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 March and the deadline is Feb. 10.  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 Feb. 13

Andrew Jagniecki “Wild Impressions,” Frankfort
Free.  Exhibition of the artist’s linocut, woodcut and intaglio prints in the Fisher gallery at Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. oliverart.org

Thru Feb. 27

Exhibition: “Art is Love, Actually,” Manistee
Free exhibit in the Hardy Hall gallery of Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St.. This exhibit  explores the idea of art as an expression of love—romantic, platonic, familial, and universal—inviting  viewers to consider how creativity connects us to one another. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, February 1, Noon-3pm, welcoming the public to celebrate the artists and their work. ramsdelltheatre.org

Thru Feb. 28      

Art Reprize Exhibition, Ludington
Free. A collection of artworks from Artprize 2025. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. 

Echoes of Control ~ Narc Series, Ludington 
Free. Artworks by Richelle Daniels that explore the experiences of victims of narcissistic abuse. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. 

Thru March 13

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

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 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 26

Feb. 13-March 6    

Student Art Exhibition 2026, Frankfort 
Free. Hundreds of works by talented students in grades K-12 from regional schools, in a wide variety of media. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. Opening reception Feb. 13, 5-7pm.

Feb. 15-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

Feb. 20-March 28  

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

FEBRUARY DAILY EVENTS

Feb. 6-8

Midwest Kite Jam, Cadillac
Premier snowkiting weekend in the Midwest on frozen Lake Cadillac or Lake Mitchell, depending on conditions. Info: midwestsnowkitejam.com

Feb. 8

SOUPer Ski Sunday, Thompsonville
11am-1pm. $25 plus a canned food item for Benzie Area Christian Neighbors. Cross-country ski clinic at Crystal Mountain. For beginners wanting the basics and experts wanting pro tips. Warm up at a campfire following the clinic with soup, chili, beverages.

Feb. 9

Go Beyond Beauty, Ludington
6:30pm. Free. Presentation by Michael Ramsey, Outreach Coordinator for North Country CISMA. Go Beyond
Beauty is a statewide initiative that encourages garden professionals, organizations, & individuals to stop selling orusing high-priority ornamental invasive plants while promoting native alternatives. This presentation explores how
invasive ornamental plants harm Michigan’s natural ecosystems, introduces the 14 species restricted by the program, and highlights the ecological, economic, and habitat benefits of choosing native plants to support biodiversity and healthy landscapes. Lakeshore Resource Network, 920 E Tinkham Ave. RSVP: makeadifference@affew.org.

Feb. 10

Bees Knees Book Club, Beulah 
5-7pm. Free. 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.

Feb. 11

Annual Meeting Open House & Board of Directors Election, Manistee
5:30-7:30pm. Free. Meet Manistee Conservation District staff, browse info tables, get 2025 annual MCD report, take a survey to help future planning, participate in an all-ages nature activity, vote for board members (county residents only) & learn about a new cost-share program for landowners presented by the Michigan Forest Association. Snacks, drinks & prizes. Wagoner Community Center, 260 St. Mary S. Pkwy.

Feb. 12

The History of Crystal Highlands, Benzonia
4pm. Free/donations accepted. Presented by Anne Rogers of the Benzie Area Historical Society. Mills Community House, 6941 Traverse Ave.

Fire from the Gods: The Human Tour in concert with For the Fallen Dreams, Cadillac
7-10:50pm. $20. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13^th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com

Feb. 13

Specialty Coffee Drinks, Onekama
11am. Free. At Lake & Latte, 4850 Main St. Learn about the variety of coffee drinks made by the barista. Hosted by Near & Farr Friends.

Opening Reception for the Student Art Exhibition 2026, Frankfort 
5-7pm. Free. Hundreds of works by talented students in grades K-12 from regional schools, in a wide variety of media. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.

Romance & Rhapsody, Manistee
6:30pm. $25/person, $40/couple. Ticket includes desserts & a drink. Concert & cocktail hour in Hardy Hall. Four
extraordinary voices in a celebration of beloved love songs & timeless standards, accompanied on piano. Ramsdell
Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org

Feb. 14

12th Annual Betsie Bay Frozen 5k, Frankfort & Elberta 
10am. Cost. Runners’ package pick-up at Frankfort American Legion Post 221, 206 Main St. on Feb.13, 4-6pm & again on race day 1 ½ hours before the race. All participants receive a lightweight hoodie & finisher’s medal. Awards given to top place overall & top 3 in each of 15 age categories. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Benzie Area Youth Initiative. Info/register: https://bit.ly/3PvcFu4

Book Lovers Sale, Manistee
10am-2:30pm. At Manistee’s Main Library branch at First and Maple streets. (Donations accepted Feb. 10-13. No old textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, books with odors or books that are brown with age.)  Hosted by Friends of the Library.

