Every August, the Port Oneida Rural Historic District comes alive with activity true to the period when it was a community of robust settlers. Step back in time at the two-day Port Oneida Fair to experience life as it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Take the shuttle bus, hike, bike, or drive (if you must!) to the select historic sites where traditional rural crafts and activities take place. 

Over 60 demonstrators will be hard at work. Children can try their hand at crosscut sawing and other farm implements. Horses mow in the fields while artists create paintings inspired by the cultural landscape. Displays of antique bicycles and phonographs, engines. Watch the art of basket weaving, buttermaking, spinning, and hand tools crafting a functional piece. Barn tours, music, re-enactments, horse, and other animals engage the sense. Pack a picnic lunch to eat under a tree, or purchase food at various sites. This is an enjoyable and relaxing, yet educational family time.  

Visit 5 historic farms and a one-room schoolhouse: Burfiend Barn, Dechow Farm, Kelderhouse Farm, Olsen Farm, Port Oneida Schoolhouse, Thoreson Farm

2024 Fair Schedule – coming soon.

Map of locations

2024 Fair Posters will be for sale at the Olsen farm and Dechow farms. If you would like to submit a poster for consideration, email the highest possible quality image (jpg, tif, gif, or png) under 1MB to the Park at  e-mail us, and include the title, size, and medium of the work.
All artwork should be original and two-dimensional, and it’s best if your artwork is horizontal in orientation approximately two units high by three units wide. We may have to slightly crop your image if it’s necessary to fit it to the poster format.

Many past Fair Posters are available for purchase at the Olsen Farm/Port Oneida Heritage Center. 

For more information, call the Park at 231-326-4700 ex. 5010 or PHSB at 231-334-6103.

The Fair is funded by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,  park partner Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, your donations at the event, poster sales, and our generous business sponsors.