Pastel painting by artist Marie Marfia whose work will be shown at the Timeless Gallery in Ludington beginning July 18. The work is of a channel through grass-covered dunes with sparse shrubbery and a lone tree in the distance beneath an expansive sky of pink-purple clouds against blue sky.

Event Calendar-Manistee, Mason and more

Event Calendar for Manistee, Mason, southern Benzie, western Lake, 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.  The deadline for our September issue is Aug. 12.  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. Click on the GREEN links to be taken to our advertiser’s website or for ticket information. PHOTO:  “Off-We-Go” pastel painting by Marie Maria will be shown at Ludington’s Timeless Gallery beginning July 18 (public reception 4-7 p.m.) as part of the artist’s series of Ludington State Park landscapes she calls “Woods, Waves, Ways.” Marfia is a former publisher and a Freshwater Reporter advertiser. 

FARMERS MARKETS  (Scroll for Ongoing and Daily Events)

MONDAYS             

Scottville Farmers Market
10am-3pm. Thru mid-Sept. Every other Monday in West Shore Bank parking lot, 107 W. State St. & along Main Street.

Ad for Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts says celebrating 250 years of the United States of America, Scan the QR code toward the bottom right corner for the summer line up or click on this ad to be taken to the website. This ad is in red, white and blue with a solid navy ribbon of color at the top followed by a red white and blue ribbon across the ad with white stars in blue, a white stripe in the middle and a red stripe at the bottom of the ribbon. The address is at the bottom of the ad: 101 Maple Street in Manistee, Michigan. Zip code is 49660. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram. the website address is ramsdelltheatre.org. Theater is spelled t-h-e-a-t-r-e.
Advertisement for Honor Onekama Building Supply. Family owned since 1963. Knowledge. Service, Integrity. Here to help you with your hardware and building projects. Call 231-889-3456. Located at 4847 Main Street, Onekama. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.
Advertisement for Anchored Designs Boutique in Onekama. Women's clothing, gifts and a children's section. Works by local artists and Michigan-made products. Located at 4857 Main Street (also known as M-22) in Onekama or shop online at anchored designs boutique dot com. Or click anywhere on this ad. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Telephone number is 2-3-1-8-8-9-7-1-0-3.

TUESDAYS               

Honor Farmers Market
9am-2pm. Thru Aug. 25. Maley Park, 10579 Main St. (US-31)

WEDNESDAYS        

Baldwin’s Pure Markette
3-6pm. Thru Sept. 2. Parking lot behind Jones’ Ice Cream, 858 Michigan Ave.

THURSDAYS       

Elberta Farmers Market 
8am-12pm. Thru  Oct. 1. Penfold Park, 1098 Lakeside Blvd.

FRIDAYS             

Ludington Artisan/Farmers Market 
2-7pm. Thru Sept. 18. Legacy Plaza Pavilion, 112 N James St.

SATURDAYS           

Frankfort Farmers Market 
9am-1pm. Thru Oct. 17. Open Space Park, 800 Main St.

Manistee Farmers Market 
9am-12pm. Thru Oct. 4. Wagoner Community Center, 260 Saint Mary’s Pkwy.

MUSIC SERIES  (Scroll for Ongoing and Daily Events)

MONDAYS

Concerts in the Park, Onekama 
7-9pm. Free/donations accepted.  Thru Aug. 10. Onekama Village Park, 4701 Main St. Rain site: Onekama Schools cafeteria, 5016 Main St. Bring lawn chair/blanket. 
July 
27    Roger That

Jammin’ Mondays on Betsie Bay, Elberta
7-9:15pm. Free. Thru Aug. 31. Waterfront Amphitheater, Elberta Waterfront Park, 1074 State Hwy. 168. Rain site: Waterfront Park Picnic Pavilion. Bring lawn chair/blanket. 
July
27           The Mighty Thundertones

