Almanac

Charlotte Ross Lee Concerts in the Park Series

Pack a picnic and head to Pennsylvania Park in Downtown Petoskey for Crooked Tree Arts Center’s annual Charlotte Ross Lee Concerts in the Park Series!

Held 12:00 - 1:00 PM each Wednesday and Friday, June 18 through August 15, the concert series brings local musicians to the Gazebo stage.

Bring a lunch, lawn chair, or picnic blanket and enjoy live music in the park! These performances are free and open to the public.

Learn more and view the full schedule at: https://www.crookedtree.org/article/concerts-park or call 231-347-4337.

Date: M/T/F July 28 and 29; August 1, 2025
Time: 1 pm–4 pm
Registration Deadline: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Location: Thoreson Farm
Kurinuki is a traditional Japanese pottery technique carved from a single clay block. The word means “carving out.” A solid block of clay is minimally shaped and then carved to create the interior and exterior spaces. Spontaneous and showing the marks of the making process, Kurinuki pots tend to be more alive and sculptural than other hand-building methods. An excellent clay experience for beginners, Kurinuki can also be satisfying for experienced clay artists. Some forms made using Kurinuki include yunomi (teacups), boxes, vases, and sippers. In addition, Kurinuki vessels often capture the essence of the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, the beauty within imperfection. Students will be guided in creating a set of yunomi (small drinking vessels with tray) and a small, lidded box.

Blissfest Music Organization and Downtown Petoskey bring you Sounds of Summer for a third season! Sounds of Summer will feature a dynamic range of music that caters to everyone. With each concert curated by Blissfest Music Organization, this free, five-concert series will be held in Pennsylvania Park in Downtown Petoskey beginning at 7 pm, July 18 through August 15.

Grab a takeout or a drink from one of Downtown Petoskey's Social District bars and restaurants, bring your blanket and chairs, and enjoy the Sounds of Summer concert series!

July 18th - The Go Arounds
July 25th - Dig a Pony - A Beatles Tribute
August 1 - Great Lakes Brass Band
August 8 - Chloe Kimes
August 15 - Katy Guillen & The Drive

Support happy, healthy, and strong communities by riding with Norte on August 2nd! Norte’s Ride With Friends, sponsored by J Merchant Builders, is Norte's annual fundraiser to support championing bikes and community. Ride options cater to cyclists of all ages and abilities – there's a ride for everyone in the family!

Everyone can help support our mission of building community through cycling! For more information on how to support this year’s ride and empower the next generation of riders, visit https://www.norteyouthcycling.org/nortesride!

The festival is a free family friendly event! Live music, pie eating and t-shirt contests, a quilt raffle, and a fire hose spray provide entertainment for the participants and viewers alike. Many skilled artisans line the streets and fill the Village Hall to offer their goods for sale.

The highlight of the day is the Leo Porter Memorial Parade, featuring local leaders, sponsors, and various floats. Visitors of all ages and creeds are guaranteed to find something they enjoy.

The Suttons Bay Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning from 9 AM – 1 PM.

For the 2025 season, we will be at our established location on St. Joseph St. at the north end of the village. Located on the east side of the intersection of M22 and M204 (between Concord St. and Race St.)

Market Dates of Operation: May 24 – October 18, 2025

Plein Air Weekend
Experience the Magic of Plein Air Painting In and Around Glen Arbor!

Each first full weekend in August, artists from Michigan and the Midwest gather for a two-day event celebrating art, nature, and creativity. The Glen Arbor Arts Center’s Plein Air Weekend is a cherished community event supporting both the center and the artists. As one of Northern Michigan’s first Plein Air Paint-Outs, it continues to attract talent eager to paint outdoors and “capture the moment.”
What is Plein Air Painting?

Plein air painting means creating art outside, a method made famous by French Impressionists in the 19th century. Artists work quickly to finish their 2D paintings in a single day—rain or shine!
Weekend Highlights

Friday
Quick Draw: Artists have 3 hours to create works based on a theme, like “Village Life” or “Pastoral Life.”
Quick Draw Sale: Paintings are displayed and sold at the Glen Arbor Town Hall.
Sunsetter: Artists head out to paint beautiful sunsets.
Saturday – The Main Event
The “Paint Out” invites 75 artists to capture the area’s natural beauty, from lakes and rivers to gardens and landmarks. Sunsetter and Paint Out works are professionally displayed and sold that evening at the Glen Arbor Town Hall.

Awards and Community Fun

Saturday night celebrates creativity with the Amy L. Clark-Carels Award, honoring artistic excellence in memory of the local watercolorist. This lively event showcases diverse artwork, offering the community a chance to view, connect, and purchase unique pieces while supporting talented artists.
Admission and Donations

Both sales are open to the public, and admission is free. Donations are appreciated to support the Glen Arbor Arts Center.
https://glenarborart.org/events-page/plein-air-weekend/

This annual art fair takes place next to the beautiful Suttons Bay Marina Park on the first weekend of August.

August 2 & 3, 2025, Sat. 10am - 5pm, Sun. 10am - 4pm.

One hundred artists along with community groups, a community library book sale, food vendors and a children's area make this the perfect place to spend an art-filled weekend at the beach.

A committee of volunteers oversees the selection of visiting artists and the distribution of funds generated by the event. Thousands of dollars have been contributed to local arts-related education projects. These include music and dance performances, artist in residence programs and scholarships for local art students.

The festival is currently undergoing a two-year transition, during which Crooked Tree Arts Center will assume management of the 2026 event. SBAF board members will continue to play an active role in the jurying and volunteer processes to maintain the event's integrity and consistency.

Come to Suttons Bay in August, participate - as an artist, as a shopper or as a volunteer. Join in the fun!

Multi-platinum guitarist Kenny Olson has performed at the Super Bowl, Woodstock ‘99 and around the globe with iconic bands including Kid Rock, Aerosmith and Metallica. But the Detroit native and 1986 Traverse City High School graduate considers northern Michigan a “magical, sacred place” – and his desire to support the region remains as strong as his musical passion.

Olson will bring his fiery blues-rock style to the stage for the 9th Annual Kenny Olson Rock-N-Hole Golf Tournament and Concert on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Elmbrook Golf Course, located at 1750 Townline Road in Traverse City.

Golf slots are still available and the tournament includes a 1 p.m. 18-hole scramble followed by the 7 p.m. outdoor concert.

Proceeds go to the Hallie’s Hearts Endowment at the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, supporting women in northern Michigan impacted by ovarian cancer.

Registration for the scramble is $550 for a foursome, or $150 per golfer ($650 and $175 after July 19.) This covers two meals, cart/green fees and a ticket to the show. Concert-only tickets can be purchased for $30 the night of the show. (Bring a chair to ensure seating.) Auction items are being accepted for a day-long silent auction. To register or donate an auction item, call 231-392-0379.

Contact:
Cindy Johnson
231-392-9379
cindyjjohnson@sbcglobal.net

NAYC Dressage and the Dexter CSI3* Grand Prix
Head to Flintfields Horse Park for a Saturday afternoon of elite youth show jumping and dressage competiton, great food, boutique shopping, and open-air fun. Gates open early, and the main competition begins at 3 PM.

Bring a blanket for the lawn or upgrade your experience with shaded seating, VIP access, or a Cabana Box for your group.

All general admission proceeds benefit local nonprofits—this week, your ticket supports the City Opera House.

Tickets begin at $15 and are available online or at the gate. For an enhanced experience, consider our VIP upgrades

Details at: traversecityhorseshows.com/visit