HOLIDAY LASERS ON THE ORE DOCK
2025-11-22 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-27 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-28 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-29 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Lower Harbor Ore Dock, City Multi Use Path, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Experience the magic of the season in downtown Marquette! The historic Lower Harbor Ore Dock will light up for the holidays with dazzling laser displays by Fresh Coast Light Lab, every Thursday through Saturday from 6-9 PM on the north side of the dock.

This free, family-friendly show offers something new each week from festive and winter-themed scenes to colorful, abstract displays inspired by Marquette itself. While you’re downtown, warm up with dinner, local brews, or a little holiday shopping just steps away.

2025 DATES
November 20 – December 27 & New Year’s Eve

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 6-9 PM

PWPL Presents: All Booked Up: Can We Talk?
2025-11-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Peter White Public Library Shiras Room.
Adults, Seniors. Join Marty and Andrea for an in-person, in-depth discussion of Upper Michigan Today’s All Booked Up book of the month. Come with your questions, insights, and observations. This month’s book: Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL & Meditate Marquette Mindfulness Meditation Tuesday
2025-11-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesdays, November (4, 18, 25) 2025. 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.
Mediate Marquette and PWPL have collaborated to offer a weekly, in-person mindfulness meditation program. The sessions begin at 6:00 pm followed by a period of fellowship. Dr. Debra Smith, a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and psychologist, will deliver brief talks exploring various aspects of meditation and its impact on our lives. These talks will take place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, while longer meditation sessions are scheduled for the remaining Tuesdays. All individuals, regardless of skill level or spiritual affiliation, are welcome to attend.
For further information, please contact meditatemarquette@gmail.com or call 906-226-4303.

Intimate Wine Tasting with Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyard!
2025-11-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Mariucci Family Beacon House, 200 S 7th St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets Today!
Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets Today!
Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets Today!

Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets Today!
Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets Today!

PWPL Presents: Bluesday Tuesday Concert
2025-11-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesday, November 25, 2025,
6:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Community Room.
Teens, Adults, Seniors, Family Friendly. Peter White Public Library hosts a blues concert sponsored by the Marquette Area Blues Society. This month’s band: TBA. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Baby Storytime
2025-11-26 10:00 - 10:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Wednesdays, November (5, 12, 19, 26) 2025. 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Peter White Public Library Great Room.
Songs, rhymes, stories and finger-plays for newborns to 17 months with a loving adult. Older siblings are welcome.
No admission charge.
For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: All Booked Up: On Air
2025-11-26 10:00 - 11:00 | MI
Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
9 a.m.-10 a.m.
WLUC TV 6 Studios.
Adults, Teens, Seniors. Join Upper Michigan Today’s Elizabeth Peterson and Tia Trudgeon, along with PWPL staff, for an on-air, in-person book discussion. This month’s book: Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Adult Nonfiction Book Group
2025-11-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
2:00-3:00 PM.
Peter White Public Library. Peter White Conference Room.
Adult Nonfiction Book Group at the Peter White Public Library focuses on narrative nonfiction book picks that tell stories of our past, present, and future. This book group is for people who enjoy reading nonfiction that reads like fiction. Join us as we explore this month’s book The Fire We Carry by Rebecca Nagle. No registration or admission charge. For more information call 906-226-4311 or email refdesk@pwpl.info.

Small Business Saturday
2025-11-29 00:00 - 23:59 | MI
Date: Saturday, November 29th
Time: All Day and into the evening
Location: Participating businesses throughout Downtown Marquette
Small Business Saturday is an annual event that was created to encourage consumers to shop in person and online at locally-owned small businesses during the holiday season. When you shop locally, you aren’t just making a purchase, you’re investing in your neighbors, strengthening our local economy, and helping keep Downtown Marquette vibrant.
The Marquette Downtown Development Authority (MDDA) invites you to explore all that Downtown Marquette has to offer. Discover unique gifts in local galleries and shops, and treat yourself to a meal or drink at one of our many restaurants and pubs. Shop small, support local, and celebrate community this holiday season!

