38th Annual Harvest Days & America 250 Celebration
Join the Highland Historical Society September 11–13, 2026, for our annual fall event! The 38th Annual Harvest Days at the Louis Latzer Homestead in Highland, Illinois. This year’s event will be especially memorable as we celebrate America 250, commemorating our nation’s 250th birthday while continuing a Highland tradition that has brought history to life for generations.
Visitors can look forward to the familiar experiences that have made Homestead Harvest Days a community favorite, including living history demonstrations, entertainment, children’s activities, historic displays, tractors, vendors, artisans, food and more. Throughout the weekend, this year’s celebration will also highlight the decades that have shaped both America and the historic community of Highland, bringing local and national history together for this special 250th anniversary year.
PET Milk Bake Off
For the fourth year, Homestead Harvest Days proudly presents the PET Milk Bake Off! The idea of preserving milk by not adding sugar started in 1885. At that time the company was called the “Helvetia Milk Condensing Company.”
After changing the name to the “PET Milk Company” in 1923, the can of evaporated milk supplied soldiers fighting in WWI and helped families during the Great Depression as a convenient source of milk.
After that short history lesson, please join us for our 4th Annual Pet Milk Bake Off! It will take place on Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m. Please drop off your entry no later than 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Celebrate America 250 at The Louis Latzer Homestead, 1464 Old Trenton Road, Highland, IL 62249. The Bake Off tent will be next to the Sweet Shop.
Registration is FREE! To register please fill out and submit this form. Present a printout of the form and a recipe card with your bake when dropping off your entry.
Line-Up of Events for the America 250 Harvest Days Event
Saturday, September 12
- Virgil Straeter: 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Petting Zoo: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Pet Milk Baking Contest: 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
- Tinge Studios: 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Gateway Dulcimer Society: 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Old-Fashioned Games: 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Highland Community Chorus: 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Time Capsule Ceremony: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- St. Paul German Dancers: 4:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Silent Auction/Flea Market ends at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13
- Petting Zoo: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Starlight Dance: 11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
- Bald Eagle Meet & Greet: 12:00–2:00 p.m.
- Tinge Studios: 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Pedal Tractor Pull REGISTRATION: 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
- Gateway Dulcimer Society: 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Pedal Tractor Pull: 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- St. Paul German Dancers: 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Highland Muny Band: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Silent Auction/Flea Market ends at 4:00 p.m.
September 11–13
- Living History
- Demonstrations
- Children’s Area
- Food & Drink
- Vendors & Artisans
- Pet Milk Display
- Latzer Home Tours
- Fire Engines
- Mustang Sanctuary
- Face Painting
- Hay Bale Maze
- Scavenger Hunt
- Rusty Rodz
- And Much More!
Latzer Homestead
2022 was the 175th anniversary of Louis Latzer’s land purchase on which he would build this home for his family in 1901. Latzer is credited with perfecting the process of condensing milk. He took over the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company in 1887. The company was later named Pet Milk and would grow to have 23 plants across the United States. Louis Latzer became known as “the Father of Pet Milk.”
His family donated the home and 80 acre farm to the Highland Historical Society in 1976. Tours of the home during Homestead Harvest Days fest are $2.00 per person.
30 foot Diorama of Pet Milk
This 30 foot long miniature displayy shows the Pet Milk condensing process.
Directions to Latzer Homestead
Highland, IL is located 35 miles east of St. Louis, just off I-70, on Illinois Route 40. 1464 Old Trenton Road Highland, IL 62249. Follow the signs in Highland leading to the Homestead!
