Join community members of all ages in celebrating the founding of our nation in a joyous and patriotic ceremony at 10 am, July 4, at Old Settlers Picnic Grounds on the western shore of Big Glen Lake. The traditional raising of the flag by the Glen Lake Fire Department will be led by Chief Bryan Ferguson and will be followed by a singalong of well-loved and familiar patriotic songs.
Throughout July, the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s new Youth Plein Air Month will invite children ages 6–12 to step outside, paint in the open air, and capture the signature landscapes and buildings of Leelanau County. “Youth Plein Air Month is intended to nurture confidence and creativity by taking art making outside the classroom,” said Scott Bouma, executive director of GAAC.
The Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor, which Jenny Puvogel acquired last year, will celebrate its 40th birthday with an author signing on Saturday, June 28, from 5-7 pm. “We will have several local authors signing books under the tent outside—some new books, some older books—and some light refreshments,” said Puvogel. The author lineup includes: Sue Boucher (Sleeping Bear Dunes Day), M Christine Byron (Perfect Omena Day), Bryan Gruley (Bitter Frost), Mark Lindsay (The Soul of Sleeping Bear), Tim Mulherin (This Magnetic North), Steve Reddicliffe (The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails), Kit Robey (The Sleeping Bear Wakes Up), Barbara Siepker (Historic Cottages of Glen Lake) and more.
The Glen Arbor Arts Center is keeping the lights on a little longer on Friday nights. Late Night Fridays and Manitou Music bring the B-Side Growlers back to the GAAC Front Porch on June 27, 5-7 pm. This “tradition-inspired, toe-tapping fired” acoustic trio from Grand Rapids plays a plein air concert of blues, jazz and country. Bring a chair and refreshments.
To know the history of the arts in Glen Arbor is to know Suzanne Wilson. A venerated artist and pillar of the community, Suzanne had the singular ability to translate Leelanau’s land, light, and water into work that felt both intimate and expansive. But perhaps more significantly, Suzanne did not simply depict Leelanau’s landscape—she transformed its cultural fabric. In the early 1990s, Suzanne began organizing Friday night art openings at Lake Street Studio’s Center Gallery, the public-facing component of her studio. The summer 2025 season of Center Gallery opens on June 27 with Joan Richmond, a Traverse City-based artist best known for her luminous landscapes.
For hundreds of youngsters around Leelanau County—and even more so those no longer quite so young—the annual Kids Fishing Day at Veronica Valley is a special event. Since 2004, volunteers have stocked fish, welcomed kids, helped them bait their hooks, and watched bobbers disappear beneath the water, then reappear with a wriggling bluegill on the end of the line.
The Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce invites the public to sip, shop, and stroll during the much-anticipated Artisan & Wine Walk: A Toast to Suttons Bay, happening Friday, June 20, from 5-8 pm in beautiful downtown Suttons Bay.
Sleeping Bear Surf is proud to announce the return of Beryl Days, a heart-forward grassroots celebration honoring the spirit of freshwater, community, and joy at the doorstep of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This unique event, held from Friday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22, in the village of Empire, invites locals and visitors alike to gather for three days of connection, education, and fun. Beryl Days (pronounced “barrel”—yes, like a barreling wave!) honors the legacy of Beryl Skrocki, founder of Sleeping Bear Surf and beloved mother, trailblazer, activist, and community leader. Beryl Days is more than an event; it’s a vibrant reminder of the power of community and our shared responsibility to protect and cherish the Great Lakes environment that fuels so much of our joy and culture.
The Old Art Building in Leland is thrilled to welcome rising singer/songwriter Jon Muq to the its main stage on Wednesday, June 18, from 7-9 p.m. Born in Uganda and now living in Austin, Texas, Muq draws from African as well as western musical trends and traditions. Featured on the PBS News Hour, Muq has opened for Billy Joel, Norah Jones, Lyle Lovett and other headliners. He describes his songs as small gifts, designed to settle into everyday life and provoke reflection and resilience.
The Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will host a kids summer camp for ages 8-9, June 23-27 from 10 am- 1 pm. Activities will include: creative writing, arts and crafts, nature-based activities and games. The camp is free of charge and presented by the Yingst Family in honor of Bonnie Yingst. Spaces are available for the first 15 children registered. “The Library Camp is a new venture for us, and an expansion of our summer youth programming,” said director David Diller. “It’s motivated by our long-term goal of forging a stronger connection with area students. Our library strives to be a welcoming destination for kids and families.