Plan to attend this cultural heritage celebration that brings together the history of the Straits’ early years of fur trading. This celebration is really two events in one with a French voyager encampment demonstrating, among other things, native and French cooking; French woodworking; native and French sewing, including native sinew production; native and French transportation by birch bark and dugout canoes, snowshoes, and toboggan along with the display of an historic and traditionally built Mackinac boat with an emphasis on native youth sail training.

Other representations will show how to sew cattail mats with cordage of inner basswood bark, along with birch bark containers, brain-tanning a deer hide and making wampum shell beads. Many homemade items will be available for sale on the trade blanket.

New France Discovery Center
St. Ignace, MI 49781 • (906) 984-2083

Barbershop music and baseball are two American originals that are fun for all ages to enjoy! The Voices of Harmony from Bowling Green, OH will delight crowds with the sweet sounds of their barbershop harmony.

During the afternoon the Great Black Swamp Frogs from Toledo and the Ohio Village Muffins of Columbus will take the field for the annual Sauder Village Vintage Baseball Game. Using rules from the late 19th century and wearing period uniforms, the teams play the game as it was originally created. After the game, youngsters can try hitting the ball and running bases.

Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rt. 2,
Archbold, OH 43502 • (800) 590-9755

Take a break from your busy schedule and enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the Homestead Farm. Staff and volunteers will be on-hand at Chippewa Nature Center’s log cabin and one-room schoolhouse to answer your questions, give tours of the farm and teach lessons from long ago. Kids of all ages can help with chores, play traditional games and visit the farm animals.

Chippewa Nature Center, 400 S. Badour,
Midland, MI 48640 • (989) 631-0830

The Wood County Infirmary Inmates are a vintage baseball team representing the Wood County Historical Museum. The team plays by the rules and customs as it was played in the 1860s, while educating the public about the history of baseball. Members wear reproduction uniforms and use bats and balls reminiscent of what would have been used in the 1860s.

Wintergarden Park, Bowling Green, OH 43402 • (419) 352-0967

The 2010 Labor Day Weekend Celebration begins with arts and crafts with over 100 exhibits of original and unique arts and crafts along the waterfront. Musicians, dancers, and jugglers add to the festivities.

Monday will bring the 53rd Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk. Join thousands of walkers and make the five-mile trek across the Mighty Mackinac Bridge! This is the only day of the year pedestrians are allowed on the bridge. Walkers begin in St. Ignace at the north end of the bridge and walk south. The walk is one-way, and bus transportation is available to return you to St. Ignace.

Dockside at the City Marina, St. Ignace, MI 49781
(800) 338-6660

Just as steam power reminds us of a simpler time, families can recapture it this Labor Day weekend when the many uses of turn-of-the-century steam power are demonstrated with old-time farm machinery, antique cars, and other machines on display.

Take a ride on one of three railroads (including the 1929 logging locomotive). Watch steam tractor demos and an operating steam-powered saw mill and steam crane. The museum also hosts a flea market. Traditional festival treats will be available including popcorn made in a steam-powered popcorn machine!

Hesston Steam Museum, 1201 E. 1000 N.,
LaPorte, IN 46350 • (219) 778-2783

A corn maze or "Maize Maze" is a maze cut out of a corn field. Many are based on artistic designs such as characters from movies. Corn mazes appear in many different designs. Some mazes are even created to tell stories or to portray a particular theme. Most have a path, which goes all around the whole pattern, either to end in the middle or to come back out again. Some of these attractions include hay rides, a petting zoo, play areas for children, and picnic areas. Click the button below to see a list of corn mazes in the Great Lakes area and contact the corm maze directly for their fall schedule.

The Auburn Arts Commission is once again hosting "Sculptures on the Square" in downtown Auburn, Indiana.

These bronze-cast statues include 12 life-size statues and one monumental statue that is nearly 25 feet in height, depicting figures from art and everyday life in realistic detail.

The exhibit, placed around the courthouse square and at the Eckhart Public Library, is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge now through September 15, 2010.

The Mackinaw City Arts and Craft Show is a juried show and will feature many artists from around the country. Exhibits to include paintings, woodwork, hand-crafted jewelry, hand-designed clothing, and much more.

Instantly recognizable by their trademark honeycomb pattern of sunbursts and rays, Petoskey stones are found along much of Michigan’s northwestern coast. Beachcombing for the exotic fossils has been a favorite activity of visitors to the Traverse City area for more than a century.