15^th Annual Harvest Festival set for September 28^th

By Charlie Church

Rolling north up 23^rd from TU avenue, a western wash of gilding light stretches through the corn, causing travelers to marvel at the crop’s height and mark the coming season. The rays lancing through the field and the coolness of late August evening air, an evocative mixture, engender one to wonder how many years corn has been cultivated here. Thoughts like these of prior harvests, earlier farmers, and all the little histories slightly obscured, surround us and we commemorate them in a celebration. The Vicksburg Historical Society entreats all to attend the 15th Annual Harvest Festival at the Vicksburg Historic Village on Sunday, September 28th. Between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., village visitors will discover the park has come to life with all the historic and replica buildings open and hosted by knowledgeable docents, an ample animal zone, live craft demonstrations, the Dodworth Saxhorn Band, and so much more!

In its fifteenth year, the Harvest Festival looks to grow its educational offerings by adding a flavor of musical history. The wonderful Dodworth Saxhorn band will play in the gazebo illuminating the look and sound of 160 years ago. Through musical stories, the troupe will entertain all in a moving and often comedic fashion. Singing, antique instrument solos, and well-crafted narratives coalesce to make the band an attraction no one should miss.

The pumpkin decorating contest returns in its expanded form, allowing nearly everyone to join in. Adults, teens, and kids can all compete amongst their respective cohort by ornamenting a pumpkin before the fest and submitting it to the depot on Saturday, Sept. 27. Children aged 5 to 12, teenagers, and adults can enter this pumpkin decorating competition for fun gift cards and accolades! This contest requires entries to be delivered to the Depot Museum on Saturday, Sept. 27, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Application forms are available online at vicksburghistory.org and at the Depot Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in September.

While attending the Harvest Festival, those of an artistic bent will also be able to sate their creative cravings at the Vicksburg Arts’ Creation Station. Open to all ages, the activity is always a blast and will be located between the village garage and print shop. In addition, South County Community Services and Generous Hands will have plenty of petite pumpkins to sticker, marker, and beautify. While there, kids can also play tons of fun handmade games and collect sweet treats. Of course, throughout the Historic Village, children can seek clues to a secret phrase and engage in a delightful scavenger hunt of artifacts. Attendees can also guess the weight of a locally grown gourd for a prize up at the headquarters tent. All over the grounds, people will be able to participate in a 50/50 raffle and take photos in hand painted cutouts.

At the pavilion, local agriculture and craftmanship will be available to peruse and purchase. Many vendors from The Farmers’ Market will be present, as well as local businesses and service organizations looking to engage visitors. There will also be a variety of food trucks to satisfy a wide spectrum of palates. There is certainly something for everyone with face painting, fiber arts presentations, an expanded animal zone, horse-drawn wagon rides, woodturning demonstrations, and more.

The Harvest Festival is a free to attend event and is made so through many amazing volunteers and donors. From the straw bales and corn stalks adorning the village, donated by the Richardsons and Lenny Jaworski respectively, to the ample parking afforded by the Krills, the festival relies on many caring people. Though it’s not possible to name all such folks, we would like to recognize a few here. Folks like Dewey Waterman and the schools’ maintenance department that loan equipment necessary for the administration of the event. Of course, A favorite attraction are the Model A rides for $1, and this aspect of the fest too is only possible with the generosity of the Smokers who will chauffeur visitors in their lovingly restored vehicles.

This year, the Vicksburg Historical Society is introducing a business directory that will feature interesting snippets of local history and cool photos and will recognize business supporters. Be sure to stop by the headquarters tent to pick up your free copy.  At the Harvest Festival, all the buildings in the Historic Village will be open. Friendly and knowledge guides will be in each to explain the history of the print shop, general store, Doris Lee Sweet Shop, schoolhouse, township hall, garage, and farmhouse. The Vicksburg Historical Society and Historic Village are open during the summer and beginning of the fall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for researching and viewing the collection of artifacts at the Depot Museum and on the grounds. The Harvest Festival is organized by the Vicksburg Historical Society, and we look forward to welcoming all, rain or shine, on the last Sunday in September.

