Event Calendar for Manistee, Mason, Benzie, western Lake and western Wexford counties
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 Jan. 1-Jan. 31, and the deadline is Dec. 8 . Email items to: editor@freshwater-reporter.com. ALWAYS check with the venue (call ahead) before making plans to attend events. Despite our best efforts, human errors occur.
EVENT CALENDAR IMAGE: “Gert” next to a small balsam tree. Photo: Christine Stapleton. (File photo)
Click on the GREEN links to be taken to the event website or for ticket information.
ONGOING EVENTS (Scroll for Daily Events)
Thru Dec. 18
Art of Giving Holiday Market, Ludington
Free. Sale of gifts made by local artists. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St.
Thru Dec. 22
Christmas Supplies Drive, Manistee
To benefit Choices of Manistee County, a domestic violence agency, and the Lighthouse Pregnancy Center of Manistee. Drop needed items at the Civic Club, 671 Mee St., Filer City. Call 231-887-4045 with questions. Items needed: Kitchen towels, bath towels, twin blankets, twin sheets, new pillows, cell phone chargers, $10 Meijer gift cards.
Thru Dec. 24
Winter Market Holiday Artisan Boutique, Frankfort
Free. Unique handmade gifts, cards, ornaments & more from regional artists. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.
Thru Dec. 31
Sparkle in the Park, Bear Lake
5-10pm. Free/donations gladly accepted on the site. Drive through 50 or so Christmas displays with over 80,000 lights. Hopkins Park Campground, 7727 Hopkins Dr. (just off US-31).
Ludington Area Festival of Lights, Ludington
$10/car. Drive-through light display. Proceeds go to local nonprofits. Mason County Fairgrounds, 5302 US-10. For dates & times: checkoutthelights.com
Thru Jan. 2
Arcadia Community Center (formerly PVCC) Fall Art Show, Arcadia
Free. Arcadia Community Center, 3586 Glovers Lake Rd.
Thru Jan. 3
Annual Winter Member Art Exhibition, Frankfort
Free. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. Sponsored by Freshwater Reporter.
Thru Jan 5
126th Annual Christmas Bird Count: Cadillac, Lake County, Ludington, Manistee, Benzie
Help the Audubon Society collect data about local bird populations. Locate the circle on the map where you want to participate. (See “map” below.) Contact the compiler by email to sign up and find a specific day for group counting in your local area. Info: https://tinyurl.com/y9z6nmpy Zoom in on the map: https://tinyurl.com/nan6f8z5 Read the story for details: https://freshwater-reporter.com/first-time-birders-welcome-during-christmas-bird-count/
Thru Jan. 31
Small is Beautiful Miniature Art Exhibition, Ludington
Free. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St.
DECEMBER
16
Rally at Michigan State Capitol, Lansing
11am. Community leaders and elected officials from both parties standing and speaking out against the lack of state regulation and/or accountability of data centers. Non-partisan gathering, snow or shine.
Stuff A Blue Goose, Manistee
3-6pm. The Michigan State Police is hosting this event at Watson’s Manistee Chrysler, 208 W Parkdale Ave. Troopers from the Cadillac post will be on site collecting new, unwrapped toys to benefit ECHO His Love in Manistee.
Pre-Holiday Dinner, Manistee
4-6pm. Adults: $15. Ages 6-11: $9. Kids 5 & under: Free. Tickets avail. at SportsInk, the parish office or at the door. Take-out available. Dinner in person at St. Joseph Parish Church, 249 6th St. Menu: Baked chicken, homemade cabbage rolls, fresh Polish sausage, real mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet & sour cabbage, buttered squash, whole kernel corn, rolls, butter, homemade desserts, coffee & lemonade. Meal by Jerry Zupin and Men’s Club. Proceeds to Mt. Carmel Cemetery expansion.
Christmas Wrapping Party, Bear Lake
6pm. Bear Lake Community Church, 7861 Main St.. “The more the merrier.”
WSCC Concert Choir, Scottville
7:30pm. Free. Center Stage Theater, West Shore Community College, 3000 N Stiles Rd.
17
Manistee Book Club, Onekama
5pm. Meet at the Onekama branch of the Manistee County Library, 5283 Main St., to discuss, “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Men’s Night, Manistee
5-8pm. Downtown merchants feature specials, drawings, and spirits for the gents. Downtown Manistee.
