Michigan Blueberries: How to Celebrate Blueberry Picking Season Near Saugatuck

Every summer, the roads just outside Saugatuck begin filling with handwritten signs advertising fresh blueberries, U-pick farms, and roadside stands. It's one of those seasonal traditions that locals look forward to all year. A short drive from downtown leads to family farms where you can spend the morning filling a bucket with sun-ripened berries before heading back into town for blueberry pancakes, pie, or even a glass of blueberry wine.

From family-owned blueberry farms to farmers' markets, wineries, and blueberry-inspired treats around town, here's how to make the most of blueberry season near Saugatuck.

Blueberry Picking at Local Farms

If blueberry picking is on your summer bucket list, you're in the right place. Every farm below offers U-pick blueberries during the season, giving you the chance to wander the rows and fill your own bucket with fresh Michigan blueberries. Some also feature farm markets stocked with homemade baked goods, preserves, and other blueberry treats.

*Most farms open their U-pick fields from mid-July through early August, though exact dates depend on weather and berry ripeness. Be sure to check their websites or Facebook pages, or call ahead for exact dates and operating hours.

We also recommend heading out early. The temperatures are cooler, the fields are quieter, and you'll still have plenty of time afterward to stop for lunch, visit a winery, or spend the afternoon at the beach.

Blue Star Farms | 2647 68th St, Fennville

Located just a few miles from downtown Saugatuck, Blue Star Farms is one of the most convenient options for a quick picking trip. During peak season, the fields are open seven days a week for picking popular Bluecrop and Duke varieties. The farm store also carries a variety of pantry staples, including blueberry jams, jellies, muffin mixes, and pancake syrups.

Lakeshore Berry Farms | 2647 Blue Star Hwy, Fennville

This family operation has been running for 30 years, just a short drive down the Blue Star Highway. If you want the farm experience but are short on time, their farm store is an easy stop for pre-picked pints, house-made syrups, berry jams, and blueberry soft-serve ice cream.

Pleasant Hill Farm | 5859 124th Ave, Fennville

Run by three generations of the same family, this has been a certified organic blueberry farm since 1977. In addition to organic U-pick berries, they sell maple syrup tapped on-site each spring. Even if you're not there during blueberry season, many visitors stop to see the four-acre field of poppies and wildflowers planted annually in memory of the owners' veteran son. The flowers bloom starting in early June and provide nectar for the butterflies and bees that pollinate the blueberry fields.

Bella Vista Farm | 6017 124th Ave, Fennville

While blueberries are the main draw at Bella Vista Farm during the summer months, the farm grows a variety of crops throughout the year, including peaches, raspberries, apples, and pumpkins. Their on-site farm shop is well-stocked with homemade preserves, fruit salsas, maple syrup, and barbecue sauces.

Dee's Lakeshore Farm | 1672 70th St, Fennville

This 40-acre family farm has been operating for over 50 years. In addition to U-pick blueberries and raspberries, Dee’s grows apples, peaches, sweet corn, and sweet cherries as the seasons change. The family also raises their own honeybees and keeps free-range chickens, meaning you can pick up fresh honey, eggs, and homemade preserves during your visit.

Bowerman Blueberries | 15793 James St, Holland

Spanning over 100 acres, Bowerman is one of the most popular picking destinations in the area. Beyond the U-pick fields, their farm market is a major draw, featuring fresh blueberry donuts, ice cream, and a bakery counter full of blueberry treats.

Forstner Blueberry Farm | 466 27th St, Allegan

Forstner Blueberry Farm has been in business for more than 70 years, offering a quiet, traditional farm experience slightly inland in Allegan. They offer standard U-pick fields alongside a farm stand where you can buy already-picked blueberries by the pint, quart, or in bulk 5-pound boxes for baking.

Farmers Markets

If you'd rather let someone else do the picking, the farmers' markets near Saugatuck are overflowing with fresh Michigan blueberries throughout July and August.

The Market at Saugatuck Center for the Arts is a wonderful Saturday morning stop, bringing together local growers, bakers, and artisans just a short walk from downtown. Along with baskets of freshly picked blueberries, you'll often find homemade jams, pastries, flowers, and seasonal produce that make it easy to put together an impromptu picnic.

If you're exploring beyond Saugatuck, the Holland Farmers Market is one of the largest in the area, with dozens of vendors selling just-picked fruits, fresh flowers, artisan cheeses, and locally made foods throughout the summer.

To the south, the South Haven Farm Market showcases the abundance of Southwest Michigan's fruit-growing region. During blueberry season, the market is filled with berries picked just hours earlier, along with homemade baked goods and other products that make perfect souvenirs.

Blueberry Treats Around Town

Even if you never set foot in a U-pick field, you'll still find blueberry season celebrated all over town. Local cafés, bakeries, and restaurants make the most of the harvest with seasonal specials that showcase Michigan's freshest berries.

The blueberry pancakes at Pennyroyal Café & Provisions are delicious year-round, but with freshly picked local blueberries, they taste even better. The bakery case is often filled with blueberry pastries and other seasonal treats, making it one of our favorite Saugatuck restaurants for brunch or a quick grab-and-go breakfast before a day of exploring.

For a morning coffee break, Uncommon Coffee Roasters pairs its house-roasted coffee with a bakery case complete with homemade blueberry streusel muffins packed with fresh Michigan berries.

The Farmhouse Deli rotates seasonal baked goods throughout the summer, and their lemon blueberry bar is one you’ll want to go back for. Bright, buttery, and bursting with fresh blueberries, it's the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

If you're already heading toward the blueberry fields in Fennville, save room for dessert at Crane's Pie Pantry & Winery. Their homemade blueberry pie is reason enough to visit, but you'll also find blueberry donuts, muffins, preserves, and other seasonal specialties.

Blueberry Drinks Worth Trying

Blueberries aren't just for pancakes and pie. During the summer, you'll find them showing up in a few local drinks, too.

If you're in the mood for a craft beer, stop by Saugatuck Brewing Company and order the Blueberry Lemonade Shandy. It's light, refreshing, and just the thing after a morning of blueberry picking or an afternoon at the beach.

For something a little different and the perfect stop after blueberry picking at a farm in Fennville, head to Fenn Valley Vineyards, where you'll find a semi-sweet blueberry wine made with berries from nearby True Blue Farms. Enjoy a glass while overlooking the vineyard, or take home a bottle to remember your trip.

Breakfast at Hotel Saugatuck

A morning spent filling a basket with sun-ripened berries is a quintessential West Michigan experience, but the celebration of the season starts before you even leave our doors.

When you stay at our Boutique Hotel in Saugatuck during peak summer, you’ll regularly find fresh Michigan blueberries featured in our gourmet breakfasts. Whether they’re folded into light and fluffy pancakes or alongside our house-made nut and cinnamon granola, we love bringing the freshest ingredients straight to your morning table.

Afterward, the day is entirely yours to shape. Head out to the quiet morning fields for a few hours of picking, wander through the local farmers' markets, or find a peaceful spot on one of Lake Michigan's beaches just minutes away. Plan your summer getaway with us and experience firsthand why blueberry season is one of our favorite times of the year on the lakeshore.