The 11th Annual Port Oneida Rural Arts and Culture Fair will take place on August 10th and 11th from 10 am to 4 pm. Hosted by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, visitors to the fair can take a shuttle, drive, hike, or bike between six historic sites to participate in a variety of activities.
Live music and dancing are going to take place at Burfiend Barn which is about a half-mile north of M-22 on Port Oneida Road (past the schoolhouse.) The music was chosen based on what would have been played in homes and at barn dances during the period of 1855-1945. There are plenty of activities aside from just dancing– watch horses work the field behind the barn, learn something about Michigan lighthouses and South Manitou Island, give traditional rope-making a whirl and more! There are also plenty of kids activities.
Check out the music schedule below so you don't miss out!
Friday, August 10, 2012
12:00 p.m. (noon) – Third Coast Mandolin Ensemble: Guitar, Irish tenor banjo, concertina, mandolins, and harp.
1:00 p.m. – An Dro: Four instrumentalists performing Irish melodies, old French songs, and songs with Scandinavian influences.
2:00 p.m. – Claudia Schmidt: Music, poetry, stories, laughter, drama, and just plain FUN. Garrison Keillor remarked, “When Claudia sings a song, it stays sung!”
3:00 p.m. – Pat Niemesto and Norm Wheeler: Pat is able to master any stringed instrument and Norm is a clever conveyor of the written word.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
12:00 p.m. (noon) – Les Dagliesh and Pat (Smoker) Harrison: Playing guitar and harmonica on original songs.
1:00 p.m. – Harmonica Hobos: Playing melodies from the past, campfire songs, and bluegrass all by ear. A fun group to listen to that really enjoys playing together.
2:00-4:00 p.m. – Learn to Square Dance: Get a feel for how the people who lived in Port Oneida spent their free time. A good ol’ barn dance filled with square dancing. Caller: Pat Hoekje; Fiddler: Bob Sadler and students; Rhythm Guitar: Joe Bottomhorn. You do not have to know how to square dance to join in the fun! They will teach you right there and you’ll be stomping your foot and dancing before you leave the barn.
All events are free with the purchase of a National Lakeshore Entrance Pass. Simply display the pass on your vehicle dashboard. For more information and a schedule of events, please visit the park’s website or call the National Lakeshore’s Visitor Center at 231-326-5134.
For more information about anything Sleeping Bear Dunes related check out the parks Facebook page or Twitter feed.