Contest Entry Form and Rules

Contest Entry Form and Rules

14th Annual Harvest Festival Returns to the Vicksburg Historic Village

By Charlie Church

Autumn is upon us and looking to the leaves, their soon striking display is just yet a hinting indication. This time of year often evokes a strong sense of transition. With the seasons shifting into the next, progress of the period also invites us to look back and celebrate our collective history. The Vicksburg Historical Society welcomes all to the 14th Annual Harvest Festival at the Vicksburg Historic Village on September 29th. This entertainingly educational event, held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., promises a day filled with family-friendly activities, live craft demonstrations, and a chance to step back and experience early twentieth century village life.

The Harvest Festival has become a beloved tradition in Vicksburg, drawing residents and visitors alike to the Historic Village, a charming collection of buildings that showcase the area’s history. This year’s festival will be no exception, offering a wide range of activities for all ages. The village buildings will be open for tours, giving guests the opportunity to explore the general store, print shop, and other historical structures that capture the essence of middle America during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.

Lauding local agriculture is a deep value of the festival, and at the pavilion, vendors from The Farmers’ Market will showcase bountiful area produce, finely crafted items, lovely baked goods, and all manner interesting curios. Come hungry, as visitors can sample an amazing variety of food trucks and stalls offering delectable treats. Children will find plenty to enjoy with pumpkin painting, old-fashioned games, and a large animal zone, while adults can browse fiber arts demonstrations or learn about the linotype machine in the print shop. The festival also offers a unique opportunity to discover more about the history of Vicksburg through guided tours and storytelling sessions led by knowledgeable volunteers.

Last year, the pumpkin decorating contest was expanded to allow teens and adults to compete, and this year will continue that. Ahead of the event, children aged 5 to 12, teenagers, and adults can enter a pumpkin decorating competition for prestige and prizes. This contest requires entries to be delivered to the Depot Museum on Saturday, Sept. 28 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Applications for the pumpkin decorating contest will be available online at vicksburghistory.org and at the Depot Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in September.

Generous Hands and South County Community Services will have lots of little gourds to be festooned in stickers, markers, and imagination. While children decorate, they can also engage in locally made games for fun and treats. The Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center will once again have a creation station inspiring artistic endeavors in all ages. As always, a secret word and picture search will get the kids scrambling all over the Historic Village seeking clues to solve an omitted phrase. At the headquarters tent, attendees can submit guesses of a homegrown pumpkin’s weight and throughout the grounds they can participate in a 50/50 raffle.

This year, the Harvest Festival will feature some new attractions like fun photo opportunities to pop your head though and immortalize the day. We’ll also have returning favorites like horse-drawn hay wagon rides, woodturning demonstrations, face painting, and all sorts of neat animals to pet and appreciate. The Vicksburg Historical Society’s 1931 Ford Model A will be available to ferry folks on short rides. All along the gravel path, visitors will be able to see antique tractors and farm machinery up close.

All the buildings in the Historic Village, many that have been relocated and restored, will be open for tours. Friendly and knowledge guides will be in each to explain the history of the print shop, general store, Doris Lee Sweet Shop, schoolhouse, township hall, garage, and farmhouse. The Vicksburg Historical Society and Historic Village are open during the fall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for researching and viewing the collection of artifacts at the Depot Museum and on the grounds. The Harvest Festival is organized by the Vicksburg Historical Society, and we look forward to welcoming all, rain or shine, on the last Sunday in September.

