A persons boots and lower legs are seen in an orange plastic sled going down a snowy hill flanked by trees an fencing. Photo by Pat Stinson.

Event Calendar-Manistee, Mason and more

Event Calendar for Manistee, Mason, southern Benzie, western Lake and western Wexford counties and sometimes farther

Tell them you saw it in the Freshwater Reporter! 

Email event items to us at any time for our online calendar.  Our next printed calendar covers the month of April and the deadline is March 19.  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. 

EVENT CALENDAR IMAGE:  Your editor sledding down a snowy driveway after a snowstorm in January 2025. Photo: Pat Stinson.

Click on the GREEN links to be taken to the event website or for ticket information. Links are provided to our nonprofit partners’ and advertisers’ websites.

ONGOING EVENTS (Scroll for Daily Events)

Thru March 13

Winter Art Exhibition, Arcadia
Free. Arcadia Community Center, 3586 Glovers Lakes Rd. Opening reception Jan. 9, 5:30-7pm.

Gasoline ReFind Vintage advertisement is a close up of the red, white and blue sign with the store's name on the side of the store's weathered wooden siding. To the right of the image of the sign is a bright yellow box with the words Sharing Shack Always Open. Gasoline ReFind Vintage store is open May through Thanksgiving Weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The store is located at Potter and Erdman roads, west of Bear Lake. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.
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Advertisement for M.T. Plate Diner in Arcadia, Michigan, located at 3489 Lake Street. Food, Friends, Family. Convenient corner location in the heart of recreation close to Arcadia Overlook, Lake Michigan Beach Access and the Arcadia Marsh Preserve. Telephone number is 2.3.1.8.8.9.7.0.6.3. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.

Tree, Shrub & Plant Sale-Mason-Lake Conservation District, Ludington & Baldwin
Order online, stop in the office or call them. Pick up orders in Mason County at:  Mason County Fairgrounds, 5302 US-10, Ludington, Fri., April 24, 2-6pm and Sat., April 25, 9am-noon.  Pick up orders in Lake County at: Wenger Pavilion in Baldwin (behind Jones Ice Cream) on Sat., April 25, 10am-noon.

Thru March 15

AFFEW’s Online Native Plant Sale, Ludington
Help protect our wildlife by gardening with native plants! These important plant species provide nectar, pollen &
seeds that serve as food for insects, birds & animals. They also require minimal maintenance & water. Orders:
www.affew.org

Thru March 20

Native Seedling Sale-Manistee Conservation District, Bear Lake
Four ways to place an order: Visit our  online store to shop and pay online (credit/debit card needed). Visit us in person at our office to place an order (cash, card, or check accepted). Mail in a paper order form with a check to our office, checks can be made out to Manistee Conservation District. Call our office and place an order over the phone (credit/debit card needed).  The sale operates as first-come, first-served, and some species sell out quickly! Go to the website for pick up location. Dates/times: Fri., April 17, 2-6pm and Sat., April 18, 9am-1pm.

Thru March 27

Image Makers, Frankfort
Free. Oliver Art Center, 132  Coast Guard Rd. Fisher Room Gallery. Pen & ink, watercolor, pencil, gouache. The illustrator is an artist with a story to tell. This  show explores the work of several artist-illustrators. Learn more about the processes, differences and similarities between “art” (painting) and “illustration.” 

Thru March 26

Benzie Conservation District Native Seedling Sale, Beulah
Pick up will be May 1 & 2. For information and to order: www.benziecd.org/seedling-sales.html

Thru March 28  

Image Makers: The Art of Illustration, Frankfort
Free. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. https://oliverart.org

March 6-28

Cut, Paste, Create: A Collage Exhibition, Ludington
Free. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. Opening reception Mar. 6, 4-7pm.

Joy & Whimsy Art Exhibition, Ludington 
Free. A solo exhibit of art works by Vicki Beyer. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. Opening reception Mar. 6, 4-7pm.

March 6-April 10

The Language of Women Art Exhibition, Manistee 
Free. Works by women (or anyone who identifies as a woman) artists will be featured. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Opening reception Mar. 8, 12-3pm.

March 14-April 17

CONSTRUCTed: Works in Wood, Paper & Fiber, Frankfort
Free. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. Opening reception March 14, 5-7pm.

MARCH DAILY EVENTS

10

Bees Knees Book Club, Beulah 
5-7pm. Laid-back no-pressure gathering of book lovers. No assigned books or schedules. Just good company & lively conversation about whatever you are reading or want to recommend. St. Ambrose Cellars, 841 S Pioneer Rd.

11

Winter Speaker Series, Ludington 
7-8pm. $10/nonmembers, Free for MCHS members. “Soldiers & Tactics of the Revolutionary War” presented by the Military History Academy at Mason County Historical Society, 103 E. Ludington Ave.

12

Tyler Farr in concert wsg The Boardman River Band, Cadillac
7-11pm. $35. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com

13

Near & Farr Friends, Onekama
11am. Dave Maylen’s Magic Show. Onekama Township Hall, 5435 Main St.

That One Time at Band Camp Tour, Cadillac
7-11pm. $20. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com

Harmonius Wail in Concert, Ludington 
7:30pm. $25 ADV, $30 DOOR. Americana-infused Gypsy Jazz trio. Cash bar available. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. Tickets: at the Art Center or www.ludingtonartscenter.org

14

Finny Slam Perch, Pike, & Steelhead Ice Fishing Tournament, Ludington 
$10 entry fee. Fish any Michigan lake while following all DNR rules. Prizes for the longest fish in each category. . Participants must be in line for measuring by 6pm. The entry fee includes sloppy joes down by the river at Sutton’s Landing following the tournament. Pere Marquette Expeditions, 1649 S Pere Marquette Hwy.

Irish Jog 5k/10k, Ludington
9am. $20 students, $30 adults. 100 Ludington Ave. Info/registration: https://runludington.com

 Saint Urho Day Bake Sale, Kaleva
10am-4pm. Kaleva Art Gallery Gallery, 14449 Wuoksi Ave.

2026 Polar Plunge for Michigan Special Olympics, Manistee 
11am registration & turn in donations. 1pm Costume Parade & take the plunge. Silent auction. After-splash awards bash. Lunch for plungers raising $100+. Lunch & drinks for spectators available to purchase. Little River Casino Resort, 2700 Orchard Hwy. Register/donate: https://tinyurl.com/6fyrah7h

Cheese Pairing Event, Kaleva 
12-4pm. $20. The Cheese Lady of Traverse City will be pairing cheeses with flights of 4 ciders, wines or beers. Cheese & drinks to take home will be available for purchase. Northern Natural Cider House & Winery, 7220 Chief Rd.

Guided Snowshoe Hike of the Michigan Legacy Art Park, Thompsonville 
1-2:30pm. $10 adults, $5 kids. Free for Crystal Mountain houseguests. Tour payment will be collected at the Art Park trailhead. Reservations not required. Snowshoe rental $15/hour/pair of snowshoes. At the Cross-Country Center. Rent for 2 hours to ensure enough time for the tour. Available on a first-come, first-served basis. Snowshoes should be rented at least 15 minutes prior to hike start time. Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr.

Dr. Strangelove-National Theatre Recorded Live, Manistee 
1-3:30pm. $25. Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays 4 roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece, shown on screen. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org

 Hardy Hall Series, Manistee 
6-8pm. Free. “Winter’s Last Song” featuring Tim Krause & Howard Wilson. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St.

Sponge in concert wsg Trouble & Versatile, Cadillac
7-11pm. $20. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com