Haven Hill Festival at Highland Recreation Area - Saturday, August 29

After a change of date last year to October due to the park roads being resurfaced throughout the summer months, the Haven Hill Festival is back to the last Saturday in August, which this year is the 29th day of the month.

Come to the Haven Hill Festival on Saturday, August 29 and enjoy a celebration of the amazing natural and historic resources of the Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake, Michigan. The Haven Hill section of this beautiful park was once the country estate home of Edsel and Eleanor Ford and their family. This year’s event will feature several summer activities including the Cedar Creek hiking, biking, and equestrian trail, Ford automobiles on display, an 1860’s Era Base Ball Game, Live Bands, Haven Hill history and Art displays, Walking Tours, Children’s Activities, Summer Foods and Beverages, an Antiques and Collectibles fundraising sale, and more!

The Festival is to be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. The primary location, at the Goose Meadow Picnic site, will feature a large shade and shelter tent with history displays, the vintage base ball game, Ford automobiles, children’s activities and summer food and beverages. Throughout the Festival the partially restored Haven Hill Gate House at the entrance to the park will be a venue for video shows as well as history and art displays. The renovated garage will be open to the public during Festival hours.

The free family event promotes awareness of the wonderful natural and historic resources that make up Highland State Recreation Area and the Haven Hill National Natural Landmark. A free shuttle van will be provided to transport visitors from Goose Meadow to other park activity locations.

Invitation - Friends of Highland Recreation Area Annual Meeting

Hello FOHRA Supporter,

We want to personally invite you to join us in a couple of weeks for our Friends of Highland Recreation Area 2019 Annual Meeting and Social. This year we’re having our meeting at the White Lake Township Community Hall at 7500 Highland Road in White Lake on Wednesday, November 6. Bring guests if you want too - we enjoy meeting new people!

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and soft beverages start at 6:30 pm. Our meeting starts at 7:00 pm and runs to about 8:45 pm. We’ll be showing video and photo presentations reviewing our activities in the last year, and we have a special guest who will speak about the Edible Trails initiative in Michigan.

Please join us if you can. Good times with good people! We’d love to have ya.

 

WHO: You… and Your Guests are Welcome

WHAT: Friends of Highland Recreation Area Annual Meeting and Social

Complimentary Food and Beverages, Friends and Family, Presentations of 2019 FOHRA Highland State Rec Area Activities, The “Edible Trails” program, and More

WHEN: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 - 6:30 pm until about 8:45 pm

WHERE: White Lake Township Community Building, 7500 Highland Rd, White Lake, MI 48386

WHY: Because it’ll be a great time, and we’d love to have ya there!

DRESS: “Nice Casual”

 

If you can attend, please let me us know how many folks will be in your party as this will help us plan seating and food. Email: fohravolunteer@gmail.com

or Call: (248) 494-8919

Sincerely,

The Members of FOHRA

 

Free Fall Color Tours of Haven Hill This Saturday

The Haven Hill Festival will feature free shuttle bus rides up and down historic Haven Hill to and from the main Festival grounds at Goose Meadow on Saturday. The forests of Highland State Recreation Area are reaching full peak color this weekend and the free shuttle rides will allow visitors to see the beauty along the winding (and in some portions steep!) Haven Hill road up to Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Carriage House and Lodge site.

The shuttle will be a rare opportunity for many folks to receive a free and easy bus ride up and down Haven Hill. Some sections of this beautiful road have a high incline and the bus ride will make it easy for otherwise challenged would-be hikers. A historic photo display and Friends of Highland Recreation Area members will be available at the Hill top of the Hill to provide historic information about Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s era.

The top of Haven Hill is a gorgeous sight during the Fall color season. Come to the Haven Hill Festival on Saturday to enjoy the beauty of your state park… especially with a Free ride up and down Haven Hill!

Recreation Passport required for free entry.

Color of Fall BEAUTIFUL at Highland State Recreation Area for Festival

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Haven Hill area visitors to Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake. Michigan are in for a big treat at this years’ Haven Hill Festival on Saturday the 19th of October - “peak” Fall tree colors!

The 2019 Haven Hill Festival at Highland State Recreation Area celebrates the beautiful recreation area and the historic Haven Hill estate which was once the country home of Edsel and Eleanor Ford. This year's event will feature a 1860’s style base ball baseball food and beverages, kids games and arts and crafts, historic Haven Hill items on display, and vintage Model A Ford automobiles for everyone to enjoy.

