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Old Time Harvest Day Map

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Schedule of Events

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FAQ's

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Please join us for Old Time Harvest Day 🍂 at Historic Barns Park!

Celebrate a successful summer season and welcome the harvest with family-friendly fall fun – it’s FREE!

Date: Sunday, October 1st
Time: 12pm-4pm
Location: Historic Barns Park
1490 Red Dr
Traverse City, Michigan

Check out the Old Time Harvest Day Facebook Event.

OLD TIME HARVEST DAY MAP

HOW TO FIND HISTORIC BARNS PARK

OLD TIME HARVEST DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

12pm - 4pm: The Lord of the Gourd pumpkin sculpting

Pat Harrison is The Lord of the Gourd and will showcase his incredible talents as he carves pumpkins and gourds into pieces of art under The Botanic Garden Pavilion. Learn more by visiting his Facebook Page.

12pm - 4pm: Enter to win prizes

Stop in to our Visitor Center Gift Shop and enter to win $50 gift certificates from local restaurants and shops! No purchase necessary. Check out the line up of participating businesses here.

12pm - 4pm: Face painting

Enjoy this children’s activity in the Tent Lawn area.

12pm - 4pm: Yard games

Enjoy family-friendly versions of Sack Races, Football Toss, Table Games, Corn Hole, Pumpkin Ring Toss, Ladder Ball and more in the Amphitheater area.

12pm - 4pm: Carter Creek String Band & Friends

Enjoy toe-tappin’ old timey tunes performed by the talented Carter Creek String Band & Friends in The Cathedral Barn.

12pm - 4pm: Wagon rides

Hop aboard Rosie the Red Wagon (and friends) for a wagon ride tour offering beautiful views of the fields, meadows and old orchards above the Barns. There will be a break at 3:00pm for the Estes Family ADA Ramp Dedication ceremony.

12pm - 1pm: Cake walk

Enjoy this family-friendly game under The Botanic Garden Pavilion. If there is inclement weather, we’ll move the cake walk into the Visitor Center Meeting Room (top floor).

12:30pm - 1pm: Children's story time

Enjoy this children’s activity in the Amphitheater area.

12:30pm - 2pm: Gourd and pumpking painting

Enjoy this children’s activity led by Terry Hooper of Hooper’s Farm Gardens in the Tent Lawn area. This is a make-and-take craft activity.

1:00pm: Walk in the woods

Explore the Woodland Trail with Forester Kama Ross.

1:30pm - 2pm: Children's story time

Enjoy this children’s activity in the Amphitheater area.

2pm - 3pm: Cake walk

Enjoy this family-friendly game under The Botanic Garden Pavilion. If there is inclement weather, we’ll move the cake walk into the Visitor Center Meeting Room (top floor).

2:30pm - 3pm: Children's story time

Enjoy this children’s activity in the Amphitheater area.

2:30pm - 3pm: Walking Meditation

Stephen and Theresa Bangle will guide participants through simple, gently-guided meditations using time-honored techniques for developing a calmer, clearer mind that will benefit both oneself and others in The Labyrinth (weather permitting).

2:30pm - 4pm: Fairy wand craft

Enjoy this children’s activity led by Terry Hooper of Hooper’s Farm Gardens in the Tent Lawn area. This is a make-and-take craft activity.

3:00pm: Estes Family ADA Ramp Dedication

We’re thrilled to welcome the Estes family for the dedication ceremony of the brand new ADA ramp in the Native Plant Garden. It’s such an important addition to our Garden and offers a whole new level of accessibility to our visitors.

OLD TIME HARVEST DAY FAQ’s

Where should I park?

Parking for Old Time Harvest Day will be at Traverse Bay Area Intermediate (TBA). The Bill Marsh Auto Shuttle will be picking visitors up at the TBA parking lot and dropping them off at the Colantha Walker gravestone corner in Historic Barns Park. If extra accessibility is needed, attendees can drop passengers off at the Colantha Walker gravestone corner in Historic Barns Park before driving up Red Dr to TBA to park. Our Welcome Tent will be located at the Colantha Walker gravestone corner and volunteers will be on hand to assist those who need it. Its about a 0.3 mile / 6 minute walk down the flat dirt Red Dr from the TBA parking lot to Historic Barns Park.

What should I wear?

Please wear comfortable shoes that are accommodating for exploring uneven terrain and that you don’t mind getting a little dirty, and dress in layers appropriate for the day’s forecast. Sunscreen is also a great idea!

What's the restroom situation?

We have two handicapped-accessible restrooms in the Visitor Center (lower level) and will also offer two additional sets of water stations and porta potties within the Park, one of which will be handicapped-accessible.

Will there be food and drinks?

Find two food trucks – Sparks BBQ and Betty’s Hot Dish – plus Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream in the Walled Garden area. The Cathedral Barn will be offering donuts, cookies and cider. There will be two sets of water stations in the Park as well.

What's Historic Barns Park like?

Historic Barns Park features many areas of uneven terrain that includes bright sun and areas for shade, grass, stone and rocks, dirt, flowers and trees, insects, water features and more. There are several flatter gravel and dirt pathway areas for those to enjoy who can’t easily traverse uneven terrain. We can offer golf cart assistance for those who may need it and are excited to have a new ADA Ramp in the Native Plant Garden.

Historic Barns Park is also rich in history and features many original structures with fascinating stories to tell. We ask that visitors enjoy the park in respectful ways to help ensure that future generations of visitors can enjoy the park as well.

What if the weather isn't great?

The show must go on! There are several covered structures within Historic Barns Park that will be used if we experience inclement weather. We’ve also heard that flowers can’t grow without rain so we’re not afraid to get a little wet!

Did you mention prizes?

We sure did! Stop by the Visitor Center Gift Shop and enter to win $50 gift certificates from local restaurants including PepeNero, Boone’s Long Lake Inn, Aerie Restaurant & Lounge (in the Grand Traverse Resort), The Cooks’ House, Trattoria Stella and Poppycocks. No purchase necessary! Although we can’t guarantee you won’t spot something you just have to have in our beautifully stocked Gift Shop…

ENTER TO WIN $50 GIFT CERTIFICATES TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS

Stop by the Visitor Center Gift Shop during Old Time Harvest Day (any time between 12pm – 4pm) and enter to win $50 gift certificates from local restaurants including Aerie Restaurant & Lounge (in the Grand Traverse Resort), Amical, Boone’s Long Lake Inn, The Cooks’ House, PepeNero, Poppycocks and Trattoria Stella. No purchase necessary! Although we can’t guarantee you won’t spot something you just have to have in our beautifully stocked Gift Shop…