Community Calendar

C’mon and join Blippi to make music in your hometown in the brand new live Blippi: Join The Band Tour! Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah, their singing and dancing buddies and LIVE musicians to explore what makes music, including sounds, rhythms and instruments through all your favorite Blippi hits. So grab your drumsticks, tune up your guitar, and move those feet with Blippi and get ready for a musical performance that’s fun for the whole family!

Sensory Notice: This show contains flashing lights, haze (fog), and confetti.

Add on the Photo Experience!

You and your family will meet Blippi on STAGE and have the opportunity to take your photo with Blippi in this one-of-a-kind Photo Experience! You will also receive a souvenir tour lanyard with a Join The Band Pass, plus a special souvenir to take home!

**Admission to the performance is not included in the Photo Experience ticket. This is a separate upgrade that must be purchased in advance.

Local, historical, and material records combine in an exploration of the lives of lighthouse keepers in the Great Lakes.

The Garrity family had a long and illustrious career within the lighthouse service throughout the Great Lakes, but the majority of their service was spent at the Old and New Presque Isle Lighthouses and the Presque Isle Range Light.

Join sanctuary Education and Outreach Specialist, Sophie Stuart, as she discusses her thesis research on the Garrity family and their time at the Presque Isle Lighthouses.

At this lecture you will learn about the daily life of a lighthouse keeper and some fascinating local maritime history as we examine artifacts recovered from the New Presque Isle Lighthouse and connect them to the families who lived there.

Join us for an evening of immersive history, local connection, and appreciation for this incredible family and their service to the safety of ships on the Great Lakes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

The 43rd Annual Homewalk features five fabulous homes fully decorated for the holidays and open for tours December 7th and 8th from 1-4 pm. A rest stop with refreshments and a holiday wreath raffle will be open 1-5 pm both days. Each ticket is valid for one tour of each home over the two days. For more information and tickets go to ZontaClubofMidland.org.

Funds raised by Homewalk support local scholarships and service grants with over $625,000 raised. The scholarships for area women that are for women re-entering the workforce or who are in the workforce going back to school as well as students entering/vocational certification directly from high school. In 2024 three scholarships of $5,000 each were awarded.

Service grants are provided to area non-profits to support programs that provide services for women and girls locally. Organizations apply each winter for funding for specific programs and in the spring of 2024 $11,500 was awarded.

Be sure to stop at Century 21 Signature Realty for refreshments during Homewalk and purchase your holiday wreath raffle tickets. Bring in a little cash or we take credit cards! Winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday December 8th at 5:30 pm at the rest stop.

In the glow of candlelight, all of the world sings together tonight. And in the glow of the candles, we see peace for you and peace for me. –“Candlelight Canon,” Andy Beck

Ring in the holidays with Voca Lyrica, TrebleMakers and Con Brio Voce Brass Quintet at their Holiday Concert “In the Glow of Candlelight,” Saturday, December 7 at 4 p.m. at the Big Rapids High School Auditorium. The poem above, a round that both choirs will sing together, serves as a reminder that we must continually strive for peace and unity. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 17 and under. Tickets are available at Patterson’s Flowers, the Old Pioneer Store and Emporium, online at https://vocalyrica.ludus.com, or at the door.

Celebrate the holiday season with the celestial voices of Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum, Irish-singing sensation Celtic Woman. This is a rare opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s angelic harmonies with the thrilling live sound of a full symphony orchestra in an intimate concert setting.

The show features the all-female ensemble’s favorite Yuletide songs: Silent Night, Carol of the Bells, Sleigh Ride, Deck the Halls, and more, along with Celtic Woman favorites Danny Boy, Amazing Grace, and You Raise Me Up. “This performance will enthrall audiences of all ages”—The Washington Post.

December 7, Traditional Community Dance. 7:30. Live music by Peacemeal/Harbor Hoedown and calling by Larry Dyer. Contras, squares, circles and more. All dances taught. Potluck at 6:30, bring dish to pass and table service. Alanson/Littlefield Community Building on US 31 N in Alanson. Sponsored by Blissfest.

The Men of Music will hold its annual Christmas concert titled "Once Upon A December" at a new location this year. Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland will be serving as the host for this free community concert this year with a freewill offering to benefit the Midland County Food Assistance Network, formerly the Emergency Food Pantry Network.

In the last 20 years, close to $60,000 has been raised for the Food Assistance Network. Well over $100,000 has been raised over the years for local charities. The "Men of Music" chorus has been singing in the Mid-Michigan area since 1936 (originally known as the Dow Male Chorus). The current membership consists of over 50 men from the Tri-Cities and Thumb area. Our director is Grace Marra, and our accompanist is Joan Kinnett.

No ticket purchase required to attend either of the two performances [2pm & 7pm] on December 8.

Give the gift of NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet to the whole family. Celebrate America’s favorite Christmas tradition with an international all-star cast that blends world-class ballet with whimsical puppets, lavish costumes, and stunning acrobatics! Share the tradition of pure holiday magic and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with friends and family of all ages. Don’t miss this chance to create memories of a lifetime. Get tickets now!

The 1842 historic Dougherty Mission House built by Rev. Peter Dougherty, Chief Agosa, the Ottawa and Chippewa opens for tours on Wednesday, June 12th Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11am until 4pm. Tour the former Inn where the fruit industry began in the Traverse City region.
Discover the ties to the Old Mission Peninsula Lighthouse while you tour the house, summer kitchen, carriage shed, icehouse, and demonstration garden. See the new Old Mission Agricultural Heritage exhibit where Old Mission Peninsula earned its name.

The holiday tradition continues!
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS by Chip Davis has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for more than 35 years! Grammy® Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. The program includes 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects – capturing the spirit of the season in an immersive yet intimate setting.