South Haven Flywheelers Antique Engine & Tractor Show

The Michigan Flywheelers Museum will host its 24th annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show starting Sept. 6-Sept 9.

One of the highlights of our show is the South Haven Tractor Cruise. Over 130 tractors participate in this event which travels the back roads to beautiful Lake Michigan and then downtown South Haven. Line-up begins on Thursday at 4 p.m. in front of the office. Your tractor must be able to go at least 10 mph, have a slow moving vehicle sign and a full gas tank. The trip will travel through downtown South Haven to South Beach and then to the Huron Street parking lot. There, we will stop for dinner before returning back to the showgrounds. The cruise is a police escorted trip with law enforcement blocking intersections. We ask everyone to stay as close together as possible to prevent large gaps. If someone stalls, please go around and try to catch up. The return trip is also police-escorted, so we encourage everyone to leave at the same time.



One of the largest shows of its kind in the state, the four day event will draw antique farm equipment collectors from all over the United States.

Giant steel steam traction engines, old antique tractors, parades, and live musical entertainment are just a few of the things visitors can see during the show which runs until Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m.

Besides displays of antique farm equipment, there will be demonstrations at the sawmill, shingle mill and blacksmith shop along with exhibits in Old Towne. Patterned after a 1920s rural village, Old Towne features places like Old Tyme Jail, Abbert & Sons Farm Machinery Repair Shop, a migrant farm camp and a handbuilt log cabin.

Not only does the show have plenty of displays to see, it has lots of activities. Daily parades, antique and lawn tractor pulls, a large outdoor flea market featuring crafts, antiques and items for the home, plenty of old fashioned music, consignment auction on Sunday and valve cover racing.

Evening entertainment line up includes singer Carl Payne on Thursday, Black River Band on Friday and country music by the Bronk Bros. on Saturday. All evening shows begin at 8:30 p.m.

During the day, musical jam sessions and folk musician Joe Foster will be performing in the Stephenson Barn. The Casco Band will take the stage at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday is considered “Kid’s Day” at the show. Activities start with Valve Cover Races at 9:30 a.m. followed by Kiddies Pedal Pull at noon, a sawdust pile treasure hunt at 3:30 p.m. and the John Dudley Magic Show at 7 p.m. In “The Barnyard,” kids will find plenty to do such as play on a wooden tractor and hay wagon, and have their picture taken amongst the farm animal cutouts. Tractor games will be held for those children who have access to riding lawn tractors. Returning for its third year will be the "Kids Night Time Lawn Tractor Cruise" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For shoppers, there is a large outdoor flea market with over 220 vendors selling antique iron, crafts, antiques, household and miscellaneous items. The Wooden Nickel gift shop, which is fashioned after an old general store, will be open as well.

One of the popular activities for young and old is the “South Haven Tractor Cruise.” Scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, participants drive tractors of all makes and models into South Haven, cruise along the South Beach, and then stop downtown for an evening of dining and shopping.

The Consignment Auction will kick off Sunday's events. Starting at 9 a.m., the auction is a fundraiser for the museum which uses the proceeds to fund preservation and education projects.

Gates open at 8 a.m. rain or shine. Admission to the show is $6. Children 12 and under are free with an adult. Thursday is Senior’s Day and admission is $3 for those 62 and over. Only service dogs will be allowed entrance with paid admissions.

Rustic camping sites are available on a first-come basis. Cost is $10 per night plus daily admission per person. Pets are allowed with exhibitors, campers and vendors only. Pets are restricted to owners' camp sites at all times. Personal transportation vehicles, such as golf carts, will be charged a $5.00 registration fee.

For more information, contact 269-639-2010, michiganflywheelers@yahoo.com, or Facebook. A complete show schedule is available on Facebook or www.michiganflywheelers.org.

The Michigan Flywheelers Museum is located at 06285 68th Street, two miles east of South Haven.