Winter Fun Calendar

Hello, snow - and welcome back, cabin fever! Are you feeling it already? Never fear - Northern Michigan is offering up a plethora of festive, fun, and friendly events that’ll get you through those “it’s only 5 o’clock and it’s dark already!?” months. Read on, oh fevered one, for a comprehensive list of what’s going on from now until those warmer temperatures decide to return once again.

DECEMBER
12/13-12/16: The Christmas Schooner as directed by Gary Albert is presented by the LTCT at Petoskey’s Crooked Tree Arts Center.
12/14: The Nutcracker brings classic holiday music and dance to Interlochen (see Rick Coates’ feature in this issue).
12/14-12/16: The Christmas Schooner as directed by Gary Albert is presented by the LTCT at Petoskey’s Crooked Tree Arts Center.
12/14-12/16: Disney’s Mulan harkens back to the storytelling days of ancient China in this stage play at the Old Town Playhouse in TC.
12/14: The Osmond Brothers present their holiday show at the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts in Roscommon.
12/15-1/6: Romancing the Automobile remains on display at the Dennos Museum Center in TC, with automobile-related artwork and concept cars.
12/16: The Village Voices and Northport Community Band stage their annual Old Fashioned Holiday Concert in Northport.
12/16-1/1: The Festival of Trains is back at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center in TC, with an extravaganza of model railroads and more.
12/20: Men’s Night takes place in Downtown Traverse City; it’s holiday shopping for the male gift-giving contingent, complete with hors d’oeuvres, beverages, gift-wrapping, and more.
12/21: Check out Radio Loco Motion - Local musicians perform live for WNMC Radio with host Sandy Bloomenfeld at the Inside Out Gallery in TC.
12/21: The Terrace Inn’s Christmas Social and Fundraiser features sleigh rides, entertainment, dinner, and a gingerbread house contest, all in Bay View (next to Petoskey).
12/26: Holiday night skiing begins at Boyne Highlands Nub’s Nob (Harbor Springs) and Boyne Highlands (Boyne Falls).
12/28: Stop by the Raven Hill Discovery Center in East Jordan from 5 to 8 p.m. for their annual festive Holiday Open House.
12/29: The Music House Museum in Acme offers up their Holiday Happening with two great
old-time silent films, complete with live organ accompaniment.
12/31: A wide variety of New Year’s Parties will be happening across the region to welcome in 2008 (which has been deemed the International Year of Planet Earth by the United Nations; it’s also the Year of the Rat in Chinese lore, just in case you were wondering). Check out Express’ New Year’s issue for more details.
12/31: First Night is celebrated in Cadillac, with a parade, entertainment, and additional cultural events.
JANUARY
1/10: The Billy Childs Jazz Chamber Sextet takes the stage at Interlochen.
1/10: The Swirl mixes art, wine, and fun at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey.
1/11-1/26: Considered one of Tennessee Williams’ finest plays, A Streetcar Named Desire debuts at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City.
1/12: Billy Childs makes his second 2008 appearance in Northern Michigan with a show at Petoskey’s Crooked Tree Arts Center.
1/12: The Chenille Sisters bring their country/folk/parody blend to Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum in TC.
1/17-1/19: Mackinaw City’s Winterfest brings together snow carving, sleigh rides, ice skating, fishing, games and lots more.
1/18-1/20: The Bay Harbor Ice Festival in - where else? - Bay Harbor features a host of winter activities and a gourmet chili cook-off, plus gorgeous ice sculptures on display.
1/19-1/20: The fun Kalkaska Winterfest offers up dogsled events and much more.
1/29: The gravity-defying acrobats of the New Shanghai Circus show off their skills at Interlochen.

FEBRUARY
2/2: Now in its 32nd year, it’s time for the White Pine Stampede cross-country ski race (with 10K, 20K, and 50K loops) in Mancelona.
2/2: Jazzy Nashville performer Rachael Price arrives at Milliken Auditorium in TC for an 8 p.m. show.
2/2: Also gettin’ jazzy are the Bill and Laurie Sears Jazz Ensemble, performing at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey.
2/3: Women’s Winter Tour, 10 a.m. Crystal Mountain, Benzie Co.
2/9: The 31st Annual North American VASA Ski Race in Acme is open to both classical and freestyle skiers.
2/15: Acclaimed mandolin and fiddle player Peter Ostroushko performs live at Petoskey’s CTAC.
2/16: The Petoskey Winter Carnival includes the 15th Annual Cardboard Challenge, bump-jumpers, and much more, all at Petoskey’s own Winter Sports Park.
2/16: Multi-ethnic Israeli musical ensemble at the Dennos’ Milliken Auditorium in TC.
2/16-2/18: The three-day Cherry Capital Winter Wonderfest will take place at Acme’s Grand Traverse Resort, complete with music, pagentry, food, sports, and other all-ages events.
2/17: John Varineau will conduct the Traverse Symphony Orchestra in Hollywood’s Greatest Melodies at TC’s Lars Hockstad Auditorium at 3 p.m.
2/23: Martha Graham’s Dance Company make their much-anticipated visit to Interlochen’s Corson Auditorium.

MARCH
3/2-3/3: The gathering of dozens of skilled sled dogs is the highlight of the 19th Annual Mackinaw Mush in Mackinaw City.
3/7-3/29: An irreverent, modernized retelling of several classic children’s tales will entertain you when Into the Woods arrives at the Old Town Playhouse in TC.
3/8-3/9: The Annual Nub’s Nord takes place at Harbor Springs’ Nub’s Nob ski resort, with plenty of activities for Telemark and cross-country skiers, including races and a pizza party.
3/12: Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano follows the trek of an old, upright piano through 70 years of American history at Interlochen.
3/14-3/16: Costumes, live bands, the Slush Cup, and all kinds of carnival craziness take place during Carnival Weekend at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls.
3/15: Krazy Daze are a great spring tradition at Harbor Springs’ Boyne Highlands ski resort.
3/15: The 46th Annual Nub’s Nob Open slalom racing event hits the slopes in Harbor Springs.
3/15: Traverse City’s own composer/pianist Jeff Haas performs live at TC’s Milliken Auditorium.
3/15-3/16: Maestro Kevin Rhodes will present Handel’s complete Messiah in a full concert performance in Corson Auditorium at Interlochen.
3/15-3/16: The Little Traverse Association of Home Builders’ 2008 32nd Annual Home Show takes place at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey.
3/22: Nub’s Nob in Harbor Springs offers up their annual Mardi Gras spring fling with the Soaker Cup Challenge, Pepsi Challenge races, and costume contest.

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