Community Calendar

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Leftovers and Mrs. Fletcher, author Tom Perrotta is returning to the City Opera House stage to talk about Ghost Town, a gripping story about a tumultuous summer in 1970s suburban New Jersey, reminiscent of Perrotta’s own hometown. This nostalgic story is told from the perspective of a middle-aged writer looking back on a series of events that changed his life—and the story he finally has the courage to tell.

Tom Perrotta is the bestselling author of eleven novels, including Election and Little Children, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films, and The Leftovers, which was adapted into a critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning HBO series. His other books include Bad Haircut, The Wishbones, Joe College, The Abstinence Teacher, Nine Inches, Mrs. Fletcher, and Tracy Flick Can’t Win. He lives outside of Boston.

Event Details
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with live music, and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. The winners of the college scholarship contest will be awarded at the top of the show. This event includes a Q&A session and an author signing immediately following in the lobby.

For ticket package options, please click here.

Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day encourages healthier, more eco-friendly ways for students to get to school. Norte helps facilitate this event at schools across Northern Michigan.

To learn more, contact your local school, or email julie@norteyouthcycling.org if you'd like to help facilitate the event at your school!

Free, peer-led mental health support groups: NAMI Family Support and NAMI Connection Group.

Both held Wednesdays, 12pm at Christ Church, 430 Fair St. (See website for zoom link)

Free, peer-led mental health support: NAMI Connection Group. Held Wednesdays, 5pm Online (see website for zoom link) and at Child & Family Services, 3785 Veterans Dr.

Join Traverse City's AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Community for a free event with the goal to build greater understanding and empathy for people of different cultural backgrounds through positive engagement and welcoming learning events.

Local AAPI restaurants and chefs will provide the food. Afterwards, head to Milliken Auditorium for a screening of Seoul Switch from director Liann Kaye. The evening's keynote program will feature Masaki Takahashi, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Lansing, Michigan (2022-2024), whose powerful, community-centered work has been featured on platforms including Button Poetry and TEDx.

5:00 | Food in Dennos Sculpture Court
6:00 | Screening of Seoul Switch
6:30 | Program with Spoken Word Poet Masaki Takahashi

For Immediate Release: April 23, 2026
Contact: Christi Bardenhagen 231-883-0071
To make an appointment, click here.

Join us in the lower level Community Meeting Room of the Government Center at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with purpose! Did you know that
57% of Hispanic blood donors have type O—the blood type
most in demand? Your donation can make a powerful
difference. Join us—give blood and help save lives.
Donating blood takes about an hour and has the potential to save up to three lives.

Anyone age 16 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

To schedule an appointment, click here, call (866) 642-5663 or visit versiti.org/mi.

Walk-in donors are also welcome.

Come on out for Live Music at the Vineyard, where the vines set the stage and the good times come naturally.

At French Valley, we’re pouring wine, beer, and cider in a space that’s made for everyone—families, friends, and anyone looking to kick back and stay awhile."

Mariner Knots, Boat Radio and Weather Class is a 3-hour class. This is a boater safety class offered to those interested in learning more about tying knots, working marine radios and watching and understanding the weather that effects boaters. Discussion will include the most common types of boating accidents and practical marine knots and radio operation.

This class will be taught on Thursday, May 7 from 6-9 pm at the Legacy Aviation Center at 2640 Aero-Park Dr. Traverse City. Class costs $10. Preregister by May 5 by going to

Eventbrite link: here

Learn how to foster positive and respectful communications with people that may have opposing political views in this workshop presented by Braver Angels. Participants will learn how to be more aware of their own of their own "inner Polarizer" and how to be critical without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large swaths of the population.

Seating is limited, so please register in advance here.

*Tickets are Free, Donations Help As a spam prevention measure, you must use promo code BRAVER during registration to secure your spot in the workshop. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3. Braver Angels does not ask for a donation if the participant is making one to their faith organization.

We will hold a workshop in which you can design your own plan for engaging your community in social justice work and democratic reform, using Voters Not Politicians’ Michiganders for Money out of Politics Campaign and Hands off MI Vote Initiatives as a template.