Shop an amazing breadth of handcrafted, locally made goods from 30+ Artisans during the Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace.
Saturday, November 24th 2018 from 10am – 3:30pm at the Glen Arbor Township Hall.
Also featuring a variety of beautiful Holiday Greenery for sale!!!
Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus from 11am-1:30pm. They will be at the Glen Arbor Holiday Market with some little toys and goodies! Bring the kids and your own camera for some great photo opportunities and fun.
NEW this year:
During the event, visit and shop additional artists, located at select nearby locations in town.
> Don’t Miss the Holiday Marketplace Preview Party on Friday the 23rd with Tree Lighting and Caroling from 6:15-8pm
Did you know?
This Saturday is also the national #shopsmall Saturday, presented by American Express. Enjoy the benefits of local shops and restaurants that participate!
Glen Arbor’s Annual Tree Lighting, (located outside in front of the Glen Arbor Town Hall), happens promptly at 6:15pm. NEW this year, we’ll have professionally led Caroloing as well. Bundle up and bring the family out for some holiday cheer, with donuts provided by Art’s Tavern.
The Holiday Market “Preview Party” is located inside the Town Hall immediately following the tree lighting. Mingle, shop and get first picks of all the artisan goods during the Holiday Marketplace preview party, from 6:30-8pm!
A variety of lovely Holiday Greenery is also for sale at this event.
The local community and visitors are invited to enjoy this celebration of fall, one of our favorite seasons in Leelanau.
Saturday, October 20th, 2018 | 12 – 3:30pm
Family and Pet friendly event open to all ages! Festivities include: Costume Parade, Pie Eating Contest, Pumpkin Carving, Kid friendly activities like Face Painting, Chalk art, Plus! There will be a food and a Live Musical Performance by Jack Pine. Pumpkin Fest will be held at the newly renovated Glen Arbor Township Park (located at the corner of M-22 & State Street).
• Activities List & Times TBD
Enjoy the spectacle of the Carved Pumpkins that will be lit up at 3:30pm, on display at the corner of M-22 & State Street. Please return Saturday evening or early on Sunday to pickup your pumpkin(s).
Open to the public. Donation Suggested to participate.
Expect peak colors for fall color tours, shopping & dining in Glen Arbor.
Benefits of Sponsorship may include being listed in Event Posts online, Social Media post tags, listed in the Press Release, Event Program, Flyers or Print Ads.
Comments Off on Fall Fiber Show | Center Gallery in Glen Arbor
Center Gallery exhibits the fiber constructions of three Northern Michigan artists in its final 2018 exhibition. The work of Midge Obata, Holly Sorensen and Elizabeth Rodgers Hill opens with a reception on Friday, September 14, 6 pm – sundown, and runs through Sunday, October 7 at the Glen Arbor gallery located at 6023 S. Lake St.
The gallery’s fall show spotlights three contemporary approaches to working with fiber: weaving and hand felting, all of it taken into a sculptural, three-dimensional direction. All three artists approach fiber as a material that can be pushed beyond its conventional and utilitarian uses, into the realm of art object.
Center Gallery is open daily 11 am – 5 pm. For more information go to www.lakestreetstudiosglenarbor.com, or call 231-334-3179
Come on out to shop, dine and seek some recreation in Leelanau. You won’t want to miss the stellar end-of-summer deals during Sidewalk Sale days in Glen Arbor. Held annually Labor Day weekend, this year it will be Saturday, Sept. 1st through Monday, Sept. 3rd, 2018.*
Saturday, Sept 1st – Monday, Sept. 3rd 2018
The town puts on a great shopping experience each year, rain or shine!
There’s a few new shops and others that have moved locations in town, so enjoy discovering Glen Arbor in new ways! From gift shops, clothing and gear, to art galleries, home goods, gardening and more – there’s something for everyone. The deals don’t stop outside – there’s always more inside!
Eat great food around town.
It doesn’t end with Art’s and Boonedocks, make your way to other ends of town. You can get something quick like a hot dog, pizza, burger, or something homemade from a deli; get a slice of Italy and France; or get a fine dining experience with a view of Lake Michigan.
