Harvest Frolic at Lincoln Log Cabin
Come celebrate the arrival of autumn at the Harvest Frolic — a beloved annual tradition at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site. The event is free and open to the public and takes place across both the Lincoln and Sargent farms, filling the grounds with music, crafts, food, and the sights and sounds of 19th-century rural life.
Harvest Frolic takes place on Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, with hours from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm both days.
Activities include children’s crafts, food preservation demonstrations, and hearth cooking. Artisans from across the region demonstrate a wide range of traditional skills throughout the weekend.
You can expect:
Spinning & weaving
Pottery & tinsmithing
Blacksmithing
Ropemaking
Embroidery & soapmaking
Hearth cooking demos
Children’s crafts & games
Food preservation
Vintage base ball (Saturday)
Historic cricket (Sunday)
Live music & storytelling
Food trucks both days
2026 Preliminary Schedule
Activities take place at both the Lincoln and Sargent farms as well as the Visitor Center. The schedule below is based on 2025 programming — check lincolnlogcabin.org as this year’s details are confirmed…
Saturday, September 26
10:30 am, 19th-Century Street Performer Clockwork Clown — Sargent Farm
11:00 am, Punch & Judy Puppet Show — Sargent Farm
11:30 am, KB Circus Spectacular — Sargent Farm
11:30 am, The Dulcimer Guy — Visitor Center
Noon, Children’s Sack Race — Sargent Farm
12:15 pm, Children’s Dipper Cup Race — Sargent Farm
12:30 pm, Clockwork Clown — Sargent Farm
1:00 pm, Puppet Show — Sargent Farm
1:30 pm, KB Circus Spectacular — Sargent Farm
1:30 pm, The Dulcimer Guy — Visitor Center
2:00 pm, Children’s Pie Eating Contest — Lincoln Farm
2:15 pm, Two-Man Saw Contest — Lincoln Farm
2:30 pm, Clockwork Clown — Sargent Farm
3:00 pm, Puppet Show — Sargent Farm
3:30 pm, KB Circus Spectacular — Sargent Farm
3:30 pm, The Dulcimer Guy — Visitor Center
Sunday, September 27
10:30 am, Clockwork Clown — Sargent Farm
11:00 am, Puppet Show — Sargent Farm
11:00 am, “Adventures with John James Audubon” — Brian “Fox” Ellis — Visitor Center Auditorium
11:30 am, KB Circus Spectacular — Sargent Farm
11:30 am, The Dulcimer Guy — Visitor Center
Noon, “Birdwatching with Audubon” nature walk — Brian “Fox” Ellis — Meet at Visitor Center
Noon, Children’s Sack Race — Sargent Farm
12:15 pm, Children’s Dipper Cup Race — Sargent Farm
12:30 pm, Clockwork Clown — Sargent Farm
1:00 pm, Puppet Show — Sargent Farm
1:30 pm, KB Circus Spectacular — Sargent Farm
1:30 pm, The Dulcimer Guy — Visitor Center
2:00 pm, “The Underground Railroad in Illinois” — Brian “Fox” Ellis — Visitor Center Auditorium
2:00 pm, Children’s Pie Eating Contest — Lincoln Farm
2:15 pm, Two-Man Saw Contest — Lincoln Farm
2:30 pm, Clockwork Clown — Sargent Farm
3:00 pm, Puppet Show — Sargent Farm
3:30 pm, KB Circus Spectacular — Sargent Farm
3:30 pm, The Dulcimer Guy — Visitor Center
4:00 pm, Quilt Raffle Drawing
The Lincoln & Sargent Farms are located at 402 South Lincoln Highway Road near Lerna.
For more information, visit lincolnlogcabin.org or call 217-345-1845.
The Harvest Frolic is produced and funded by the Lincoln Log Cabin Foundation with generous support from our community partners, including: Charleston Area Charitable Foundation, Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, Mattoon Tourism, Charleston Tourism, First Neighbor Bank, and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System