The four public libraries of Leelanau County are excited to announce the launch of this fall’s “Tech Tuesdays,” a collaboration aimed at promoting digital literacy and providing general tech support to community members. This series will rotate between the libraries during the months of September, October, and November, offering both a presentation on a specific topic and personalized tech assistance. Attendees are encouraged to bring general tech questions and their devices.
It’s for family and more. The Accidentals’ annual FAMgrove party takes place at French Valley Vineyards on Oct. 12. “It’s become one of our favorite events,” says Katie Larson, who co-founded the group with fellow string player and songwriter Savannah Madigan when both were still in high school. Now all these years later–12 to be precise–the band gathers members of its fan club and hometown fans for an end-of-season bash with a number of special guests. This year that list includes the Rebel Eves, Luke Woltanski, One Hot Robot, Low Phase and A to Z. Derived from the song “Mangrove” off the band’s Bittersweet album, The Accidentals’ FAMgrove community began in 2012 as a Facebook group. Now it is an interactive, personalized fan club on Patreon, and the FAMgrove party is the band’s way of giving back. FAMgrove members are admitted free of charge, while those who are not (yet) members can purchase tickets.
Celebrate the Leelanau Peninsula’s rich farm heritage with the Ruby Ellen Farm Conservancy’s annual Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 6, from noon to 4 pm. Fun, free, child-friendly activities, museums highlighting farm life/families in Bingham and the Leelanau community; craft demonstrations including cider pressing, basket weaving, spinning, and wood turning; hiking trails and gardens; gift shop. Farm-style pig roast, 1:30 pm, $25/adults, $10/kids, followed by its renowned baked goods auction.
The Leelanau Outdoor Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Founded in 1994 and situated on picturesque Pyramid Point in Maple City, LOC educates groups of school students with its unique program that combines “experiential and ecological learning in the natural environment that promotes the discovery and development of leadership and character.” Adventure elements of the program include navigating the high ropes course, climbing wall, and zip line while the ecological components encompass Pond Study and Dune School. “At LOC we work hard to earn the students’ trust and provide them a safe space to try something new and maybe make mistakes. We want them to know that it’s ok to not get it right the first time, and it is important to work hard and be persistent. In team building, we specifically address communication skills that may be difficult to foster in a school setting, as well as the idea that it’s ok to ask for help and trust others,” said LOC director Katie Duntley. To commemorate their 30th anniversary, LOC is hosting a Fall Festival on Oct. 5 from 1–5 p.m. For $15 a person, attendees can climb the rock wall, take off on the zip line, hitch a seat on the hayride, shoot a bow and arrow, carve pumpkins, and other fun activities. More details on the festival can be found at LOCprograms.org/events.
This year marks 30 years for the Leelanau Outdoor Center (LOC) on Pyramid Point. To celebrate this milestone, LOC will host a Fall Festival event on Oct. 5, where participants will be able to climb the rock wall, fly down the zip line, go on a hayride, carve a pumpkin, shoot a bow and arrow, and more! The outdoor center will be open to all from 1-5 pm, and it’s just $15/person to access all the activities. Concessions will also be available.
Leelanau County’s most remote village will host the final event of Pride Week for the fourth consecutive year. Sanctioned by Up North Pride and produced by The Chetcuti Evans Foundation, the Northport Tea Dance will take place at Faro on Sunday, Sept. 29, as a grand finale sendoff following a week of Traverse City-based celebrations centered around Northern Michigan’s queer community. The focus of this inclusive, family-friendly event is to create awareness and visibility for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Leelanau (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and the plus reflects the countless affirmative ways in which people choose to self-identify).
The local music scene in Leelanau County not only highlights the dedicated and seasoned professionals we see playing at venues through the year, but is unique in the way it welcomes and enriches the lives of young artists on the rise. From young performers like The Accidentals and Billy Strings who grew up singing and playing next to our shore of Lake Michigan, to the rising Trillium Groove, Leelanau is the perfect place for young artists and musicians to find their voice and place their roots. Trillium Groove’s upcoming Leelanau County schedule include performances at Leelanau UnCaged in Northport on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Oct. 3, at Jacob’s Farm on M-72.
For one day each year, Northport becomes a musical haven, where folk and funk, blues and bluegrass, hip rock and hot horns all have a place. Welcome to Leelanau UnCaged, where some two dozen acts perform the last Saturday in September (Sept. 28 this year) on the streets throughout town. Despite taking its name and inspiration from avant-garde musician John Cage, Leelanau UnCaged is not dedicated to ultramodern cutting-edge music. It’s all about a good time with good friends as they celebrate a respite from the hustle and bustle after summer visitors and seasonal residents have typically departed.
The storied Earthwork Harvest Gathering will meet for the last time this weekend in rural Missaukee County—about an hour southeast of Traverse City. For 22 years, thousands of musicians, artisans, and activists have flocked to Bob Bernard’s farm near Lake City to celebrate the end of summer, dance in the fields, and foster community. Bob’s son Seth, who grew up on the farm, is a well-known musician and activist who founded the Earthwork Music Collective. “For me it’s emotional just to think about this one being the last of its kind. I’m so proud to have been able to work with these folks through all these years, so many people who have inspired me to be a better human being. I just want to extend a hearty invitation for people to come out and experience some of the beauty of northern Michigan and some of this beautiful culture of active artisans and activists and music lovers who know how to have a really good time.”
The Leelanau Historical Society hosts the third annual Leelanau Maritime History Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 am-3 pm at the Leelanau Historical Society, located at 203 E. Cedar St. in Leland.