Recreation is at it’s prime right now, with activities for any age.
Locals and visitors alike can experience the Natural Beauty that the area has to offer: From Putt Putt Golf in town, to pickin’ up a Paddle board and getting out on the Glen Lakes. Check out the newly remodeled Glen Arbor Township Park for Tennis, Pickle-ball, Basketball and a Playground! Try a different section of the Heritage Trail to walk, run or bike; Rent a boat or go fishing; Kayak the Crystal river or Lake Michigan, and hike a trail in the National park!
*Participating merchants each have their own specials and hours.
Traverse City painter Royce Deans exhibits a new body of working that offers a glimpse into his ongoing relationship with the Leelanau landscape August 31 – September 13 at Center Gallery, 6023 S. Lake St., Glen Arbor. An artist’s reception to open the show is Friday, August 31, 6 pm – sundown in the gallery.
“While my work is based on specific places, I’m more concerned about the essence of the place than I am about being completely representational,” Deans said. “I am nearly always in wonder of the natural world around me. Its beauty and balance gives me peace. Many years ago I was much more interested in pop culture and the things that man has created to make living on this planet easier and to keep us entertained. But these accomplishments of man, which are many and are indeed astounding are ever changing, breaking or going out of style.”
Center Gallery is open daily 11 am – 5 pm. For more information go to www.lakestreetstudiosglenarbor.com, or call 231-334-3179
An annual tradition returns to the Glen Arbor Arts Center. The GAAC’s 2018 Member Show, a showcase of GAAC members’ talents, opens August 17 with an artists’ reception, 6 – 8 pm at the GAAC, 6031 S. Lake Street, Glen Arbor.
The GAAC Members’ Show will display up to 50 works by as many member-artists. It is open to both 2D and 3D work. The exhibition runs through August 31. GAAC gallery hours are: Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm; Noon – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. For more information go to GlenArborArt.org
Drop in to explore the Olsen farm vegetable Garden with fun, guided activities for all ages. You might discover what’s growing in season, practice historic planting techniques, go on an insect safari or explore the wild world of soil!
History comes to life at six historic farmsteads and the Port Oneida Schoolhouse in Port Oneida. Presented by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in partnership with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Event is free, Park pass required.
Learn more. If you would like to demonstrate a traditional skill or craft, or volunteer at the event, please contact us at [email protected]
Comments Off on Evenings in the Garden: Bouquet Making
August 9, Thursday
Evenings in the Garden: Bouquet Making
7:00 -8:15 pm
Part of our Harvest Series of classes designed for budding floral enthusiasts. Enjoy the art of maintaining, harvesting and designing seasonal blooms and exploring what being in the garden means to you. Enjoy “golden hour” in this beautiful setting as you connect and create in Hattie’s historic garden.
Comments Off on Let’s Visit the Neighbors! Port Oneida Bike Tour
August 9, Thursday
Let’s Visit the Neighbors! Port Oneida Bike Tour
at 9:30 am
Experience what it was like to drop in on neighbors in and around historic Port Oneida to catch up on all the news! As you travel by bicycles on the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a gravel road and paved Port Oneida road, you’ll enjoy interpretive visits with neighbors all along the way.
You will visit five historic farms and a historic school on this four-mile ride. Please bring water and wear a helmet! The ride will be held weather permitting. Admission: Free; donations accepted.
Located at: Port Oneida Rural Historic District, 3164 W. Harbor Highway, Maple City, MI 49664
Comments Off on Inside the Farms & Barns: Port Oneida Driving Tour
August 8, Wednesday
Inside the Farms & Barns: Port Oneida Driving Tour
from 10 am– 12
Learn the history of this 1800s agricultural community by exploring 4-5 of the 18 farmsteads with our tour guide. Car pool or drive individually to each farm.
Meet at Port Oneida Farms Heritage Center/ Olsen farm, 3164 W. Harbor Hwy. (M-22) near Port Oneida Road, 4 miles N. of Glen Arbor. 1.5 -2 hrs.
