Three Oaks is named for massive oaks that stood near a town rail crossing. The town's Harbor Arts organization sponsors classic film art and Shakespeare in the summer and Art Attack's Performance Art Festival and the Festival of Lights in the winter. The Three Oaks Spokes Club sponsors the Bicycle History Museum in downtown Three Oaks. Three Oaks Spokes sponsors the annual 'Apple Cider Century' bicycle event in late September when over 7,000 cyclists enjoy 100 miles of Harbor Country trails.Thre Oaks' claim to fame was the location of where the Christmas movie "Prancer" was filmed on location. The movie's hit was followed up by a sequel.

History
Imagine this: the President of the United States makes his way to a tiny Michigan village to dedicate a war memorial. He’s greeted by a fellow who has turned turkey feathers into a world-wide industry and declared "Three oaks Against the World." Well, Edward Warren shook the hand of President McKinley in 1899 at the Three Oaks train station and heard President McKinley eloquently dedicate the Dewey Cannon Monument to the good people of Three Oaks and their contribution to the Spanish-American War. The campaign Warren waged against every other city and village in the nation, to raise the most per capita contribution for the war effort and its veterans, was yet another victory for a most incredible businessman and benefactor. But we get ahead of history.

Three Oaks was linked to the rest of our current Harbor Country communities by the timber and bricks which were shipped to Chicago and other Great Lakes cities. And, of course, there was the railroad. The crews aboard The Central Michigan Railroad passing through the village recognized there were three oak trees which appeared to be one because of their mass and proximity. everyone on board recognized the Three Oaks, as did local residents. Want to name a town?

But, back to this Warren fellow. He had a store in town in the late 1880’s which was doing fine but not outrageously flourishing. One day he noticed a clerk fix a broken whale bone corset stay with a turkey feather quill. An industry was born at that moment. Turkey feather quills were becoming garment stays and buggy whips, as well. The Three Oaks economy was booming. the Warren Featherbone factory still stands in Three Oaks. But, we all recognize that corset stays and buggy whips had the potential of recent dot.coms.

When the Warren Featherbone Company exited Three Oaks, agriculture and local commerce became the village’s income source. But, of course, tourism also contributed. A fellow by the name of Ed Drier, recognized in Fortune Magazine, opened a butcher shop which remains a cherished piece of his and the community’s heritage. Ed’s wife and daughter maintain his standards and humor.

The biggest events in Harbor Country occur in Three Oaks every year. The "Oakers" claim they have the biggest Flag Day Parade in the States. Certainly no one will dispute that it’s one great party. But, the biggest event is the Apple Cider Century bike ride [now over a quarter century tradition] which draws some 7,000 riders from across the country. No buggy whip required.

- excerpts from HarborCountry.org