5 Things to Do This Fall in Coldwater
Shandra Martinez
| 3 min read
Located in Southern Michigan, the City of Coldwater sits between Detroit and Kalamazoo, nearly 70 miles north of the Indiana border. The city hosts community events such as Strawberry Fest in June, Apple Fest in September and Winter Fest in January. Incorporated as a village in 1837 and as a city in 1861, Coldwater was designated in 1842 as the county seat of Branch County. The Coldwater River flows into the city from Coldwater Lake, part of a chain of lakes.
Built in 1882, is the second-oldest operating theater in Michigan. The venue, on South Hatchett Street in downtown Coldwater, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. The intimate 499-seat theater is known for nearly perfect acoustics and great entertainment year-round. Along with a professional summer theater program, its programming features touring artists, children’s programs, and art exhibits as well as community arts and cultural events. Check out the website to see what’s on the calendar in October.
This heritage railroad dedicated to the restoration and operation of historic railroad equipment such as steam locomotives. During the fall, the railroad runs River Railroad fall pumpkin and fall color trips. The popular 90-minute rides, which run between Coldwater and Quincy, sell out fast. Outdoor cars let visitors enjoy the rich fall colors. The trip includes a stop at two train museums, donuts and cider. The train is wheelchair accessible.
is a treasure trove for those looking for vintage Americana and collectibles. Visitors can browse more than 40 booths selling a range of antiques, including furniture, coins, tools, fishing gear, paper dolls, dolls, toys, glassware, jewelry, farm equipment and much more. It's a fun place to spend a few hours exploring the past. The mall has a reputation for reasonable prices, eclectic inventory and fun dealers. The antique mall, located east of I-69 on U.S. 12, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and is closed on major holidays.
This is an old-school drive-in movie theater that has been operated by the Magoc family since it opened in 1964. The 1,000-car twin-screen drive-in is open seven nights a week from March until late October. The theater’s large snack bar offers an assortment of movie treats. Check out the website to see what is playing.
This park is home to 400 acres of largely undeveloped land on the south shore of Coldwater Lake. The state park, created in 1988 with Natural Resources Trust Funds, features more than a mile of scenic lakeshore and a mixture of former farmland, wetlands, hardwood forest and native grasslands. It’s the only public land open to hunting in Branch County.
There’s lots to see and do in Coldwater in the fall. Check out the highlights in this video.
Photo credit: IG Page Combsdrones