Comments Off on Glen Lake Film Festival : August 6th
Glen Lake Film Festival: Books to Movies
Monday nights @ 8:00 pm at the Glen Arbor Township Hall
August 6 : “The Third Man”
A 1949 British film noir directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene, starring Joseph Cotton-Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. The film takes place in post-World War II Vienna. It centers on Holly Martins, an American given a job in Vienna by his friend Harry Lime. When Holly arrives in Vienna he gets the news that Lime is dead. Martins meets with Lime’s acquaintances in an attempt to investigate what he considers a suspicious death.
Drop in to explore the Olsen farm vegetable Garden with fun, guided activities for all ages. You might discover what’s growing in season, practice historic planting techniques, go on an insect safari or explore the wild world of soil!
Blake Elliott has a recipe for a sweet sound: start with a little folk, throw in some jazz, add a touch of funk, and finish off with a healthy dose of the blues and soul. Coupled with a trademark vintage look and style, Elliott delivers an eclectic mix of original music that blends the present with the past.
Comments Off on Story time with author Maria Dismondy
The Fruit Salad Friend By Maria Dismondy
Cardinal Rule Press. $10.95
Chloe loves going to school, but lately something is different. Chloe has all the ingredients of a great friend – kindness, empathy, compassion, and more. Chloe wonders, “What do you do when friends don’t treat you with kindness?” Find out how this brave girl navigates the trials and tribulations that pop up on her way to discovering the recipe for lasting friendship. (Ages 3 and up)
Story time and author visit at Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor on Wednesday August 1
Monday nights @ 8:00 pm at the Glen Arbor Township Hall
July 30th : “The Great Gatsby”
1974 romantic drama based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, directed by Jack Clayton and produced by David Merrick from a screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola. The film stars Robert Redford along with Mia Farrow, Sam Waterston, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Scott Wilson and Lois Chiles. The film follows the life and times of millionaire Jay Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties, as recounted by his friend neighbor Nick Carraway.
A Chicago native with a pop-folk influence, Michael Joseph has been entertaining crowds for over 10 years. A talented, multi-genre singer/songwriter, Michael has a large range and musical library from country, to pop, to dance.
Comments Off on See them all: ARTirondack Chairs around Glen Arbor
PAINTED BY LOCAL ARTISTS, SPONSORED BY LOCAL BUSINESSES.
Make your way around the Glen Lake area to see them all! See the list below.
WIN A CHAIR!
Online Auction scheduled Aug. 24th – 31st
The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce is hosting an online auction August 24th – 31st, 2018. You may bid on any and all chairs you like! Winners to pick up their chair(s) Labor Day Weekend.
Funds raised by the sponsorship and auctioning of the chairs will go to further the operation of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce, a 501c non-profit organization, passionately representing the beautiful and treasured town of Glen Arbor, MI.
12 string flat picker Lynn Thompson’s usual style is captivating, moving and emotional. Raised in Chicago, Lynn’s musical influences have been many from Peter Gabriel, Jethro Tull to the Stanely Brothers. Accompanying the 12 string acoustic guitar is a surprisingly strong and emotional vocal. Together words and music reach the heart, soul, spirit and the funny bone.
Comments Off on Yoga on the Beach – Glen Haven 7-13
It is time to get your yoga mat or blanket out and head to Glen Haven Beach for Yoga on the Beach! Amy Hubbell is our instructor and there is nothing as soothing as doing yoga on a pristine Lake Michigan beach.
Amy will lead a session each Friday mornings through August 10. These sessions are held at Glen Haven Beach at 10 AM.
Yoga on the Beach classes are fun, laid back and suitable for all levels, even beginner yogis. All classes are 60 minutes, and we ask for a suggested donation of $10.
(50% of donations from classes taught at Glen Haven go to the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes for a new Accessible Beach Deck at the Maritime Museum Beach!)
We recommend dressing in comfortable layers and bringing plenty of drinking water and a towel or blanket you can stretch out on. Sunscreen and bug spray are always a good idea too.
