The Latest News
Information about these programs may change before a chance to update the website occurs. To keep up with the latest news, visit our Facebook page or join our mailing list!
Sponsorships Available!
Community partners are important to the success of our programs and events. From reception to advertising, your dollars support every program, giving residents and visitors a chance to dive deep into the amazing history of Berrien County.
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a sponsor? Have a program you are excited to support? Contact Rhiannon at rcizon@berrienhistory.org or call 269-471-1202 to start your partnership journey!
History Programming & Community Events
A Drink with History
You’re invited to join the BCHA this year as we raise a glass to Berrien County’s past with an expanded A Drink with History! Guests will enjoy an evening of delicious food and drinks while learning about unique topics from area experts. All events are for adults 21 and over, however non-alcoholic options will be made available. Each A Drink with History will start with a social (half) hour before the lecture begins. Some talks will include a flight, some specialty drink tickets, and a couple will be open bar.
Due to space limitations, registration is required for all events and will open one month before each program. You can purchase tickets online, over the phone, or in person at the museum during regular business hours. All tickets include food, drink/ flight, and lecture. Book tickets include all this plus a book at a special discount! Additional drinks can be purchase from the host site directly. Books or gifts related to the talk may be available for sale and will include a special 15% off discount just for attendees!
- Classic Restaurants of Michiana
- July 10 at 6:00 p.m.
- Speaker: Jane Ammeson, Author of Classic Restaurants of Michiana
- Location: Lemon Creek Winery, Berrien Springs
- Cost: $40.00 per general ticket or $55.00 per book ticket, purchase tickets here
- Uncovered: House of David’s High Island
- September 11 at 6:30 p.m.
- Speaker: Dr. Brian Carroll, Israelite House of David Archivist
- Location: Lazy Ballerina Winery, St. Joseph
- Cost: $40.00 per person, purchase tickets here
- Spook-tacular History: Berrien County’s Haunted Locations
- October 9 at 6:00 p.m.
- Speaker: Dan Holroyd, Southwest Michigan Paranormal
- Location: Iron Shoe Distillery, Niles
- Cost: $40.00 per person, purchase tickets here
- The Birch Bark Books of Simon Pokagon
- November 13 at 6:00 p.m.
- Speaker: Dr. Blaire Morceau, Michigan State University & Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
- Location: Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo
- Cost: $50.00 per general ticket or $70.00 per book ticket, purchase tickets here
BCHA on the Move
The BHCA is on the move in the community and we encourage you to come visit us. Events that require admission are indicated below and linked where possible. All questions regarding any events listed below should be directed to the host institution.
Her Eye for Design: New Buffalo Photographer Marguerite Parmalee
New Buffalo City Hall
Free to the public, available during City Hall’s regular hours
March 28 through September 2025
Over 30 images from the enigmatic Marguerite Parmalee are on display at the New Buffalo City Hall. From portraiture to landscapes, Parmalee’s eye for design captures her viewers’ attentions. This exhibit can viewed during the building’s regular operating hours.
To schedule the BCHA, visit here.
Community Events
5th Annual Berrien Springs Pickle Festival
July 4, 2025 at the History Center at Courthouse Square
- Festival Vendor Registration
- CLOSED FOR 2025
- Pickle Festival Recipe Contest
- Final day to drop off: June 26th at 4:00 p.m.
- Free to enter, home canners only
- Categories: Traditional Dill, Sweet Pickle, Pickled Fruit or Veggies, and Unique Pickle
- All submissions must be in labelled (date of canning, category, type of pickle/fruit/veggie, and contestant’s name), properly sealed jars with the exception of refrigerator pickles and be accompanied by their recipe
- Winning picklers will be announced at the festival and all results are final
- 4th Annual In a Pickle 5K
- June 15 at 9:00 a.m. at Andrews University’s Andreasen Wellness Center
- Pre-registration now open through June 13
- $30.00 through May 10, $35.00 through June 13, $40.00 day of
- Where’s Dillard? Scavenger Hunt
- June 24th through June 30th
- Clues to two of Dillard’s locations posted each day on the Festival’s Facebook Page
- Open to all ages and free!
- Pick-le up your hunt sheets at Village Hall or the Courthouse Square during business hours
- Third Party Events
- Berrien Springs – Eau Claire Rotary Club Golf Outing – REGISTRATION CLOSED
- 2025 Pickleball Fundraiser Flyer
- Berrien Springs – Oronoko Township Fire Department Pancake Breakfast
- July 4, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. $8.00 per person ages 6 years and older
- 4th of July Parade at 4:00 p.m.
