Join the Michigan History Center for the second annual Women’s History Conference at the First Universalist Church, located at 200 Hanover St. in Concord, Wednesday, Sept. 18, and Thursday, Sept. 19. Open to all, the conference is inspired by the lives and legacy of the Mann sisters, namesakes of the historic Mann House, who gave their home to the state of Michigan as a cultural resource for future generations.

Join the "jam session" on Sept. 18, a tasty celebration of Michigan agriculture the evening before the conference. You'll make your own preserves – all supplies and instruction provided.

The Sept. 19 conference celebrates the role of women in agriculture as they effect change and explores how we can use the past to bring about change in ourselves and others. You'll enjoy sessions from expert presenters, a delicious lunch and a keynote presentation from Dr. Debra Reid, curator of agriculture and the environment at The Henry Ford.

The conference fee is $40 for both days, $15 for Wednesday only and $30 for Thursday only. Lunch on Thursday and any needed program supplies are included in the conference fee.

Register for Women’s History Conference.

Would you like to touch a living fossil? If the answer is yes, plan on visiting the North Channel Sturgeon Festival in Clay Township (Michigan’s “sturgeon angling capital”) Sept. 20-22. This new event will celebrate lake sturgeon, an amazing, prehistoric fish that abounds in the North Channel of the St. Clair River. 

The festival will take place at the Clay Township Park, located at 4710 Point Tremble Road in Algonac, from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 20; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21; and 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. It will include food, drinks, live bands, raffles, cornhole, a trout pond for kids and loads more fun. Saturday, there will be a lake sturgeon viewing tank where you can touch one of these living fossils. Staff from the DNR’s Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station will be on hand to answer questions about these creatures. 

Proceeds from the festival benefit St. Clair-Detroit River Sturgeon for Tomorrow and the Pearl Beach Lions Club.  

The annual Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival is set for Sept. 21-22.

Taking place at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, located at 37205 Mouillee Road in Rockwood, this family-friendly event has been a Downriver tradition since 1947. Nature lovers truly enjoy the outdoor events such as dog jumping competitions and archery challenges. The festival also features an arts and crafts show, kids activities, duck and goose calling competitions, and much more.

All proceeds will benefit habitat at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, the largest freshwater marsh restoration project in North America, totaling over 4,400 acres.

The Civil War and the role Michigan's iron resources played in preserving the Union come to life with Iron Ore and the Civil War, a free, family-friendly event at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.

You’ll discover the lives of soldiers and civilians alike, as Battery D, First Michigan Light Artillery, of Jackson and others bring fun and engaging experiences:

• Visit a re-created Civil War campsite.
• Talk with costumed interpreters.
• See, hear, feel and smell Civil War cannons and other artillery.
• Dance to Civil War-era music.
• Watch as a blacksmith shapes iron into tools.
• Play popular 19th-century children’s games.

The Michigan Iron Industry Museum is located at 73 Forge Road in Negaunee.

When the temperatures start to cool and the leaves begin to turn, more than 30 Michigan state parks play host to fall harvest festivals. Hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume contests, haunted trails, nature programs and horse-drawn carriage rides are just some of the family-friendly activities taking place in September and October.

See our Harvests and Haunts page for a full schedule.

Activities taking place in state park campgrounds typically are open only to registered campers.

To make a camping reservation, visit MiDNRReservations.com or call 800-44-PARKS. Camping reservations can be booked up to six months in advance. We encourage you to book early; spots at these special event weekends tend to fill up fast.

We’re celebrating 100 years of Michigan state parks throughout the year, with centennial events across the state.

In September, the fun includes a triathlon, a running festival and other races, the Great Outdoors Jamboree at Lake Hudson Recreation Area, the Hike Between Da Falls at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Hunter Education Weekend at Harrisville State Park and much more.

Find a full list of centennial events, along with other ways to celebrate 100 fabulous years of state parks, at Michigan.gov/StateParks100.