Last updated: March 26, 2025
Thing to Do
Port Oneida Fair
NPS
Step back in time at the Port Oneida Fair and experience life as it was from the 1850's and early 1940's. Imagine the life of Euro-American immigrants as you help bale hay or watch a broom-maker at work. Learn about spinning, basket weaving, soap making, butter making, candle dipping, and fur trapping. Listen as park rangers and local historians share the area's history. Watch as teams of oxen haul hay and artists and craftsmen demonstrate their skills.
The fair is held at five of the historic farmsteads in Port Oneida. Each farm has a variety of artists, crafts, food, and activities for visitors scroll below to see what is happening at each of them. A shuttle bus runs between the farms on a regular schedule during the fair, so you can park your car and easily get around to the different venues.
The Port Oneida Fair is presented by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in partnership with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. To learn more about how you can help support the park, visit www.phsb.org.
August 8 & 9, 2025
10 am - 4 pm
Getting around
See site map at the bottom of the page.
Shuttle
Park your car at one of the three parking lots (Olsen, Dechow, Thoreson Farms).
A free shuttle stops at each site approximately every 15 minutes.
On foot
Walking paths connect all the farm sites.To reach the Thoreson Farm, expect an hour walk on the Bay View Trail.
Parking is also available at Thoreson Farm.
Horse and wagon
Take a horse and wagon ride between the Olsen and Dechow Farms.
Activites by location:
Dechow Farm
Activities and demonstrations:Horse and Wagon Rides, Horse teams working fields
Early American Michigan cricket 10-4 (Friday only)
Paul Dechow - Family History
Mrs. Dechow leads tours of the Barn “The Past in Present Time”
Goats and Conservation Grazing
Donkeys
Farm animals
Moomers’ Calves in the Barn Stalls, Milking Parlor tours
Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes—Information
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear – 2024 Poster Sales and Donation Can
NPS Interpretation – Natural and cultural history, education
Summer Internship Display
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network
Antique Bicycles
Model A Vehicle
Single Engine Motors
Hand Weaving and Basket Making
Rug Weaving
Wind-up musical instruments - Empire Area Museum
Goat Milk Soap Making
Hand Spun Wool
Felting and knitting
Pottery and Glass Jewelry
Hand Crafted, USDA Organic, All Natural Ingredient Soaps, Lip Balms, Body Butter
Hand Coloring Historic Sleeping Bear Dunes Photographs
Pottery, Fused Glass, Maple Syrup and Honey
Sleeping Bear Teen Media
Food:
Schwenk’inWagon - lunch, Saturday breakfast
Moomers’ Ice Cream
Thoreson Farm
Music:
Rigs & Jeels - Traditional fiddle & mandolin 11-4 (Friday only)
North Bay Celtic Band - Traditional Irish & American tunes 10-4 (Saturday only)
Activites and demonstrations:
Rope Making activity
Coiled pine needles and crocheted doilies
Shaker boxes & French rolling pins
Thrown pottery
Knitting and crocheting
Blacksmiths
Rag rug twining
Basket weaving
Basket weaving with found natural materials
Traditional timber framing
Star Party, 9-11 pm, Saturday August 10
Kelderhouse Farm
Activities and demonstrations:
Kelderhouse family history presented by Thomas P. Kelderhouse descendants
Postal Service History of Port Oneida by the Leelanau Historical Society
Wreck of the Rising Sun by the Leelanau Historical Society
1931 Ford Model A by the Leelanau Historical Society
Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society stewards of The Poor Farm Barn
Revitalizing the historic apple orchard presented by Leelanau Conservation District
“Stations of the Storm” hands-on activities of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
Portraits of the Past - Kelderhouse Port Oneida Cemetery
Olsen Farm
Music:
Musicians and storytelling – Norm Wheeler and Pat Niemesto
Dulcimer music
Hammer’d – dulcimer group - Saturday only at 2:15 pm
Activites and demonstrations:
Olsen Barn Tours
Root cellar open
Old Tyme Photography – selfies in costume in barn
Tom VanZoeren – oral history recording; his books; Port Oneida History
Children’s Lawn Games – Hoops, Graces, potato spoon, burlap sack, box hockey, croquet, bean bag
