33rd annual event is Aug. 1-3 on MCC’s Sidney campus
Take a step back in time during the 33rd annual Heritage Festival, Aug. 1-3, at Montcalm Heritage Village on Montcalm Community College’s Sidney campus.
The opening ceremony is Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. at the gazebo, followed by the Montcalm County Commission on Aging Senior Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Heritage Village. Special events include lunch, drawings, door prizes, free blood pressure checks sponsored by Metron of Greenville and a scavenger hunt. Transportation is provided from the parking area.
New this year is a “Salute to Veterans” on Aug. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Heritage Village Bandstand/Gazebo.
“We’ll be acknowledging all who have served and learning about veterans from Montcalm County through the years,” said organizer Dr. Gary Hauck. “Colors will be posted by members of the American Legion Posts from Carson City and Stanton, and we’ll participate in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.”
All veterans are invited to enjoy a free lunch at the Heritage Village pavilion following the presentation.
Several activities and displays are available all three days, including historical displays in Heritage Village buildings, live music, an antique tractor display, children’s activities, ironwork demonstrations in the Blacksmith Shop, a display of a railroad speeder and equipment, demonstrations by the American Mountain Men, a Civil War Encampment, craft demonstrations, an ice cream parlor and dairy equipment display, antique small engine displays, steam engine display and demonstrations, cake walks and more. The Montcalm Area Master Gardeners will also offer garden tours.
The MCC Foundation hosts its pancake breakfast Aug. 3 from 7 to 10 a.m. in MCC’s Activities Building. Proceeds from the breakfast support the MCCF Festival Scholarship Fund, which helps dual-enrolled students cover the cost of their books if financial help is needed. For advance tickets, contact MCC Foundation Executive Director Lisa Lund at 989-328-1284 or lisal@montcalm.edu.
Vintage Base Ball returns to the festival Aug. 3 on MCC’s south and east lawns. All cranks, or fans, are invited to watch as five club nines, or teams, try to score enough aces, or runs, to win the game. Games start at 9 a.m. Parking and admission are free.
The festival is offered by the Montcalm Heritage Village Volunteers, a group of community members that works year-round in the historical Heritage Village on the college’s Sidney campus; MCC; and the MCC Foundation. Montcalm Heritage Village was established in 1986 on MCC’s campus and has grown to include 28 buildings and hundreds of artifacts from local areas depicting life in Michigan in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. All events are free unless otherwise noted.
For a complete schedule of events or for more information about Montcalm Heritage Village, visit www.montcalm.edu/heritage-festival.
DAILY CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Thursday, Aug. 1 – Honoring Seniors Day
10 a.m., Festival opening – Bandstand/Gazebo
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic schoolhouse reenactment – Gaffield School
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Montcalm County Commission on Aging Senior Fest. Special events for senior citizens include lunch, drawings, door prizes, free blood pressure checks (sponsored by Metron of Greenville) and a scavenger hunt. Transportation is provided from the parking area. – Heritage Village
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tractor-drawn wagon rides
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Children’s activities, crafts, games and prizes – Children’s Playhouse
- 1 p.m., Children’s cake walk – Children’s Playhouse
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Quilt Show by Quilter’s Quorum – Tent on the Green
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Self-guided tours of all Heritage Village buildings with docents available to provide information and answer questions
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Haircuts (by donation) – Barbershop
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Live music – Bandstand/Gazebo
- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Country Kin (country and gospel)
- 12 to 1 p.m. – Hubbardston Irish Dance Troupe
- 3 to 4 p.m. – The Butterfly Band (traditional folk)
11 a.m., Garden tour presented by Montcalm Area Master Gardeners
1 to 1:30 p.m., Montcalm History A to Z, presented by Dana Johnson – Township Hall
Friday, Aug. 2 – Children’s Day
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic schoolhouse reenactment – Gaffield School
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tractor-drawn wagon rides
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Children’s activities, crafts, games and prizes – Children’s Playhouse
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Pony rides
- 1 p.m., Children’s cake walk – Children’s Playhouse
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Live music – Bandstand/Gazebo
- 10 to 11 a.m. – The Keith Hudson Band
- 1 to 1:30 p.m. – Greenville Juggling Club
- 2 to 3 p.m. – Boys from Amsden (Bluegrass and gospel)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Schoolhouse Quilter’s – Tent on the Green
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Self-guided tours of all Heritage Village buildings with docents available to provide information and answer questions
1 to 1:30 p.m., Montcalm History A to Z, presented by Dana Johnson – Township Hall
Saturday, Aug. 3 – “Salute to Veterans” Day
7 to 10 a.m., MCC Foundation Pancake Breakfast – MCC Activities Building. The cost is $5 per person in advance or $6 at the door. Contact MCC Foundation Executive Director Lisa Lund at lisal@montcalm.edu or 989-328-1284 to purchase tickets or for more information.
9 a.m., Vintage Base Ball – MCC South Lawn and Heritage Village East Lawn
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic schoolhouse reenactment – Gaffield School
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tractor-drawn wagon rides
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Children’s activities, crafts, games and prizes – Children’s Playhouse
- 1 p.m., Children’s cake walk – Children’s Playhouse
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Live music – Bandstand/Gazebo
- 10 to 11 a.m. – Anam Kara (Celtic ensemble)
- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Bows, Bellows and Good Lookin’ Fellows (traditional)
- 3 to 4 p.m. – Obligato Ensemble
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Self-guided tours of all Heritage Village buildings with docents available to provide information and answer questions
11 a.m., Old-fashioned patriotic church service – Heritage Village Church
11 a.m., Garden tour presented by Montcalm Area Master Gardeners
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Salute to Veterans – Bandstand/Gazebo
1 p.m., Garden tour presented by Montcalm Area Master Gardeners
1 to 1:30 p.m., Montcalm History A to Z, presented by Dana Johnson – Township Hall
All three days:
American Mountain Men – Demonstrations and exhibits on the south lawn
Bandstand/Gazebo – Music and entertainment
Belle’s Hat Shoppe – Historic displays
Blacksmith Shop – Demonstrations with ironwork
Cake walks – 12:30 p.m. at the Bandstand and 1 p.m. at the Children’s Playhouse
Children’s Scavenger Hunt – Village-wide
Civil War Encampment – Demonstrations and exhibits on the north lawn
Craft Demonstrations – Craft Lane
Edmore Jail – Historic displays
Ehle Barn – Antique farm equipment and small engines
Gaffield School – Open for display
Golf Carts – Compliments of Fry’s Golf Carts, Carson City
Maintenance of Way – Display of a Railroad Speeder and equipment
McBrides Depot – Steam engine, coal car and caboose on display
Old Iron Tractor Club – Display of antique tractors and a steam engine on the east lawn
Pavilion – Village Country Kitchen sells sandwiches, chips, pie, cookies and beverages provided by the Stanton Women’s Club
Print Shop – Open for display
Rush Dairy – Ice cream parlor and dairy equipment
Shoen Log Cabin – Historic displays and spinning demonstrations
Sidney General Store – Bake sale and displays, dry goods and old fashioned hats for sale
Sidney Town Hall – Videos and county and township historic displays
Steam Engine – Display and demonstration of a steam engine by Dave Kemler on the east lawn
Tent on the Green – Quilt show
Thorland Ice House – Historic displays
Tool Shed – Farm tool displays and antique sleigh
Village Church – Open house and music
