Event Calendar for Manistee and Mason counties — and sometimes beyond. 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 May 21-June 24 and the deadline is May 10 . Email items to: editor@freshwater-reporter.com. If your event isn’t listed on our calendar, you didn’t email it to us!
ALWAYS check with the venue (call ahead) before making plans to attend any of these events. Despite our best efforts, human errors may occur.
EVENT CALENDAR
Click on the links in GREEN to be taken to the hosting organization’s website or for ticket information.
ONGOING EVENTS (Scroll below for Daily Events)
Thru April 8
Homeward Bound Animal Shelter 2026 Calendar Contest, Manistee
Submit your favorite photo (no copyrighted/professional photos) of your current cat or dog and ask family and friends to vote for them. The 13 entrants with the most votes win a spot in the calendar. Other calendar spaces available, too, for honoring and memorializing your pet. Proceeds benefit the animal shelter. Details/contest rules are found HERE.
Thru Apr 13
Glenn Wolff & Nancy Adams Nash: Land & Myth Art Exhibition, Manistee
Free. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St.
Thru Apr 26
Poets’ Houses in Pastels and Ceramics, Frankfort
Free. Artworks by Frank Galante & Karen Clark Antrim. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.
Thru June 13
PVCC Spring Art Show, Arcadia
Free. Opening reception March 28, 5:30-7pm. Pleasant Valley Community Center, 3586 Glovers Lake Rd.
Apr 4-Apr 30
Annual Student Exhibition, Frankfort
Free. Artwork by regional students K-12. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.
Apr 17-Apr 27
Manistee High & Middle School Art Students Art Exhibition, Manistee
Free. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St.
Apr 21-28
International Dark Sky Week
For information and events, go to: https://idsw.darksky.org/ Read the recent Freshwater Reporter story about the importance of viewing the night sky (and darkness) as a natural resource HERE.
May 2-31
Mad Hatter’s Garden Party: A Whimsical Affair Art Exhibition, Frankfort
Free. A little bit surreal, silly and very creative. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. oliverart.org
May 9-June 20
Alchemy and Artistry, Frankfort
Free. Artworks by Rocco Pisto, Gina Pisto, Arthur Johns & Rochelle Aultman. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.
APRIL DAILY EVENTS
7
WSCC Wind Symphony & Drumline, Manistee
7:30pm. Free. Manistee High School Auditorium, 525 12th St.
9
National Writers Series: Jennifer Weiner author of The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, Traverse City
7pm. In-person at City Opera House, 106 E. Front St. & livestreaming. Info/tickets: nationalwritersseries.org
10
Benzonia Academy Lecture Series: Robert Downes, Benzonia
4pm & Zoom. Author of the nonfiction work, “Raw Deal—The Indians of the Midwest and the Theft of Native Lands,” will present “Indians of the Midwest and the Fight For Their Homeland.” Mills Community House, 892 Michigan Ave. A journalist for more than 35 years, Downes was the co-founder and editor of Northern Express Weekly in Traverse City from 1991 to 2013. He is also the author of seven other books. He resides in Traverse City and Benzie County.
National Writers Series: A Celebration of Patrice Gopo author of Autumn Song, Traverse City
7pm. In-person at Kirkbride Hall, 700 Cottageview Dr. Suite 200. Info/tickets: nationalwritersseries.org
11
Near & Farr Friends with Aimee Brumleve, Onekama
10am-Noon. Donations gratefully accepted. All are welcome. An expert dog trainer with advice for owners. Presentation at the Onekama Township Hall, 5435 Main St.
Souper Fridays, Copemish
5-7pm. $15 free will donation. Presented by the Marilla Historical Society. Takes place at Marilla Museum & Pioneer Place, 9991 Marilla Road. A soup supper made on site. Handmade soup choices will be available as well as salad, fresh-baked bread and dessert. No reservations necessary.
