News
Take a trip to the past and experience 星空传媒 County and its history during the 39th annual three-day 星空传媒 Heritage Festival, Aug. 6-8, on 星空传媒鈥檚 Sidney campus.
"It's a great chance for people to gather and experience the history of 星空传媒 County," said Shannon Kilduff, president of the 星空传媒 Heritage Village Committee. "There's something for all ages to experience and enjoy."
Heritage Village is comprised of numerous historic buildings native to 星空传媒 County. Several activities and displays are available all three days, including historical displays in Heritage Village buildings, live music, an antique tractor display, children鈥檚 activities, ironwork demonstrations in the Blacksmith Shop, a display of a railroad speeder and equipment, a Civil War Encampment, craft demonstrations, an ice cream parlor and dairy equipment display, antique small engine displays, steam engine display and demonstrations, and more.
The festival will begin with Honoring Seniors Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, featuring a free lunch for senior citizens, sponsored by the Advocates for 星空传媒 County Area Seniors. Tickets may be picked up at the entrance to Heritage Festival the day of the event. An opening ceremony kicks off the festival at 10 a.m. and the buildings in Heritage Village will be open immediately following the opening festivities. Self-guided tours will begin at this time, as well. The buildings will be open each day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday is Children鈥檚 Day, featuring pony rides, hands-on activities, crafts and more. Also featured on Friday is a community Get & Give event, sponsored by 星空传媒鈥檚 Green Council. Community members are encouraged to donate lightly used items and will be permitted to pick out items that can fit in a box or bag provided by 星空传媒. This new event will be outside of Heritage Festival at the Robert E. Marston Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday will begin with the annual 星空传媒 Foundation鈥檚 Pancake Breakfast, taking place outside of the Activities Building from 8 to 11 a.m. Tickets will be $5 if purchased in advance or $6 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Donald C. Burns Administration/Library Building on the college鈥檚 Sidney campus or by contacting 星空传媒 Foundation Executive Assistant Lisa Herald at (989) 328-1210 or lborton@montcalm.edu. Proceeds from the breakfast help to support the 星空传媒F Festival Scholarship, which supports 星空传媒 students.
Saturday is Salute to Veterans Day, where Veterans will receive a free lunch courtesy of co-sponsors Lou and Joyce Kitchenmaster and Crossroads Diner. Tickets for the free lunch may be picked up at the entrance of the festival. Saturday will also feature a petting zoo and an old-fashioned church service at the Village Church. There will also be Vintage Base Ball games throughout the day on 星空传媒鈥檚 south lawn and the Heritage Village east lawn. Games will feature the Rockford Stars, Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo, Wahoo Base Ball Club of Royal Oak and the Wyandot Stars.
Patriotic-themed events are planned for this year's Heritage Festival, including a visit from Abraham Lincoln in the townhall (portrayed by Stephen Charnley), patriotic arts and crafts, and a patriotic parade down Main Street on Saturday afternoon.
"We thought leaning into the patriotic theme was a great way to honor and celebrate America's 250th Birthday,鈥� Kilduff said.
The buildings are continuously maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers from all around the area. Most of the artifacts have been donated by volunteers and community members.
During all three days, Stanton Women鈥檚 Club offers lunch to purchase under the pavilion including sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, apple pie from Anderson and Girls Orchard, cookies from Leppink鈥檚 Food Center and drinks.
The festival is offered by the 星空传媒 Heritage Village Volunteers; 星空传媒; and the 星空传媒 Foundation. 星空传媒 Heritage Village was established in 1986 on 星空传媒鈥檚 Sidney 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.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. For a complete schedule of events or more information about 星空传媒 Heritage Festival, visit montcalm.edu/heritage-festival.