Caroling, Caroling Now We Go! Celebration
2025-11-30 15:00 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 201 East Ridge Street, Marquette, Michigan
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Marquette will host Caroling, Caroling Now We Go!, a celebration of the musical legacy of Rev. Bates and Alfred Burt and Abbie Burt Betinis on Sunday, November 30th at 3:00 pm at the church at 201 East Ridge Street in Marquette. The concert celebrates the 150th anniversary of St. Paul’s sanctuary building this Christmas and over 100 years of Burt Carols which originated at St. Paul’s.

In 1922 Rev. Bates Burt, the rector at St. Paul’s in Marquette, composed a Christmas carol and sent it out as a Christmas card to family, friends, and parishioners. Burt Carols became an annual tradition and Bates’ son Alfred joined his father in composing 20 years later. Alfred Bates went on to compose 15 carols of his own including “Caroling, Caroling,” “Star Carol, and “Some Children See Him,” which have been recorded by artists all over the world. Composer Abbie Burt Betinis is the great granddaughter of Bates and grand-niece of Alfred, and since 2001 has continued the family caroling tradition.

“Celebrating the carols, along with the 150th anniversary of the sanctuary, is an honor and a privilege. The carols are an enduring legacy, hopefully, one that will continue for years to come.” – Jan Brodersen, St. Paul’s Music Director

The concert performers will include Stephanie Beinlich, Jim Edwards, Adam Hall, Jon LaFonde, Kristen Ludwig, Jimmy Ludwig, Eric Marta, Darrius Morton, Janis Peterson, Dani Simandl, and the St. Paul’s Choir. Classic Burt carols from all three generations of Burt composers will be performed and some entirely new arrangements will also be featured by vocalists and string ensembles.

As the Fred Bock Publishing Group has noted, “The most famous American Christmas carol family is indisputably the Burt family. The carols of Bates and Alfred Burt and the Christmas carol cards they sent are now part of our hymnody and folklore. Composer Abbie Burt Betinis is the great granddaughter of Bates and grand-niece of Alfred, and is continuing the tradition with freshness and craftsmanship.”

Admission will be free and donations will be accepted. All donations will benefit St. Paul’s Building Restoration fund as the church seeks to match the grant it received from the National Fund for Sacred Places. The NFSP grant will help St. Paul’s address urgent structural needs, ensuring its continued role as a gathering place for worship, outreach, and community activities into the next 150 years.

“Caroling, Caroling, Now We Go” A celebration of the musical legacy of Rev. Bates and Alfred Burt and Abbie Burt Betinis at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Marquette
2025-11-30 15:00 | MI
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Marquette will host Caroling, Caroling Now We Go!, a celebration of the musical legacy of Rev. Bates and Alfred Burt and Abbie Burt Betinis on Sunday, November 30th at 3:00 pm at the church at 201 East Ridge Street in Marquette. The concert celebrates the 150th anniversary of St. Paul’s sanctuary building this Christmas and over 100 years of Burt Carols which originated at St. Paul’s.

In 1922 Rev. Bates Burt, the rector at St. Paul’s in Marquette, composed a Christmas carol and sent it out as a Christmas card to family, friends, and parishioners. Burt Carols became an annual tradition and Bates’ son Alfred joined his father in composing 20 years later. Alfred Bates went on to compose 15 carols of his own including “Caroling, Caroling,” “Star Carol, and “Some Children See Him,” which have been recorded by artists all over the world. Composer Abbie Burt Betinis is the great granddaughter of Bates and grand-niece of Alfred, and since 2001 has continued the family caroling tradition.

“Celebrating the carols, along with the 150th anniversary of the sanctuary, is an honor and a privilege. The carols are an enduring legacy, hopefully, one that will continue for years to come.” – Jan Brodersen, St. Paul’s Music Director

The concert performers will include Stephanie Beinlich, Jim Edwards, Adam Hall, Jon LaFonde, Kristen Ludwig, Jimmy Ludwig, Eric Marta, Darrius Morton, Janis Peterson, Dani Simandl, and the St. Paul’s Choir. Classic Burt carols from all three generations of Burt composers will be performed and some entirely new arrangements will also be featured by vocalists and string ensembles.