- Berrien Springs Community Fireworks
- July 4th at dusk
- Free parking available at all Berrien Springs Public schools and paid parking at the Berrien County Youth Fair
- Pickle Festival 2025 Schedule [EVENT MAP]
- All day events
- Vendor Alley, Courthouse Square Grounds
- Food Vendor Alley, Union Street
- Museum open house
- Pickling demonstrations, Murdock Log Cabin
- Blacksmith demonstrations, Bennett’s Forge
- 3rd Annual Pickle Festival Dunk Tank
- 2025 Non-profit: Friends of Berrien County Animal Services
- Prices per throw to be announced at the Festival
- Additional donations of food and treats to the shelter welcomed!
- Big Wheel Races at 11:30 a.m. on Kimmel Street
- Open to children only, limited to 30 children per age group
- Pre-registration available and day of registration will close 45 minutes before races start
- 5th Annual Pied Piper Pickle Tasting Room, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. inside Community Library
- Free to the public and open while supplies last
- Flamm’s Pickles Relish Eating Contest at 12:00 p.m. on Courthouse Square grounds
- Registration open until 30 minutes before contest starts
- Two age groups: 17 years and younger & 18 years and older
- Limit of 10 people per age group
- All participants must sign waiver before competing
- Annual Pickle Fling at 1:00 p.m. on Kimmel Street
- Pre-registration available and participants can register up to 30 minutes before contest starts
- Multiple age groups for children and adults
- Free to participate
- Current record to break: 294 feet
- Frozen T-shirt contest at 2:00 p.m. on Courthouse Square Grounds
- Open to teens 17 years and younger
- Limited to 10 participants
- Registration open through 30 minutes before event starts
- All day events
Berrien County Youth Fair
August 11 – 16, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Commercial Building #37
Theme: Fiesta at the Fair
The Berrien County Historical Association returns to the Youth Fair in 2025! We’ll be at the fair all week with goodies from the gift shop, a special exhibit, and crowd-favorite trivia questions! The title of the 2025 exhibit will be announced in the Spring and volunteer registration will go live in June. Remember, all volunteers receive free passes to the fair as thank you for joining us!
7th Annual Dia de Muertos Community Alter
October 1 – November 2
1839 Courthouse Museum lower level
Included with paid admission to the museum
Join the BCHA for our annual community altar (ofrenda) for Day of the Dead. Photos and non-valuable objects can be placed on the altar anytime during the display period. These can be picked up anytime after the end of the display run and before Thanksgiving. Any items not picked up will be discarded by the staff.
3rd Annual Dia de Muertos Day of of Memory
November 2 at 11:00 a.m.
1839 Courthouse
Free to the public
Join the BCHA to remember those who have gone before us. Coffee, cocoa, and pastries will be available while guests share memories of the people who shaped us but are now gone. The event included free admission to the museum.
Flags of Valor with American Legion Post #85
Display: November 1 – November 15
Purchase Period: October 1 – October 25
$10.00 per flag, applications go live in October 2025
Berrien Springs American Legion Post #85 and the Berrien County Historical Association once again join forces for the 2nd annual Flags of Valor display. Each flag will include the name of a veteran (alive or deceased) and be displayed on the grounds of the Courthouse Square.
All applications and payment go to the American Legion Post #85 with funds going towards a charity of the Post’s choice. The 2025 recipient will be announced in October. The BCHA directs all questions to Post #85.
One County, One Read: The Edmund Fitzgerald
October & November 2024
More information to come!
Kindle Your Christmas Spirit 2025
December 11 at 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Berrien Springs & Courthouse Square/ Buildings
The BCHA joins our friends throughout Berrien Springs for the annual Kindle Your Christmas Spirit on December 11, 2024! Events will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is free with some paid components.
- 1839 Courthouse: Scavenger Hunt start, gift shop open, and Trinity Lutheran concert (time TBA)
- Murdock Log Cabin: Hot Cocoa Bar, $1.00 per cup (cash only)
- Sheriff’s Residence: Curator’s Corner in our Living Lab
- Bennett’s Forge: Sleighbells with Dave Francis, $10.00 per bell (cash only)
- All buildings: Scavenger hunt
Displays & Exhibits
It’s St. Joe Today!
June 1 – July 31, 2025
1839 Courthouse, lower level
Free with paid admission to the museum
St. Joseph Today is celebrating a milestone year and you’re invited to join them with this micro exhibit showcasing their history. Guests are even invited to glance through the scrapbook at all the work this community organization has done to celebrate St. Joseph and the surrounding communities! Don’t forget to vote for your favorite St. Joe Today event while you’re here.
Haunted History at the Museum
Happy Little Museums: A Wine and Paint Night at Dablon Winery
October 23 at 6:00 p.m.
$25.00 per person, spaces limited and RSVP required
Registration opens September 1
Join the BCHA as we get into spooky mode with a special Halloween-themed painting night at Dablon Winery in Baroda! BCHA curator and artist John Moga will lead participants through the steps to create a spooky version of the 1839 County Courthouse. Included in your ticket price is a drink ticket (alcoholic or nonalcoholic available) and snack box, along with all materials and instruction needed to complete this painting. Additional drinks can be purchased directly from Dablon. Available for adults 21 years and older.
