American Tree is an exhibit that explores the role trees played in the formation of the United States 250 years ago—and the role trees will play moving forward into this nation’s next 250 years. This exhibition opens Friday, June 5, in the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s Main Gallery. It features the work of 28 artists and continues through Aug. 13. An opening reception is June 5, from 5-7 pm.
Empire’s quirky, fun, day-long Asparagus Festival returns to Leelanau County on Saturday, June 6. The day of peace, music and food offers something for everyone in the family. Events include the Kick-Yer Ass-paragus 5K Fun Run/Walk at Empire’s public beach at 10 am; a pop-up book sale at the Glen Lake Community Library from 11 am-3 pm; a recipe contest in the Township Hall at noon (click on the story for a link to enter); open hours at the Empire Area Museum from 1-4 pm; the Ode to Asparagus Poetry Contest at the Library at 2 pm (click on the story for a link to enter); an appearance by the Asparagus Queen on Stilts from 2-4 pm, and the Magic Lady Family Magic Show from 3-4 pm.
On Thursday June 4, from 4-8 pm Dune Bird Winery, set along Michigan’s scenic M-22 in the heart of Leelanau County, celebrates the launch of a new varietal red wine, Woolsey Red, a partnership with the Save Woolsey Airport Terminal project, a group of dedicated community volunteers and partners working with Leelanau Township to Save Woolsey Airport Terminal, an 1870s-era, hand-laid stone building that once served as a farm creamery.
As of May 15, a new cafe is up and running near Empire. The Dunes Café, located inside the clubhouse of the Dunes Golf Club off of M-72, offers coffee, tea, light food and smoothies. “If it takes off, we’ll get an espresso machine,” said Clayton Morrow, an experienced barista who helped his sister Brittany Morrow open the cafe.
The comedian and clown Patch Adams was onto something when he said, “Humor is an antidote to all ills.” Leelanau County residents Skip Pruss and Jim White may disagree on politics, but Pruss drew a chuckle from White when he joked, “I’m known as the shit man in Lansing,” during their conversation about septic policy earlier this month. They shared a table and bantered during a Common Ground meeting on May 13 at the Friendship Center in Suttons Bay. The monthly gatherings, which were held from January until May and will resume this fall—prior to November’s national midterm elections—are an attempt to break through the caustic national political divide and give citizens of different backgrounds an opportunity to break bread together, discuss local political issues, and find common ground.
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians will host a Company K Memorial Highway Dedication on Wednesday, May 27, at 1 pm at the Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom in Peshawbestown. The event will bring together community members, Tribal leaders, veterans, elected officials, and regional partners to honor the Anishinaabe soldiers of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters for their service and sacrifice during the Civil War.
Every year for the past decade, Jose Abel has traveled more than 2,000 miles from the region of Durango in Mexico to tend to the grapes of Northern Michigan’s famed vineyards. The money the 30-year old earns during the nine months that he spends in Michigan allows him—and thousands of other Mexican workers in our state—to have dreams back home. Now, however, the U.S. federal government has lowered the minimum wage—by as much as $4.50 an hour, or 25 percent, in Michigan—for the exploding number of workers who are here on H-2A visas, like Abel. The decision comes after a couple of years of outcry from some farmers that the cost of labor, transportation, and housing for H-2A workers had become untenable, and that, without locals willing to do the job, small farms would not be able to afford the cost of the harvest season.
Join local artists in beautiful Burdickville, east of the Glen Lakes, for an open studio art tour on Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 23-24, from 10 am until 4 pm. Multiple artists at six locations will welcome you into their studios. Talk with the artists, see wonderful art and crafts, hear music and enjoy the neighborhood. Pick up a map at any of the studios and follow the signs around the neighborhood.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The Lively neighborhood, that is, as the compound on M-72 readies to host Lively NeighborFest 2026 on May 24. Jim Lively says the event is an opportunity for neighbors to gather together around local food and music, while supporting two local non-profits, the Empire Area Community Center (EACC) and LIFT (Leelanau Investing For Teens). “The beautiful thing is it’s the second annual NeighborFest. It’s just like last year, except better,” he says with a laugh. Part campground, part farm market and camp store, part restaurant and part concert venue, the site also is home to the Lively Farm. Add it all up, and you’ve got the perfect site for a day-long party.
The Glen Arbor Players open their 2026 season on Friday, May 22, at 7 pm at The Leelanau School auditorium with the play “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney. This Pulitzer Prize-nominated play tracks, through letters, the lifelong friendship between characters Andy Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner. The play, directed by GAP veteran Teddy House, celebrates the joys, trials, triumphs and heartbreaks of their lives.