Harvest Days add more color to nature's fall palette.

There's something uniquely special about the Fall Season in Harbor Country. Maybe it's the crispness of the morning air. It might be the smell of grapes wafting in the breeze. And then there's the majestic visual appeal of colorful fall foliage along every horizon. As summer draws visitors to Harbor Country to the beach, autumn draws us inland to the countryside. Here we find miles of cornfields ready for harvest, You'll discover acres of bright orange pumpkins at many roadside markets. As you travel the byways by car or bicycle, you'll hear the crackling of leaves underfoot-remnants of the glorious canopy of color overhead. As summer was the time to surround yourself with water and beach sand, autumn is a time to reconnect to the roots of Mother Nature. It's as if she's throwing a farewell party, and we're invited to share in the bounty. Harvest Days in Harbor Country is celebrated October 9-12. This three-day weekend gives ample time to explore farm and field, but it also brings the celebration to the back door of our many shops, galleries, restaurants and lodging facilities. Many of our Harbor Country businesses-from New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert and Sawyer-host special events that include open houses, gallery and artist receptions, culinary demonstrations, special sales, and family fun activities.There's so much going on we hope you can get it all done in a weekend. If you can't, you're cordially invited back any time soon. www.harborcountryharvestdays.com

Columbus Day Weekend
October 9, 10, 11, 12, 2009

•Hay Rides
•Pumpkin Patch
•Scarecrow Contest
•Shopping
•Wine Dinners
•Farmers Market
•Children’s Activities
•Gallery Crawl
•New Buffalo Harvest Wine & Music Festival

Harvest & Wine Fest
Lions Park, New Buffalo, 888-660-6222
Oct 10 - 12pm - 10pm

Serving as center stage for Harbor Country Harvest Days, this all-day event offers something for everyone: Live music, local wine and micro-beers, farmers market, area restaurants, kids activities, hayrides and more! Donation $5 per adult

Chili Cook-off at Skip’s Restaurant
Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier, 269-469-3341
Oct 11 - 1-5 pm

“Chili Cook-off” Guests at this event will have an opportunity to sample the signature chili of some of the finest restaurants in Harbor Country. But this contest also is open to individuals, making this cook-off a very competitive event. Come talk to the chefs and sample more than 15 different types of chili. Guests also will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite chili. The chili cook-off opens to the public at 1pm and ends at 6 pm. Cash bar is available. Entry fee to the cook-off is $10 per person and includes all the chili and fixins’ one could possibly imagine. Children under ten are half price.

Detailed Itinerary of Harbor Country Harvest Days events and Map of participating locations can be found at: www.harborcountryharvestdays.com