Fireside Tales 2025: Topic TBA
October 25 at 7:30 p.m.
$5.00 per person, limited to 15 spots per night, registration opens September 25; RSVP required
Registration opens October 1
Our 5th annual Fireside Tales and folks from Twin City Players return to the Murdock Cabin this October for another season of ghost stories! While the 2025 theme will be announced shortly, we can’t wait for another evening of haunting-ly good fun! Fee includes stories and seasonal refreshments. Spaces limited, purchase today!
Soups and Spirits
October 30 inside the 1839 Courthouse
6:00 p.m: Doors open and buffet begins
7:00 p.m.: Show begins
$25.00 per person, general admission and $75.00 VIP tickets, limited to 12
Registration opens September 1
The BCHA and Twin City Players invite you to join us for our 2nd annual “dinner theater experience” featuring a soup buffet and ghost-themed performances from some of TCP’s brightest performers. RSVP will be required and will run from September 30 – October 26 and will be available online, on-site before the event, or over the phone.
VIP Tickets include special “on-stage” seating, gift backs featuring treats from TCP and the BCHA, and a special meet and greet with the performers!
This event is made possible in part through a generous donation by Sheldon and Maureen Light. Additional sponsorship opportunities available. Contact rcizon@berrienhistory.org to learn more.
Trick or Treating at the Museum
October 31: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Courthouse Square grounds and buildings
The BCHA once again opens the Courthouse Square to trick or treaters of all ages on Halloween to see what spooky treats we have to offer! Volunteers will be needed and registration will open in early October for those interested in joining us. Costumes HIGHLY encouraged!
Living Labs
Ask a Curator Hour
4th Saturday of the Month
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Free with paid admission to the museum
In 2025, the BCHA is suspending our temporary exhibit schedule to undertake our largest project to date: the review of our collections and archives. With tens of thousands of pieces to be reviewed, our temporary exhibit space inside the Sheriff’s Residence is being converted into a workshop for Curator John Moga and our team of volunteers.
This working lab will be viewable by guests when they visit the Sheriff’s Residence throughout 2025. Staff may be available to chat with visitors about our work, but this many not always be possible. Therefore, we are introducing Ask a Curator Hour each month so John or Rhiannon can take your questions about our collections, the work we’re doing, or even how you can preserve your own history at home! Stop by any time between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on the 4th Saturday of the month (unless closed for a holiday) to see what we’re doing to keep your history safe!
Youth Programs & Events
Story Trails at the Museum 2025
The Curious Polka-Dot Present: May 1 – July 13
Bold Boys and Great Girls in Michigan History: July 16 – September 28
Free with paid admission to the museum
Enhance your visit to the museum by enjoying our Story Trails! While the stories can be enjoyed by every visitor, these trails are designed for young history lovers in mind.
Past Events & Exhibits
Previous Event Recordings
Previous & Digital Exhibits
Temporary exhibits 2020
- Wish You Were Here: A BCHA Collections Exhibit
- Through a Child’s Eyes: Creative Kids 2020
- A Community Curated: A Cup of Sugar
- A Walk in the Park: Green Spaces and Parks of Berrien County
- Nineteen: Suffrage in Southwest Michigan / Companion Playlist 1 / Companion Playlist 2
- To the Polls: Elections and Politics in Southwest Michigan
Temporary exhibits 2021
- Historic Rituals: The Freemasons of Berrien County
- And the Winner is. . .: The Queens of Blossomtime
- Batter, Batter SWING! Baseball in Southwest Michigan / Companion Playlist 1 / Companion Playlist 2
- Curious Curios: The Strange and Wonderful World of the BCHA Collections
- Chalkdust: School Life in Berrien County
Temporary exhibits 2022
- Global Titan: The Story of Buchanan’s Clark Equipment Company
- Against the Grain: Wood and Our Daily Lives
- The Melodious Faithful: Music at the House of David Travelling Exhibit
- Sew Gorgeous: Quilts from the BCHA Collections
- The Art of Textiles
Temporary exhibits 2023
- Bitter Battle: The Elections that Changed Berrien County
- Growing Diamonds: The 70th Anniversary of the Berrien Springs Garden Club
- An Acre of Our Own: The Jewish Farmers of Berrien County
Temporary exhibits 2024
- A is for Architecture: An Interactive Look at Berrien County’s Historic Buildings
- B is for Beauty: The Textiles and Accessories of the BCHA Collections
- D is for Drew: The Colorful World of Nancy Swan Drew
- Lights in the Sky: UFO Sightings in Southwest Michigan and Beyond / Companion Playlist
Digital-only Exhibits