The Michigan Forest Visitor Center and Hartwick Pines Logging Museum today announced its annual Black Iron Days will be held Aug. 23-24 at Hartwick Pines State Park, northeast of Grayling.

This is the largest annual gathering of blacksmiths in Michigan, normally with more than 50 of these craftsmen and craftswomen plying their trade. On Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the historic sawmill cutting logs into pine boards and listen to traditional music played by "The Cousins Music Group." There will be hands-on activities for children of all ages and demonstrations by woodworkers, weavers and wool spinners.

At 1 p.m on Saturday, at Aug. 23, there will be a game of "Vintage Base Ball" with the Hartwick Pines Swampers playing the Mighty River Hogs of Midland County at the ball field at the park's picnic area. This is a chance to see baseball as it was played in the mid-1800s with no glove and rules that are quite different from the game we play today.

Also on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 3 p.m., Jan VanHoesen's "Live Lynx Program" takes place at the Michigan Forest Visitor Center. Meet "Crystal" a Canada lynx and other wild animals in this popular educational program.

Black Iron Days is held on the grounds of the Logging Museum at Hartwick Pines State Park. The Logging Museum is a field site of the Michigan Historical Museum and interprets the white pine logging era of 1840-1910. Black Iron Days is sponsored by the Friends of Hartwick Pines and all proceeds go toward the interpretive and educational programs at Hartwick Pines State Park.

This fall, also plan to attend "An Evening at the Logging Museum" Sept. 20 and "Critters in the Moonlight" Halloween Walk Oct. 18. For more information about Black Iron Days or other programs at Hartwick Pines, please call (989) 348-2537. There is no charge for attending Black Iron Days, but a state park motor vehicle permit is required for park entry. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.

For more information about events, the park, accessibility at this park, or persons with disabilities needing accommodations to attend events, contact Park Interpreter Craig Kasmer or Park Supervisor Jon Gregorich at 989-348-2537 (or TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired) at least seven days prior to the event, or view information about these details at www.michigan.gov/hartwickpines.

Hartwick Pines State Park is located at 4216 Ranger Rd., off M-93 three miles from exit #259 north of Grayling. Camping reservations can be made online at www.midnrreservations.com, or by calling 800-44-PARKS.