HARRISVILLE – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Harrisville Harmony Weekend Arts and Craft Festival, located at the corner of US-23 and M-72 at the traffic light in Alcona County.

The show hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1.

The name Harmony Weekend was chosen due to the combination of Barbershop Harmony and the Arts and Crafts show. The Barbershop Harmony participants began gathering in 1962, and the Sweet Adelines now carry on the tradition at “Harmony on the Hill” during the Arts and Crafts Show.

Harmony on the Hill is an hourly music program featuring local talent on the craft show grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

There will also be an Old Fashioned Parade on Sunday at 1 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Harrisville.

In 1972, local artist and art instructor Bruce Hartman, with his wife Joan, organized the first craft show on the Alcona County Courthouse lawn with five vendors. This marked the beginning of the Harmony Weekend Arts and Craft Festival, held on Labor Day Weekend. The festival is now the second-largest arts and crafts show in Michigan.

With the shows rapid growth, the Harrisville Arts Council was incorporated in 1974, with Hartman elected as president, a position he held for more than 20 years. Over the years, the show expanded significantly, with some years featuring 500 booths.