Photo courtesy of Marilla Historical Society.

Edited from a news release

MARILLA TOWNSHIP, Mich. ‒ Seating is limited for a unique holiday experience offered in the spirit of the pioneer days.

The Joyfest Pioneer Holiday Dinner will take place 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Marilla Museum and Pioneer Place. Festivities will include tours, a “jolly” dinner and music.

Advertisement for Brown's Poplar Ridge Orchards is in the shape of a barn. The roof sign says Farm Market. Beneath it are drawings of a tomato and carrot with the caption Fresh produce. Next to it are drawings of ice cream cones and the caption says ice cream. Beside it is a drawing of a pitcher with golden contents and the caption says honey and syrup. A drawing of a slab of raw beef has the caption meat. Beside it is a glass quart of white milk with the caption dairy. Last is a drawing of a slice of cherry pie with the caption Bakery. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 12482 Milarch Road, Bear Lake, north of South Shore Drive. Phone 231-889-3513. Follow them on Facebook.Advertisement for Honor Onekama Building Supply. Family owned since 1963. Knowledge. Service, Integrity. Here to help you with your hardware and building projects. Call 231-889-3456. Located at 4847 Main Street, Onekama. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.Image for the Gasoline Refind ad shows a photo of the front of the store looking at the red screened door on the porch with found objects. Ad reads Open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. plus Fridays from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Vintage Shopping. Shop in store or shop online. www.gasolinerefind.com. 231-238-3891. Google it. Picture of a retro looking pig's comic book face. Owners Lynn and Scott Brown written above it. Located at Erdman Road, Bear Lake, between Potter and 13 mile roads.

The event will be held at 9991 Marilla Road in Copemish, five miles south of M-115.

“This very special seated dinner is a favorite of those who have attended in the past,” read a statement in a 2024 Marilla Historical Society newsletter.

Activities are scheduled to begin with a tour of the main museum, housed in a two-room schoolhouse built in 1922. Also open for touring will be three other restored and festively decorated pioneer buildings: a fur-trapper’s log cabin, a two-story 1870s log home and a 1900 barn with logging and farming implements.

A four-course meal, prepared by the Marilla Historical Society, will be served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner features spiced cider punch, squash soup topped with pepitas and yogurt, red cabbage slaw with apples and walnuts, pork loin stuffed with apples and served with shallot/brandy sauce, garlic parmesan potatoes, and pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for dessert.

Accomplished hammered dulcimer artist Katelyn Baas will provide uplifting music throughout the meal. Baas, who teaches others to play the ancient percussion instrument, was a finalist in a national hammered dulcimer competition last month.

The minimum suggested donation for JoyFest is $50 per person. Seats may be reserved by visiting the organization’s website at marillahistory.org or by emailing marillamuseum@gmail.com or calling 231-379-0040.

The Marilla Historical Society was founded in 1980. The volunteer-run museum is supported entirely by donations. Items sold by the organization online and at the museum include books about Marilla’s history, a country cookbook, wildflower prints and more. Follow them on Facebook @MarillaHistory.

Read more about Marilla:

Influential women of Marilla Township 

Marilla: remembering a close-knit community

 

Write A Comment