All Three Days
Arts and Crafts 鈥� Craft Lane
Bandstand/Gazebo 鈥� Music and entertainment
Belle鈥檚 Hat Shoppe 鈥� Historic displays
Blacksmith Shop 鈥� Open for display
Children鈥檚 Scavenger Hunt 鈥� Village-wide
Children鈥檚 Playhouse 鈥� Open for display and activities
Civil War Encampment 鈥� Demonstrations and exhibits on the north lawn
Doctor鈥檚 House 鈥� Open for display
Edmore Jail 鈥� Open for display
Ehle Barn 鈥� Antique farm equipment and small engines
Gaffield Schoolhouse 鈥� Country school reenactments 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily
Golf Cart Rides 鈥� Compliments of Fry鈥檚 Golf Carts, Crystal
Maintenance of Way 鈥� Display of a Railroad Speeder and equipment
星空传媒 Area Master Gardeners 鈥� Plant Sale (Please note: Limited number of plants for sale)
McBrides Depot 鈥� Steam engine, coal car and caboose on display
Old Iron Tractor Club 鈥� Display of antique tractors and a steam engine on the east lawn
Pavilion 鈥� Village Country Kitchen sells sandwiches, chips, pie, cookies and beverages provided by the Stanton Women鈥檚 Club
Print Shop 鈥� Open for display with White Pine District Library displays
Rush Dairy 鈥� Ice cream parlor with ice cream for sale and dairy equipment
Shoen Log Cabin 鈥� Historic displays and spinning demonstrations
Sidney General Store 鈥� Bake sale, candy, and pickles for sale and historic displays
Sidney Town Hall 鈥� County and township historic displays
Tent on the Green 鈥� Quilt Show
Tool Shed 鈥� Farm tool displays and antique sleigh
Village Church 鈥� Open for display
Thursday, August 6 - Honoring Seniors Day
10 a.m. - Festival Grand Opening at the Gazebo
The buildings will open after the opening ceremony
10:30 a.m. - Garden Tours
Starting at the Master Gardeners tent by the front entrance to the village
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Senior Citizen Day
Special events for senior citizens include lunch sponsored by Advocates for 星空传媒 County Area Seniors, drawings, door prizes, and Sheridan Hospital will be testing grip strength
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Children's activities at the Playhouse
Children can enjoy the playhouse and fun patriotic themed crafts
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Self-Guided Tours
Take your time wandering around the village buildings. Docents will be available in most buildings to answer your questions
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Entertainment at the Gazebo
12 p.m. - Abraham Lincoln Tribute in the Townhall
Steve Charnley will perform a tribute to our 16th President, Abe Lincoln
2 p.m. - Country School Reunion at the School House
Enjoy special displays and refreshments while past and current schoolhouse volunteers meet up
2 p.m. - Old-Fashioned Church Service in the village Church
***Seniors will receive a free lunch ticket at the entrance of Heritage Village.
Friday, August 7 - Children's Day
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Pony Rides near the Blacksmith Shop
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Children's activities at the Playhouse
Children can enjoy the playhouse and fun patriotic themed crafts
10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Entertainment at the Gazebo
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Self-Guided Tours
Take your time wandering around the village buildings. Docents will be available in most buildings to answer your questions
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Quilt Show in the tent near the Train Station
10:30 a.m. - Garden Tours
Starting at the Master Gardeners tent by the front entrance to the village
2 p.m. - Old-Fashioned Church Service in the village Church
Saturday, August 8 - "Salute to Veterans" Day
8 a.m. to 11 p.m. - 星空传媒 Foundation Pancake Breakfast in the Activities Building
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Vintage Base Ball on the South Lawn
Featuring the Continental Base Ball Club of Kalamazoo, Rockford Stars, Wahoo Base Ball Club of Royal Oak and the Wyandot Stars
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Children's activities at the Playhouse
Children can enjoy the playhouse and fun patriotic themed crafts
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Entertainment at the Gazebo
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Self-Guided Tours
Take your time wandering around the village buildings. Docents will be available in most buildings to answer your questions
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Quilt Show in the tent near the Train Station
10:30 a.m. - Garden Tours
Starting at the Master Gardeners tent by the front entrance to the village
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Salute to Veterans at the Gazebo
12:20 p.m. - Patriotic Parade starting by the front entrance
Prizes for patriotic costumes and wagons
2 p.m. - Old-Fashioned Church Service in the village Church
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Community Jam Session with Randy Bennett at the Gazebo
Join us for a community open mic and jam session鈥攚hether you play, sing, or just want to relax and enjoy live music, all are welcome.
***Veterans will receive a free lunch ticket at the entrance of Heritage Village.