Visit the Historic 2013 Scottville Harvest Festival

[XLFD]

Why did I choose the "historic" adjective to refer to this year's annual Scottville Harvest Festival?  Well it's because just a little over a month ago our area's citizens were told that there wasn't going to be a carnival or a free ox roast this year by the event's organizers, the Ludington and Scottville Chamber of Commerce, the Scottville Main Street Program, and the Mason County Central Education Foundation (MCCEF).  To some of us, this was like when, in our childhood, we were apprised that there wasn't a Santa Claus.

 

They did excitedly tell us all:  "We are excited about the new partnerships. Together we are bringing fresh ideas to this event to ensure it can continue for many years.” - Kathy MacLean (L/S CC).  While Heather Landis (Scottville's Main Street Manager) told us about the money they usually put forth for the Ox Roast was to be used by the MCCEF, and that the carnival was not sought out due to some merchants complaining about street closures. 

 

The Harvest Festival is more than some downtown Friday-Night-Live-style celebration.  It's three days (at least) where Mason County seeks out Scottville and celebrates the harvest time with traditional activities, many that go back over a hundred years like the free ox roast.  Our haven of "cultural economic development" gurus which want to market the area's culture, seem to be the first ones to try to tamper with tradition and customs.  The Harvest Festival a few years back without the carnival and the carnival atmosphere, was in my opinion, a flop, and should have proved to the same managers that it was an expected part of this late summer soiree. 

 

 

Fortunately, my faith in fellow citizens thundered into the picture for a rescue.  Richard Cox along with many other area citizens saw to it that the ox roast would continue and that the carnival would indeed come into town.  Without their efforts, the Harvest Festival, as we all know and love it, may have had its last year.  But these people still believed in Santa. 

 

Here are the events, make sure you take the family and get some "ox" meat on Thursday evening, and let the kids enjoy the rides.

 

 

Tuesday, September 10 Farmer's Market, 4:30-7:30pm. Queen's Coronation, 7pm, Clown Band Shell. Concert at the Band Shell-Joe Clark and the Fosters, 7pm.

 

Thursday, September 12 Schmidt Amusements, 3pm-10pm. Annual Farm Tour & Poker Run, 5pm. Bounce House, 5pm, Optimist Grounds. Pere Marquette Historical Motoring Club Car Show, 5-8pm, West Shore Bank Parking Lot. Petting Zoo, 5-8pm, next to Holden's Home Emporium. Kids Parade, 5:30pm, line up at Pizza Barn Plus. MCC Jazz Band, 5:30-7:30pm, Entertainment Tent. Ox Roast, 6pm. Pie Social, 6-8pm, Scottville United Methodist Church. Outdoor Movie, 8pm, Band Shell.

Friday, September 13 Quilt Show, 10am, Scottville Senior Center. Schmidt Amusements, 12pm-10pm. Entertainment Tent Opens, 6:30pm. Fremont John, 7pm, Entertainment Tent. Garden Tractor Transfer Sled Pull, 7pm, West Michigan Old Engine Club. Shotman Band, 9pm-1am, Entertainment Tent.

Saturday, September 14 Annual Softball Tournament, all day, McPhail Field. Pancake Breakfast, 8am-noon, Scottville Optimist Hall. Farmer's Market & Craft Fair, 9am-4pm, Main Street. Quilt Show, 10am, Scottville Senior Center. Kids Pedal Pull, 10am, West Shore Bank Parking Lot. Garden Tractor Dead Weight Pull, 10am, West Michigan Old Engine Club. Lyle Taylor Memorial Horseshow Tournament, 10am, Optimist Grounds. Soup & Sandwich Lunch, 11am-4pm, Scottville United Methodist Church. Kids Activities & Pixie Ponies, noon-5pm, Main Street. Schmidt Amusements, 12pm-10pm. Princess Contest, 12:30pm, Scottville Clown Band Shell. Grand Parade, 2pm, downtown Scottville. Scottville Clown Band, 3pm, Entertainment Tent. Antique Tractor Dead Weight Pull, 3pm, West Michigan Old Engine Club. Andy Thomas & Friends, 5:30-8:30pm, Entertainment Tent. Tangle Eye, 9pm-1am, Entertainment Tent.

Sunday, September 15 Annual Softball Tournament, all day, McPhail Field.

[Willy]

It sounds like a lot of fun. Must be the people who were trying to change the Scottville Harvest Festival are the same ones  who  turned the arts & crafts show in Ludington into a fine arts festival. Scottvilles Harvest Festival is a long time tradition and as they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[AQUAMAN]

Well said Willy, changing this event the original way announced isn't even close to smart. Peoples' wants for traditions must prevail. Now let's taste that Oxen sandwich, yum.