Cherry Republic and Friends of Sleeping Bear report the first annual Sleepy Bear Twilight Ride, at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, to support maintenance of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. All funds raised will go toward trail operations, which include keeping the trail clear for riders during the spring, summer and fall, and grooming in the winter for cross-country skiing. Annual maintenance of the trail costs about $1,000 per mile.
This is a unique opportunity to meet more than 20 local authors at one time in one location, in the Pine Patch at the Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor (rain location across the street at Bethlehem Lutheran Church). On Friday, Aug. 2 between 2 and 4 p.m. the best of mystery, history, essay writers and artists will gather.
The Glen Lake Library will host a performance by Song of the Lakes on Thursday, July 25, at 7 p.m. The concert is based on the classic children’s book Paddle to the Sea, written by Holling C. Holling, originally published in 1941. This concert will feature original music performed by the band, along with narration by Norm Wheeler. Children and adults are invited to this free performance, which will be held at the Empire Township Hall. For more information, call the library at (231) 326-5361, or check its website at Glenlakelibrary.net.
Oil Painter Jeff Ripple will demonstrate his craft at Empire’s Sleeping Bear Gallery on Saturday, July 27, from 1-3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Ripple may be “a Florida boy at heart,” but he also embraces the idyllic rolling hills and gentle landscape that characterizes Leelanau County. Even though Ripple is colorblind, he has “always been into art.”
The Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival, which is celebrating its 23rd season of jazz, classical, blues, folk, country, celtic, bluegrass and world music on the Leelanau Peninsula, hosts a wealth of summer concerts in the coming weeks. On Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. the bluegrass/country singer Nora Jane Struthers will perform with her quartet outdoors at Studio Stage, located at Lake Street Studios in Glen Arbor; on Wednesday, July 31 at 8 p.m. the Michigan born country/folk singer-songwriter Drew Nelson will perform with his Highway 2 Band; on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. the Folk band Peter, Paul & Mary Remembered will perform at Studio Stage, and on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. the Celtic band Full Set will perform at Studio Stage. The rain location for all concerts is the Glen Arbor Town Hall, with the exception of Full Set, whose rain location is the Empire Town Hall.)
Ohio artist Joe Stewart’s love of Leelanau goes public in an exhibition of new work, “Painting the Leelanau Peninsula.” This show opens with a reception on July 26 at 6 p.m. at Center Gallery, 6023 S. Lake St. in Glen Arbor. Maple City artist Carol Spaulding’s “Garden Palette” will color Center Gallery at Lake Street Studios next. The exhibition of floral still lifes opens Aug. 2 with a 6 p.m. reception.
The Glen Arbor Art Association will exhibit wooded landscapes by Lynn Uhlmann of Shippensburg, Penn., and part-time resident of Leelanau County. The show is July 26-28 at the Art Association, 6031 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor, with an opening reception on Friday from 6-8 p.m.
The Congregational Summer Assembly (CSA) will host its 35th annual Arts and Crafts Fair on Wednesday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Assembly ball field on Crystal Lake. The fair will feature more than 100 artists from all over Michigan and beyond. Fair goers will find: jewelry of all kinds, from adornment made with old silverware to those made with semi-precious stones; decorative art, from pottery wall hangings to oil paintings, watercolors and fine photography of local landscapes; wooden objects of art – vases, bowls, birdhouses; children’s delights — American Girl doll clothes, books and handmade toddler outfits; handcrafted herbal soaps, paper goods, baskets and furniture; wearable art and more.
Thirty-six years ago this month, Doug Manning and Michelle Stryker discovered an anchor in 18 feet of water while canoeing off the coast of Empire. Ever since then, the village has celebrated Anchor Days on the third Saturday of July. The quirky impetus for the party fits this unique town. After all, Empire is best known for dressing up and honoring the asparagus stalk in May.
On Tuesday, July 23, the Glen Arbor Women’s Club (GAWC) hosts the seventh annual “Running Bear 5K Run/Walk and ½ Mile Kids’ Run. This event has become popular with locals and tourists alike. Last year, 700 adults and children took part. The 5K event is open to everyone. You can run or walk, so young people as well as seniors can participate in the 5K. The younger children are not forgotten and can participate in a ½ Mile “Kids’ Run”. They run/walk the half mile and each child will receive a ribbon and an ice cream cone from Riverfront Pizza & Specialties. Bring the whole family and join the fun this year.