Watch Blacksmiths, Woodcutters and Weavers at Black Iron Days

Come out to Hartwick Pines State Park in Michigan on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27 and 28, for the Black Iron Days Festival, the largest annual gathering of blacksmiths in Michigan. Over 50 craftsmen and women will be on hand demonstrating their trade. The two-day event, taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, also will recreate the sights, sounds and scents of an historic sawmill cutting logs into pine boards. Watch woodworkers, weavers and wool spinners as they demonstrate how their crafts were done in the era before power tools. The park is located at 4216 Ranger Road in Grayling (Crawford County). For details, call the park at 989-348-7068.

A Recreation Passport is required of all vehicles entering the park. The Recreation Passport has replaced motor vehicle permits for entry into Michigan state parks, recreation areas and state-administered boating access fee sites. This new way to fund Michigan's outdoor recreation opportunities also helps to preserve state forest campgrounds, trails, and historic and cultural sites in state parks, and provides park development grants to local communities.

Michigan residents can purchase the Recreation Passport ($10 for motor vehicles; $5 for motorcycles) by checking "YES" on their license plate renewal forms, or at any state park or recreation area. Nonresident motor vehicles must still display a valid nonresident Recreation Passport ($29 annual; $8 daily) to enter a Michigan state park, recreation area or state-administered boating access fee site; these can be purchased at any state park or recreation area, or through the Michigan e-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. To learn more about the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport or call 517-241-7275.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.