A shuttle bus will take you up to the Haven Hill Lodge site and Carriage House area which will be hosted by volunteer members for tours and info. And the Edsel Ford Barn will show off it’s new doors and paint job which is underway!

The Vintage Base Ball game in Goose Meadow will be played in front of a backdrop of Fall colors and feature the Novi Brass Band playing live brass instrument music as the ball players exhibit how ball was played in the 1860’s. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a hot dog and snacks as the game is underway.

Come on out with the family and enjoy the day in the park! State park entry is via the Recreation Passport. The event is free to the public. Donations accepted to support the Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteer organization.

Haven Hill Festival with Fall Colors - Saturday, October 19

Fall is here and the 2019 Haven Hill Festival is coming on Saturday, October 19!

Everyone will enjoy the beauty, nature, and history of Haven Hill at Highland State Recreation Area with a backdrop of gorgeous Fall colors. In Goose Meadow, the Novi Brass Band will accompany Vintage Base Ball as the Barn Stormers host the Gate House Nine starting at 10:00 am. Festival foods and beverages will be served during Festival hours between 10 am and 3 pm.

Haven Hill history displays at the Gatehouse, Edsel Ford Barn, and on the Hill will inform the public of the State Park's amazing history. Bring your family and enjoy the Haven Hill Festival this Fall on October 19. Visit www.fohravolunteers.org for more information.

Recreation Passport required for Free state park entry.

Vintage Base Ball Players WANTED

The Haven Hill Barn Stormers Base Ball Club is accepting enthusiasts to join them in a vintage 1860’s exhibition on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Haven Hill Festival. The Stormers will host the Gate House Nine ball club starting at 10:00 am. Ball players report at 9:00 am. The match will be held at their Goose Meadow Ball Field in Highland State Recreation Area in White Lake, Michigan.

Have you never played vintage base ball before? Sign up and come learn how easy and enjoyable it is to play ball the way it was back in the 1860’s. It will be a base ball experience that you will cherish forever. No gloves, no spitting, no bad behavior, just great times in the outdoors and great fun! Free Vintage ball cap, lunch meal, and digital team photograph for every volunteer ballist. Ballists ages 13 and older please. Bat boys and girls accepted from age 5 to 12 with parent.

Fans (cranks) and family come on out to the field and watch the match even if you choose not to play. Kids hit and run the bases at an inning break during the game.

Please contact the team via the Friends of Highland Recreation Area at (248) 494-8919, or email them at fohravolunteers@gmail.com for more information.

The Haven Hill Barn Stormers base ball club can also be found on Facebook.

FOHRA is a 501c3 volunteer organization providing dedicated service to the Michigan State park at Highland State Recreation Area, 5200 Highland Road (M-59), White lake, Michigan, 48383.

Youth Volunteer Day at Haven Hill Gatehouse in Highland State Recreation Area

FOHRA Youth Volunteer Day!

Saturday, September 21

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Please join FOHRA for a fun day at the Haven Hill Gatehouse in Highland State Recreation Area. Volunteers ages 11-17 are welcome! Saturday, September 21, 2019. 9 AM to 3 PM.

Planned activities include:

• Introduction to Haven Hill history

• Painting of Gatehouse

• Grounds maintenance.

Please pack a sack lunch. Bottled water and prepackaged snacks will be provided to volunteers by FOHRA. Weather appropriate clothing is suggested.

If verification for volunteer hours is needed, please bring required forms to day of volunteering for FOHRA signature.

Come to the Iced Tea Event at Haven Hill - Saturday, August 3rd

An event presented by the Ladies of the Friends of Highland Recreation Area Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 1 PM – 3 PM

On the lawn and under the canopies of the Haven Hill Gatehouse…

Sample and sip multiple homemade teas. Enjoy tasty desserts. Have some fun exploring “100 Years of Tea”. Choose a mallet and play a game of croquet!

The Ladies of The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are hosting this fundraiser to support the ongoing efforts to restore and repurpose the former buildings of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate.

Tickets: $20 Per Person; $18 Students/Seniors 55 And Up.

Tickets are available on the FOHRA website in the FOHRA Store.

Tickets Are Limited, Contact Jacqui At (248) 701-0076 With Any Questions.

The Gatehouse is opposite the park entry booth - you must have an MDNR Recreation Passport to enter the state park.

Rain Date Sunday, August 4th, 1-3 pm