COMING EVENTS
Spring Plow Days
See how farmers used to plow the fields with draft horses or vintage tractors. Saturday, April 18 is not only Plow Day at the Buchanan School Farm in southwest Michigan, but also in the Kalamazoo area at Old Tyme Plow Days & Swap Meet at Scotts Mill County Park and at Tillers International, also in Scotts.
The first one of the season is Old Time Plow Days at Cornwell’s Turkeyville USA in Marshall on April 11.
The St. Clair County Farm Museum holds a Plow Day in May, tentatively set for the 9th, but refer to the website or facebook for confirmation. Ruby Ellen Farm in Traverse City will hold its Plow Day event on May 17.
Also check the Michigan Farm Bureau Events Calendar for Plow Days in other communities.
Sleeping Bear Dunes Barn Restoration Workshop
Date: June 8 – 12, 2026
Location: 3 miles south of Empire, Michigan off of M-22.
This year marks the 30th year that Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has hosted and developed “hands-on” barn repair workshops. The Park maintenance staff and a mason with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Dunes will provide the skilled labor.
The meeting site is the Lyle Schmidt Farm off of Norconk Road. Two other nearby sites, Tweddle Farm and Tweddle School, will offer additional training during the week.
The workshop will address repairing the Hay and Horse Barns at the Lyle Schmit Farm and the barn floor at the Tweddle Farm. There will also be a session on Stone Masonry repair on the Tweddle School foundation and Tweddle Farmhouse chimney. This is a good workshop for families and novice carpenters as well as more seasoned carpenters. A wide selection of tasks will keep everyone interested.
Projects include Wood Siding Repair, Stone Masonry, Animal Stall Repair, Door and Window Repair, and much more. This workshop is again able to provide a unique experience for all participants with park and park partner staff who will show you how to make the repairs with the materials and tools provided.
The workshop begins on site at 9:00 a.m. each day. There is no cost to participants. Participants should wear boots, gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend. Participants can sign up for any number of days.
Workers are not required to be skilled in the building trades, though experience will be helpful and appreciated. The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train owners and those interested how to do restoration work on timber and frame structures.
Camping will be allowed on site at the Lyle Schmidt Farm during the barn workshop for all registered participants interested in doing so. Amenities will be provided on site, including access to showers at park campgrounds.
Sign-Up
Interested parties should contact the park historical architect, Kimberly Mann. Call: (231) 326-4771 or email: kimberly_mann@nps.gov.
- Include name(s) of attendees, phone number, email address, and whether you intend to camp onsite.
- If camping, let us know if you have a Tent, RV, Trailer or Pickup Camper. Also, length of RV/Trailer.
So, organizers can determine an approximate number of participants, please call or email your intent to participate by June 05, 2026. Late registration always accepted. Day of the workshop drop-ins and observers are also welcome.
Michigan Steam Engine & Threshers Club 67th Reunion
Date: July 30 – Aug. 1, 2026 (Three days, always starting the last Thursday in July)
Location: Show Grounds, 1895 Hull Rd., Mason, MI 48854
Special feature: Scale model steam engines and tractors
- Steam engine and antique tractor shows
- Flea market
- Demonstration
- Food concessions
- Daily parade
Fall Harvest Days
Date: August 28-30, 2026
Location: St. Clair County Farm Museum, 8310 County Park Dr., Goodells, MI 48027
- Car and tractor show
- Demonstrations
- Rodeo
- Music performances
- Flea market, craft and food vendors
Michigan Flywheelers Antique Engine & Tractor Show
Date: Sept. 10 – 13m 2026 (Always starts the Thursday after Labor Day.)
Location: 06285 68th Street, South Haven, MI 49090
- Daily equipment parade
- Flea market
- Kids activities
- Shingle mill/saw mill demonstrations
- Live entertainment and jam session in Stephenson Barn
Fall Family Days
Date: Sept. 12-13, 2026 (Always the weekend after Labor Day)
Time: 8:00am–5 :00pm
Location: Thumb Octagon Barn at 6948 Richie Rd, Gagetown, MI 48735
- Craft & flea market
- Exhibits
- Demonstrations: gas engine, saw mill, field work, blacksmith, etc.,
- Children’s activities
- Food building featuring Farmers Breakfast and Fri. Night Fish Dinner (Sept. 5, 4-7pm),
Williamstown Twp. Harvest Festival
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 11am to 4pm
Location: Williamstown Twp. Community Park, 525 E. Grand River between Zimmer and Meridian Roads
Come celebrate the fall season at the 4th Annual Williamstown Township Harvest Festival featuring live music, food trucks, family activities, and more. This is a free, family-oriented event that includes a mini petting zoo and pony driven-cart ride hosted by M&Ms Farms, professional kite flying demonstration provided by Kites and Fun Things, and an apple cider press demonstration presented by Flore Orchards.
More Information: https://williamstownmi.gov/save-the-date-township-harvest-festival-on-october-3-2026/
Waterloo Farm Pioneer Day
Date: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, 10am-5pm
This celebration of late 19th century farm life includes:
- Tours of the Farm Museum, Dewey School
- Live music
- Demonstrations of crafts, trades and traditional cooking methods
- Vendor booths and concession stand.
Location: Waterloo Farm Museum, 13493 Waterloo Munith Rd., Grass Lake, MI 49240
Information: https://www.waterloofarmmuseum.org; (804) 596-2254
PAST EVENTS
Romeo Barn Tour
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, 11 AM – 4 PM
Location/Check-in: Romeo Arts & Archives Center, 290 N. Main St.
After a hiatus, the Romeo History Society welcomed back in 2025 one of its signature events — The Annual Barn Tour. See a variety of barn styles, including residential farming barns, storage barns, workshops and several commercial businesses operating out of a barn. This is a good tour for anyone who wants to explore these structures and the history they contain!
Tickets:
Adults (Ages 13+) – $20
Children (Ages 6 to 12) – $10;
Children 5 and under – FREE
Purchase online at https://romeohistoricalsociety.org/ or at Town Hall Antiques (205 N. Main St) and RAAC (290 N. Main St.)
Farm the Zeel: Tractor Show and Farm Festival
Date: June 22, 2024
To celebrate the Zeeland Historical Society’s designation of 2024 as the “Year of Agriculture,” a festival about the area’s agricultural heritage was held in the parking lot of First Reformed Church in Zeeland on June 22. In addition to food and fun activities, it featured 31 tractors on display and the Michigan Barn Preservation Network’s pop-up exhibit. With agricultural land and properties being rapidly developed in Ottawa County, the exhibit raised awareness about the value historic barns bring to the community and sparked an interest in preserving local agricultural heritage.
Hadley Homestead Harvest Days – Farm Hop and Festival
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16, 2022
Location: Hadley Mill Museum, 3633 S. Hadley Rd, Hadley MI (Lapeer County)
The Farm Hop is designed for families, history buff and those who simply want to revisit old America. Equipped with a map, guests on the this self-guided tour enjoy an engaging perspective of several area properties integral to farming in this region.
Participants spent a Saturday assessing the condition and stability of a barn to determine its needs. They learned about barn architecture, construction, maintenance and repair approaches.
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- Sept. 14 in Northern Michigan (Wexford and Kalkaska counties): Workshop included a stone repointing demonstration. Instructors: Steve Stier and Tammis Donaldson.
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- Sept. 28 in Grass Lake (Jackson County): Projects included closing a gap in the basement foundation wall and adding a support column at a rotted beam connection. Instructors: Tammis Donaldson, Stephanie White and Steve Stier.
For more information about Barn School Workshops, click here.