As the Fred Bock Publishing Group has noted, “The most famous American Christmas carol family is indisputably the Burt family. The carols of Bates and Alfred Burt and the Christmas carol cards they sent are now part of our hymnody and folklore.. Composer Abbie Burt Betinis is the great granddaughter of Bates and grand-niece of Alfred, and is continuing the tradition with freshness and craftsmanship.”

Admission will be free and donations will be accepted. All donations will benefit St. Paul’s Building Restoration fund as the church seeks to match the grant it received from the National Fund for Sacred Places. The NFSP grant will help St. Paul’s address urgent structural needs, ensuring its continued role as a gathering place for worship, outreach, and community activities into the next 150 years.

“St. Paul’s sanctuary building opened 150 years ago on Christmas 1875 and we are excited and honored to celebrate the Marquette – and now international- tradition of the Burt Carols which originated here at St. Paul’s 103 years ago.” Fred Cole, member of St. Paul’s Choir

About the Burt Carols:
From the website of Abbie Burt Betinis:

“In the 1920s, Rev. Bates G. Burt, my great-grandfather and a self-taught musician, began composing annual Christmas carols. He wrote both the text and music and sent them as Christmas greeting cards to his parishioners in Marquette — and later in Pontiac — Michigan.

In 1942, Bates passed the job of composing the music for the annual Christmas carol to his son, Alfred S. Burt, a jazz trumpeter who had just received his music degree from the University of Michigan. Alfred Burt’s 15 carols were originally made famous by the Voices of Jimmy Joyce and are now recorded by artists all over the world.

In 2001, fresh out of St. Olaf College with a degree in music composition, I decided to try my own hand at this family tradition. My first carol, a re-setting of Bates Burt’s “In a Far Judean City,” was given its first reading at a pre-concert talk for a Dale Warland Singers holiday concert. Within days I received a call from Minnesota Public Radio, who was interested in running a feature about the renewed family tradition. Now, nearly every annual carol has premiered to a regional listening audience on Minnesota Public Radio..

Each year, my mom and I collaborate to produce the new Christmas card, which, like Bates and Uncle Al, we send out to family and friends. She creates the design and does all the production, which often includes hand-stamping, pasting, and glittering each card.”

About St. Paul’s NFSP Grant
St. Paul’s has been awarded a matching grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places (NFSP), a program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2024 St. Paul’s applied for and received the matching grant from the NFSP. St. Paul’s was one of 24 congregations selected for this grant from among nearly 500 nationwide applicants of many faiths. The congregation is seeking to raise about $150,000 to match the NFSP grant and complete our building restoration projects as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our sanctuary building.

The NFSP grant will help St. Paul’s address urgent structural needs, ensuring its continued role as a gathering place for worship, outreach, and community activities into the next 150 years.

The restoration projects include repairing damaged sandstone, tuck pointing the original hand cut sandstone blocks, and applying water sealant to protect the building. The NFSP grant will also support the restoration of some of St. Paul’s beautiful stained glass windows that were not restored in 1999-20.

The preservation work began this summer, with the goal of completing the projects by fall 2026. St. Paul’s invites the community to join in supporting these efforts to preserve a treasured piece of Marquette’s history.. To learn more about this program and this year’s grant recipients, visit fundforsacredplaces.org.

NFSP Matching Grant and St. Paul’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations
St. Paul’s is holding events this year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their sanctuary building and the NFSP restoration grant.

The National Fund for Sacred Places supports the preservation of historic places of worship across the country, helping congregations like St. Paul’s maintain their buildings as vital centers for community service and spiritual growth.

St. Paul’s seeks to match the $135,000 NFSP grant through donations from our congregation, the community, area businesses, and foundations.

