Harvest, Habitat, and Heartwarming Moments
Ford House is celebrating the fall season with its biggest and most meaningful Harvest Day yet on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 12 to 5 p.m.
The annual family event returns with 60 local vendors, pony rides, hands-on activities, and the grand opening of Ford House’s new wetland boardwalk. Guests are also encouraged to give back to the community through a special food drive supporting Just A Little Help of Michigan, a local initiative led by Harper Woods Mayor Valerie Kindle.
Families looking for a joyful way to spend the day together will find plenty to do and discover. Children can meet animals at the petting zoo, ride ponies, get their faces painted, and enjoy lawn games. Adults will find a curated shopping experience across the estate’s open-air market, featuring handcrafted goods, local produce, early holiday gifts, and fall décor from more than 60 independent makers and small businesses.
Guests will also be among the first to experience Ford House’s new wetland boardwalk, officially opening to the public at the event. The elevated wooden pathway winds through native wetlands, linking the Visitor Center parking area to the Tribute Garden and Butterfly House. The trail invites guests to slow down and engage with the natural environment through a peaceful and educational walk. The wetland boardwalk was federally funded through a Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Funding was received from the NOAA Restoration Center.
The boardwalk will also serve as a key feature in Ford House’s educational programming, allowing students to investigate wetland ecology firsthand and understand the critical role wetlands play in sustaining the Great Lakes ecosystem. The project reflects Ford House’s continued work to be not only a tribute to the past, but a leader in sustainability and environmental engagement across the region.
In the spirit of community support, guests are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Just A Little Help of Michigan, a food bank and community resource initiative founded by Mayor Valerie Kindle of Harper Woods. Donation bins will be available at the event entrance.
At Ford House, we believe that meaningful experiences happen when people feel connected—to each other, to nature, and to the place they’re in. Harvest Day brings families together through joy, discovery, and play, and now with the opening of our new wetland boardwalk, we’re also inviting guests to see the environment around them with fresh eyes. Our hope is that every visitor leaves not just with memories, but with a deeper appreciation for the natural world—and a shared responsibility to protect it.
Event highlights include:
- A record-setting vendor market with 60+ local artisans, growers, and crafters
- Pony rides, petting zoo, lawn games, and face painting for kids
- Self-guided tours of the historic Main Residence’s first floor
- Fresh cider and donuts from Blake’s (available for pre-order)
- On-site food and beverage concessions, including fall favorites
- A new Harvest Day Beer Tent, sponsored by WB Event Structures
- The official grand opening of Ford House’s wetland boardwalk
- Community food drive supporting Just A Little Help of Michigan
This year’s event is made possible by our sponsors:
Ford Philanthropy, WB Event Structures, Northern Trust, Bodman Law, D Land Group Property Management, Henry Ford Health, The Spice & Tea Exchange of Grosse Pointe, Brown & Brown Insurance, Frank Rewold & Sons, and Grunwell-Cashero.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025
- Time: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Location: Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
- Tickets: Adults $12 (public) / $10 (Friends of Ford House)
- Children (ages 3–17) $6 (public) / $5 (Friends)
- Children under 3: Free
- Parking: On-site with crossing guard support
- Accessibility: Strollers and wagons welcome. Terrain includes pavement, gravel, grass, and the new accessible boardwalk
Media Opportunities:
- Media Preview Invitation: Members of the press are invited to visit Ford House for a special preview of the new wetland boardwalk and interview opportunities on Friday, Sept. 26 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- New boardwalk opening – environmental and educational storytelling
- Visual appeal – fall foliage, historic estate, animals, artisan booths, and nature scenes
- Community feature – support for local food assistance and small businesses
- Interview availability – Ford House leadership, education staff, vendors, and families