2024 Port Oneida Poster Artist - poster sales and signing
Farm life/City Life (Friday only)
Flax and Linen – (Friday only)
Spinning and wool types – (Saturday only)
Washtub demonstration
Soap making and herbs
Tatting, rug hooking
Penny Rug Making
Rug Braiding
Sewing/patching/show quilt - (Friday only)
Hand quilting
Preservation Station - food preservation using traditional methods
Cooking /food-ways
Stamping
Bread and butter making
Composting
Fishing
Vegetable and Flower Gardening
Food:
Cherry Republic Ice Cream
Port Oneida School House
Activities and demonstrations:
11 am - 2 pm - School Days in the one-room schoolhouse
Details
Activity
Cultural Demonstrations
Activities by location
Dechow Farm
Activities and demostrations:
Dechow Family history
Horse and wagon rides
Horse teams working fields
Donkeys and farm animals
Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network - Friday only
Antique bicycles and single engine motor display
Hand weaving, rug weaving, basketmaking, hand spun wool
Vintage masonry glass jar history
Wind-up musical instruments
“The Past in Present Time” Living history barn tours
Historic Sleeping Bear Preservation 2023 poster sales
Traverse City Model A Club auto display
Goats, conservation grazing, and goat milk soap making
Maple Grove Cemetery display
Native seeds information
Chair caning
Hand coloring historic photographs
Food:
Schwenk’inWagon - lunch and Saturday breakfast
Moomers’ Ice Cream
Kelderhouse Farm
Activities and demonstrations:
Kelderhouse Family history by Kelderhouse descendants
Maritime history and 1931 Ford Model A
Apples with Leelanau Conservation District - Friday only
Olsen Farm
Music:
Dulcimer music
Hammer’d – dulcimer group - Saturday only at 2:15 pm
Activites and demonstrations:
Rug hooking and tattling, penny rug making, rug braiding
Life of a Lighthouse Keeper – on the hour, 10 am -3 pm
Quilt sewing and hand sewing
Old Tyme Photography selfie station
Port Oneida History and Olsen Barn Tours
Historic building preservation station
Historic cooking and bread and butter churning
Composting
Fair artist poster signing - Saturday only
Fishing and fish of the Great Lakes
Vegetable and flower garden - potato and corn planting
Children’s lawn games and washtub demo
Food:
Cherry Republic Ice Cream
Port Oneida School House
Activities and demonstrations:
11 am & 2 pm - School Days in a One Room Schoolhouse
Thoreson Farm
Music:
Norm Wheeler & Pat Niemesto in the barn
Activites and demonstrations:
Thoreson family tales and history with Leonard Thoreson
Coiled pine needles, crocheted doilies
Shaker boxes, french rolling pins, and vintage sewing
Spinning wheel yarn spinning, knitting, and crocheting
Thrown pottery
Blacksmith in action
Basket weaving, quilting, rag rug twining
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pets are welcome in outdoor areas on a six-foot leash. Pets are not allowed inside historic buildings.
Activity Fee
No
Please display a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or other federal lands pass in your vehicle.
Location
Port Oneida Fair
August 9 & 10, 2024
Parking lots are availabe at:
Port Oneida Farms Heritage Center - Olsen House
Dechow Farm
Thoreson Farm
A shuttle and mowed walking paths are available between sites.
Parking lots are availabe at:
Port Oneida Farms Heritage Center - Olsen House
Dechow Farm
Thoreson Farm
A shuttle and mowed walking paths are available between sites.
Reservations
No
Time of Day
10 am - 4 pm Friday and Saturday
Plan to spend at least 2 hours at the fair.
Plan to spend at least 2 hours at the fair.
Accessibility Information
Parking
All four parking lots have handicap parking.
Shuttle
A wheelchair accessible shuttle departs from the Dechow Farm approximately every 15 minutes. This shuttle will make stops at the Kelderhouse and Burfiend Farms. Those wanting to visit the Olsen and Thoreson Farms using the accessible shuttle should speak with the National Park Service Ranger at the entrance to the Dechow Farm.
Restroom
An ADA restroom is available at the Dechow Farm.
Terrain
Fair activities take place on mostly flat terrain. The activites are set up on mowed lawns where tree roots or uneven ground may be present.
All four parking lots have handicap parking.
