Event Calendar for Manistee, Mason, southern Benzie, western Lake, western Wexford counties and sometimes farther
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Email event items to us at any time for our online calendar. The deadline for our September issue is Sept. 18. Email items to: editor@freshwater-reporter.com. ALWAYS check with the venue (call ahead) before making plans to attend events. Despite our best efforts, errors occur. Click on the GREEN bolded links to be taken to our advertiser’s website or for ticket information.
FARMERS MARKETS (Scroll for Ongoing and Daily Events)
THURSDAYS
Elberta Farmers Market
8am-12pm. Thru Oct. 1. Penfold Park, 1098 Lakeside Blvd.
FRIDAYS
Ludington Artisan/Farmers Market
2-7pm. Thru Sept. 18. Legacy Plaza Pavilion, 112 N James St.
SATURDAYS
Frankfort Farmers Market
9am-1pm. Thru Oct. 17. Open Space Park, 800 Main St.
Manistee Farmers Market
9am-12pm. Thru Oct. 4. Wagoner Community Center, 260 Saint Mary’s Pkwy.
MUSIC
Fridays
Live in the Plaza Music Series, Ludington
6-8pm, Free/donations. Legacy Plaza, 112 N James St. Bring lawn chair.
Sept. 25 Downtowners
Thru Sept. 26
Member Exhibit, Ludington
Free. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St.
Thru Oct. 2
Field of Vision Art Exhibition, Frankfort
Free. Artworks by Sandra Ackerman, Logan Hudson, Mark Mehaffey & Les Scruggs. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. Opening reception August 29, 5-7pm. oliverart.org
Thru Jan. 8
Fall Art Show, Arcadia
Free. Arcadia Community Center, 3586 Glovers Lake Rd.
Sept. 25-Oct. 30
A Thread Runs Through It Art Exhibition, Manistee
Free. Artworks featuring fibers & textiles. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Opening reception 9/25, 5-7pm.
Sept. 26-Oct. 30
Steve Loveless: Atmospheres Art Exhibitions, Frankfort
Free. Photographs of northern Michigan. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. Opening reception 9/26, 4-6pm.
SEPTEMBER DAILY EVENTS
17-19
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Fish Decoy Carving & Collecting Show, Cadillac
Free. Thurs. afternoon: Room to room trading. Fri: 10am Carving Contests & Show. Sat: Noon-3pm Collectors Show. Days Inn, 6001 E-M-115. https://glfda.com for more info.
18, 19
2nd Annual Pick’n in the Pines Bluegrass Festival, Baldwin
Family-friendly camping, music, food trucks & venders. High in the Pines Campground, 61 W US-10. Info/tickets: www.camphighinthepines.com
19
Scrap Tire Recycling Event, Kaleva
8am-12pm, $2/tire without rims, $3/tire with. Limit 10. Cash Only. Manistee County residents only (ID required). Tires must be clean. Passenger & light truck tires only. No commercial businesses/farms. Household & residential tires only. Bay Area Recycling for Charities, 14407 Industrial Dr.
Beach Sweep: International Coastal Cleanup, Ludington
10am-12pm, Free. Volunteer to help clean the beach. Meet at south concession stand at Stearns Park, 420 N. Lakeshore Dr. Gloves/bags provided. We’ll be inventorying everything collected and turning the data into the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
Free Senior Expo, Baldwin
10am-4pm. Info, drawings, concessions available. Hollister Senior Center, 1505 Michigan Ave.
3rd Annual Bigfoot Hunt, Baldwin
12pm. Join the scavenger hunt. Ride the trails & find Bigfoot to get prizes & giveaways. Customer appreciation grill out. Open to ATVS’s, UTVS’s, and dirt bikes. Fox Powersports Peacock, 276 S M37.
Barn Dance, Beulah
2-9pm. $10. Featuring The Mighty TundraTones, The Fabulous Horndogs and The Go Rounds. As there will be lots of dancing, dogs are not permitted. A portion of proceeds will benefit Cognition, a children’s science and nature center in Beulah that offers hands-on experiences. St. Ambrose Cellars, 841 S. Pioneer.
20
5th Annual Ironman 70.3 Michigan, Frankfort
5am-9pm. Info/Register: www.ironman.com/races/im703-michigan. Check the schedule for ROAD CLOSURES.
