Apple Butter Festival

Fenner Nature Center invites Lansing-area residents to celebrate Michigan’s fall harvest and the traditions surrounding it at this year’s Apple Butter Festival, running 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 21) and Sunday (Oct. 22).

The festival features demonstrations of heritage crafts like pottery and weaving by the Capital Area Lace Makers, Greater Lansing Potters’ Guild, Greater Lansing Weavers Guild and more; stations for visitors to try out artisan crafts like crosscut sawing and hide tanning; live performances by local country and folk musicians; pumpkin carving; apple-butter-making; complimentary cider and donuts; a photo booth; and a host of vendors selling food, crafts and other goods. 

“Cooking apple butter has always been a community event,” said Fenner Program Manager Sam Ansaldi. “One batch can take over 12 hours of constant stirring before it is finished. Today, that tradition of coming together around the kettle is at the heart of our festival, and we cannot wait to welcome our community for another year. Visitors to the Apple Butter Festival participate in hands-on learning about this forest-to-table product, how it is harvested and produced, and how it connects us to Michigan's history.”

The festival is free, but a $5 parking donation is encouraged. All proceeds benefit the Fenner Conservancy, the nonprofit that manages the nature center alongside the city of Lansing.

For more information, visit mynaturecenter.org or call 517-483-4224.