For more information, please contact:

Jan Brodersen, Music Director
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church fcole906@gmail.com
Marquette, MI 49855

Or

Fred Cole, Grant Coordinator, St. Paul’s
201 East Ridge Street
906-361-9936 – cell

jbrodersen56@gmail.com
906-458-7783 -cell

About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church:
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marquette, MI is a Upper Peninsula treasure that has a rich 170 year legacy of community service and outreach. The story of St. Paul’s parallels the story of Marquette and the Upper Peninsula. For 150 years the community landmark of St. Paul’s sanctuary has served as a place of worship, a community center for music and the arts, and a catalyst and incubator for many community programs.

About the National Fund for Sacred Places:
The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program dedicated to helping congregations preserve their historic places of worship. It supports the restoration and rehabilitation of religious buildings that serve as centers of community life, promoting their ongoing use for worship, outreach, and cultural engagement.

St. Paul’s Fundraising Contact info:

You can write a check to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Please note “Building Restoration” in the memo and send it to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 201 E. Ridge Street, Marquette, MI 49855.

Interested in making an online donation? Donate here.

Or you can go to https://tithe.ly/give?c=5527881 to donate online. Please select “Building Restoration” from the menu.

﻿Finlandia Art Gallery presents: Friends of Finland Youth Exhibition
2025-12-01 00:00 - 2026-01-28 23:59 | Finlandia Art Gallery, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock, Michigan, 49930
Artist Reception: Thursday, December 4, 6:30-7:30pm
December 1, 2025 – January 28, 2026

HANCOCK, MI – The Finlandia Art Gallery and Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) are pleased to present the Friends of Finland Youth Exhibition featuring the work of elementary and high school students from three states.

A reception for the artists will take place on Thursday, December 4 from 6:30-7:30pm and will include hands-on activities for young people. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The exhibit is on display through January 28, 2026 at the Finlandia Art Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock.
This exhibit showcases the work of students from three Michigan schools as well as one from Wisconsin and individual artists from Pennsylvania.

Much of the work in this show is inspired by Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946). The opening of the Friends of Finland Youth Exhibit coincides with the opening of Seeing Silence: The Paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the first exhibition to show the work of the artist in a major United States museum.

Art students at Florence High School (Wisconsin) created pastel landscapes of their area that were inspired by Schjerfbeck’s landscapes of Finland. According to Florence art teacher Kelli Ellis, students found the landscapes of Finland they studied to be so familiar they couldn’t believe they were not actually pictures of home. Schjerfbeck is also known for her self-portraits and still-life paintings. Florence students and first and second graders at Houghton Elementary School (Michigan) painted and drew flowers and self-portraits while learning about the artist.

Young artists found inspiration in other aspects of Finnish art and culture as well. Students at Calumet High School (Michigan) created gel plate prints focused on the flora and fauna of Finland and drew inspiration from Marimekko, the iconic Finnish design collective. Students from Jeffers High School (Michigan) wove colorful wall hangings inspired by Finnish and Finnish-American rag rug weavers.

The opening reception will feature hands-on arts activities for children and teens as well as Finnish refreshments. Immediately preceding the reception from 5:30-6:30pm, the Finnish American Heritage Center will host its annual observation of Finnish Independence Day. That event features young people as well, with the Kivajat Dancers performing to music played by the youth folk band Kuparikielet.

PWPL Presents: Cyber Clinic Series: Artificial Intelligence
2025-12-01 17:00 - 18:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Monday, December 1, 2025.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.
Peter White Public Library is partnering with the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute to bring the Marquette community authoritative and up-to-date information about computer and internet safety through our program series, Cyber Clinic. Find out how AI tools can help with everyday things like writing emails, keeping organized, or getting quick answers. We’ll also talk about easy ways to protect your privacy while using these tools. You’ll leave feeling more confident and ready to give AI a try. No admission charge. For more information and to check
the status of this program, call 906-226-4311 or email refdesk@pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Craft Magic Series: Felt Magic with Jody Trost
2025-12-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Monday, December 1, 2025,
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Shiras Room.
Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. Join fiber artist Jody Trost for a Beginner Needle Felting Workshop. Learn basic needle felting and leave with your very own handmade felted Yeti. Felting starter kits and wool provided. Please bring a small pair of scissors. Space is limited to ten participants, so register early. No admission charge. Register at pwpl.info. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Tech Coaching for Seniors
2025-12-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesdays and Thursdays, December (2, 9, 16, 18), 2025.
10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.
Need help with the settings on your phone? Want to download the downtown parking app? Learn how to make your electronic devices work the way you want them to with the help of Christine Ault, retired teacher and librarian. Call the Reference Desk at 906-226-4311 to schedule your 30-minute session. Please charge your electronic device before each session, and bring passwords with you. No fees.

