News Release

2018 Port Oneida Fair

News Release Date: August 1, 2018 Once again, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District awakens from its peaceful slumber and comes alive both Friday and Saturday, August 10-11. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. each day and running until 4:00 p.m., visitors are invited to step back in time to actively experience life as it was in this once active community of robust farms of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The fair promotes the preservation of rural traditional skills, crafts, landscapes, and communities of the Upper Great Lakes Region through education and artistic expression.

Visitors may take a shuttle, drive, hike, or bike to six unique historic sites where a variety of activities take place. Over 80 demonstrators will be at the Thoreson, Olsen, Burfiend, Dechow, and Kelderhouse farms as well as the schoolhouse. Lumberjacks, quilters, blacksmiths, farmers and basket weavers will be demonstrating their crafts, and park rangers, volunteers, and Port Oneida residents will share their stories. Food will be available for purchase or visitors may pack a picnic lunch. 

The finale to the fair will take place at the Thoreson farm on Saturday, August 11. Astronomy activities will include a solar viewing (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) followed by a Star Party (9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.). Observe the beautiful summer night sky constellations, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, and perhaps a few bright Perseid meteors. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the very best showers to observe and this evening will see the peak.

The Port Oneida Fair is presented by the National Lakeshore in partnership with the non-profit organization “Historic Sleeping Bear Preservation” (formerly “Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear”). 

There is no cost for the event; however, you must have a park entrance pass or an annual pass displayed in your vehicle. Park passes can be purchased at the Dechow farm during the fair and at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in Empire, which is open daily. For questions, please call 231-326-4700, extension 5010.