Glen Haven is a restored port village on Lake Michigan about 2 miles west of Glen Arbor off M109, part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Come down Glen Haven Road until it ends at a big red building (the old cannery), turn right to park in the parking lot, then head toward the water to find us. Donations from classes here will benefit Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, a volunteer-driven nonprofit that helps keep our beloved national park clean, safe and accessible. Note that classes at this location will be cancelled if the weather is too nasty for yoga. If in doubt call/text 231-866-1451
Kristen Kuiper – a singer/songwriter originally from Grand Rapids, MI, but found her way to Nashville, TN to pursue her dreams. Her music is autobiographical. “I write because I know I’m not the only girl in the world that has dealt with loss, heartache, joy, pain, love, and “life”. So if in 3 or 4 minutes I can connect with someone and let them know that they aren’t the only one either, this struggle is worth it.”
Blake Elliott has a recipe for a sweet sound: start with a little folk, throw in some jazz, add a touch of funk, and finish off with a healthy dose of the blues and soul. Coupled with a trademark vintage look and style, Elliott delivers an eclectic mix of original music that blends the present with the past.
Comments Off on 4th of July Boat Parade on Glen Lake
4th of July Boat Parade
Join the community for some fun in the sun, on the water! All boats welcome on Glen Lake. The more the merrier. Decorations encouraged but not required!
Time: 4:00 pm
Meet: In Front of the Glen Lake Yacht Club ( 6617 Sunset Drive, Glen Arbor )
Follow the “On the Narrows Marina” lead boat along the shore of Glen Lake, through the bridge & Little Glen and back…Then drop anchor where a water volleyball net will be set up! Visit with other boaters – Play some volleyball – Celebrate the 4th!
Head on down to Glen Arbor and shop/dine – most places are open for at least half the day for visitors. Grab a spot and enjoy the big 4th of JulyParade downtown Glen Arbor, beginning at 12pm. The parade leaves from Glen Haven then makes it’s way through to the North/East end of town. This years parade Marshal is Bonnie Quick. Thank you!
If you’re a boater, you can join in on the boat parade 4th of July evening on Glen Lake beginning at 4pm in front of the Yacht Club.
To Participate in the Parade…
Want a front row seat at the parade? Volunteer! We always need as many parade volunteers as possible.
Volunteers can pick up a parade t-shirt at Art’s Tavern the week prior to the 4th. Bring your own broom to help walk with the parade and sweep the candy back towards the crowd, to keep kids off the street and safe.
Want to participate in the parade?Everyone is welcome! Bikers (kids and families) and Walkers can join in the parade starting at the Christian Science Church. Cars and Floats participating in the parade, please meet at Glen Haven to line up 45 min prior to the parade start time. The parade begins at Noon.
Enjoy the area.
Most shops and restaurants are open part of the day for you! Please make sure to come to town early to park and enjoy shopping the lovely retailers and art galleries. Whether you’ll end up back where you’re staying or head back home, there’s a beach or lake or trail for you to enjoy some outdoor recreation the remainder of the holiday.
The public is welcome to come and share By Heart Poetry, Stories, or Music or to simply enjoy the experience of a community bonfire on the shore of Lake Michigan.
30th Anniversary!
Friday Nights at 8pm | June 29 – August 3
The Leelanau School Beach/Bonfire Area, One Old Homestead Rd., Glen Arbor, MI 49636
Dennis has released 4 CDs of original music ranging from Acoustic Blues to Contemporary Folk. With an eclectic style that is both intro-spective and thought provoking – his music has raised comparisons to such Artists as Gordon Lightfoot & Duncan Sheik… Born & raised near Saginaw Michigan – Dennis now lives in Leelanau County among the Places and People that continue to inspire much of his music.
The Northport Community Band kicks off the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s 2018 Manitou Music Festival season on Tuesday, July 3, at 7 pm with a musical evening celebrating Independence Day. This concert of patriotic and march favorites takes place on the Old School House lawn located in Glen Arbor on M-22 directly across from the Glen Arbor Township Hall. FREE to attend. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
The Flag Raising Ceremony begins at 10 am, July 4th, at the Old Settlers Picnic Grounds, located on the south eastern shore of Glen Lake near the corner of Dunn’s Farm Rd. (CR 675) and Burdickville Rd (CR 616). Please bring your own lawn chairs. Event sponsored by Glen Lake Woman’s Club. Celebrate the founding of our nation in a patriotic, joyous ceremony with community members of all ages.