Life of Pi-National Theatre Recorded Live, Manistee
1-3:30pm. $25. The play by Lolita Chakrabarti, is a stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s bestselling novel, renowned
for its stunning puppetry and visual effects, will be shown on screen. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101
Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org

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 are 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.

Feb. 14-15

Michigan Free Fishing Weekend, Statewide
All fishing licenses waived in Michigan during this weekend. Regulations still apply. A  Michigan Recreation Passport will NOT be required for entry into state parks & boating access sites during Free Fishing Weekends. 

Feb. 19

Annual Dinner & Board of Directors Election, Scottville
5-8pm. Free/donations accepted. Our Savior Lutheran Church, 765 US-10. Celebrate Mason-Lake Conservation District’s success stories from the past year. Open House 5-6pm, staff will have table displays to share programs & services available & answer any conservation questions. Board of Director elections & raffles also during this time. Dinner at 6pm, catered by Pere Marquette Bistro and Catering. After dinner, a presentation will showcase 2025 projects & those planned for 2026. Conservation Awards will be presented to community members; election & raffle winners will be announced. Registration by Feb. 13 required for dinner: https://tinyurl.com/y2yn2snx

Feb. 20

Feeding America Food Truck, Arcadia
10am.  Arcadia Community Center, 3586 Glovers Lake Rd.

Impact of Invasive Species on Parks, Onekama
11am. Free. All are welcome. An invasive species’ expert explains how public parks are impacted by invasives on our properties. Hosted by Near & Farr Friends at the Onekama Township Hall, 5435 Main St.

Library Olympics, Frankfort
5:30-7pm. Compete in some of your favorite sports, make Olympic-themed crafts and enjoy a snack. Benzie Shores District Library, 630 Main St.  BSDLibrary.org

Feb. 21

History of Crystal Highlands, Benzonia
4pm. $5 donation requested. Presented by Anne Rogers, a volunteer with the Benzie Historical Society’s archives. She lives in Crystal Highlands, a glacial moraine off the north shore of Crystal Lake, and has wandered the area since its inception as a community.  Presentation held at the Mills Community House, 891 Michigan Ave. benziemuseum.org

Community Poetry Gathering, Bear Lake
4-6pm. Hosted by Motel Bear Lake, 12773 West St. (along US-31).  Nicole Mezeske of Z&N Farm is featured, reading poems from her new book “Heart Soil.”  Other area poets will read their original poems, including Shannon Courier of Wellston, Ramona DeGeorgio-Venegas of Manistee, and Louisa Loveridge Gallas of Arcadia. In collaboration with the Freshwater Reporter and Bear Lake Promoters.

Ski & Sip, Thompsonville
4-6pm. $25. Women’s Nordic Skiing Clinic. Learn new skills, connect with other women, & enjoy a fun-filled afternoon on the cross-country ski trails. Certified Nordic Coach Beth Major will guide beginners through the essential techniques & fundamentals, & experienced skiers will benefit from valuable tips. The afternoon wraps up with beverages around a cozy campfire. Ages 21+ only. Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. Held at the Cross Country Center, located on Mountain Center Rd. Info/register: 231-378-3110 or https://tinyurl.com/53ha8fma

Lantern-Lit Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, or Hiking, Ludington
6-8pm. Free. Hike begins at the Warming Shelter and has approximately 1 mile of lighted trails. There are bonfires at both the Warming Shelter & the Amphitheater, along with free hot cocoa & marshmallow roasting at the amphitheater. Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116. MI Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry.

 Feb. 22

Student Recital, Benzonia
2pm. Benzie Youth String Program at Mills Community House, 891 Michigan Ave. Listen to the achievements that students and instructors reached together.

Feb. 24

Be Civic with the League of Women Voters, Frankfort
11am. Learn how to get involved in government and make a difference in your community. At Benzie Shores District Library, 630 Main St.

Feb. 27

Aging Well Forum, Onekama
11am. Free. All are welcome. Carol King, M.D.,  presents “10 things I wish my patients knew.” Hosted by Near & Farr Friends. Catered lunch to follow. Held in the lower level of  First Congregational Church at the corner of Zosel and Spring. This is an additional Near & Farr Friends’ offering made possible by a grant obtained by Pastor Alison Young.

Tikis in the Snow, Manistee 
7:30pm. $25. Leave the cold behind and escape to the tropics for a winter luau.  The ballroom will be transformed with tiki torches, swaying palms, and warm island ambiance. Enjoy delicious treats, tropical cocktails from the cash bar & high-energy Polynesian dance performances. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org

Feb. 28

Brown Town Skyline Rags, Manistee 
7-10pm. Free. A full crew of Northern Michigan’s best singers and instrumentalists interpreting the songs of Bob Dylan. Brown Township Hall, 8233 Coates Hwy.

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Scottville
7:30pm. $20-25. Center Stage Theater at West Shore Community College, 3000 N Stiles Rd. Tickets:                 www.westshore.edu/performing-arts/