Ludington Auto Club Cars & Coffee Car Meet, Ludington
10am-1pm. Free and open to the public. Starving Artist, 634 Stiles Rd. Coffee for purchase at the Meraki Coffee Truck.
31st Annual of the Blessing of the Animals, Free Soil
1-4pm. The public as well as special needs folks are invited. Bring your pets of all sizes to this free church service. Join in the benefit silent auction, games for people & pets & a car & tractor show. Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm, 5487 Tuttle Rd.
22
Weed the Park, Ludington
6-8pm. Free. Volunteer to help AFFEW remove invasive plants. Wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Bring garden gloves, water. Meet at the gazebo at the end of Rath Ave. by Lincoln Lake. Cartier Park, 1254 N. Lakeshore Dr.
24
Manhattan Short Film Festival, Ludington
6pm. Filmgoers will vote for their favorite film & actor. Results from across the country will be sent to NYC festival headquarters to determine winners. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S. Harrison St. Tickets: www.ludingtonartscenter.org or at LACA.
25
Fun with Fungi, Scottville
9am-12pm. Explore the identification and ecology of native wild fungi in Michigan. Fin and Feather Club, 3276 N Darr Rd. Register: https://tinyurl.com/bdvatyf3
Near and Farr Friends, Onekama
11am-1pm. Free. Includes lunch and speaker Terri Winegarden about elder law. Topics include Medicare/Medicaid, estate, probate and special needs planning. Bring your questions and concerns. First Congregational Church, 4920 Spring St.
26
Aging Aces Disc Golf Tournament, Lake Ann
$20. Singles tournament. 1 round of play. Almira Township Park, 7276 Ole White Dr. Info/register: discgolfscene.com
St. Andrews Fall Bazaar, Beulah
10am-3pm. Items for sale include kitchen & home decor, lawn & garden, arts & crafts, Christmas decorations, baked goods, children’s toys, jewelry & accessories and handmade gift items. Proceeds are used to support worthy charities. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 8190 Lincoln Rd.
Garden Tractor Pulling, Scottville
11am-3pm. Free for spectators. The Western Michigan Old Engine Club sanctions garden tractor pulling for both dead weight sled and transfer sled. Riverside Park, 700 S Scottville Rd.
Craft Beer Festival, Cadillac
3-9pm. $15-50. Beer, mead, cider & spirits. Live music, food trucks, yard games. At the Cadillac Commons overlooking Lake Cadillac. Info/tickets: cadillaccraftbeerfest.com
Stop Motion Animation Festival, Ludington
6pm. $5 ADV, $10 DOOR. Audience members will get to vote for the Viewers’ Choice Awards. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. Tickets: ludingtonartscenter.org/smaf
Mason County Historical Society Gala 2026, Ludington
6-10pm. $75. Dinner, historical presentations, live and silent auctions, door prizes, and dancing to benefit the Society. Stearns Ballroom 212 East Ludington Ave. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/47ek5t3j
Auction & Dinner Night, Luther
6pm all you can eat food bar, 7pm auction. $10. Luther Lions Club, 1003 State St.
A Night at the Museum, Benzonia
7pm. Fundraising event. Silent auction & more. Benzie Area Historical Society & Museum, 6941 Traverse Ave. Register: benziemuseum.org
27
Free Soil Gun & Knife Show, Free Soil
9am-4pm. $5. $4 for seniors & vets. Includes a 50/50 raffle (need not be present to win), & food & beverages for purchase. Free Soil Community Center, 8480 Democrat St.
In concert: Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra, Interlochen
4pm. Suggested donation $15 adults, $10 seniors, free for kids under 18. “Musical Fun for Children of All Ages” featuring “The Composer is Dead” by Nathaniel Stookey with text by Lemony Snicket & music from the films “Ratatouille” and “How to Train Your Dragon.” Benzie Central High School auditorium, 9222 Homestead Rd.
30
Manhattan Short Film Festival, Ludington
3pm. Filmgoers will vote for their favorite film & actor. Results from across the country will be sent to NYC festival headquarters to determine winners. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S. Harrison St. Tickets: www.ludingtonartscenter.org or at LACA.