The 24 Seasons of the Sunset Coast

The year on Southwest Michigan's Lake Michigan coast, in 24 short seasons. Right now it's season 21, November Gales. The dates are the same every year; nature runs a week early or late around them.

The 24 seasons of the Sunset Coast
#	Season	Dates	What's happening
1	Lake-Effect Snow	Jan 6 – 19	Cold air over open lake water drops the coast's heaviest snow; sledding at the dunes.
2	Shelf Ice	Jan 20 – Feb 2	Ice shelves build along the beaches and coat the St. Joseph lighthouses. Look from shore; never walk on it.
3	Ice Fishing	Feb 3 – 16	Shanties go up on the inland lakes once the ice is safe.
4	Sap Run	Feb 17 – Mar 2	Warm days and freezing nights start the maple sap; sugarhouses open.
5	Ice Out	Mar 3 – 17	Inland lakes open up and the shelf ice breaks away from the shore.
6	Steelhead Run	Mar 18 – Apr 1	Spring steelhead climb the St. Joseph River; anglers line the Berrien Springs dam.
7	Buoys Return	Apr 2 – 16	NOAA's lake buoys go back in the water, and live lake readings return to this site.
8	Blossomtime	Apr 17 – May 1	The Fruit Belt blooms: cherry, peach and apple orchards in flower, and Blossomtime festival weekends.
9	Morels & Trillium	May 2 – 16	Morel hunters in the woods, and trillium carpets the forest floor at Warren Woods.
10	Asparagus	May 17 – 31	Farm stands fill with local asparagus as beach season opens on Memorial Day.
11	Strawberry U-Pick	Jun 1 – 15	The first u-pick fruit of the year.
12	Longest Sunsets	Jun 16 – 30	The sun sets as late as about 9:26 pm at Silver Beach, the latest of the year.
13	Cherry Picking	Jul 1 – 15	Sweet and tart cherries come in across the Fruit Belt.
14	Blueberries Ripen	Jul 16 – 31	Southwest Michigan's blueberry farms open for u-pick.
15	Warmest Water	Aug 1 – 15	The lake reaches its warmest of the year, and South Haven holds its blueberry festival.
16	Peaches	Aug 16 – 31	Peak peach season at the farm markets.
17	Salmon Run	Sep 1 – 16	Chinook salmon gather off the piers and run up the St. Joseph River.
18	Grape Harvest	Sep 17 – Oct 2	Harvest starts at the Lake Michigan Shore wineries; crush and harvest events begin.
19	Apple Harvest	Oct 3 – 17	Orchards in full swing: u-pick apples, cider and doughnuts.
20	Peak Color	Oct 18 – Nov 1	Fall color peaks inland and along the river valleys.
21	November Gales Now	Nov 2 – 16	Storm season: big waves crash over the piers. Watch from shore; piers close in high seas.
22	Holiday Markets	Nov 17 – Dec 1	Downtowns fill with holiday markets and small-business shopping weekends.
23	Earliest Sunsets	Dec 2 – 19	The earliest sunsets of the year, about 5:14 pm at Silver Beach (early to mid December).
24	Shortest Days	Dec 20 – Jan 5	The winter solstice on Dec 21, holiday lights, and the new year on the coast.