Head on down to Glen Arbor and shop/dine – most places are open for at least half the day for visitors.
Grab a spot and enjoy the big 4th of JulyParade, where “anything goes.” Parade begins at 12pm, leaves from Glen Haven then makes it’s way through to the North/East end of town. The parade Marshal this year is Bonnie Quick.
“Drawing more than 4,000 neighbors and visitors, and shares more treats than Halloween. Floats, kazoo band, decorated boats, trucks, vintage autos & bikes, politicians & community groups, inflated college mascots with fight songs blasting, and our favorite: a gang of Elvis impersonators.”~Glen Arbor B&B
Boat Parade on Glen Lake
If you’re a boater, you can join in on the boat parade 4th of July evening on Glen Lake beginning at 4pm in front of the Yacht Club.
Want a front row seat at the parade? Volunteer! We always need as many parade volunteers as possible.
Volunteers can pick up a parade t-shirt at Art’s Tavern the week prior to the 4th. Bring your own broom to help walk with the parade and sweep the candy back towards the crowd, to keep kids off the street and safe.
Want to participate in the parade?Everyone is welcome! Bikers (kids and families) and Walkers can join in the parade starting at the Christian Science Church. Cars and Floats participating in the parade, please meet at Glen Haven to line up 45 min prior to the parade start time. The parade begins at Noon.
Enjoy the area.
Most shops and restaurants are open part of the day for you! Please make sure to come to town early to park and enjoy shopping the lovely retailers and art galleries. Whether you’ll end up back where you’re staying or head back home, there’s a beach or lake or trail for you to enjoy some outdoor recreation the remainder of the holiday.
Adirondack chairs painted by local artists, Sponsored by local businesses can be seen on display all summer long in Glen Arbor with the opportunity to purchase a chair at the end of the season via a public online auction!
Purpose of event
The funds raised by the sponsorship and auctioning of the chairs will go to the operation of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce, a 501c non-profit organization, to continue to represent our beautiful and treasured town.
#gachairs
When posting to social media about the Adirondack Chairs in Glen Arbor, use this common hashtag in the text when you post! #gachairs
How it Works:
• Local businesses & Community members “Sponsor” a Chair(s).
• Each Sponsor is to select an artist and design to have their chair painted.
• Decorated chairs are on display during June, July & August in Glen Arbor, MI for the public to see.
• Online E-Bay Bidding is scheduled to happen Labor Day week of. The auction will be open to the public.
• Chairs will be picked up by the winning bidder once the bidding ends.
Questions about the campaign may be directed to Katy Wiesen: [email protected] (231)360.4431
NOTE: Once set up, we will add the link to the Chair Auction for you to bid here, in social media and on our website.
While our favorite time to visit the beach is when the sand is warm between our toes and the days are long, the expansive Lake Michigan shoreline boasts “ends of the earth” vibes and ever changing unique formations and scenes to explore in the winter time.
From Ice Balls, to Pancake Ice, Ice Caves and Ice Volcanoes, the shoreline takes on many shapes ~ Depending upon the winter weather and location, you’re likely to see a different scene each visit.
We had fun this past weekend visiting our “Home Beach” at the end of Bohemian Rd and M-22, just north of Glen Arbor and Port Oneida, the Rural Historic District.
Share your photos!
We love reposting and sharing contributor images. Yours may be featured on our website or in a social media post!
Comments Off on Trick or Treating in Glen Arbor 2017
Fun in Glen Arbor Trick or Treating
(Annually, the Sunday before Halloween)
Thank you to all the wonderful businesses who participate in costume, decor and plenty of goodies to give, – opening their doors and hearts for the community to enjoy!
Comments Off on Glen Arbor: Your Leelanau fall color destination
Explore the Natural Beauty of the area – year round!
Discover the variety of Things to Do| Shop, Dine, Relax, Renew and Recreate.
Play and Stay in Glen Arbor, then set out for your tour around the Leelanau Peninsula on M-22, and don’t miss the Wine Trails! Although summer is the most popular time to visit, our area is a fall color-tour destination for scenic drives, PLUS it’s a great spot go skiing, ice-skating, snowshoeing, and ice-fishing throughout the winter.