Small Empires Entrepreneurship Workshops, Manistee
6:30-730pm. $30. “Building Your Circle.” Classroom A, Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Info/Register: ramsdelltheatre.org
18
Mobile Clothes Closet, Irons
10am. For families in need of complimentary clothing. Go to 5837 W 10 1/2 Mile Rd.
Manistee Book Club, Manistee
2pm. Meet at the main branch of the Manistee County Library, 95 Maple St., to discuss “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi.
Free Gift Wrapping, Onekama
2-7pm. Bring your gifts to the Farr Center, 5283 Main St (M-22), and we will wrap them for you. Sponsored by the Portage Lake Garden Club.
WSCC Jazz Ensemble I & II, Scottville
7:30pm. Free. Center Stage Theater, West Shore Community College, 3000 N Stiles Rd.
19
Manistee’s Christmas Bird Count, Manistee County
No experience necessary. Contact Dr. Brian Allen: 231-510-9380.
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.
Christmas Vendor Expo, Ludington
11am-6pm. Vendor Row, 5762 W US-10.
Armory Youth Project at Lake Bluff Farms, Manistee
3-5pm. For students. Sign up at https://armoryyouthproject.com
The Venue presents: A Man Named Cash (Johnny Cash Tribute), Cadillac
7-11pm. The Venue Event Center, 902 W 13th St. Tickets: thevenueeccadillac.com
20
Ludington Christmas Bird Count, Mason County
No experience necessary. Contact David Dister by emailing david.dister(at symbol)gmail.com or calling 231-845-7574.
Taste of Finland, Kaleva
12-4pm. The Bottle House Museum, 14551 Wuoksi Ave.
Holiday Caroling, Manistee
3pm. With NoMi Forest Explorers and Music Sparks Meaning. Hosted by Kelsey Taylor and Noah Cameron at Green Acres, 1835 12th St. A joyful afternoon of holiday caroling to bring festive cheer to the community. Gather at Green Acres at 3pm then carpool downtown to visit a few businesses. Lots of instruments for families to use and song list will be chared soon on the event’s Facebook page.
Battle of the Chefs, Arcadia
SOLD OUT! 6pm. $50 per person. Area chefs cook “Holiday Favorites” at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, 14710 Northwood Hwy. Food, fun and friendly competition.
21
Metropolitan Opera Live/Encore in HD presents Arabella (Strauss), Manistee
1pm, $15-25. Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org
Christmas Concert, Ludington
3-5pm. Free with donations gladly accepted. Daniel Ball & the Friends at United Methodist Church of Ludington, 5858 Bryant Rd.
5th Annual Fire & Seed Winter Solstice, Kaleva
3-8pm. Yule poetry, Sequoia tree music, Fire performance, Oak King & Yule Queen Costume Contest, vendors, yule crafts, Fire & Seed workshop. Takes place at Northern Natural Cider House & Winery, 7220 Chief Rd.
Winter Solstice Luminaries in the Cemetery, Kaleva
4pm. Free. Kaleva St. across from Maple Grove Cemetery. Info: www.kalevamichigan.com/upcoming-events
22
Winter Break Bounce Event, Kaleva
11am-1pm. For children 0-8 at Maple Grove Twp. Community Center, 9208 Kauko. Parents MUST stay with their children. Children MUST wear socks.
27
Freebie Book Fair For All, Manistee
1pm. Adopt gently-used books for kids, teens and adults from the Manistee County Library, 95 Maple St. Shop the aisles in the library’s meeting room. Lots of fun freebies, too.
31
New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop, Ludington
5-8pm. $15/person or $60/immediate family. Fun activities & refreshments for the whole family with a balloon drop to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Sandcastles Children’s Museum, 129 E Ludington Ave. Tickets: (231) 233-9326.
Family New Year’s Eve Party, Ludington
8:30-11pm. Free party includes games, crafts, and snacks. Ludington Library, 217 E Ludington Ave.
Pure Ludington New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, Ludington
9pm-1am. Street party with live music, beer tent, ball drop & fireworks at midnight. Downtown Ludington, 100 Ludington Ave. After party at Timbers from 12-4 a.m.