Our History

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mark Fedder, Director of Manistee County Historical Museum for his generous contribution to this section.

The County Fair began in Bear Lake, in 1876. After much discussion about the best site for a permanent home, the Fair officially moved to its current site on the shores of Portage Lake, Onekama in 1887.

Be sure to bookmark this page as we add photo and memorabilia archives of Fairs Gone By! And if you have historical photographs, programs – or even home movies – that you would allow us to copy please contact us at manisteecofairweb@gmail.com