“No matter the season, the Glen Lake area is a perfect outdoor getaway.”
Step away from the hustle and get refreshed in the natural beauty around Glen Arbor. Find a new trail to hike, a new view from a hilltop, shop the great stores, buy a piece of local art; Try a new item on the menu, get a new book to read. Meet a friend, find a new friend! Drive around, hike around, bike around. Take in the smell of fresh air, woods, meadows, beaches, hilltops, dunes, and aqua-colored lake water.
The Glen Lake area has something to offer everyone.
Comments Off on Trick or Treating in Glen Arbor, MI
Join us on Sunday just before Halloween for a fun afternoon of trick or treating in downtown Glen Arbor! Dress up in your Halloween finest and bring the whole family for treats from all participating businesses. This is a wonderful event, open to the public, and free for all to enjoy!
Sunday October 29th 2017, just before Halloween, from 12-4pm
Beyond trick or treating, it’s a great time of year to shop off-season sales, see the end of fall colors, get some locally-sourced gifts for the Holidays and dine at a variety of eateries.
Enjoy plenty of family-friendly recreation from a simple hike in the National Park, take a bike ride on the new section of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, play at the Glen Arbor community park, or take a relaxing scenic drive.
Comments Off on Sidewalk Sale Days in Glen Arbor ~ Labor Day Weekend
Come on out to shop, dine and seek some recreation in Leelanau. You won’t want to miss the stellar end-of-summer deals during Sidewalk Sale days in Glen Arbor, held annually Labor Day weekend. Starting Thursday Aug 31 and continuing on thru Monday Sept 4 – Labor Day.*
Thursday, Aug. 31 – Monday, Sept. 4 2017
The town puts on a great shopping experience each year, rain or shine! There’s a few new shops and others that have moved locations in town, so enjoy discovering Glen Arbor in new ways! From gift shops, clothing and gear, art galleries, home goods, gardening and more – there’s something for everyone. The deals don’t stop outside – there’s always more inside!
Eat great food around town. It doesn’t end with Art’s and Boonedocks, make your way to other ends of town. You can get something quick like a hot dog, slice of pizza, burger, or something homemade from a deli, all the way to a fine dining experience with a view of Lake Michigan.
Recreation is at it’s prime right now, with activities for any age. Locals and visitors alike can experience the Natural Beauty that the area has to offer: From Putt Putt Golf in town, to pickin up a Paddle board and getting out on the Glen Lakes. Try a different section of the Heritage Trail which can be walked or biked; Get out and rent a boat or go fishing; Kayak the Crystal river or Lake Michigan, and hike a trail in the National park!
*Participating merchants each have their own specials and hours.
After a few years of this event taking place in some of the worst winter storms to date, everyone who attended this year enjoyed Spring-like weather with temperatures in the 50’s, sunshine and blue skies. Because of the snow and cold we had prior to this President’s Day weekend, the Glen Lake were still safe enough to ice fish on.
Chili Cook-Off winners
#1 – Boonedocks
#2 – Pleva’s Meat
#3 – Market 22
#4 – Shipwreck Café
#5 – Anderson’s
The Fishing Contest
#1 – Nick Rice
#2 – Clay McNit
#3 – Hannah Nowicki
#4 – A Three Way Tie: Leif Sporck, Tim Egeler, Matt Rice
Congratulations To All The Winners! Thanks To ALL Who Participated!
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has been catching PR across the nation for years now, although we still want to protect and keep this secluded gem in the Leelanau Peninsula a secret. Despite our feelings, we’re glad to share it with the world, especially because visitors to our area help make our small businesses thrive!
Sleeping Bear Point was included in the dune walkers category in National Geographic’s list of picks for “21 Best Beaches in the World.”
The Sleeping Bear Point Trail is a 2.8 mile loop through the sand dunes with great views of Lake Michigan and South Manitou Island. There is a 0.5 mile spur hike from the trailhead to the Lake Michigan beach. It is less strenuous than the hike from the Dune Climb to Lake Michigan.
