Keep It In The UP!

Home for the Holidays
2024-12-13 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-12-12 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-12-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-12-05 19:30 - 21:30 UTC
Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present a festive new production titled “Home for the Holidays” Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 5-7 and 12-14 in Forest Roberts Theatre. The show is about a group of NMU students who convene to share tales of their diverse family traditions before they journey home for the holidays. It features musical singing and dance numbers—many familiar—with bits of dialogue to tie it all together.
“Home can mean a lot of different things to different people, and the holidays are a momentous time for various reasons,” said Karina Johnson, who developed and is directing the production. “Everyone has their own memories, traditions and family experiences they really love or love to hate. I’ve been wanting to create something like this for a while, and I tried as much as I could to include some diverse stories as well.”
As an example, Johnson said MJ Opulencia, a student from the Philippines who hasn’t been home for the holidays in four years, choreographed a dance that means a great deal to her and reflects her country’s customs. There is also Irish step dancing, clogging, tap, traditional Christmas hymns and classic carols, and a Sankta Lucia number choreographed by student Abigail Foskuhl.
Johnson also selected other dance students with previous choreography experience to assist with the production. Don’Tae Mitchell worked on “Grown Up Christmas List” and the Jackson Five’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Gianna Daprai developed a number that “encapsulates the craziness and chaos that comes from her holiday family dinners,” and Emma Houston choreographed a song where all of the students are old men tap dancing.
“It’s a quite an eclectic group, and they’re all having a great time,” Johnson added. “It’s been quite a process, but it’s coming together nicely. I’ve spent the past three to five years thinking of a show like this that I could put together and now it’s finally coming to fruition. I’m grateful I’ve been given this opportunity, and I hope that people can appreciate it and find their own little stories tied in among all of those we’re telling in this production.”
Before the curtain rises on this family-friendly event, Santa Claus will visit the Forest Roberts Theatre lobby for one hour before each performance. Photos with the jolly old elf are encouraged.
Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. throughout the run, with a 1 p.m. Theatre for All sensory-friendly performance on Saturday, Dec. 7, and an additional 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Dec. 14. Tickets are $25 for the general public; $22 for NMU employees, seniors and military; $15 for youth; and $5 for NMU students. They can be purchased at nmu.universitytickets.com.

South Range - Winter Market
2024-12-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Wildlife Refuge Cabins, 101 Wildlife Lane, South Range, Michigan, 49963
Winter Market – Sweet Kneads Bakery

December 13th, Friday 5 – 8pm
December 14th, Saturday 9am – 3pm
at the Wildlife Refuge Cabins, 101 Wildlife Lane, South Range

cinnamon rolls, NISU, Pie, Bread, Granola, Muffins, Candies
Crocheted Items
DIY Kits
Handmade Crafts
Raffle
Gently Used Clothes

CANCELLED - Houghton - Noteworthy Holiday Concert
2024-12-12 19:00 | St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 305 Portage Street, Houghton, Michigan, 49931
The women’s barbershop chorus Noteworthy will present its annual holiday concert, “’Tis the Season,” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 305 Portage St., in Houghton. The chorus will be joined by the Spirit of Superior Ringers.

“We’re excited to be performing alongside the bell choir, and we’re also rolling out some awesome new music,” said Noteworthy director Joan Harbour. “I predict the audience will love this concert.”

Noteworthy is the region’s only women’s barbershop chorus, with a repertoire of sing able melodies performed a cappella in four-part harmony.

The program includes the Christmas classics “O Christmas Tree,” sung in English and German, and an intricate arrangement of “Carol of the Bells.” Also featured are several upbeat holiday tunes, such as Steve Allen’s “Cool Yule,” “Jingle Bell Jazz“ and Light the Candles,” which celebrates Hanukkah.

Admission is free to Noteworthy concerts. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit unite Mental Health and Wellness.

“We always welcome new members,” said Harbour. For more information about joining Noteworthy, email noteworthychorus@gmail.com or call 906-482-5088.

Winter Wonderland Walk Celebration
2024-12-12 18:00 - 20:00
Winter Wonderland Walk Celebration
Thursday, December 12, 2024, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Peter White Public Library. Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. The Winter Wonderland trees will be lit. Cookies and hot chocolate will be overflowing in the Huron Mountain Gallery. In the Community Room, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Big Lake Acoustic will be performing a holiday concert of all your favorite carols and songs. Come revel in the spirit of the season at PWPL. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

21st Annual Celebrity Art Auction
2024-12-12 17:30 - 22:00
21st Annual Celebrity Art Auction
A non-traditional art auction fundraising event for the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Viewing starts at 5:30 p.m.
Auction to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy works of art by some of the community’s most unexpected artists.
Sample an array of appetizers, sip wine and beer. Free Admission. 21 and older event.

