A variety of historical activities and displays are available during the 22nd annual Heritage Festival July 30 through Aug. 1 on Montcalm Community College’s Sidney campus.
The three-day celebration features historical displays, events, refreshments and music for all ages. The festival is offered by the Montcalm Heritage Village Committee, a group of community volunteers that works year around in the historical Heritage Village on the college’s campus; MCC and the MCC Foundation.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1. The opening ceremony is July 30 at 11 a.m. in the Village Church.
Several events run all three days including historical displays in Heritage Village buildings, a tool and machinery show in the blacksmith shop, display of a 1937 Chevrolet-General Pumper fire truck, schoolroom re-enactments in the Gaffield School until 1 p.m., a quilt show and quilting instruction, live music, a Civil War encampment, printing demonstrations, a bake sale, used book sale, yard sale and craft demonstrations.
Bob Milne, the top ragtime and boogie-woogie pianist in the United States, returns to MCC’s Barn Theater for two performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 31. Milne demonstrates the showy styles of the ragtime era on the piano and highlights his tunes with stories and commentaries about the music and musicians of the mid-1800s through the 1920s. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door beginning one-half hour prior to each performance. Contact Heritage Village Committee volunteer Ron Springsteen at 989-291-3622 for more information.
Offerings on Aug. 1 include the MCC Foundation’s pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. in MCC’s Activities Building. Proceeds from the breakfast support MCC scholarships. The cost is $5 per person in advance or $6 at the door. Advance tickets are available by calling 989-328-1284 or e-mailing terrys@montcalm.edu. Other special events on Aug. 1 include children’s activities, a blacksmith demonstration and vintage Base ball games, following rules and customs from the 1800s, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Montcalm Heritage Village was established in 1986 on MCC’s campus and has grown to include more than 20 buildings and hundreds of artifacts from local areas depicting life in Michigan in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Click here to view the 2009 Heritage Festival Program.