PWPL Presents: Meditate Marquette
2025-12-02 18:00 - 19:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesdays, December (2, 9, 16, 23, 30) 2025.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.
Mediate Marquette and PWPL have collaborated to offer a weekly, in-person
mindfulness meditation program. The sessions begin at 6:00 pm followed by a period of fellowship. Dr. Debra Smith, a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and psychologist, will deliver brief talks exploring various aspects of meditation and its impact on our lives. These talks will take place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, while longer meditation sessions are scheduled for the remaining Tuesdays. All individuals, regardless of skill level or spiritual affiliation, are welcome to attend. For further information, please contact meditatemarquette@gmail.com or call 906-226-4303.

PWPL Presents: Katherine Walker Presentation: From Saint to Santa: The Curious History of Claus
2025-12-02 18:30 - 19:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Zoom.
Adults, Seniors, Teens. Celebrated expert on the histories of magic, science, and drama, Dr. Walker traces the surprising evolution of Santa Claus—from a fourth-century bishop known for his charity, to the jolly, red-suited icon of global consumer culture today, exploring how folklore, literature, advertising, and politics shaped the figure we know as Santa Claus. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info for meeting information.

PWPL Presents: Heritage Room Book Group
2025-12-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
10:00 – 11:00 AM.
Peter White Public Library Heritage Room.
This Book Group welcomes readers interested in a variety of contemporary fiction on the first Wednesday of the month at 10 AM. Book discussions will be led by Reference Desk staff. Book selection for December 3rd will be WE ALL LIVE HERE by Jojo Moyes. Please call 906-226-4311 or visit www.pwpl.info/news-events/book-groups with questions.

Dementia Caregiving Series
2025-12-03 11:00 - 12:00 | MI
Dementia Caregiving Series, a three-part online program designed for caregivers of people with dementia, will be held on Wednesdays, December 3, 10 and 17, 2025, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Eastern) via Zoom.
During the three online sessions participants will learn basic information about dementia and its impact on brain function, how to communicate more effectively with someone who has dementia, recognize stages of dementia, how to provide meaningful daily activities based on the interests and abilities of the person with dementia, how to better understand and address dementia related behaviors, and learn strategies and benefits of self-care. Each session is an hour long.
There is no charge for this program, but registration is required. To register, visit www.upcap.org (click on EVENTS) or call 2-1-1 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST) for assistance. Registration ends on November 21. Participants must have a device with internet connection and email address to attend.
Dementia Caregiving Series is offered by Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP). This series is available in part through funding from the Older American’s Act and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports.

PWPL Presents: Director Chat
2025-12-03 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-03 17:00 - 18:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. & 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Circulation Lobby.
Stop by the Library to chat with Library Director Andrea Ingmire. For more information and to check the status of the program, call 906-226-4303 or visit
pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: Homeschool Winter Family Solstice
2025-12-03 13:30 - 15:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Wednesday December 3, 2025.
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Youth Services and Teen Zone.
All homeschool families in the Marquette area are invited to a special afternoon
at the Peter White Public Library! This will be a perfect time to meet other area homeschool families while you take your family through self-led tours of the Winter Solstice Art and Tree Exhibit! There will be a craft in the Youth Services Great room for kids, as well as the scavenger hunt. Activities available for teens in the Teen Zone. Children under the age of 8 must have an adult accompanying them during this event. No admission charge. For more information and to
check the status of the program, call 906-226-4323 or visit pwpl.info.