Marquette Regional History Center presents: Holiday Open House
2024-12-11 18:30 - 20:00
Marquette Regional History Center presents: Holiday Open House
Wednesday, December 11, 6:30 p.m.
Our annual holiday open house has been cheering the community since 1948. We gather and greet our neighbors and share music and some holiday surprises.. This year we will feature a local holiday collection of crèches (nativity scenes). The display will be featured along with a short talk by the collector, Carol Margrif. Enjoy light refreshments. Free event, donations appreciated. For more information visit marquettehistory.org

Superior Pipes & Drums & Friends Holiday Concert
2024-12-11 18:30 - 19:30
Superior Pipes & Drums & Friends Holiday Concert
Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Peter White Public Library Community Room. Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. Join PWPL in celebrating the holiday season with some Scottish highlands flare. Bagpipes, drums, and yuletide cheer! No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

Marquette - NMU Theatre and Dance presents "Holiday Soiree Celebration and Fundraiser"
2024-12-11 18:00 - 21:00 | James A. Panowski Black Box Theatre, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, Michgian, 49855
Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present its Holiday Soirée celebration and fundraiser for student scholarships on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The festive event kicks off with a holiday buffet and live auction from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Panowski Black Box Theatre, followed by student and guest-star performances from 7:30-9. There will also be a special visit from Santa Claus.

Director Kristen Beth Ludwig said last year’s inaugural Holiday Soirée was such a success that a 2.0 version was planned to close out this semester. Marquette natives and NMU seniors Michael Ahlstrom and John Thomson will return as hosts before they pass the torch to other students, but the musical numbers and set will be new.

“We take whatever set remains in the Black Box Theatre from the last play and use that in the soiree,” Ludwig said. “Last year, we were fortunate that the play was Clybourne Park, so the set was a house and easy to use in the context of opening the doors and inviting everyone to join in a holiday party at our home. But this year’s was Frankenstein, with movable platforms. So we’re working with those for a fun new concept this year.

“We’ve got some fun new songs that we’ve throw in; some you’ve probably heard before and others you maybe haven’t. A lot of work goes into a one-night-only performance like this, but such events are actually quite common in the entertainment industry.”

The soirée will help NMU Theatre and Dance students defray travel and other costs associated with opportunities to advance their craft. These include auditioning for work they will embark on after graduation, attending the All-in-One Conference (A1 Conference) in New York, and participating in a regional festival in Madison that is part of the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

“The KCACTF is a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet other students from all over the region and compete with them for scholarships,” Ludwig added. “They also participate in workshops with different industry professionals from all over the country, and some based internationally. But all of these activities cost extra money on top of the financial commitments required for college itself. We just want to create access to these valuable experiences.”

Tickets for the Holiday Soirée are $100 per individual, or $700 for a table of eight. They are available at nmu.universitytickets.com. For more on the cast and production crew, visit nmu.edu/theatreanddance/holiday-soiree-2024.

NMU Theatre and Dance Presents Holiday Soiree
2024-12-11 18:00 - 19:30

MARQUETTE CITY MANAGER COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS
2024-12-11 10:00 - 12:00
Marquette City Manager Karen Kovacs will hold her next community office hours on
Wednesday, December 11 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Shiras Room, on the top level of
Peter White Public Library (Front Street side). The meeting is intended to provide an
informal opportunity to discuss issues within the community, and to give citizens the
opportunity for direct dialogue with City staff about interests and concerns.

Heather Bell Cookbook Release-Mama Bell's Big Family Cookbook
2024-12-09 18:30 - 20:00
Heather Bell Cookbook Release-Mama Bell’s Big Family Cookbook
Monday, December 9, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Peter White Public Library Community Room. Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. Join viral cooking and lifestyle influencer Heather Bell for a night of cookbook chat. Bell shares family stories and recipes from her recently released Mama Bell’s Big Family Cookbook. You’ll leave with full hearts and hungry bellies. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info.

