For more than two decades, the Port Oneida Fair has been celebrating the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the late 1800s and early 1900s of the area. This summer, as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, the fair will be “Celebrating the Threads of a Nation” in a theme that will give visitors the opportunity to reflect on the places and people of our shared history. The annual Port Oneida Fair will be held August 7-8, in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Port Oneida Rural Historic District, 4 miles north of Glen Arbor, and will include four farms and a one-room schoolhouse.
The fair brings the landscape alive with activities true to the by-gone period when it was a community of robust settlers. Visitors will experience a variety of artists, music, crafts, food, games and programs.
This year each site will highlight a thread from the past that ultimately created the fabric of rural American life for generations. The Olsen Farm will highlight “Feeding the Nation” with historic food preparation, gardening, and family life. The Dechow Farm will be “Harvesting Heritage” with a focus on farm animals and agricultural equipment. Thoreson Farm will be “Crafting Freedom” through blacksmithing, basketry, and textiles. And Kelderhouse Farm showcases the “Voices of Many” through storytelling and maritime activities.
Returning visitors might note that Thoreson Farm is again included in the fair after a oneyear hiatus in 2025 and is being hosted by members of the Thoreson family.
As this beloved tradition approaches a milestone, 2026 will mark the final year of the Port Oneida Fair in its current form. Looking ahead, Sleeping Bear Forever, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Fair Committee Members, and the surrounding community will collaboratively begin shaping a new vision for events that honor the area’s history. Together, these partners remain committed to preserving the cultural legacy of Port Oneida and exploring fresh ways to celebrate the stories, landscapes, and spirit that make this place so meaningful.
The fair is presented by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in partnership with Sleeping Bear Forever (formerly Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear). The event is free with a park pass.
