Family Festival This Saturday at Haven Hill

The free* family-oriented Haven Hill Festival will be held at Highland State Recreation Area on Saturday, August 24, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. An exhibition 1860’s style vintage base ball game between the Barn Stormers and the Gate House Gang will begin at 1:00 pm. Kids can swing a bat and run the bases with the old time base ball players at a break between innings.  The live all brass horns Novi Brass band will accompany the base ball game and ice cream, hot dogs, and other summer foods will be sold all day.

Come out with your family and learn of the history of the Haven Hill Estate and see the wonderful Highland State Recreation Area this Saturday. In addition to running the bases at the game , children’s crafts and activities will be available under a shaded kids canopy. The Livingston A’s Model A Ford driving club will be on hand all day for you to enjoy their lively restored automobiles and an early model restored Air Stream trailer will be on display as well. A free shuttle van will transport visitors up Haven Hill Road to a stop at a Haven Hill National Natural Landmark area wildlife and scenic photography exhibit by amateur photographer Jay Fitzgerald, and then on up to the top of Haven Hill to see the Carriage House and the remains of Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s once grand Haven Hill Lodge.  A self-paced footprint tour with historical markers will be on display all day.

Lots of fun and interesting things to do at the Haven Hill Festival for no ticket charge. *Entrance of an entire vehicle of family members to all of Michigan’s State Parks is via a pre-paid Recreation Passport. Passports are available at the gate all day for a nominal if you do not already have one. Any Passport purchased Saturday remains good until the next registration of your license plates.

Haven Hill Festival
by the Friends of Highland Recreation Area
Saturday, August 24, 2013
10:00 am until 3:00 pm
Highland State Recreation Area
5200 Highland Road (M-59)
White Lake, MI 48383

2013 Haven Hill Festival Saturday, August 24

The Haven Hill Festival is a celebration of the Highland State Recreation Area, the history of Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s Haven Hill estate, and the beauty that is the Haven Hill National Natural Landmark section of the park and it’s surrounding lands. The Festival is free, with food sales as a fund raiser for the Friends of Highland Recreation Area.

Haven Hill history displays, a Haven Hill National Natural Landmark nature photo exhibit, vintage Ford automobiles, children’s activities, along with summer food and drinks, will be available all day during the free 10 am to 3:00 pm Festival on August 24. This year’s Haven Hill Festival will include, for the second year, the Novi Brass Band accompanying the 1860’s Base Ball Game on the Goose Meadow ball field at 1:00 pm.

Above: The Novi Brass Band at the 2012 Haven Hill Festival.

Go to www.fohra.org and www.havenhillfestival.com for more information about the Friends of Highland Recreation Area, Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s Haven Hill Estate, the 1860’s Base Ball game, and the 2013 Haven Hill Festival. A Recreation Passport is required for state park entry.
 

“Redbud Reveal” Ceremony to be Held Sunday, April 28, at Highland State Recreation Area

The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are proud to announce a season-opening event at Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake, Michigan. To celebrate the arrival of the 2013 spring and summer season, the “Redbud Reveal” will be held from 12 noon until 4:00 pm on Sunday, April 28. Visitors are encouraged to come and see the historic Haven Hill Gate House, the Edsel Ford Barn, the Carriage House, and informative art and history displays atop Haven Hill.  At 1:00 pm, FOHRA President Mr. Dick Russell will give a public address on the Gate House lawn highlighting the Friends group’s recent activities and event plans for the coming year. Light refreshments will be served among the many new trees planted last fall around Edsel and Eleanor Fords’ beautiful historic estate entrance.

Historic Gate House Garage Opening to the Public

The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are excited to reveal the Gate House Garage interior to the public this year! The Fords’ garage at the Gate House held vehicles ready to shuttle their guests into the Haven Hill estate. New windows have been installed, several sections of beautiful yard fence have been put up, new electrical service has been activated, and the interior walls have been hand-plastered by expert craftsmen. The space will be open to the public from 12 noon until 4:00 pm on April 28 throughout the day of this year’s Redbud Reveal event. A “before and after” photo exhibit of the renovation progress will be on display all day.

Art on the Hill, and Haven Hill Lodge Historic Displays

From 12 noon until 4:00 pm on the day of the Redbud Reveal event, “Art on the Hill” and the Ford Lodge Historic displays will be shown atop beautiful Haven Hill.  Park at the circle hill lot and have an enjoyable stroll up Haven Hill road to see a Haven Hill art exhibit and the historic Lodge displays.  Come and enjoy a spring day in the park!