Last updated: July 5, 2024
Thing to Do
Port Oneida Fair
NPS
Step back in time at the Port Oneida Fair and experience life as it was in the late 1800's and early 1900'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. Click on the farm names below to see what's happening at each farm. 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 9 & 10, 2024
10 am - 4 pm
Star Party, 9-11 pm, August 10
Getting around
See site map at the bottom of the page.
Shuttle
Park your car at one of the four 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.
Horse and wagon
Take a horse and wagon ride between the Olsen and Dechow Farms.
Activities by location
Dechow Farm
Activities and demostrations:
Horse and Wagon Rides, Horse teams working fields
Donkeys
Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes—Information
Hand Spun Wool
NPS Interpretation – Natural and cultural history, education
Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network – Invasives Education (Friday only)
Antique Bicycles
Farm animals
Moomers’ Ice Cream, and Calves in the Barn Stalls
Hand Weaving and Basket Making
Rug Weaving
Vintage Masonry Glass Jar History and Tumbled Glass Treasures
Family History
Wind-up musical instruments
Goat Milk Soap Making
Mrs. Dechow leads tours of the Barn “The Past in Present Time”
Historic Sleeping Bear Preservation – 2024 Poster Sales and Donation Can
Model A Vehicle
Goats and Conservation Grazing
Felting and knitting
Maple Grove Cemetery
Single Engine Motors
Native Seeds
Hand Crafted, USDA Organic, All Natural Ingredient Soaps, Lip Balms, Body Butter
Summer Internship Display
Hand Coloring Historic Sleeping Bear Dunes Photographs
Early American Michigan cricket 10-4 (Friday only)
Pottery, Fused Glass, Maple Syrup and Honey
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:
Farm life/City Life - Friday ONLY
Flax and Linen – Friday ONLY
Spinning and wool types – Saturday ONLY
Musicians and storytelling – Norm Wheeler and Pat Niemesto
Soap making and herbs
Tatting, rug hooking
Penny Rug Making
Rug Braiding
Sewing/patching/show quilt - Friday only
Hand quilting
Old Tyme Photography – selfies in costume in barn
Tom VanZoeren – oral history recording; his books; Port Oneida History
Preservation Station - food preservation using traditional methods
Antique woodworking tools & wooden nametags for kids
Cooking /food-ways
Olsen Barn Tours
Stamping
Bread and butter making
Composting
Fishing
Washtub demo
Vegetable and Flower Gardening
Children’s Lawn Games – Hoops, Graces, potato spoon, burlap sack, box hockey, croquet, bean bag
Root cellar open
Food:
Chubby Unicorn Panini Sandwiches
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:
Rigs & Jeels - Traditional fiddle & mandolin 11-4 (Friday only)
North Bay Celtic Band - Traditional Irish & American tunes 10-4 (Saturday only)
Activites and demonstrations:
Coiled pine needles and crocheted doilies
Shaker boxes & French rolling pins
Spinning wheel yarn spinning, knitting, vintage sewing machines
Thrown pottery
Knitting and crocheting
Blacksmiths
Rag rug twining
Leonard Thoreson – Thoreson family tales and history
Basket weaving
Basket weaving with found natural materials
Quilting
Traditional timber framing
Star Party, 9-11 pm, Saturday August 10
Details
Activity
Cultural Demonstrations
Activities by location
Burfiend Farm
Music:
Rigs & Jeels - traditional fiddle & mandolin - Friday only North Bay Celtic Band - Saturday only
Activities and demonstrations:
Early American Michigan cricket - Friday only
Leelanau Historical Society - Poor Farm Barn
Rope making for kids
Daily activities of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
Traditional timber framing demo
Antique woodworking tools and wooden nametags for kids
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:
Chubby Unicorn Panini Sandwiches
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
Food:
Roll Model Spring Rolls - Friday only
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 11 & 12, 2023
Parking lots are availabe at:
Port Oneida Farms Heritage Center - Olsen House
Dechow Farm
Thoreson Farm
Burfiend 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
Burfiend 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.
2023 Fair Sponsors
Platinum $1000
Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Bureau
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear
Drs. Joanne Blum and Paul Dechow
____________________________________
Silver $250
Northwoods Hardware
Empire EZ Mart
Art’s tavern
__________________________________
Bronze $100
Good Harbor Grill
Richmond Architects
__________________________________
Copper $50
Huntington National Bank