Food and Shopping
Dinges Fall Harvest offers delicious treats cider and freshly made cake donuts as well as other goodies and farm fresh offerings. The farm has picnic pavilions, so you’ll have a place to sit and enjoy your snacks.
More Fall Fun in Southwest Michigan – Things to Do Near New Buffalo
Sawyer Garden Center: In the heart of Sawyer, MI, Sawyer Home & Garden Center is a must-stop for all things fresh and local. From crisp, Southwest Michigan apples and farm-fresh produce to Michigan-made gourmet foods, wines, and even stylish apparel, this spot celebrates everything our region has to offer. In the fall, it’s the go-to place to pick up locally grown apples and seasonal treats that showcase the best flavors of Harbor Country
Garwood Orchard in LaPorte
This sprawling, family-owned farm is famous for its U-pick experiences, come September and October, the orchards are bursting with apples and pumpkins ready for the picking. You’ll find all your favorites, from Honeycrisp and McIntosh to Gala, Fuji, and more than a dozen other varieties.
Hop on a tractor-pulled or horse-drawn wagon for a scenic ride out to the fields, the perfect way to soak up the crisp autumn air. While you’re there, don’t miss the farm store, packed with local goodies like fresh-baked pies, jams, cider, and of course donuts and freshly pressed cider. Garwood Orchard is a Midwest fall experience just a short drive from New Buffalo, MI and Harbor Country!
Piggott’s Farm Market & Bakery
Piggott’s Farm Market & Bakery is a family-owned farm in the agricultural countryside of Benton Harbor, Michigan. During the summer and fall, Piggott’s grows farm-fresh fruit and vegetables and cooks delicious homemade pies, cookies, and donuts in the bakery. During the fall season, stop by to get some pumpkins, apples, mums, squash, and homemade pies!
Sommerfeldt’s Fruit Farm
Sommerfelt’s Fruit Farm is a family-owned fruit stand that has been a staple in Southwest Michigan since 1954. In the fall, stop by for fresh apples, squash, pumpkins, and other fruits and vegetables. On the weekends, you can also pick up local honey, jams, and fresh-baked bread. Sommerfelt’s closes for the season during the last weekend in October.
Stover’s Farm Market
Stover’s Farm Market in Berrien Springs, Michigan, is a must-visit during the fall season. Take a hayride out to the apple orchards and pumpkin patches, shop for jam, honey, cider, and other local goods in the farm market, and, of course, pick up some delicious apple cider donuts to snack on during your time at the farm (and get some extras to bring home with you!).
Make New Fall Traditions in Southwest Michigan with Third Coast Vacations
Whether you pop by Dinges Fall Harvest for a few hours with the kids or make a full day of visiting Southwest Michigan’s orchards and pumpkin patches, fall in Harbor Country is unforgettable. In fact if you ask our team, September is our favorite month to enjoy the area!
From wagon rides and apple cider to colorful pumpkins and family photo ops, there’s no better way to soak up the season along the shores of Lake Michigan.
We would love to host you for a weekend or week-long autumn getaway to Harbor Country. Third Coast Vacations has more than 100 vacation rentals in and around New Buffalo and Union Pier, MI including Lake Michigan Cabin rentals, pet friendly vacation rentals, and spacious Lake Michigan beach rentals with hot tubs and other popular amenities.
If you are looking for even more fun don’t miss our post on fall fun and other ideas on what to do in New Buffalo, MI in the fall as well as the Harbor Country area!