Fall color tour offers 'Arts and Eats' experience

The fourth Annual Arts and Eats—a back roads art, food and farm tour of Allegan and Barry counties—will be Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19.

This free, self-guided driving tour collectively features more than 50 artist studios, eateries serving locally-grown food and farms featuring Michigan specialty farm products. These venues, some of which are not normally open to the public, welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Participants on the tour are encouraged to request an “Arts and Eats Passport” from any of the participants. By collecting just six stamps, tour-goers can be entered to win one of dozens of prizes donated by the artists, farmer and eateries. The more passports filled, the more chances to win.

Galleries, farms and eateries from Allegan County include:

Allegan—Baker Allegan Studios, Allegan Historic Farm and Learning Center, Crescent Moon Farms and Marr Haven Wool Farms

Dorr—Wool-E Farms

Douglas—Saugatuck Brewing

Fennville—Virtue Cider, Reverie Design and Craft Pottery, Peachbelt Studio, The Brazilian Shack and Khnemu Studio on Fernwood Farm

Hopkins—Pickle Street School Studio

Martin—Hilltop Designs

Plainwell—Four Roses Restaurant, Old Mill Brew Pub, Cathy Green Pottery, Ellen’s Atelier, Oak Leaf Pottery and Bella Joy Pottery

Shelbyville—Baypointe Restaurant

Wayland—The Bib restaurant

In addition to the individual tour stops, three “central venues” are set up to house additional artists and serve as information stations for visitors. They are at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Kellogg Manor House and downtown Hastings.

For more information and a map, visit www.ArtsAnd Eats.org.