Now that we’re down to less than a week left of formal summer in Michigan’s Great Southwest, and the amazing aromas are emanating from vineyards all across the region, attention is rapidly turning to the fall harvest season. One place where that season is being celebrated in style is downtown Dowagiac where they are now prepping for their Under the Harvest Moon celebration, and you can be a part of that.
Owners of vintage farm machinery and collectors of antique farm toys are invited to display their units in downtown Dowagiac on Saturday, October 14, as the community hosts its annual Under the Harvest Moon festival.
Presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, the day-long event is being underwritten by these fine folks:
- Creative Vinyl Signs
- Dowagiac Area History Museum
- Kim MacGregor’s office of Edward Jones
- Forest Glen Assisted Living
- Hale’s Hardware
- J&H Oil Company
- Leader Publications
- Mennel Milling Co. of Michigan
- Preferred Printing
- Skibbe Business & Tax Service
- Smoke Vision Care
- Southwestern Michigan College
- Town & Country Garden Club
- Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service
Vickie Phillipson is chair of the event and program director for the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA). She has invited to the festival members of the Michiana Two-Cylinder Club and other collectors of antique farm tractors, along with Ausra Equipment of Dowagiac, which for the fourth year will be displaying two of its new units downtown.
Now in its seventh year, Under the Harvest Moon brings together collectors of antique farm tractors from Cass and Berrien counties, and an open air marketplace of Michigan-grown produce, autumn mums, handmade products and antiques.
Phillipson says, “New this year, we are also looking for collectors of antique farm toys, who would like to put their treasured pieces on display within one or two storefront windows.”
The one-day autumn festival, which runs from 10am to 4pm, features an array of family events from pottery and wood sculpting demonstrations to children’s games and crafts, pumpkin decorating, an animal petting farm, horse-drawn wagon rides and cardio drumming for adults. There will be also live music by the Van Dyke Revue and street musician Rene Meave, and the Taste of Michigan Wine & Craft Brew.
Phillipson says owners of vintage tractors may place their units on display at the event free of charge, however, for planning purposes they are asked to register in advance with the Chamber of Commerce. Collectors of antique farm toys should also contact Phillipson to learn more about putting their finds on display.
People who would like to sign up for commercial booth space to sell their wares, should call the Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212 for more information or by e-mail at vphillipson@Dowagiac.org. For a full list of festival activities, you can click this link: http://DowagiacChamber.com
