They say you can’t go home again, but guitarist Joe Taylor would beg to differ. The South Carolina native returned to the Palmetto State after decades in New York City and hasn’t missed a beat. Now he feels like he’s coming home again, with a date: Aug. 19 at Music On The Mountain at The Homestead. “The fellas and I are really looking forward to it,” he says of himself and his bandmates. “We love the place.”
Northport Arts Association is thrilled to invite five exceptional Northwest Michigan artists, whose talents reflect the vibrant and diverse spirit of the arts, to participate in their 2026 invitational art exhibition. The exhibit opens Saturday, Aug. 15, from 5-7 pm and continues until Sept. 12. The Northport Arts Association is located at 301 Mill St.
The nonprofit Bay Community Theatre is launching two new programs in August, including a series of late-night horror films called Late Night Frights and a monthly author talk series called Words & Writers at The Bay. Late Night Frights will bring some of the most popular horror and suspense films back to the big screen to scare and delight audiences. The series will kick off August 13 with “Get Out” directed by Jordan Peele, and continue weekly through September 10, with screenings held every Thursday at 10:30 pm.
The Homestead near Glen Arbor is adding to its many attractions by creating an art gallery in the resort’s Welcome Center lobby in partnership with Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts of Frankfort. The Homestead’s gallery will display works depicting the region, from the dunes and Lake Michigan to Leland Fishtown, the lighthouse at Point Betsie and more. Oliver Art Center will showcase its members with a rotating exhibit. The two will also collaborate on a plein air event to take place on the grounds of The Homestead this fall.
Throughout the week, 5Loaves2Fish travels around the area, serving meals in Traverse City, Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, Northport and Leland. “We meet people where they’re at,” said co-founder Michelle White. And it’s Josh Miller, the executive chef of the operation, who is tasked with cooking the meals. “He’s for sure a chef,” said Bill. “Executive is a bit fancy.” Sometimes, Bill continued, cooking at 5Loaves2Fish can be a “wild card. Fifty people will show up to Veteran’s Park one day, and the next 70 will come.” “So, we set up for 80,” said Miller. “We bring the extra food back or send it somewhere else.”
The Leelanau Historical Society invites the community to an evening with Susan Wasserman, author of the 2026 Michigan Notable Book Stepping Off the Boat: Stories from North Manitou Island, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6 pm in the Munnecke Community Room, 203 E. Cedar St., Leland.
Leelanau-based yoga teacher and holistic wellness coach Shelley Smith has organized the community’s first annual yoga festival, Aug. 15 at Twin Lakes Park outside of Traverse City. It’s a one-day, all-day, collaborative event called Northern Resonance Yoga Festival, featuring over 30 of Leelanau and Grand Traverse County’s leading yoga teachers and holistic wellness facilitators.
The Old Art Building in Leland is thrilled to announce a rare and captivating summer feature: Finding Beauty & Light: A Gayle Kabaker Exhibit, running daily from Saturday, Aug. 8 until Sunday, Aug. 16. The highly anticipated event kicks off with an Opening Reception on Friday, Aug. 7, from 6-8 pm, giving the public a first look at the collection alongside the internationally acclaimed artist. Kabaker is an award-winning painter, writer, and visual storyteller celebrated for her work through a distinctly feminine lens. Best known for her iconic New Yorker covers—including her debut 2012 cover “June Brides” celebrating marriage equality, and nine subsequent covers since—Kabaker’s career highlights also include painting 100 portraits for the book and Kennedy Center exhibition Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower, as well as authoring The Washington Post column, Sketching My Way Through Crisis.
Lively Acres is excited to announce the first annual Backyard Blues, Brews & BBQ this August 7-8 at their Backyard event space. Located in the shadow of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, on M-72 a few miles east of Empire, Lively Acres is a beautiful setting for world-class blues music, down-home BBQ and satisfying brews. Tickets are on sale now for the event, headlined by Detroit-based and nationally acclaimed Thornetta Davis, along with other Michigan talent. Lively Acres will serve a home-cooked barbeque meal from local meats and produce, served with northern Michigan beer and wine. The venue has RV and tent camping onsite, a working farm, and a full-service farm market.
For Jabo Bihlman, music is a calling. The Traverse City guitarist, singer and songwriter performs at clubs, wineries, and on Aug. 5 at Music On The Mountain at The Homestead. But he also works with television networks and streaming services. He’s a producer and engineer at his home-based recording studio. And he tours nationally and internationally. Not bad for a kid who hated guitar. “I had a couple lessons when I was 10 or 12 and hated it. I was a jock—in high school I played football and pole vaulted.”