The Old Art Building’s historic ‘Big Room’ will be alive with music and drama all spring long, with several not-to-miss performances slated for the OAB’s main stage in Leland. Cousin Curtiss in concert is slated for Saturday, May 10, from 7-9 p.m.
Leelanau Energy has announced a new partnership with the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities to extend and strengthen their Access MI Solar program in Leelanau County. Access MI Solar is a group-buy discount program that helps homeowners and small businesses afford solar panels, to save on energy costs, and reduce their carbon footprint. Leelanau Energy will offer two community engagement programs to discuss and take questions about Access MI Solar: Thursday, May 8, at the Suttons Bay District Library and Thursday, May 15, at Glen Lake Community Library.
The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail is shaking things up this spring with “Wine with a Twist,” a one-of-a-kind tasting event running May 2–4, where traditional wine tasting meets creative craft cocktails.
Dune Bird Winery is collaborating with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, to protect the endangered Piping Plover and other resource protection efforts along Lake Michigan’s shorelines. On Thursday, May 1, Dune Bird will release a sweet rosé called Pink Plover. Click here for information on attending the event. The Piping Plover is a small, endangered shorebird which breeds along the shores of the Great Lakes from April to August each year. Almost half of the Great Lakes population nests within the National Lakeshore. Dune Bird’s Pink Plover represents a community commitment to protect one of Michigan’s most beloved and vulnerable species. A portion of every bottle sold will go toward supporting conservation efforts for the Piping Plover and other Friends of Sleeping Bear resource protection programs.
Get ready for an evening of Kentucky Derby excitement with a purpose. Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN) invites the community to its “Run for the Roses” Derby Party fundraiser on Thursday, May 1, starting at 6 pm. The festive event will be held at the picturesque Mountain Flower Lodge at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor. Guests will enjoy the thrill of the Kentucky Derby, complete with delicious food and drinks, lively music, and the anticipation of the “greatest two minutes in sports”—all while directly supporting LCN’s crucial programs. Attendees are encouraged to embrace the Derby spirit and don their most stylish hats and bow ties.
For over a decade, the Empire Area Community Emergency Fund has addressed sudden financial need, one note at a time. Last year, the Benzonia Area Community Emergency Fund followed suit. The two non-profits offer a financial hand to those in need, with all their funding coming from a once-a-month source: area venues hosting a concert, where the musicians eschew their usual fee and the fund collects donations. Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor will host the next Empire Emergency Fund concert on April 27, from 4-6 pm, and feature Jim Crockett and the Beach Bards.
This week is Earth Week, with Earth Day honored on Tuesday, April 22. It’s also National Park Week. Events in Leelanau County include a rally on Tuesday at 3 pm in Empire to support Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—which has faced deep spending cuts and a hiring freeze by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Leelanau Conservancy offers opportunities each day this week, starting tomorrow, to join hikes, volunteer, attend a trivia night, and learn about local efforts to preserve trees.
Get ready to indulge during the 11th annual Glen Lake Restaurant Week. From casual bites to gourmet dining, participating locations will feature specials or a prix-fixe menu that highlight the best of the local culinary scene. Whether you’re craving comfort food, fresh ingredients, exquisite drinks, or an elevated dining experience, there’s something for every palate. Some may also offer breakfast, lunch and dinner specials in accordance with their own hours and offerings. For special menus and the full lineup of participating businesses, click here.
Our story series celebrating songs inspired by Leelanau County and the Sleeping Bear Dunes continues with Seth Bernard’s “Manitou,” an instrumental that he wrote in June 2019 during a residency sponsored by the Old Art Building in Leland. “I wrote this simple piece on acoustic guitar looking out over the islands near Van’s Beach around sundown,” said Bernard. “It’s a little magic carpet ride to that peaceful, serene, early summer Leelanau sunset vibe. Bernard returns to the Old Art Building on April 24 at 7 pm for an Earth Week-themed concert.
The National Park Service plans to conduct four prescribed fires in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before May 15. Prescribed fire is used as a tool to assist in restoring forest habitat while also reducing the threat of wildland fires. In the Platte Plains area of the National Lakeshore, two prescribed fires will be on 1,490 acres. One burn unit includes and surrounds the Lasso Loop of the Platte Plains Trail. The second burn unit falls between Peterson and Lasso Roads.