Shuttle
A wheelchair accessible shuttle departs from the Dechow Farm approximately every 15 minutes. This shuttle will make stops at the Kelderhouse and Burfiend Farms. Those wanting to visit the Olsen and Thoreson Farms using the accessible shuttle should speak with the National Park Service Ranger at the entrance to the Dechow Farm.
Restroom
An ADA restroom is available at the Dechow Farm.
Terrain
Fair activities take place on mostly flat terrain. The activites are set up on mowed lawns where tree roots or uneven ground may be present.
NPS Photo
Dechow Farm
Activities and demonstrations:Horse and Wagon Rides, Horse teams working fields
Early American Michigan cricket 10-4 (Friday only)
Paul Dechow - Family History
Mrs. Dechow leads tours of the Barn “The Past in Present Time”
Goats and Conservation Grazing
Donkeys
Farm animals
Moomers’ Calves in the Barn Stalls, Milking Parlor tours
Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes—Information
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear – 2024 Poster Sales and Donation Can
NPS Interpretation – Natural and cultural history, education
Summer Internship Display
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network
Antique Bicycles
Model A Vehicle
Single Engine Motors
Hand Weaving and Basket Making
Rug Weaving
Wind-up musical instruments - Empire Area Museum
Goat Milk Soap Making
Hand Spun Wool
Felting and knitting
Pottery and Glass Jewelry
Hand Crafted, USDA Organic, All Natural Ingredient Soaps, Lip Balms, Body Butter
Hand Coloring Historic Sleeping Bear Dunes Photographs
Pottery, Fused Glass, Maple Syrup and Honey
Sleeping Bear Teen Media
Food:
Schwenk’inWagon - lunch, Saturday breakfast
Moomers’ Ice Cream
NPS Photo / A. Stotz-Ghosh
Kelderhouse Farm
Activities and demonstrations:
Kelderhouse family history presented by Thomas P. Kelderhouse descendants
Postal Service History of Port Oneida by the Leelanau Historical Society
Wreck of the Rising Sun by the Leelanau Historical Society
1931 Ford Model A by the Leelanau Historical Society
Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society stewards of The Poor Farm Barn
Revitalizing the historic apple orchard presented by Leelanau Conservation District
“Stations of the Storm” hands-on activities of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
Portraits of the Past - Kelderhouse Port Oneida Cemetery
NPS Photo/ K. Maisano
Olsen Farm
Music:
Musicians and storytelling – Norm Wheeler and Pat Niemesto
Dulcimer music
Hammer’d – dulcimer group - Saturday only at 2:15 pm
Activites and demonstrations:
Olsen Barn Tours
Root cellar open
Old Tyme Photography – selfies in costume in barn
Tom VanZoeren – oral history recording; his books; Port Oneida History
Children’s Lawn Games – Hoops, Graces, potato spoon, burlap sack, box hockey, croquet, bean bag
2024 Port Oneida Poster Artist - poster sales and signing
Farm life/City Life (Friday only)
Flax and Linen – (Friday only)
Spinning and wool types – (Saturday only)
Washtub demonstration
Soap making and herbs
Tatting, rug hooking
Penny Rug Making
Rug Braiding
Sewing/patching/show quilt - (Friday only)
Hand quilting
Preservation Station - food preservation using traditional methods
Cooking /food-ways
Stamping
Bread and butter making
Composting
Fishing
Vegetable and Flower Gardening
Food:
Cherry Republic Ice Cream
NPS Photo
Port Oneida School House
Activities and demonstrations:
11 am - 2 pm - School Days in the one-room schoolhouse
NPS photo
Thoreson Farm
Music:
Rigs & Jeels - Traditional fiddle & mandolin 11-4 (Friday only)
North Bay Celtic Band - Traditional Irish & American tunes 10-4 (Saturday only)
Activites and demonstrations:
Rope Making activity
Coiled pine needles and crocheted doilies
Shaker boxes & French rolling pins
Thrown pottery
Knitting and crocheting
Blacksmiths
Rag rug twining
Basket weaving
Basket weaving with found natural materials
Traditional timber framing
Star Party, 9-11 pm, Saturday August 10
2024 Fair Sponsors
Platinum $1000
Drs. Joanne Blum and Paul Dechow
Moomers Ice Cream
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear
Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Bureau
____________________________________
Silver $250
Northwoods Hardware
Art’s tavern
__________________________________
Bronze $100
Good Harbor Grill