Join us on Sunday October 30th 2016, just before Halloween, from 12-4pm for a fun afternoon of trick or treating in downtown Glen Arbor! Dress up in your Halloween finest and bring the whole family for treats from all participating businesses. This is a wonderful event, open to the public, and free for all to enjoy!
Beyond trick or treating, it’s a great time of year to shop off-season sales, get some locally sourced holiday gifts and dine at a variety of eateries.
Enjoy plenty of family-friendly recreation from a simple hike in the National Park, take a bike ride on the new section of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, play at the Glen Arbor community park, or take a relaxing scenic drive.
Labor Day Weekend ~ Sidewalk Sale Days in Glen Arbor
Get the best deals of the season, Eat great food + Enjoy recreation around the Glen Lake area!
Most of the Sales usually begin around 9am, line the sidewalks throughout the village of Glen Arbor, and last all weekend long. The deals don’t stop outside – there’s always more sales inside!
The town puts on a great shopping experience each year, rain or shine! There’s a few new shops and others that have moved locations in town, so enjoy discovering Glen Arbor in new ways! From gift shops, clothing and gear, art galleries, home goods, gardening and more – there’s something for everyone.
Eat great food around town. It doesn’t end with Art’s and Boonedocks, make your way to other ends of town. You can get something quick like a hot dog, slice of pizza, burger, or something homemade from a deli, all the way to a fine dining experience with a view of Lake Michigan.
Recreation is at it’s prime right now, with activities for any age. Locals and visitors alike can experience the Natural Beauty that the area has to offer: From Putt Putt Golf in town, to pickin up a Paddle board and getting out on the Glen Lakes. Try a different section of the Heritage Trail which can be walked or biked; Kayak the Crystal river or Lake Michigan, or hike a trail in the National park ~ remember it’s the 100 year Park anniversary so get out and #findyourpark
Comments Off on Escape to Glen Lake | Art poster Series
We’re running a series of posters, developed by our 2016 Chamber Marketing Committee.
Thank you (Angela Brown of LVR, Brook of La Becasse, Jamie Jewell of the Homestead, Bob Ashmun of Ashmun Portrait Art, and Jeff Gietzen of Northwoods Hardware) for our many brainstorm sessions held at LVR around the conference table over Angela’s cookies. The group collectively dreamt up this concept as a way to promote the places to see and many things to do that uniquely represent our greater Glen Lake area that includes Glen Arbor, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, Burdickville, The Narrows, and even stretching to Maple City. After the concept was completed, the poster design/layout was done by Raquel of Rockwell Art & Design. The campaign is also being used as a part of print ads and online promotion, in the GL Chamber’s advertising efforts.
Photographic images are still being collected, taken or submitted for future poster designs in the series. Feel free to email us your high resolution images and you may get your photo selected to be a part of this poster series! Each photo will be “stylized” using a graphic design technique, to give the image a “painted” retro feel.
Below is one of the first released in the new poster series, titled “Independence Day” to represent the 4th of July celebrations, highlighting the parade in Glen Arbor. This photo was provided by a local, Don Miller.
The series is designed to capture the many things about the Glen Lake area that make it special for residents and visitors alike. The things that make us literally “Escape” when we take in the natural beauty around Glen Lake. The posters will capture the essence of both “Points of Interest” that you must go to or see when you’re here and also the many “Things to Do” that highlight the variety of recreation. The top priorities on our list include •Hiking/Trails •Fall Colors/Wine Tour/Scenic Drives •Pierce Stocking •Heritage Trail •4th of July •Winter Recreation and •Summer Time. And there’s more on the list too.
The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the first two 18×24″ Art Posters have been printed and are available. They are also available through Jeff Gietzen at Northwoods Hardware for pick up and distribution. The posters can be displayed inside and out – we’ll have exterior building acrylic holders to show off the image on the outside of your shop or home, so you may change out the poster with the next one, year round. They may also be displayed in your own frame/holder on an interior wall or window, as an art piece to proudly represent the area. Rolled up posters in sleeves will also be sold in retail. The retail price will be $15.
Contact Jeff or Raquel if you’d like to display these art pieces on the interior or exterior of your business and/or sell the poster at a location. Extras will be kept at Northwoods Hardware. We will wholesale them to any interested member or party!
