The peninsula does not close for the season on a single weekend. Over about six weeks, from the last deck seating at Brys Estate on October 17 to Bowers Harbor's December schedule on December 1, each tasting room trims its hours on its own date. By early December the four wineries with verified winter schedules all close at 5 p.m. on weeknights. Lighthouse Park at the tip of Center Road is the one place whose hours stay the same all year.
The calendar below is built from what each business and the township posted this fall. The sections after it walk through the changes in order.
| Date | What changes |
|---|---|
| October 17 | Last day of weather-permitting deck seating at Brys Estate |
| End of October | Peninsula Township's target for closing on the Warren Farm development rights |
| October 31 | Last day of regular lighthouse tour hours and Brys fall hours |
| November 1 | Brys, Chateau Grand Traverse and Bowers Harbor post new November hours |
| November 8 | Chateau Chantal switches to daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| November weekends | Lighthouse tours, noon to 4 p.m., weather permitting |
| November 28 | Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail Mac & Cheese Bake-off |
| December 1 | Bowers Harbor moves to its December through March schedule |
| December 31, 5 p.m. | Township flag design submissions close |
The first change is about seating, and it comes before any hours change. Brys Estate lists outdoor deck seating as weather-permitting through October 17. The winery takes reservations through December 31 but notes that bookings after October 17 may be seated indoors. Until the end of October, Brys keeps its fall hours, open until 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and until 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
On Center Road, the Holman family's fall stands are still going. Cory and Elise Holman's pumpkin patch at 12926 Center Road sells pumpkins, gourds, squash and cornstalks from the farm. The Old Mission Gazette reported in late September that cider and doughnuts turn up "here and there." Elise Holman's farm stand at 11786 Center Road carries eggs, tomatoes, flowers, plants and other fall produce.
The last week of October also brings a township milestone that has nothing to do with hours. On September 22 the Township Board approved a purchase agreement for the development rights on the 80-acre Warren Farm and ordered a boundary survey. As of the supervisor's September 26 note, the board hoped to close by the end of October.
Most of the shift happens on the first of the month, though the three wineries move in different directions.
Brys Estate's winter hours run November 1 through December 31. Fridays and Saturdays go to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday through Thursday becomes noon to 5 p.m., so weekday visits now start an hour later as well as ending earlier.
Chateau Grand Traverse posts November through April hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bowers Harbor Vineyards is the exception. Its posted November schedule is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, which makes November weeknights at Bowers Harbor an hour longer than they will be in December.
Chateau Chantal keeps its post-Labor Day schedule through November 7, with Sunday through Thursday hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Starting November 8 and running through April, it is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekday hours there do not change at all. The cut falls on Friday and Saturday evenings, which lose two hours overnight.
Mari Vineyards says it is open year-round, with hours that change by season and adjusted hours or closures on certain holidays. Its FAQ does not give exact winter hours, so check with Mari before planning a late visit.
Mission Point Lighthouse runs on volunteers, and its schedule shows it. From May through October the lighthouse is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday. In November it opens only on weekends, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., depending on the weather. Tour admission is $8 for ages 13 and up and $2 for ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under and Mission Point Lighthouse Keepers Association members get in free, and parking is always free.
The park around the lighthouse keeps its regular schedule. According to the lighthouse site, the park, trails and beach are open daily until 10 p.m. all year, and the lighthouse can be seen and photographed when the building itself is closed. The rules don't change in the off-season either. The site prohibits camping, fires and drones anywhere in the park. On the morning of September 26, Lighthouse Manager Ginger Schultz photographed an illegal campfire still smoldering at Lighthouse Beach. The supervisor's note asks anyone who sees clear problem behavior in township parks to call Central Dispatch at (231) 922-4540.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving has its own hours. The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail's Mac & Cheese Bake-off runs Saturday, November 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tickets went on sale October 1. The event starts an hour before the 11 a.m. Saturday opening posted by Brys, Chateau Grand Traverse, Bowers Harbor and Chateau Chantal.
Guests visit all ten Wine Trail locations, where each winery pours a wine it has chosen alongside a mac-and-cheese dish from a local chef. At the end, guests vote for best pairing, cheesiest dish and best overall. The ten stops are Black Star Farms Old Mission, Mari, Hawthorne, Peninsula Cellars, Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estate, Bowers Harbor, Tabone, Chateau Chantal and 2 Lads. The 2026 ticket price was not shown on the listing reviewed for this post.
When Bowers Harbor moves to its December through March schedule, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the off-season is fully in place.
Here is where the four verified schedules stand in the first week of December.
| Winery | Sunday to Thursday | Friday and Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| Brys Estate | Noon to 5 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Chateau Grand Traverse | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Bowers Harbor Vineyards | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Chateau Chantal | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
All four close at 5 p.m. on weeknights. On weekends, 6 p.m. is the latest, and Chateau Chantal closes at 5 p.m. seven days a week. In October, the same four rooms between them offered closing times as late as 7 p.m. By December, Lighthouse Park's 10 p.m. close is five hours later than any of these tasting rooms on a weeknight.
December's shared closing time does not carry over to the holidays. Each winery posts its own holiday list.
On Christmas Eve, of the three wineries with posted holiday schedules, only Bowers Harbor is open.
A few township items run through the whole stretch. The Peninsula Community Library and the Peninsula Township Fire Department are co-sponsoring a blood drive at the library on October 23. The Township Board has formed a Roads Ad-Hoc Committee, chaired by Treasurer Katie Clark with Trustee Isaiah Wunsch and four residents, to follow the Grand Traverse County Road Commission's work in the township. The Parks Committee is reworking the township's parks and recreation management plan and expects to invite public input in the coming year.
The deadline that comes last belongs to the township flag contest. Residents and property owners can submit a design until 5 p.m. on December 31. Residents will pick the winner by survey, and the winning design may shape a future welcome sign on Center Road. That is also the last day Brys Estate takes reservations under its winter schedule.
Off-season timing matters on the peninsula for more than tasting-room hours. If you are weighing whether a property on Old Mission works for you year-round, or how a quieter winter calendar affects listing a home here, Molly Buttleman can walk you through how the peninsula's seasons play out in practice. Inquire Now.
Molly is Michigan native and has called the Grand Traverse and Leelanau County region home for more than 30 years. Understanding the demands of today's buyers and sellers has allowed her to be a top producing agent when it comes to Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau County real estate year after year. As a relationship building person, she enjoys developing loyal friends and customers. As a Real Estate Professional, she builds those same lasting relationships with both Buyers and Sellers. Service is Molly's top priority.
Molly is known for listening and problem-solving, often putting her own real-life buying, selling, and renovating experience to use for her clients. Her construction industry connections also give her clients an extra sense of trust, especially if they are looking to add value to a property with a remodel.
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