Revelers Wassail at Tandem Ciders

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Locals know a secret about Leelanau County winters. The season lends reprieve from chaos, re-rooting and grounding us after the busy, crowded summer season. Having this sacred place to ourselves for a fleeting moment allows for deeper camaraderie and connection to place. Tandem Ciders co-owners Dan Young and Nikki Rothwell have hosted a wassail celebration at their tasting room on Setterbo Road north of Suttons Bay since 2009, offering an opportunity for locals to connect with each other under the constellations in the depths of Leelanau’s winter. At Tandem Cider’s 16th annual wassail celebration, buoyant echoes of raucous partiers standing around a bonfire are somehow harmonious with the silence that vibrates from the black, night sky of deep winter. A collection of familiar faces represents a community slow to change, slow to grow, until the Covid migration occurred. These are faces that connect our past to this place we call home.

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Leelanau’s influencers of 2024

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With 2024 in the rearview mirror and 2025 upon us, we’re recognizing 25 “influencers” we covered in the Glen Arbor Sun this past year who are making a meaningful impact on Leelanau County communities, commerce, and culture. Read below about those 25 local influencers, who include everyone from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, to Leelanau Investing for Teens, to Empire’s polar dippers, to popular new destinations River Club Glen Arbor, the Sleeping Bear Inn, and the Lively’s NeighborFood Market.

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Lively NeighborFood Market offers Christmas trees to families in need

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The Lively NeighborFood Market, located on M-72 east of Empire, is offering Christmas trees to five families who are in need of a little boost of holiday spirit. The trees come in various sizes between 6 and 11 feet tall. If you need to fill your house with a beautiful bit of northern Michigan’s finest, stop by the market at 3805 W Empire Hwy, or contact Jim Lively at 231-994-9339 or email jim@livelyneighborfood.com. Hurry, Santa Claus is coming to town!

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Homestead hires Becsey, awaits snow

The Homestead announced that Jim Becsey has been hired as the new manager of building and grounds at the Glen Arbor resort. As such, he will be responsible for the upkeep of resort-owned buildings and maintenance of the grounds, including the resort’s ski facilities. Ski hills are hoping for a La Niña weather pattern, which would bring a more typical snowy winter. While hoping to open just after Christmas, The Homestead will also offer a creative array of family-friendly activities, which could include live entertainment like magicians and jugglers, art shows and collaborations with the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail.

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Empire, Glen Arbor host seasonal holiday markets

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With the holiday season comes the panoply of seasonal markets, where artists and artisans, bakers and makers alike showcase their wares. For many, the season starts with the holiday shows in Glen Arbor and Empire that take place the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace kicks off Friday night, Nov. 29, at 6:15 p.m. with the lighting of the Christmas tree and caroling. The town hall opens for shopping at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m., then welcomes shoppers again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “It’s been going on a long time. I put it together with a ton of other people,” says organizer Cre Woodard. “It’s like a machine.” The vendors line the walls at the town hall, the center of the room and the stage as well. Throngs of shoppers fill the room, perusing the displays of jewelry, mittens, art, holiday décor and more. Woodard has no problem signing up vendors, and when she runs out of room, she knows where to send them – just down the road to Empire. If there’s room there. “I filled up very fast,” says Linda Payment of this year’s Empire Artisan Marketplace, held in the Empire Town Hall. Payment has coordinated the daylong event for the last several years, which takes place the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Nov. 30. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Crystal River Outfitters hosts Strolling Lights Festival

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The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District is excited to kick off the holiday season in Glen Arbor with another fun, family-friendly Strolling Lights Festival. This event is a great way for families, friends, teams, businesses and organizations to express their festivity, all while supporting a great cause. Whether highlighting your favorite thing to do in Michigan, representing a family tradition, or supporting a cause, each Strolling Lights tree is a blank slate ready to be decorated.

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Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate celebrates 20 years with a birthday bash

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Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, renowned for its ethically sourced, craft chocolate confections and gelato, is thrilled to announce its 20th birthday party on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 11 am-5 pm at the chocolate shop in quaint Empire. All are welcome to join in this milestone event honoring two decades of Grocer’s Daughter’s favorite things; delicious, ethically sourced chocolate and a wonderful community of friends from around the globe.

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Eddie’s Village Inn: “Where Good Friends and Great Food Meet”

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For almost 50 years, one of the few locations where patrons could visit a history museum of Suttons Bay was Eddie’s Village Inn restaurant. Owned and managed by two generations of the Rothgarber Family from 1956 until 2004, this beloved eatery served as the central hub for local news, gossip, family and friend gatherings, and tourists looking for a delicious, home-cooked meal while enjoying Suttons Bay history laid out on the walls throughout the restaurant and behind the bar.

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Pegtown Station celebrates 20 years in Maple City

As expected, the 20-year anniversary celebration of Maple City’s Pegtown Station was nothing short of a resounding affirmation of owners Mary and Dave MacDonald’s tireless work and dedication over the past two decades. There was a palpable sense of joy in the air that evening. The MacDonalds’ recent celebratory event was an open house, fittingly held right on the premises. It was a most festive evening, complete with refreshments and live music by Elizabeth Landry, the legendary Leelanau County songwriter-musician. The gathering was the MacDonalds’ heartfelt way of expressing gratitude to the folks of the Leelanau County area, as well as to the many summer residents and tourists who have supported them over the years. “Being able to celebrate 20 years with this wonderful community of ours is something that Dave and I appreciate greatly. It means the world to us to know how loyal our customers have been throughout the years,” Mary shared.

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Hive in Suttons Bay caters to community

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Waffles on a stick? A social club without alcohol? All based around a small-town coffee shop? Welcome to Hive, the Suttons Bay coffee shop that’s long on service, special events and community. And coffee, of course. After all, that’s what enticed Landon McDaid to open the Suttons Bay business at the location previously occupied by Mundos Roasters. It still serves Mundos coffee, with specialties including blueberry lemon latte, flavored espresso tonic and other specialty drinks.

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