News Release

2019 Port Oneida Fair

News Release Date: August 6, 2019 Once again, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will be full of activities both Friday and Saturday, August 9-10, for the annual Port Oneida Fair. 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. Blacksmiths, quilters, farmers, and basket weavers will be demonstrating their crafts, and park rangers, volunteers, and Port Oneida residents will share their stories. There will be hands-on activities for the whole family. Food will be available for purchase or visitors may pack a picnic lunch. 

Saturday, August 10, the finale to the fair, will take place at the Thoreson farm with astronomy activities that will range from a solar viewing (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) followed by an evening of celebrating the night sky with a Star Party (9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.). Observe the beautiful summer night sky constellations, Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon along with a few of the brighter deep sky objects.

The Port Oneida Fair is presented by the National Lakeshore in partnership with the non-profit organization “Historic Sleeping Bear.” For more information about the Port Oneida Fair, please go to their website: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/pofair.htm.

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