MASON, Mich. — Mason’s 46 th annual Down Home Days community festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, September 19 through 22. Go to www.masonchamber.org and click on the Events Calendar for the latest information.
Down Home Days starts off on Thursday, September 19 with the last concert in the fifteenth season of the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Thursday Night Live” Courthouse Concert series sponsored by Independent Bank. This free concert features the Mason High School Band and Cheer Squad. They’ll perform on the west lawn of the Ingham County Courthouse starting at 6:00 p.m., sponsored by CP Federal Credit Union. To benefit youth programs, the Mason Optimist Club will be selling hotdogs, chips and pop before and during the concert. During the concert, the Mason Farmer’s Market will be set up with a “mini-market” in front of Commercial Bank Mason from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m.
On Friday, September 20, a classic car caravan is slated to visit downtown Mason during the day. Also, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting, there will be an informal family and pet walk on the Hayhoe Riverwalk with a welcome tent just west of the fire station, across from Lee Austin Park. The “Fall Family and Fido Walk” is a free event, sponsored by CAPEX Land Company and features fall-themed prizes and refreshments for all who participate.
The signature event of Down Home Days happens on Saturday, September 21, with the 46 th annual Courthouse Show in downtown Mason, hosted by the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Chris Buck – Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial and other area businesses. Elaine Ferris, chair of the Chamber’s Down Home Days festival events, says that “our estimates are that between 4,000 and 6,000 people attend the show each year.” She adds that “the show features a mix of arts and crafts, flea market, food vendors, entertainment, and community group booths.” The show runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday only.
Tickets for the 18 th annual MACC Raffle Part B: Winter to help the Chamber host community events and parades will be available at the Chamber’s visitor’s center booth during the show. Volunteers will also have them at events throughout the city of Mason to give people the opportunity to contribute. The licensed raffle (R52610) offers tickets at $5 with a first prize package valued over $1000 in total. The second prize package has items valued over $600 in total and the third prize package has items valued at over $300 in total. The drawing will be on December 5, 2019 at the Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building at 7:30 p.m.
During Saturday’s Courthouse Show, a variety of show entertainment will be on Maple Street featuring Honey Badgers at 9:30 a.m. and the Shahira Dancers at 1:00 p.m. Entertainment is sponsored by Ware’s Pharmacy and Dart Container Corporation. Entertainment for kids will be at the “Kids’ Korral” near the main Courthouse steps, with a bounce house and games provided by Mason RailTime Adventures, sponsored by Commercial Bank Mason and hosted by the Mason High School Baseball Program.
Also, earlier on Saturday morning, the Mason Firefighters Association will hold their pancake breakfast at the James M. Pelton Memorial Fire Station, 221 W. Ash Street. Cost is $8 for adults, $7 seniors, $5 kids, $22 family, and under 2 free. The breakfast runs from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. They will also hold a “golf ball drop” event fundraiser there at 12:30 p.m. The 16 th annual “Treasures” sale by the Mason College Club will take place across the street at the pavilion above Lee Austin Park on Ash near Sycamore Creek from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Elaine Ferris says that “the Mason Farmers Market will take place as it usually does every Saturday this time of year on Maple Street.” The market will only be on the north side of the street during the Down Home Days show but will have extended hours on September 21.
Saturday is also when the Friends of the Mason Library will hold their book sale at the Mason Library starting at 9:00 a.m. Also, the Mason Area Historical Museum, 200 E. Oak Street in Mason will be open from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and the Pink School Museum, on W. Ash Street one block west of Cedar Street, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sidewalk, flea, yard and garage sales will be going on all around town during the festival weekend, including one on Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the VFW Post 7309, located south of Mason at 1243 Hull Road.
Mason churches welcome you for Sunday services on September 22. The Mason Area Historical Society will have its third antiques appraisal fair at the Mason Area Historical Museum, 200 E. Oak Street in Mason, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 22. The maximum is three items with a charge of $5 for a verbal appraisal. Admission is free, and the Museum is open to the public during that time. Many more events are taking place during the four days of the festival.
More information on everything going on during Down Home Days is available at the Events calendar at the www.masonchamber.org website.
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