Earthwork Harvest festival gathers for last time

By Jacob Wheeler

Sun editor

The storied Earthwork Harvest Gathering will meet for the last time this weekend in rural Missaukee County—about an hour southeast of Traverse City.

For 22 years, thousands of musicians, artisans, and activists have flocked to Bob Bernard’s farm near Lake City to celebrate the end of summer, dance in the fields, and foster community.

Bob’s son Seth, who grew up on the farm, is a well-known musician and activist who founded the Earthwork Music Collective.

The first Harvest Gathering in 2001 was a potluck party on a single stage to celebrate the release of Seth’s first album.

“Growing up on the farm we used to have barn dances and one year we had a fundraiser for my dad who was having some health issues,” Seth remembered. “We had all these bands come to the farm and it was such a wonderful feeling and a fond memory. So when I released my first album, a long time goal of mine came to fruition, which was to have a music-based event on the farm.”

The next year, Seth and his musician friends, including Daniel Kahn, performed a tribute to Woody Guthrie.

The festival grew over the years, adding two more venues including a stage in Bob’s barn.

Earthwork Harvest Gathering now hosts between 70 and 100 different bands each festival, and includes artisan workshops, craft booths and farm-to-table foods.

“There’s a rich tapestry of offerings that take place on Earthwork Harvest Gathering,” said Seth. “It has also happened with people coming forward saying, ‘What if we had an area for toddlers?’ ‘What if we had an area for babies?’ ‘What if, in addition to our workshop space, we had a healing and wellness space?'”

Before COVID, the festival attracted nearly 4,000 people. But the numbers haven’t rebounded since the pandemic. Seth was forced to cancel Earthwork Harvest Gathering in 2020 and 2021.

Inflation has also increased the cost of putting on the festival. And Seth has noticed an abundance of festivals in northern Michigan in recent years.

The festival has become unsustainable for his family to manage any longer.

On Sept. 2 he announced on social media that this year’s Harvest Gathering will be the last of its kind.

“It’s a season change for our family,” said Seth. “It feels like the container of this event has come to a completion, and it’s almost like harvesting the harvest gathering. Like the last day of a 22-year camp where we all get to come and have this wonderful time together.”

After this festival, the Bernards will take some time off, focus on their family and on long-term, succession-planning for the farm.

“For me it’s emotional just to think about this one being the last of its kind. I’m so proud to have been able to work with these folks through all these years, so many people who have inspired me to be a better human being.

“I just want to extend a hearty invitation for people to come out and experience some of the beauty of northern Michigan and some of this beautiful culture of active artisans and activists and music lovers who know how to have a really good time.”

Visit EarthworkHarvestGathering.com to buy tickets and attend the last festival—which runs this weekend, September 20-22—in Lake City.