Hancock - Nature Prayer Service
2024-12-08 15:00 | Chapel of St. Matthew, 532 Franklin Street, Hancock, Michigan, 49930
Nature Prayer Service

Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 pm, Chapel of St. Matthew
Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 pm, Chapel of St. Matthew
Sunday, February 16 at 3:00 pm, Chapel of St. Matthew
Sunday, March 16 at 3:00 pm, Chapel of St. Matthew

* The Chapel of St. Matthew is in Hancock, MI on the former campus of Finlandia University.

The Nature Prayer Services are opportunities to connect with God, nature, and each other in a relaxed setting. Each service has a leader who will guide the service with prayers, readings, and reflection. Everyone is welcome, no religious affiliation is necessary.

Celebrate Finnish Christmas and Independence
2024-12-08 14:00 - 17:00
Celebrate Finnish Christmas and Independence on Dec.. 8

A program of music and delicious Finnish food to celebrate Finnish Christmas and Independence Day is planned for Sunday, December 8, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Magnuson Hall. Messiah is located at 305 West Magnetic in Marquette.

All are welcome to attend. The program is presented by the Lake Superior Chapter of the Finlandia Foundation National. President Ron Hill will begin with a short review of how the Finns have celebrated their Independence Day on December 6th since 1917.

Musicial selections will include Oscar Forsman playing his accordion, Tanja Stanaway leading singing of familiar Finnish carols (words and translations provided!), and Maija Niemi will perform on her violin with accompaniement.

There will be kahvi ja pulla (coffee and cardamom bread), kropsua (oven coffee cake) with lingonberries,and juustoa (Finn cheese) and herring on the table as well. Members are asked to bring other Finnish specialties for the table. They need not be homemade. There will be door prizes,

Membership in the Chapter is $10 per year per family. See Membership Chair Tanja Stanaway to pay dues and receive a membership card.

For more information, please call 906-226-7085 or 906-4851971.

Home to the Holidays
2024-12-07 19:30 - 21:30

Meditate Marquette Presents: A Year of Mindful Living
2024-12-07 10:00 - 11:30
Saturday, December 7, 2024. 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Peter White Public Library, George Shiras III Room. Four mindfulness meditation and yoga teachers invite you to engage in a year of mindful living. Each month, one of the teachers will present a topic that addresses the different dimensions where we can practice mindfulness and presence. The intent is for us to cultivate mindfulness, care, and well-being individually and in our love, business, and social relationships. These are drop-in sessions, although committing to a full year is a way to build a consistent mindfulness practice. For more information and to check on the status of the program, call 906-226-4303 or visit www.pwpl.info.

Calumet - Swedetown Trails Club Season Opener
2024-12-07 10:00 | Swedetown Recreation Area, 56641 Osceola Road, Calumet, Michigan, 49913
Ski season is here in the Keweenaw. The Swedetown Trails Club will host its Season Opener on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Swedetown Recreation Area in Calumet. This early-season ski event comes with a strong start to winter. The Keweenaw saw nearly two feet of snowfall over last weekend – and more looks to be on the way for Saturday’s race. Skiers can participate in a 7.5km freestyle race in various age groups, competing for prizes. The fun starts in Swedetown at 10 a.m. this Saturday.

The Keweenaw has been hit with a thick snow base welcoming cross-country skiers and winter enthusiasts back to their favorite powder trails. The trails club says it was able to begin setting tracks on Nov. 30 and will be updating users regularly on current trail conditions. The Season Opener kicks off Swedetown’s winter events. In March, it will host the Great Bear Chase with a 50km Skiathlon, 50km Classic and a 50km Freestyle.

The Season Opener is sponsored by the Swedetown Trails Club and Studio 13 in Houghton. Participants are suggested to donate $20 – helping support early-season grooming. Come celebrate a strong start to winter in the Keweenaw this weekend. Pull out the skis and find your warm layers – it’s the perfect time to experience Swedetown. For the next week, temperatures are looking to stay below freezing – keeping the snow in your future Keweenaw adventures.

L'Anse - Annual Cookie Walk
2024-12-07 10:00 | United Lutheran Church, Main & Mesnard, L'Anse, MI, 49946, United States
ANNUAL COOKIE WALK
Saturday, December 7th, 2024
United Lutheran Church, Main & Mesnard, L’Anse
Doors open at 10:00am

Let us do your Christmas baking….Mix and Match…Choose your favorite cookies ($8 per pound), Breads, Candy.
Bring a friend and stop by for morning coffee.