PWPL Presents: unTITLEd Teens
2025-12-03 15:00 - 18:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855
Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Peter White Public Library Teen Zone.
Teens in grades 6-12 join in on the fun with unTITLEd Teens, a monthly program that will be a different activity each month. We will be making Winter decorations and wreaths. No admission charge. For more information and to check the status of this program, call 906-226-4321, email Amanda at apierce@pwpl.info, and visit pwpl.info.

Marquette County Board of Health Meeting
2025-12-03 18:00 | Marquette County Courthouse, 234 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, Michigan, 49855
The regular monthly meeting of the Marquette County Board of Health will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 6:00 pm. The meeting will take place in room 231 of the Henry A. Skewis Annex, Marquette County Courthouse, Marquette.

NMU Theatre & Dance Presents Family Christmas Classic
2025-12-04 00:00 - 2025-12-13 23:59 | Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan
Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present a family-friendly, “amped-up spectacle” of the holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Dec. 4-6 and 11-13. On a related note, Theatre and Dance will bring back its “Letters to Santa” campaign in collaboration with Honor Credit Union. Children who participate will receive a buy one-get one ticket offer for this or a future NMU production.

Thirty-three cast members will bring to life the full ensemble of characters from the original Rudolph televised special. Many are interpreted with more animated and whimsical qualities suited for young audiences, allowing NMU students to explore performance styles that differ from the more realistic or mature roles often portrayed.

Audiences can indulge in iconic songs from the original TV special, along with additional numbers such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter.” These added songs are woven naturally into the script to enhance the world of Christmas Town and expand moments that were only hinted at in the televised version.

While the story remains familiar, the stage production offers an entirely new level of creativity. The show’s choreography was created by artist Aaron Houston, who recently moved to the Upper Peninsula. Houston’s involvement for over 20 years in theatrical productions, from Cirque du Soleil to the Billboard Music Awards, helped him incorporate acrobatics, lifts, flips and high-energy movement in this production.

“This show also allowed us to challenge our students technically by adding new elements such as performance flight and a range of puppetry as a nod to the stop-motion style of the original film,” said director Jalina McClain. “The Misfit Toys appear through custom-built puppets created by NMU’s puppet team, and the Bumble is brought to life as a large-scale puppet operated by three performers. We wanted a show that would allow students to work with different materials and grow in their artistry.”

Visually, the show blends character-driven costume design with a cohesive winter aesthetic. The reindeer are portrayed as humanized characters whose costumes include tailored vests, antler head pieces and several individual motifs that reflect their unique personalities. All costumes for the production were designed by NMU student Elise Wilcox.

The staging relies on quick transitions supported by lighting and multipurpose scenic elements. The show’s narrator, Sam the Snowman, is actively integrated into the story.

“It’s been fun to play with the narrator in ways that allow him to take charge of the world and move things around a bit. He often connects with the audience, bringing them on a journey through the story of Rudolph,” McClain added. “The music direction is led by NMU alumnus Dawson Del Preto, whose family’s longstanding appreciation for the original Rudolph special informed some of the musical choices for the production. His familiarity with the film’s melodies, lines and character voices has guided the cast in maintaining the charm of the original while adapting it to a live theatrical setting.”

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with a Theatre for All sensory-friendly 1 p.m. matinee on Dec. 6 and an additional 1 p.m. regular matinee on Dec 13. Ticket prices are: $25 for the general public; $22 for NMU employees, seniors, and military; $15 for youth; and $5 for NMU students. They are available at nmu.universitytickets.com.

Mailboxes where kids can deposit their letters to Santa are set up in the Forest Roberts Theatre lobby and at all of the Honor Credit Union branches in Marquette, Negaunee and Gwinn, said Bill Digneit, NMU Theatre & Dance producer and department head.

“There are tables set up with a letter kids can fill out and put in the mailbox,” he added. “They will actually get a postcard response mailed back to them that their letter is on its way to the North Pole. They will also get a discount buy one-get one ticket for a future performance in the season, whether it’s this show or another. Money’s tight right now for many, so this is a way to help people see some art and share the spirit of the season.”