Christmas Card Lane | All Day

Family Friendly Entertainment | 3–5 pm

Winter Farmers Market | 3–7 pm

Dear Member, Since 1967, the Vicksburg Historical Society has committed itself to our mission to preserve, advance, and disseminate the history of the greater Vicksburg area. I am so grateful for your support as a member to our mission. In the last year, our staff and volunteers have worked hard to provide learning, research, and gathering opportunities to the Vicksburg community for free. Below is a list of just some of what we have accomplished this year:  Provided tours to over 200 Vicksburg second graders as part of their history/social studies curriculum. And provided tours to over 100 students from neighboring communities. Organized the 13th annual Harvest Festival. Hosted, or co-hosted, five presentations from speakers throughout Michigan through our Speaker Series and partnerships with local businesses. Maintained proper storage for over 20,000 artifacts using archival materials and best practices. The Historical Society board, staff, and volunteers are committed to continuing the tradition of providing our services for free, though that comes at a cost. We look to our community to support this tradition and support our mission. Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2023 is a global day of giving – and the Vicksburg Historical Society is participating. We’re humbly asking for your support. Will you help us? Your support is essential and very much appreciated. Warmest Regards, Tamra Stafford, President Vicksburg Historical Society P.S. All donations are tax deductible!

Ways to give: Donate in person or here.  Purchase from our Amazon Wish List. Leave a legacy gift to the Vicksburg Historical Society by joining our Legacy Circle. Call 269.649.1733 or email info@vicksburghistory.org.

We invite you to meander blithely through the Vicksburg Historic Village and take in Vicksburg’s Christmas Card Lane!

This is the perfect activity to evoke the holiday spirit.

Take the family and slowly wind through, spying all the creativity and Christmas cheer!

Celebrating Community and Abundance: The 13th Annual Harvest Festival in Vicksburg

Just as the vibrant hues of autumn begin to dapple the landscape and the air takes on a crisp edge, anticipation of the 13th Annual Vicksburg Harvest Festival arrives. This cherished event, a wonderful way to while the family’s time in the fall, is set to unfold on Sunday, September 24. Promising a weekend of festive flavors, family-friendly activities, and celebration of harvests past, the occasion will begin at 11:00am and end at 4:00pm. It is hosted by the Vicksburg Historical Society and takes place on the Historic Village grounds.

This year’s Harvest Festival promises a diverse array of activities to captivate attendees. Among the attractions, the Historic Village itself will come alive with doting docents in each of the buildings. Young and old will delight in horse-drawn hay wagon rides, a sawmill demonstration, tiny pumpkin decorating, face painting, and all sorts of neat animals to pet and appreciate. The Vicksburg Historical Society’s 1931 Ford Model A will be available to ferry folks on short rides. All along the gravel path, visitors will be able to see antique tractors and farm machinery up close.

As in the preceding years, a secret word and picture search will get the kids scrambling all over the early twentieth century Historic Village seeking clues to earn prizes. In addition, Generous Hands and South County Community Services will have petite pumpkins to be decorated near the headquarters tent. There will also be a game to guess a gourd’s weight and a 50/50 raffle.

As a special treat this year, the pumpkin decorating contest will expand to allow teens and adults to compete. Ahead of the event, children aged 5 to 12, teenagers, and adults can enter a pumpkin decorating competition for prizes from Apple Knockers. This contest requires entries to be delivered to the Depot Museum on Saturday, Sept. 23 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Applications for the pumpkin decorating contest will be available online at vicksburghistory.org and at the Depot Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in September.

Central to the festival’s theme is the celebration of local agriculture. Up at the pavilion, vendors from The Farmers’ Market will showcase the area’s rich agricultural heritage and artisans and crafters from all over will have goods for sale. Food enthusiasts will be treated to a gastronomic journey, with a variety of food trucks and stalls offering delectable treats.

All the buildings in the Historic Village, many that have been relocated and restored, will be open for tours. Friendly and knowledge guides will be in each to explain the history of the print shop, general store, Doris Lee Sweet Shop, schoolhouse, township hall, garage, and farmhouse. The Vicksburg Historical Society and Historic Village are open during the fall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for researching and viewing the collection of artifacts at the Depot Museum and on the grounds. The Harvest Festival is organized by the Vicksburg Historical Society, and we look forward to welcoming all rain or shine on the last Sunday in September.