TUESDAYS

Shoreline Showcase, Manistee
7-9:15pm, Free/donations accepted. Thru Sept. 1. Rotary Gazebo, First St. Beach, Douglas Park, 100 S Lakeshore Dr. Rain Site: Orchard Beach State Park Shelter House, 2064 Lakeshore Rd. Bring lawn chair/blanket. 
July
28           The Mighty Thundertones 

WEDNESDAYS

Echo Through the Timber Concert Series, Baldwin 
7-9:15pm. Free/donations accepted. Thru Sept. 2. Wenger Pavilion, 876 Michigan Ave. (behind Jones’ Ice Cream). Rain or shine. Bring lawn chair/blanket.
July
29           Roger That

LACA Summer Concert Series, Ludington 
7-9pm, Free/donations accepted. Thru  Sept. 2. Waterfront Park, 1122 S William St. Bring lawn chair/blanket. 
July
29           The Fabulous Horndogs

THURSDAYS

Live in the Plaza Music Series, Ludington
6-8pm, Free. June 4 – Sept. 17. Legacy Plaza, 112 N James St. Bring lawn chair.
July 
30            Third Coast Swing

Music in the Streets, Beulah 
7-8:30pm. Free. June 25- Aug. 13. Downtown, 273 S Benzie Blvd. Bring lawn chair. 
July 
30           Bill Frary & The Frequency

Roots on the River Music Series, Manistee
7-9pm. Free/donations.  Thru Aug. 6. Jaycees riverfront bandshell at Veterans Memorial Park, 117 Memorial Dr. Bring lawn chair/blanket.
July
30            Jack M. Senff and the Heartland Mission

Sunset Beach Bonfire Series, Ludington 
8-10pm, Free. Bonfire & music. Stearns Park Beach, 420 N Lakeshore Dr. Bring chair/blanket. 
July 
30           Ravon – vocals & steel drum

Upbeat Cadillac Music Series, Cadillac 
7-9:15pm. Free/donations. Rotary Performing Arts Pavilion, 100 S Lake St. Bring lawn chair/blanket. 
July
30           the Fabulous Horndogs

FRIDAYS                  

Live in the Plaza Music Series, Ludington
6-8pm, Free. Thru Sept. 18. Legacy Plaza, 112 N James St. Bring lawn chair. 
July
31           Bent Carrot

Folk Fridays Music Series, Baldwin 
7pm. Free/donations. July 31 – Aug. 21. Lake County Historical Museum, 915 N Michigan Ave. Bring lawn chair. 
July 
31           Chris Vallillo “Power of Song in Democracy”

Live at the Garden Summer Concert Series, Frankfort 
7:30pm. $25. The Garden Theater, 301 Main St. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3dn45jcz
Aug 

SATURDAYS

Sounds from the Forest Music Series, Baldwin 
7-9:15pm. Free/donations accepted. Thru Sept. 5. Wenger Pavilion, 876 Michigan Ave. (behind Jones’ Ice Cream). Rain or shine. Bring lawn chair/blanket.
  

Friends of Ludington State Park Summer Series, Ludington 
7pm, Free/donations. Amphitheater, Ludington State Park, 8800 West M-116.  Bring lawn chair/blanket/bug spray. Rain venue: Lake Mich Beach House. MI Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry.

ONGOING/RECURRING EVENTS (Scroll for Daily Events)

Thru July 31

Jubilee! Ode to the Michigan Cherry, Frankfort
Free. Art exhibition celebrating all things cherry. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.

Abstract & Nature Art Exhibition, Ludington 
Free. A retrospective by Julie Strabel. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. 

Seasons of the Pond Art Exhibition, Ludington 
Free. Works by Judy Peters. Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 S Harrison St. 

Thru Aug. 7   

Local Critters Art Exhibition, Frankfort
Free. Works by Patrick Clagett. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd.

Thru Sept. 11   

Summer Art Show, Arcadia
Free. Arcadia Community Center, 3586 Glovers Lake Rd.