Sierra Hull in concert, Manistee
7:30pm. $20-50. Hull is a bluegrass singer-songwriter, virtuoso mandolinist & guitarist. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org
11-13
10-Minute Play Festival, Ludington
7:30pm Fri & Sat, 2pm Sun. 8 plays by Michigan playwrights. Cash bar Fri. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S. Harrison St. Tickets: ludingtonartscenter.org
12
Guided Nature & Birdwatching Hike, Thompsonville
10-11:30am. Free with Art Park admission ($10 adults, $5 kids over 5 or $20 for families) Led by Angie Quinn. Meet at Mich. Legacy Art Park Trailhead, ¼ mile from parking area, rain or shine. Bring binoculars if available. Check Facebook 1 hour prior for severe weather cancellation. Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr.
Seed Swap, Manistee
11am-Noon. For all ages. Manistee County Library, Washington & First streets. Bring your leftover or saved seeds from your garden to share and swap with other growers in our community. Local organizations will have tables set up with info to inspire you and help you troubleshoot your established garden.
5th Annual Ace Run Disc Golf Singles Tournament, Manistee
$40/ player. First Street Beach Family Disc Golf Course. Info/register: www.discgolfscene.com
Gopherwood Concerts presents The Go Rounds in concert, Cadillac
7-9:30pm. $12.20 – $22.86. Cadillac Elks Lodge, 122 S. Mitchell St. Tickets: https://mynorthtickets.com/events/the-go-rounds-4-12-2025
14
6th Grade Solo Night, Manistee
6pm. Manistee High School auditorium, 525 W. 12th St.
15
Easter Egg Hunt, Crafts, Free Soil
1pm. Free to all special needs folks of all ages. Held in the barn, rain, shine or snow. Over 2000 eggs to find. Sections of the barn for blind, wheelchairs, walkers, & others. Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm, 5487 Tuttle Rd. Must RSVP by April 12: 231.462.3732 or circlerockingsfarm@att.net
WSCC Concert Choir, Scottville
7:30pm. Free. Center Stage Theater, West Shore Community College, 3000 N. Stiles Rd.
16
“From Field and Forest to Front Yard,” Traverse City
10-11am. Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Learning Series. Join GTRLC Senior Ecologist Angie Bouma and Matt Ross, executive director of the Botanic Garden at the historic Barns Park for a presentation about natural landscapes. The learning series will call attention this year to the Perch Lake proposed addition to the Upper Manistee Headwaters. Presentation takes place at the McMullen Family Conservation Center on Mitchell Road in Traverse City. Register HERE or email the event organizer at chazelwood@gtrlc.org or call 231-929-7911,
17
Bake for Good, Wellston
12pm. This program is for students. They will make yeast rolls from scratch in the Norman Township Community Center kitchen, 1273 Seaman Rd. RSVP required. Call 231-848-4013 or register online: manisteelibrary.org Sponsored by King Arthur Baking Co.
Film: “Free For All: The Public Library,” Manistee
7pm. Free tickets must be picked up in advance from the Vogue Theatre, 383 River St. The Indie Lens Pop-Up will show a shortened preview version of “Free For All: The Public Library” at the Vogue Theatre. About the quiet revolutionaries who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.
WSCC Jazz Ensemble 1 & 2, Scottville
7:30pm. Free. Center Stage Theater, West Shore Community College, 3000 N. Stiles Rd.
The Insiders: A Tom Petty Tribute Band, Manistee
7:30pm. $10-40. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org
18
Near & Farr Friends with Dr. Brian Allen, Onekama
10am-noon. Donations gratefully accepted. All are welcome. Types of birds to look for at this time of the year. Presentation at the Onekama Township Hall, 5435 Main St.
United Way’s Feeding America Food Truck, Brethren
11am. Free. Prepackaged bags of healthy food for anyone who needs help with groceries. Lakeview Church of the Brethren, 14094 Coates Hwy.
19
Easter Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny Visit, Frankfort
10am-12pm. Free. Mineral Springs Park, 630 Main St.
Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, Ludington
10:30am-Noon. Community Easter egg hunt at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 209 N Rowe St.
Easter Egg Hunt, Wellston
12pm. Free. The Easter Bunny will be there, all kids will receive a bag of candy. Sportsman’s Port, 10487 W. M-55
Easter Egg Extravaganza, Benzonia
1-2pm. Free. Memorial Park, 6869 South St.
The Venue presents: Vulgar Display of Pantera: A Tribute to Pantera, Cadillac
8pm-12am. The Venue Event Center, 902 W. 13th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com