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 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 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.

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 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 26

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.

FEBRUARY DAILY EVENTS

Feb. 28

Paddle Auction Fundraiser, Manistee
1-4pm. At the Stronach Twp. Hall, 2471 Main St. To fund the newly established Mason Stapley Memorial Scholarship for students studying law enforcement or conservation. Mason Stapley was an area sheriff’s deputy who died from a rare brain  illness in 2024. Cost is $5 per paddle to bid on auction items, plus bids from one quarter to four quarters, with a drawing held (using paddle numbers) for each item having more than one bid. Soup, salad and concessions available. Some items up for bid:  gift certificates to charter fishing, overnight stays, hair salons and restaurants, themed gift baskets, homemade baked goods, locally sourced eggs, etc. Questions/donate an item, contact Heather 231-633-7890 or email her stapley7777(at)yahoo.com.  Or Amanda, 231-655-9551, email: PurpleArtist50(at)gmail.com

Ice Cream Social & Fun Day, Baldwin
1-3pm. Free. Donations accepted. All ages welcome. At the Baldwin Elementary School gymnasium, 525 Fourth St. An afternoon of activities, games, prizes and ice cream. Local agencies will be providing fun. Sponsored by the Baldwin Rotary Club. Ask about the Rotary BackPack Program.

Brown Town Skyline Rags, Manistee 
7-10pm. Free. Donations welcome. 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/

MARCH DAILY EVENTS

1

Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, Beulah
10am-1pm. $10 per person. Hosted by Benzie Area Masonic Lodge #270 to support community charitable efforts. At 9513 Covey Rd.

 Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Scottville 
2pm. $20-25. Center Stage Theater at West Shore Community College, 3000 N Stiles Rd. Tickets: www.westshore.edu/performing-arts/

2

Ace Hood in concert wsg Duke Deuce & Dizzy Wright, Cadillac
7-11pm. $25. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13^th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com

3

Lunar Eclipse, North America
Naked eye viewing begins 4:50 a.m. EST. Totality: 6:04 a.m. EST. Partial eclipse ends 8:17 a.m. EST. Known as the Blood Moon. Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow on the latter.

6

Near & Farr Friends, Onekama
11am. Game Day with Dawn. Onekama Township Hall, 5435 Main St.

Tree and Shrub Planting Presentation by Mason-Lake Conservation District, Scottville 
1-3pm. Free. This session will cover how to choose the right species for your site, proper planting & care techniques, deer protection, & conservation-focused planting strategies. The workshop is especially helpful for anyone planning to participate in their tree sale. Webber Township Hall, 2886 W Springtime St.  Registration required: www.mason-lakeconservation.org

Ties & Tutus Daddy/Daughter Dance, Ludington 
5:30-8pm. $25/person. Event includes dinner, photos, dancing, and a glow party. Radiant Church, 409 S Washington Ave. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/4hpb9wkm

Manistee High School Theatre presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Manistee 
7pm. $10-15. Manistee High School, 525 12th St. Tickets: manisteetheatre.ludus.com/index.php

Jesse Howard, Rich Regal, Who TF is Justin Time in concert wsg Tyler Truth, Cadillac 
7-11pm. $30. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13^th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com

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

7

Chili Cook-Off, Filer Township 
12-3pm. $5 donation. Receive a card for voting at all 9 participating businesses. Proceeds will benefit the Filer Fire Dept. Info: Filer City Chili Cook-off Facebook page.

Manistee High School Theatre presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Manistee 
1pm & 7pm. $10-15. Manistee High School, 525 12th St. Tickets: manisteetheatre.ludus.com/index.php

Spring CommUnity Auction, Ludington
6-8pm. Event includes auctions, food & drinks. Proceeds benefit students & staff of Mason County Central School. Doors open 5:30pm, bidding starts at 6pm. Graystone Event Center, 4079 W US-10. 

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 warm beverages at the Amphitheater. Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116. MI Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry.

Gopherwood Concerts present: Ember & Ash, Cadillac 
7-9pm. $12.24-22.94. Cadillac Elks Lodge, 122 S Mitchell St. Info/tickets: gopherwoodconcerts.org

 3rd Annual International Fly Fishing Film Festival, Manistee 
7-10pm. $20. A curated collection of world-class films & cinematic storytelling from independent filmmakers around the globe. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org

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/

8

Manistee High School Theatre presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Manistee
1pm & 7pm. $10-15. Manistee High School, 525 12th St. Tickets: manisteetheatre.ludus.com/index.php

Ben Traverse & The Little River Céilí Band in concert, Ludington 
2pm. $15 ADV, $20 DOOR. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St.  Tickets: at the Art Center or www.ludingtonartscenter.org

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 13^th 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 13^th 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 13^th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com