Port Hope, MI – The small town of Port Hope is gearing up for its highly anticipated 38th Annual Fourth of July Festival, set to take place from Friday, July 5th, to Sunday, July 7th, 2024. Sponsored by the Village of Port Hope, this three-day event promises a variety of activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Port Hope – Friday, July 5th

The Port Hope Festival festivities begin Friday, July 5th at 8 am at the Port Hope Activity Center with the antique tractor show featuring Allis Chalmers tractors and farm equipment. At 6:30 pm, the modified tractor pull competition starts. Admission is $10. The Port Hope Lions Club Lunch Wagon will be on hand for food and treats all day.

The main attractions include a Flea Market, Lumberyard Museum, and Port Hope Depot, with activities scheduled throughout the day.

Port Hope – Saturday, July 6th

The day starts at 8 am at the Port Hope Historical Center, the old lumberyard with a flea market. Admission is $4.

Flea Market: Located outdoors at Historic Port Hope (8016 Portland Ave.), the market features crafts and collectibles, new and vintage goods, food, snacks, coffee, soft drinks, and live entertainment. Entry to the Flea Market and Lumberyard Museum is $4.00, with all proceeds supporting the Port Hope Area Historical Society.

Lumberyard Museum: This museum showcases rural life exhibits from years ago, including a dairy display, farm equipment, a restored Farmall A tractor, hand-built biplane, old tools, country kitchen, one-room school, diorama, historic buggies, and hands-on demonstrations.

Port Hope Depot: Located at 8046 Portland Avenue, this depot offers free admission and welcomes donations. Visitors can see the restored 1904 depot and caboose, model railroading, and railroad memorabilia.

Port Hope Activity Center Events

Back at the Port Hope Activity Center, a huge range of activities starts at 8 am with a 5K Run and the Antique Tractor Show reopens. Children’s activities begin at 10 am with a petting zoo, pony rides, activities and games, and a barrel train ride.

The Port Hope Festival continues its tradition of feeding its visitors well. Breakfast will be served all three days at the Activities Center. In years past, they served pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, sweet rolls, and fruit. A BBQ chicken dinner will be available starting Saturday afternoon, and of course, Port Hope’s delicious bean soup is always welcome, especially if there is a chill in the air from the lake.

The day closes with a fireworks display.

The Port Hope Activity Center (7840 Portland Ave.) will host various events and exhibits, including gas engines, tractors, farm equipment, and the popular Oliver Tractors display. The grounds open for setup on Thursday, July 4th, and feature primitive camping for exhibitors with no electricity available.

Daily Schedule

Friday, July 5th:
- 10:00 AM: Activity Center and Flea Market open
- 12:00 PM: Concessions available
- 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Rock Painting for Kids
- 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Evening Tractor Games and Demonstrations
Saturday, July 6th:
- 8:00 AM: Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Hall
- 9:00 AM: Activity Center and Flea Market open
- 10:00 AM: Concessions available
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: “Down on the Farm” games
- 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Tractor Parade
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Kids’ games
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Tractor Demonstrations
- 7:00 PM: Raffle drawing for a 1997 Plymouth Prowler
- Dusk: Fireworks display
Sunday, July 7th:
- 9:00 AM: Activity Center and Flea Market open
- 10:00 AM: Concessions available
- 12:00 PM: Grand Parade through Downtown

Port Hope – Sunday, July 7th

The Port Hope Festival continues with the flea market and food concessions. The festival concludes its final event with a parade starting at 2 pm.

Getting There

Visitors can take advantage of the free shuttle service between both sites on Saturday, July 6th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Join the Celebration

The Port Hope Fourth of July Festival is an excellent opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate. With a wide array of activities and events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. For more information, visit the Port Hope Area Historical Society at histiorporthope.org or the Port Hope Activity Center at porthopeactivitycenter.weebly.com. Don’t miss out on this exciting annual tradition in the heart of Port Hope!