NMU Theatre & Dance Presents Family Christmas Classic
2025-12-04 13:00 - 2025-12-13 19:30 | Forest Roberts Theatre, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present a family-friendly, “amped-up spectacle” of the holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Dec. 4-6 and 11-13. On a related note, Theatre and Dance will bring back its “Letters to Santa” campaign in collaboration with Honor Credit Union. Children who participate will receive a buy one-get one ticket offer for this or a future NMU production.
Thirty-three cast members will bring to life the full ensemble of characters from the original Rudolph televised special. Many are interpreted with more animated and whimsical qualities suited for young audiences, allowing NMU students to explore performance styles that differ from the more realistic or mature roles often portrayed.
Audiences can indulge in iconic songs from the original TV special, along with additional numbers such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter.” These added songs are woven naturally into the script to enhance the world of Christmas Town and expand moments that were only hinted at in the televised version.
While the story remains familiar, the stage production offers an entirely new level of creativity. The show’s choreography was created by artist Aaron Houston, who recently moved to the Upper Peninsula. Houston’s involvement for over 20 years in theatrical productions, from Cirque du Soleil to the Billboard Music Awards, helped him incorporate acrobatics, lifts, flips and high-energy movement in this production.
“This show also allowed us to challenge our students technically by adding new elements such as performance flight and a range of puppetry as a nod to the stop-motion style of the original film,” said director Jalina McClain. “The Misfit Toys appear through custom-built puppets created by NMU’s puppet team, and the Bumble is brought to life as a large-scale puppet operated by three performers. We wanted a show that would allow students to work with different materials and grow in their artistry.”
Visually, the show blends character-driven costume design with a cohesive winter aesthetic. The reindeer are portrayed as humanized characters whose costumes include tailored vests, antler head pieces and several individual motifs that reflect their unique personalities. All costumes for the production were designed by NMU student Elise Wilcox.
The staging relies on quick transitions supported by lighting and multipurpose scenic elements. The show’s narrator, Sam the Snowman, is actively integrated into the story.
“It’s been fun to play with the narrator in ways that allow him to take charge of the world and move things around a bit. He often connects with the audience, bringing them on a journey through the story of Rudolph,” McClain added. “The music direction is led by NMU alumnus Dawson Del Preto, whose family’s longstanding appreciation for the original Rudolph special informed some of the musical choices for the production. His familiarity with the film’s melodies, lines and character voices has guided the cast in maintaining the charm of the original while adapting it to a live theatrical setting.”
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with a Theatre for All sensory-friendly 1 p.m. matinee on Dec. 6 and an additional 1 p.m. regular matinee on Dec 13. Ticket prices are: $25 for the general public; $22 for NMU employees, seniors, and military; $15 for youth; and $5 for NMU students. They are available at nmu.universitytickets.com.
Mailboxes where kids can deposit their letters to Santa are set up in the Forest Roberts Theatre lobby and at all of the Honor Credit Union branches in Marquette, Negaunee and Gwinn, said Bill Digneit, NMU Theatre & Dance producer and department head.
“There are tables set up with a letter kids can fill out and put in the mailbox,” he added. “They will actually get a postcard response mailed back to them that their letter is on its way to the North Pole. They will also get a discount buy one-get one ticket for a future performance in the season, whether it’s this show or another. Money’s tight right now for many, so this is a way to help people see some art and share the spirit of the season.”
Find more information on the Rudolph production, cast and crew here.

Upper Peninsula Children's Museum 22nd Annual Celebrity Art Auction.
2025-12-04 17:30 | Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, 123 W Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
It’s that time of year again when we throw one of our biggest fundraisers! It’s the 22nd Annual Celebrity Art Auction.
A unique auction fundraiser!
Join us at our 22nd Annual Celebrity Art Auction.
Experience an unforgettable, unique art auction featuring unexpected community artists.
Thursday, December 4, 2025
5:30 p.m.- Viewing
7:00 p.m. – Auction
Enjoy beer, wine, and appetizers. Bucket raffles. Free Admission. Must be 21 plus to attend. All proceeds benefit the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum.
