On Saturday, Nov. 25, Empire is making spirits bright this season by offering three locations to find handcrafted gifts from local artisans. The Empire Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Artisan Marketplace featuring 20 artisans at the Empire Town Hall from 10 am-4 pm. In addition to the beautiful items available, customers will also be able to have a delicious snack or lunch prepared by local chefs, Mel and Fel.
The first weekend of October marks the sixth annual Hops & Harvest Festival in Empire. Each fall the Empire Chamber of Commerce hosts the festival to celebrate the harvest season with local food, beer, and music on Front Street. Tickets to the event are $25 for adults, which includes a commemorative Hops & Harvest Festival glass and drink ticket. Children 16 and under are free.
On Friday, June 22, approximately 80 vintage automobiles will take part in “The Trophy Run” portion of the 2012 Great Race. These autos, the oldest being a 1907 Renault and the youngest a 1967 jaguar E Type will stop for a lunch break on Front Street in downtown Empire.
Empire Chamber of Commerce chair Paul Skinner reported that approximately 30 Empire Village and Township residents planted almost 12,000 daffodil bulbs on Front Street last weekend.
Ever since Wednesday, August 17, Northern Michiganders have both embraced and grappled with the news that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding region are considered the “most beautiful place in America” — at least according to 22 percent of 100,000 voters who participated in the ABC show Good Morning America’s online competition the second week of August.