While downtown Dowagiac may not look much like farmland, a fleet of new and vintage tractors will be heading into town for Under the Harvest Moon, the Dowagiac community’s newest celebration that brings together collectors of antique farm tractors from Cass and Berrien counties, and an open-air marketplace of Michigan-grown produce, autumn mums, handmade products and antiques.

Hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, the Oct. 14 day-long event is being underwritten by Accounting Consultants PC, Creative Vinyl Signs, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Kim MacGregor’s office of Edward Jones, Forest  Glen Assisted Living, Hale’s Hardware, J&H Oil Company, Leader Publications, Mennel Milling Co. of Michigan, Preferred Printing, Skibbe Business & Tax Service, Smoke Vision Care, Southwestern Michigan College, Town & Country Garden Club and Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service.

Vickie Phillipson, chairman of the event and program director for the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, said she is pleased to welcome members of the Michiana Two-Cylinder Club and other collectors of antique farm tractors, along with Ausra Equipment of Dowagiac, which will be joining the festival for the fourth consecutive year and will have two of its new units on display.

The approximate 25- to 30-unit display, which will be situated on the north end of Front Street at the Division Street intersection, is expected to include farm implements produced by John Deere, International Harvester, Allis Chalmers and Keck-Gonnerman.

“Chamber member Vic Cuthbert, owner of The Manor Mini-Mart and president of the Michiana Two-Cylinder Club, has worked with us to bring this wonderful display of antique farm equipment to the downtown that dates back to the 1930s,” Phillipson said.

Michiana Two-Cylinder Club was established in 1990 by a small group of individuals who wanted to share their high regard for two-cylinder John Deere tractors with friends and other enthusiasts, Cuthbert said.

Dedicated to the preservation and history of vintage John Deere tractors and implements, today the club has 120 members and is affiliated with the Worldwide Two-Cylinder Club located near the John Deere Tractor manufacturing facilities at Waterloo, Iowa.

In addition to those shown by Cuthbert and his father, owners of vintage tractors who have also registered for the event include:  Jesse Bement, Matt Dohm, Chuck Ernst, Bob Franz, Phillip Meizer, Craig Steele Sr., David Steele Sr. and Arden Withers, all of Dowagiac.  Farm tractors will also be shown by  John Hewitt, Berrien Center; Victor Adams, Eau Claire and Tim Dlouhy of Stevensville.

In addition to the antique tractor display, Under the Harvest Moon features an outdoor marketplace of handmade products, produce and sweet delicacies, along with family events and live entertainment.  The one-day festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Owners of vintage tractors may place their units on display at the event free of charge, however, for planning purposes they are asked to register their units in advance with the Chamber of Commerce.  People who would also like to sign up for commercial booth space, should call the Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212 for more information or by e-mail at vphillipson@Dowagiac.org

For a full list of festival activities, visit DowagiacChamber.com.