Thru Sept. 18

Paintings by Jamey Barnard, Scottville
Manierre Dawson Gallery, West Shore Community College, Arts & Sciences Center, 3000 N. Stiles Rd. jameybarnardart.com

Thru Aug. 14

Woods, Waves, Ways: A Local Artist Paints the Ludington State Park, Ludington
Free. Pastel paintings by Marie Marfia. Timeless Picture Framing and Gallery, 103 E Ludington Ave.  Read the story in our July issue, page 8, and online HERE.

Thru Aug 21  

Nancy Foster Retrospective Art Exhibition, Frankfort
Free. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. U.S. landscape paintings. Read the story online HERE.

July 29, 31

Lakeside Shakespeare Festival presents “MacBeth”, Frankfort
29th & 31st: 1pm & 7pm. Pay-what-you-can tickets. Suggested prices: $30/adults, $10/12 & under at event. Pro actors from Chicago. Tank Hill, 188 Park Ave. Parking avail far side of Park Ave. & at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. No parking along dirt road leading to/at performance space. No turnaround. Bring lawn chair/blanket.

30, Aug 1  

Lakeside Shakespeare Festival: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Frankfort
1pm & 7pm. Pay-what-you-can tickets. Suggested prices: $30/adults, $10/12 & under at event. Pro actors from Chicago. Tank Hill, 188 Park Ave. Parking avail far side of Park Ave. & at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. No parking along dirt road leading to/at performance space. No turnaround. Bring lawn chair/blanket.

July 26 

Idlewild Float the Lake Sundays, Idlewild 
1pm. Free. Join the local community to float the lake in canoes, kayaks, row boats, weather permitting. Idlewild Lake.

JULY DAILY EVENTS 

July is National Disability Pride Month.  Read the story in our current edition, in print now and online in Stories and our Full Issues links.

27

Solstice Ensemble in Concert, Frankfort 
7-8:30pm. $10. Five musicians play everything from baroque to tango using the unusual combination of flute, violin, recorder, cello & piano. Oliver Art Center, 132 Coast Guard Rd. Tickets: oliverart.org

28

Help remove invasive plants, Free Soil 
9am. Free. Join US Forest Service botanist. Meet at the Nurnberg Trailhead parking lot (west end of Nurnberg Rd.) for a tailgate safety session. Bring lunch, gloves, & plenty of water (at least 2 bottles). Hike approx. 1 mile to project area. Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes & clothes that can get dirty. Digger tools, trash bags, great views of Lake Mich & brownies supplied.

Weed the Park, Ludington 
6-8pm. Free. Volunteer to help AFFEW remove invasive plants. Wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Bring garden gloves, water. Meet at gazebo at end of Rath Ave. by Lincoln Lake. Cartier Park, 1254 N. Lakeshore Dr.

Traverse City Dance Project in Frankfort 
7-9pm. Free. Featuring 7 professional dancers from across the U.S. New dance work by Jennifer Lott, with music composed by Charlie Millard, performed live by the Charlie Millard Band; NYC-based tap artist Madison Hilligoss; and a premiere by Artistic Director Brent Whitney followed by a Q&A with the artists. The Garden Theater, 301 Main St.  

28-Aug. 1

Help remove invasive plants, Free Soil 
9am. Free. Join US Forest Service botanist. Meet at the Nurnberg Trailhead parking lot (west end of Nurnberg Rd.) for a tailgate safety session. Bring lunch, gloves, & plenty of water (at least 2 bottles). Hike approx. 1 mile to project area. Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes & clothes that can get dirty. Digger tools, trash bags, great views of Lake Mich & brownies supplied.

30

Legacy Gala, Thompsonville 
6-9pm. $125/person. Dinner, drinks, silent auction. Interlochen Center for the Arts to receive 2026 Legacy Award. Fundraiser to support the Art Park. Crystal Center, Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. Tickets/sponsorships: https://tinyurl.com/yruv297w

 Manistee Community Band, Manistee 
7pm. Free. Performing community band classics. Manistee High School, 525 12th St. 

31

 “Annie”, Manistee 
7:30-9:30pm $20-35. Musical performance by the Manistee Civic Players at Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, 101 Maple St. Tickets: ramsdelltheatre.org