FIRST LEGO League Qualifier at NMU
2024-12-07 09:00 - 16:00
Northern Michigan University’s Seaborg Center will host its annual FIRST LEGO League Challenge Qualifier on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Jamrich Hall. There will be 24 upper elementary teams (about 500 students) competing. Media are welcome to cover this STEM event, which brings many visitors to campus from the local community and larger central U.P. area.
The qualifying tournament begins with an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Robot matches and judging will follow throughout the day. The event will conclude around 4 p.m. with an awards ceremony to celebrate teams advancing to the state tournament.

Hancock - Finnish Independence Day Celebration
2024-12-05 17:30 | Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock, Michgian, 49930
Finnish American Heritage Center hosting Independence Day celebration

Ontonagon County native Fern Malila has been smitten with her Finnish roots ever since a cousin from Finland visited her and her family in Mass City some
decades ago. She’ll share some of her reasons why when she delivers the keynote address at the annual celebration of Finland’s Independence Day, which gets under way at 5:30 p.m Thursday, December 5 at the Finnish American Heritage Center.

This year’s program will feature elements of music, dance and singing, all of which emanate from opportunities created by and at the Finnish American Heritage Center and include participants from several generations. Along with Malila’s remarks, those attending the program will also be the first to learn the identity of the 2025 Hankookin Heikki honoree. That person, who will preside over the annual Heikinpäivä celebration in January, is selected each year by the Copper Country Finns and Friends, the organization (formerly known as the Finnish Theme Committee) that plans and stages the family-friendly event each year.

Program-goers are then invited to stay following the Independence Day commemoration to enjoy the opening reception for the Finlandia Gallery’s “Friends of Finland” art exhibit. This exhibition includes works of Finnish-American artists from across the country whose preferred media range from photography and painting to weaving and other fiber arts. Refreshments will be served.

These programs are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated. For more information about this night of Finnish-American fun, call (906) 487-7549.

NMU Jazz Concert
2024-12-04 19:30 - 20:30
The Northern Michigan University jazz ensembles will present their second concert of the fall season at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. The concert will feature both the NMU Jazz Band and the NMU Jazz Combo.
The NMU Jazz Band is a standard big band with five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones and a rhythm section. This group will be playing a variety of material, including standards by Neil Hefti (Cute) and Oscar Pettiford (Blues in the Closet), a Beatles tune (Blackbird), and a crazy funk tune by saxophonist Jeff Coffin titled The Mad Hatter Rides Again. Senior Nick Wegrzyn will be featured as a student conductor on Jeff Jarvis’ Critical Mass, and the whole audience will be encouraged to participate in an arrangement of Take the A Train that the band will put together live on stage.
The combo is a sextet this semester, with three horns and a rhythm section. It will perform a mixture of original compositions and arrangements by the group members.

League of Women Voters of Marquette County Meeting
2024-12-04 18:30 - 20:00
The League of Women Voters of Marquette County will hold its membership meeting on Wednesday, December 4th at 6:45 p.m. The meeting will be held in Studio 1, lower level of the Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front, St. Marquette. Social time begins at 6:30 p.m. Marquette County residents are welcome to attend. For more information, send an email message to lwvmqtco@gmail.com.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Marquette County Board of Health Meeting
2024-12-04 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 4, 2024 at 6:00 pm. The meeting will take place in Room 231 of the Henry A. Skewis Annex, Marquette Country Courthouse, Marquette.

Marquette Regional History Center presents: Senior Support Series: Prepping for a Long Winter
2024-12-04 13:30 - 15:00
Marquette Regional History Center presents:
Senior Support Series: Prepping for a Long Winter
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Marquette Regional History Center.
Have you ever heard a poem that hits home? Poetry can express a world of emotion in one moment. Through poetry we have found in the History Center collection, along with simple art making and music, we will focus on the light moments that help us through a long U.P. winter. Free program, free coffee, door prizes. Part of our Senior Support Series daytime programming. For more info visit marquettehistory.org
Senior Support Series (SSS): New for 2024
History is health! We hear consistently from you, our audience, that our programs ignite curiosity, social interaction, and community involvement. In coordination with Mapping Medicare, we are launching a day-time series. Themes include nutrition, music, cognitive acuity, local history and more. We will inspire more of this whole-health approach as a resource particularly designed for our seniors. Free, donations appreciated. Wednesday afternoons to provide daytime programming. Attendees have an opportunity to win door prizes such as $100 in grocery gift cards at each session. Complementary Dead River Coffee Roasters coffee. Meets at the MRHC. All ages welcome. Four sessions this year.

