Area Fairs & Festivals Few things bring to light the character of a town like a local fair or festival. In Southwestern Michigan, we celebrate our agricultural heritage with festivals heralding the crops, such as strawberry, peach, blueberry, apple and pickle; and commence with the Blossomtime Festival with its Grand Floral Parade. We praise our location with the Venetian Festival, salute our countryside with the Youth Fair and are proud of our crafters at the Chapel Hill Arts & Crafts Show. Come join the festivities throughout the seasons. For all the details and a complete list of all of our fairs, festivals and events, click on Calendar of Events to your left. Hard copy information online order form

Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan. Check calendar for events. Contact Info PO Box 407 St Joseph, MI   49085 269.934.7729 June Auction, September Mutt March, December Open House & Raffle Come join us through the year as this all-volunteer organization offers fun for you and the family at our events to help our homeless dogs and cats. We use foster homes to nurture abused and abandoned animals in our community which we find through emergency rescue efforts. Our dogs and cats and puppies and kittens love to meet you at various fund-raisers. Stop by and visit us at any of our events. You might make a friend for life! June Auction Gift certificates from businesses combine with household articles, antiques, books, linens, decorating items, collectibles and just about anything you can think of for this entertaining afternoon Auction for Animals. We solicite donations from the community, all services are donated and it's a day where people discover others' discarded treasures while we raise money to help with our veterinary costs. Auction 1-5pm, Free admission September Mutt March The Mutt March gives you a chance to walk with your pet along Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph in the "doggie social event of the year" each September. Walkers collect pledges and enjoy the lighthouse view. Refreshments for people and pets are provided by local businesses, foster cats looking for new homes join us, though they prefer not to mingle. Mutt March 10am-1pm Entry fee & pledges are welcomed December Open House & Raffle Dogs wear antlers and cats wear bells as they look their finest for the Christmas Open House & Raffle. Our foster animals fill the Trinity Lutheran Center in St. Joseph with holiday warmth the first Saturday of December. Select from baked goods, crafts, poinsettias and animal sweatshirts; merchants donate great prizes to our raffle. Not looking for a pet? Our homeless animals would still enjoy getting at "pet" or hug from you. We welcome participants in St. Joseph Today's Reindog Parade. Open House 11am-2pm, Free admission Please check the Calendar of Events page for exact dates. Contact: Cindy Bravender 269.925.0531 WebLink

Baroda Fest P.O. Box 54 Baroda, MI   49101 269.422.1779   Fax: 269.422.2990 Contact: Diane Mensinger Hours: 7am-11pm Annual festival Saturday after Labor Day featuring a full-day of family activities, a 5K run/walk, pancake breakfast, car show, garden tractor pull, children's games and entertainment, live music, crafts and baked goods. A small-town, homey festival that winds down with evening music and Karaoke under the stars.   Pancake Breakfast 7-11am Children's games & entertainment 11am-3pm   Musical events Noon-11pm Tractor Pull 1pm   Pie Baking Contest 11am Food vendors 10am-5pm   Craft vendors 10am-5pm Run/Walk & Fun Run for kids   Water Ball Tournament House of David 1850s Baseball Game 5pm   Car Show 10am   Handicap accessible Directions: I-94 exit 16 (Bridgman). Follow Red Arrow Highway east toward Bridgman. Turn right at Lake Street (at stoplight) and follow 4 miles to Cleveland Avenue stop sign. Turn left on Cleveland Avenue. Turn right on Church Street (1st street to right). Parking is located off Third & Second Streets in the Legion Field. MapLink     WebLink

Berrien County Youth Fair Event location: 9122 Old US 31 Berrien Springs, MI   49103 GPS [41.9434° N, 86.3550° W] Fair office: PO Box 7 Berrien Springs, MI   49103 269.473.4251   Fax: 269.473.4203 Hours: Office hours: 9am-4pm Monday-Friday GPS [41.9536° N, 86.3534° W] Annual county fair showcasing exhibits from Berrien County youth ages 5-20. Also enjoy carnival rides, commercial exhibits, "Fair food" and Grandstand entertainment. Held at the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds Wheelchair accessible, admission charge. The fair is always held in August. Please check the Calendar of Events page for exact dates. Please visit our website for complete details. Directions: From I-94 westbound: Take Exit 28 (M-139), turn right off the exit ramp and follow south 12 miles to entrance on your right. From I-94 eastbound: Take Exit 16 (Red Arrow Highway at Bridgman), turn right at exit ramp and follow to stop light (Lake Ave/Shawnee Road). Turn right and follow 12 miles to Fairgrounds on your left. From the south: Follow US 31 north to the US 31 bypass just south of South Bend, IN. Take the US 31 bypass north into Michigan and continue to Exit 13, Snow Road. Turn left at the end of the exit ramp, travel 1 mile toward Berrien Springs to Shawnee Road, turn left. Go 1 mile on Shawnee Road to Gate 3, entrance to the fair grounds is on the right. MapLink     WebLink

