May 16, 2026

A Breath of Plein Air

June 8, 2024

Paint Grand Traverse, the annual plein air painting festival put on by Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC), returns this weekend to northern Michigan. Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16, you’ll see artists painting in downtown Traverse City on Front Street and along West Bay, as well as in Fishtown and Leland. But that’s just the start—all next week artists will visit various Up North locations while CTAC hosts free artist demos, a Fresh Paint Party to view and purchase the newly-made art (Friday, June 21, $75), and even a free plein air painting experience for kiddos. Get all the details at paintgrandtraverse.com, and keep an eye out for artists making magic around town!

Painting (cropped for web) by Mark Mehaffey of Empire, MI

Trending

Eight Memorial Day Events Up North

Memorial Day is both a day of remembrance and the unofficial start to northern Michigan summer. School is nearly out, the da… Read More >>

Golden Hour on the Farm

Bask in the beauty of Lakeview Hill Farm’s (8236 E. Lakeview Hills Rd., TC) flowers just before sunset as the light so… Read More >>

Songwriters in the Round

A concert format born in Nashville’s famous Bluebird Cafe is making its way to the Garden Theater in Frankfort on May … Read More >>

Prescribed Fires at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Each spring, the team at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sets prescribed fires in the park, which are intended to res… Read More >>