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(Scroll down to see more events in December.)
The holiday season in Northern Michigan includes Christmas tree lightings, decorated stores, parades, merchant open houses, and more.
Music, dance, art, and theater all come together for an event celebrating the New Year at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in downtown Petoskey.
Harbor Springs Merchant Open House
The event includes merchants open late and offering specials. Visit harborspringschamber.org for more info. Downtown Harbor Springs.
Petoskey Open House & Tree Lighting
The event includes merchants open late, Santa Claus arriving in town, tree lighting, and more in Downtown Petoskey. For more info, visit petoskeydowntown.com.
Crooked Tree Arts Center New Year’s Eve Celebration
This alcohol-free event features music, art, food, and much more. Crooked Tree Arts Center- 461 E. Mitchell St., Petoskey.
A Bay Harbor Christmas
This event includes a special vendor market, “Grinch” 3K Run, a Holiday Tree Fundraiser, holiday shopping in the boutiques and more. Visit bayharbor.com for more info. Village at Bay Harbor- 4000 Main St., Bay Harbor.
Christmas Cookie Walk
Choose from thousands of homemade cookies in an infinite variety. Come early for the best selection. 1st Congregational Church- 101 State St., Charlevoix. Call Stacy at (231) 547-9122 for more information.
Light Up the Night & Soup Cookoff
This event includes a Christmas movie, crafts, warming station, parade with Santa and Buddy the Elf, live nativity, cookies and cocoa, prizes, a soup contest, and more in downtown Bellaire For more info, visit bellairechamber.org.
Jordan Valley Community Band Concert
East Jordan Community Auditorium- 304 4th St., East Jordan.
Holiday Heroes Gift Drive
Gift/stocking stuffer drive for kids and senior citizens at the EMS/Fire Station- 55 Maple St., East Jordan.
Alanson Downtown Holiday Open House
The evening will begin with a chili cookoff. Various business participants will have chili at their respective store fronts for free. Judging will be at 6pm with the winner revealed at 7pm. Downtown merchants will open their doors to offer warm holiday greetings. Downtown Alanson- 7631 Burr Ave., Alanson.
Candlelight Hike at Mt. McSauba
Self-guided hiking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing along a candlelit trail ending with a fire and hot cocoa. Trek begins at the sledding hill parking lot. For more information, call (231) 547-3253. Mt. McSauba- 09223 McSauba Rd., Charlevoix.
Outdoor Holiday Celebration
The free event is sponsored by the East Jordan Community Church and will be held at the 301 Nicholls Street in East Jordan. The event includes a live nativity with animals, kids’ crafts, wagon rides, snacks, hot cocoa, fire pit, roasted marshmallows, Christmas choir, and more.
Community Luncheon & Gift Drive
The Holiday Heroes Gift Drive concludes with this luncheon of chili, hot dogs, chips, hot cocoa, popcorn, Christmas cookie decorating, and a Christmas movie at the EMS/Fire Station- 55 Maple St., East Jordan.
Colonial Christmas at Fort Michilimackinac
The event includes refreshments, story-tellers, crafts, games, and more. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children age 4-12, and free for children younger than 4. Fort Michilimackinac- 102 W. Straits Ave., Mackinaw City.
Visit with Santa
Visit and take photos with Santa and enjoy free cookies at the Jordan Inn- 228 Main St., East Jordan. Sponsored by the East Jordan Lions Club.
Holiday Craft Show
This festive extravaganza celebrating the spirit of the season through unique artisanal crafts and creations takes place at Castle Farms- 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. For more information, visit castlefarms.com.
Jordan River Arts Council Holiday Gift Market
Visit jordanriverarts.com for more info. Jordan River Arts Center- 301 Main St., East Jordan.
Blissfest Winter Solstice Concert
Doors open at 6:30pm. This event includes entertainment, 50/50 raffle, mingling, snacks and libations. For more info, visit blissfest.org.
Holidays Lasers on the Ore
A light display, operated by Fresh Coat Light Lab, will transform the Ore Dock with the colors of the season. Free and open to the public. Marquette Ore Dock- Lake Shore Boulevard on Presque Isle Harbor, Marquette.
East Jordan Lion’s Club Christmas Tree Sale
Monday-Saturday from 12-6pm & Sundays from 12-4pm. Jordan Inn- 228 Main St., East Jordan.
Mackinaw City Christmas in Mackinaw
The event includes a parade at followed by the tree lighting, then cookies will be provided by the Mackinaw Woman’s Club and cocoa provided by Audie’s Restaurant. Parade will go north on Huron to Central Ave, west on Central Ave to Nicolet Street and Indian Pathways Park. Visit mackinaw-city.com for more info.
Christmas Eve Service
First Presbyterian Church of East Jordan- 207 Williams St., East Jordan.
Christmas Eve Service
Lighthouse Missionary Church- 7824 Rogers Rd., East Jordan.
Community Christmas Dinner
Free and open to the public. East Jordan Cornerstone Church- 201 Fourth St., East Jordan.
Calendar of Events for Northern Michigan- Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, and more!
At this Boyne City festival, hundreds of mushroom lovers from around the country come to seek that elusive delicacy-the marvelous morel.
This 25-year-old rite of spring in Northern Michigan is a bike ride from the Zoo Bar at Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, to Mackinaw City.
Shop Northern Michigan antiques shops, art galleries, and furniture stores for home furnishings that are unique and affordable.
Petoskey State Park is one of the premier destinations for campers and outdoor lovers and is tucked away between Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
With woods, dunes, and frozen lakes, the trails near Charlevoix and Boyne City are the places to cross country ski from December-March.
Northern Michigan has many varied settings for kayaking- whether it by river, one of the inland lakes, or Lake Michigan,
The Harsha House and the Charlevoix Depot Museum, run by the Charlevoix Historical Society, preserve much of Charlevoix’s rich history.
Charlevoix has beaches on Lake Michigan and also offers the warmer swimming waters of inland lake beaches on Lake Charlevoix.