Berrien Towne & Country Quilters 269.428.9663 Contact: Peri Hansen, President 269.983.3799 Contact: Show information - Sue Russell The Berrien Towne & Country Quilters Guild meets the second Thursday of each month (Feb - Nov) at 6:30pm at the Woodland Shores Church on Shawnee Road in Bridgman. We have a program, short meeting and a Show & Tell of our quilts. Visitors are always welcome. Meetings are free to visitors. We also offer a two-day Quilt Show featuring over 150 quilts made by the members of the Berrien Towne & Country Quilt Guild. In addition to the beautiful quilts, there are also demonstrations, lectures, antique quilts, member boutique, vendors, raffle quilt and a silent auction for charity. Lunch and refreshments are available. The Quilt Show is held every other year at Lake Michigan College Mendel Center in Benton Harbor. Dates for 2008 are June 28-29 from 10am-5pm. Handicap accessible Directions: I-94 to Exit 30 (Napier Avenue). Follow east past College entrance to Yore Avenue. Turn left on Yore and follow to third drive at left into parking lot and entrance. WebLink

Blossomtime Festival Contact info: 151 East Napier Avenue Benton Harbor, MI   49022 269.926.7397   Fax: 269.926.7399 Contact: Jamie Brock Hours: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday GPS [42.0864° N, 86.4547° W] The Blossomtime Festival, which began in 1906 is a annual festival celebrating the agricultural industry in southwest Michigan. It is a multi-community event including 25 communities in southwest Michigan and is the oldest festival in the state. The Grand Floral Parade lasts two hours and has over 100 units, including floats with community queens and their courts, bands, clowns, costumed characters, antique cars and special units. 250,000 spectators come from the midwest to enjoy this colorful parade which travels from St. Joseph across the river into Benton Harbor. The Grand Floral Parade steps off at Main Street and Pearl in St. Joseph and crosses the bridge into Benton Harbor. Please check the Calendar of Events page for exact dates. Handicap accessible Admission: Fee is dependent upon event. Directions: Our office is located in the Credit Bureau building on Napier Avenue near the intersection of Colfax and Napier. It is across the street from Fairplain Junior High School. MapLink     WebLink

Chapel Hill Arts & Crafts Show Event location: Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds Berrien Springs, MI   49103 Hours: 8am-5pm GPS [41.9536° N, 86.3534° W] Sponsored by: Chapel Hill United Methodist Church 269.927.3454 Contact: Lenora Cuthbert 269.925.3626 summer, 863.439.5900 winter The juried Chapel Hill Arts & Crafts Show of 190 exhibitors is sponsored by Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Sodus. Reknown for its high quality, this show maintains its reputation as "best" craft show in the area, filling four commercial buildings at the Fairgrounds. Also included is an outdoor vendor/ farmers' market, plus an indoor lunch area where you can purchase homemade baked goods, food, drinks, snacks and the popular "homemade pie by the slice." Ample parking for this one-day event. Show profits go to support Mission Projects. The show is held the first Saturday of October. Please check the Calendar of Events page for the exact date. Handicap accessible Directions: Fairgrounds are located off US 31 just west of downtown Berrien Springs or use the Shawnee Road entrance (from US 31, follow Redbud Trail south to East Shawnee, turn east on East Shawnee and follow to Fairgrounds entrance. From I-94, take Exit 16 north to the stoplight at Lake, turn right and travel east to Fairground entrance. MapLink     WebLink

Coloma Glad-Peach Festival P.O. Box 156 Coloma, MI   49038 269.468.7816 Contact: Erica Hensel Held the first full weekend of August in downtown Coloma just north of I-94 exit 39. Shop the arts & crafts fair; try the carnival games and rides; watch two parades and a Peach-Tac-U-Lar aerial fireworks. Many food vendors offer special peach treats. The active can try the 10k and 5k runs, the 5k walk, or dance in the streets to the music of live performances on two stages. Coloma Glad-Peach Art Fair - This three-day show has a bit of everything - something for everyone. You can find painting, woodworking, basket making, knitting and crocheting, and much more. The show is held in conjunction with the Coloma Glad-Peach Festival, a three-day family entertainment extravaganza. Please check the Calendar of Events page for exact dates. Handicap accessible Directions: Interstate 94 to exit 39. WebLink

Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival, Inc. P.O. Box 526 Dowagiac, MI   49047 269.782.1115 Contact: Bobbie Jo Hartline The Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival is a week-long celebration on the Arts. The spotlight shines brightly on national, international and local artists. The week features visual arts, music, literature, theater, storytelling, dance and even master classes with selected artists. It is an entertaining and educational experience for the entire family. The festival is held in May. Please check the Calendar of Events page for exact dates. Handicap accessible Directions: 25 miles north of South Bend 40 miles south of Kalamazoo 30 miles west of Three Rivers 25 miles east of St. Joseph WebLink

Venetian Festival on the St. Joseph River Contact info: 305 Lake Blvd St Joseph, MI   49098 269.983.7917   Fax: 269.983.5180 Hours: Office hours: 8am-5pm GPS [42.1096° N, 86.4830° W] The Venetian Festival is the largest community celebration in southwest Michigan. With three music stages, fireworks, the River Run, craft show, beach events and unique food items, this family event is not to be missed! Our picturesque location alone is reason enough to experience "Venetian Time." The festival is held in July. Handicap accessible Directions: Four miles north of I-94 at Exit 27. Look for our shuttle lots off Niles Avenue/M-63 and enjoy the 10-minute ride to the river and lake waterfronts. MapLink     WebLink

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