Copper Country Great Start Family Coalition to Host Annual Diaper Drive
2024-12-04 00:00 - 2025-01-06 23:59
Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw Counties – The Copper Country Great Start Parent Coalition

The Copper Country Great Start Collaborative is gearing up for our annual diaper drive to help provide essential items like diapers and wipes for families in our community. Each year, the Family Coalition collects new unopened packages of diapers and wipes for the Keweenaw Family Resource Center’s (KFRC) Baby Closet. These diapers are given away to families in need throughout the year at no charge. Last year 150 families utilized the Baby Closet and received:

829 packages of diapers and wipes

16 pack-n-plays to provide safe sleep environments

33 baby safety items including baby gates and 1 car seat

136 bags of clothing

40 referrals to other support programs

“The Baby Closet exists to help ensure that families have access to the basic items their children need to be strong and healthy”, said Iola Brubaker, KFRC Executive Director. “Providing diapers and wipes during challenging financial times is just one way we can help support families.”

All sizes and diapers are needed to support the community, but the most commonly requested sizes are size 5, 6 & 7. All donations stay local and directly benefit families in the Copper Country. Donation boxes will be available at multiple locations starting December 4, 2024, through January 6, 2025.

You can find donation boxes at these locations: Aspirus, Auto Pro, Copper Country ISD, Econo, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Keweenaw Chevrolet GMC, KFRC, MTU ROTC, Portage Lake District Library, Superior Family Chiropractic, Trinity Episcopal Church, and U.P. Health. For more information or to make a financial donation, please call 906-482-9363.

C.S. Lewis Holidays: Andrew Lazo Presentation
2024-12-03 18:30 - 20:00
S. Lewis Holidays: Andrew Lazo Presentation

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Peter White Public Library Zoom. Teens, Family, Adults, Seniors. As a kickoff to PWPL’s C. S. Lewis Holidays programming series, join Reverend Andrew Lazo, one of the world’s leading scholars on C. S. Lewis, for a presentation on the life and work of creator of The Chronicles of Narnia. Open the wardrobe and step into the mind and imagination of C. S. Lewis. No admission charge. For more information, contact Marty at 226-4322, machatz@pwpl.info, or visit pwpl.info for Zoom meeting information..

Community Conversation
2024-12-03 18:30 - 20:00
You are invited to join your fellow community members for a discussion forum about Marquette.

During this one-hour conversation, folks who spend time in Marquette have the opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and ideas as it relates to inclusivity and belonging in Marquette, as well as the direction in which our community is moving forward related to these topics.
The event will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd at 6:30pm in the Peter White Public Library Community Room.

Come and join in on the conversation or simply listen to what others have to say. This will be a welcoming environment where everyone participating will be treated with respect and understanding.

In the event of inclement weather, the session will be rescheduled for Tuesday, December 10th at 6:30pm. Location if rescheduled is the Marquette Arts and Culture Center located on the lower level of the Peter White Public library; please check the Marquette Compass website for cancellation and rescheduling information.

This is a free event, and no RSVP is required. We encourage you to invite friends, family, and neighbors to join in on the conversation.

This event is hosted by the City of Marquette Office of Arts and Culture and Innovate Marquette SmartZone. This event is part of a broader initiative aimed at understanding perceptions of Marquette. The goal is to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for both current residents and those who may join us in the future. Learn more about the People of Marquette Project here: https://mqtcompass.com/peopleofmarquette

Bruce Crossing - MI-Trale December Meeting
2024-12-02 19:00 | Stannard Township Hall, 14927 State Hwy M-28 East, Bruce Crossing, Michigan, 49912
Our December Club Meeting will be held at 7:00pm, (Eastern Time), in person at the Stannard Township Hall on 12/02/2024. For virtual attendance, we now have ZOOM available, along with the strictly audio/phone method. If you would like to attend virtually, please email me at this address and I will get you the connection information.

If you are in the area, please stop in for the meeting! We’d love to see you there!

Our future Meetings & Events are listed below and are also to be found on our website (www.mi-trale.org) under the CLUB STUFF tab, Calendar option.

2024 Club Meeting Schedule
Meeting time & location: 7:pm Eastern, in person at Stannard Township Hall, 14927 State HWY M-28 East, Bruce Crossing 49912.
January 6th 2025 Annual Meeting & Elections
