After months of improvements and renovations, downtown Davisburg is ready for its closeup.
“We want to celebrate everything Davisburg, its small-town, rural flavor, history, and natural resources, and bring the community together,” said Laura Moreau, Springfield Township clerk.
“It’s a nice way to showcase downtown Davisburg,” said township Supervisor Mike Trout. “We’ve made a lot of improvements there. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy it. Now we’re praying for good weather.”
The township and Oakland County worked with community groups and businesses to organize the combined Davisburg Heritage Festival and Ellis Barn Festival, Saturday, Oct. 10, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
“This has definitely been a group effort,” said Casey Reed, recreation coordinator for Springfield Township Parks and Recreation. “This will be a great event for the community.”
Activities start at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Hart Community Center, 495 Broadway off Davisburg Road inside Mill Pond Park.
All-day activities include wagon-ride park tours, artistic and historical demonstrations, old-time crafts and games, heritage-themed storytime at the library, kid’s scavenger hunt throughout downtown ending at the barn, Harness Shop tours, cemetery history, and hay maze.
‘They provide the opportunity to discover Davisburg’s history, scenic natural areas, parks and downtown Davisburg,? Reed said.
“I think it’ll be great, bringing more people to town,” said Melissa Beznitz, who wll open her Candle Factory shop to tours and scavenger hunt.
Historic tractors parade through downtown Davisburg at noon, from Mill Pond Park to Ellis Barn in Springfield Oaks County Park on Andersonville Road.
The Ellis Barn Festival, 1-4 p.m. in Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, features horse-drawn hayrides, barn tours, crafts, farm animals, pioneer toys, antique tractors, mini-barn dance, rope making, quilting, cider-making and hay trolley demonstrations.
‘The Ellis Barn Festival is a fun-filled day that ties local history and heritage into a memorable family outing,? said Becky Stepp, Oakland County Parks business development representative.
New this year, the ‘Michigan’s Heritage Barns: An Artist’s Perspective? exhibit is on display in Ellis Barn. The exhibit includes a series of black and white barn photographs from artist Mary Keithan.
‘The Heritage Barns exhibit depicts Michigan’s agricultural legacy and diversity through beautiful photographs of historic landmarks,? Stepp said. ‘The exhibit is a display of unique barn designs, reflecting Michigan’s agricultural legacy and diversity. These barns are an important part of Michigan history and heritage.?
The traveling exhibit is an Agricultural Heritage Program activity of the Michigan State University Museum and the Michigan Barn Preservation Network.
Entry to both festivals is free. Free parking and a shuttle will be provided, courtesy of Oakland County Parks. The shuttle will run throughout the day between the Ellis Barn, Springfield Township Civic Center, Mill Pond Park, Springfield Township Cemetery and Shultz Park.
Plans for next year include more activities such as a walk or road race through downtown and the parks, and downtown concerts, Reed said.
“We’ll make it bigger and better as things go on,” she said.
For more information on the Davisburg Heritage Festival, call 248-846-6558 or visit www.springfield-twp.us. For more information on the Ellis Barn Festival, call 248-858-0906 or check www.DestinationOakland.com.

Festival schedule of events:
8-10:30 a.m., Pancake Breakfast, $5 general, $3 children 3-6, free for children 2 and under. Hart Community Center;
9-11:30 a.m., Artistic and Historical Demonstrations at Mill Pond Park; Antique tractors at Mill Pond Park, Fun Family Activities, Shiawassee Basin Preserve, Springfield Township Civic Center, hay maze, games; Wagon Ride Park Tours; Davisburg Elementary Art Projects; Candle Factory History and Demonstrations; Old Fashioned Fire Truck, Fire Department Station 1;
9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Harness Shop Tours;
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Old Time Crafts, Springfield Township Civic Center;
10:30 a.m., Heritage-themed Storytime, Springfield Township Library;
12 p.m., Tractor Parade from Mill Pond Park to Ellis Barn;
1-4 p.m., Ellis Park Festivities, Springfield Oakls County Park, Mini Barn Dance, Farm Animals, Barn Tours, Pioneer Playground, Cider and Rope Making Demonstrations, Horse-drawn Wagon Rides, Antique Tractors, Kid and Adult Crafts
Shuttles run continuously between Ellis Barn, Civic Center, Mill Pond, and
Cemetery.