Heritage Village celebrates its 26th anniversary with its annual Heritage Festival, Aug. 2-4 in Montcalm Heritage Village, located on Montcalm Community College’s Sidney campus.
Take a trip down memory lane during the three-day celebration, which 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.
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.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The opening ceremony is Aug. 2 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, Civil War encampment, schoolroom reenactments in the Gaffield School until 1 p.m., a quilt show and quilting instruction, live music, printing demonstrations, a bake sale, used book sale and craft demonstrations.
Aug. 2 is the Montcalm County Commission on Aging Day. Special events for senior citizens are in MCC’s Beatrice E. Doser Building and include bingo, desserts and refreshments, health and lifestyle booths, and a 50-50 raffle. Transportation is provided from the parking area.
Bob Milne, the top ragtime and boogie-woogie pianist in the United States, returns to Montcalm Community College’s Barn Theater for one performance at 7 p.m. Aug. 3. 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 at 6:30 p.m. Contact MCC Dean of Instruction and Faculty Gary Hauck at garyh@montcalm.edu or 989-328-1234 for more information.
On Aug. 4, the MCC Foundation hosts its 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 by e-mailing terrys@montcalm.edu.
Other special events on Aug. 4 include children’s activities, a gospel hymn sing with Bob Milne and Vintage Base Ball games, following rules and customs from the 1860s.
Visit www.montcalm.edu/heritage-festival for a complete schedule of events or for more information about Montcalm Heritage Village.