Images desired: 1. The ultimate Fall Color/Recreation image either touring colors along M-22 or another Iconic scenic drive 2. The Heritage Trail/Biking in our area. Faces not the focus, but someone or a group/family using the trail. 3. Snowshoeing or Cross Country skiing. Must include something in the image that identify’s it as our area, and doesn’t look like it could be just anywhere.
To submit: 1. Your images must be a high resolution (300 dpi) jpg, and be in Portrait (Vertical) Orientation 2. Email your images and name to credit to Raquel Jackson: [email protected] If selected, your name will be included in print on the poster.
Independence Day gets celebrated usually beginning the day before the 4th with some free, local live music, followed by things to do for everyone. On the “Old School House” lawn – bring your chairs/blankets. From 7 – 8pm, on July 3rd, the Northport Band plays live. FREE to attend, Donations to the Band welcomed. View Event
On the 4th – the Flag raising ceremony at Old Settlers Park at 10am sharp, to the Parade downtown Glen Arbor beginning at 12pm in Glen Haven then making it’s way through to the North/East end of town. If you’re a boater, you can join in on the boat parade 4th of July evening on Glen Lake beginning at 4pm in front of the Yacht Club.
To Participate in the Parade…
Want a front row seat at the parade? Volunteer! We always need as many parade volunteers as possible.
Volunteers can pick up a parade t-shirt at Art’s Tavern the week prior to the 4th. Bring your own broom to help walk with the parade and sweep the candy back towards the crowd, to keep kids off the street and safe.
Want to participate in the parade?Everyone is welcome! Bikers (kids and families) and Walkers can join in the parade starting at the Christian Science Church. Cars and Floats participating in the parade, please meet at Glen Haven to line up 45 min prior to the parade start time. The parade begins at Noon.
Adventure and beauty awaits
There’s tons of things to do, in and around the Glen Arbor area. From Dining and Shopping, to the arts; Beaches & Boating and a variety of outdoor recreation; to specific places to visit that are great for kids & families. Visit our “Things to Do” page to get started on your Pure Leelanau adventure.
Visit the National Park ~ Discover a new hike, trail, scenic drive or outlook or ride.
Visit our Events page to see what other businesses and community organizations are up to.
The Leelanau Farmers Markets is a non-profit organization started up with the initiation of the Leelanau Agricultural Alliance & MSU Extension with the goal of improving the marketing of local farm products and preserving county farmland.
All products and produce sold at our markets are made or grown within 60 miles of the farmers market!! Buy Fresh, Buy Local!!
Their mission is to
“provide locally produced farm and food products for the benefit of the Leelanau Community.”
Leelanau Farmers Markets | 2016 Season
Suttons Bay (Saturdays) – May 7 – October 29
Empire (Saturdays) – June 18 – September 10
Lake Leelanau (Sundays) – June 12 – September 4
Glen Arbor (Tuesdays) – June 14 – September 6
Leland (Thursdays) – June 16 – September 1
Northport (Fridays) – June 3 – September 9
Cedar (Fridays) – June 17 – September 9 – 3 to 7 pm
All markets open 9am – 1pm, except for Cedar, which runs 3 pm – 7 pm.
This is a great opportunity for you to get local produce and meet the farmers who grow it!
Comments Off on Noteworthy things to CELEBRATE in 2016 around Glen Arbor
Glen Arbor, it’s residents and business owners all look forward to Memorial Day weekend, where most of all the seasonal shops are open for the season by this weekend. It’s usually nice weather and is a great kick-off to the summer. There’s been some nice changes in town you can look for when you visit, and some noteworthy things to celebrate in the community! Join us and and #findyourpark at the Sleeping Bear Dunes ~ we might be bias, but it’s our favorite National Park 🙂
The Heritage Trail is undergoing another completion of a new section being added this season: from Port Oneida Historical District, NE along M-22, ending at Bohemian Rd. in Maple City.
• The National Park Service celebrates it’s 100 year Anniversary! Check out Sleeping Bear Dunes Centennial Initiative, and get involved. #findyourpark #sleepingbeardunes
• Glen Craft Marina has been in business for 70 years!!! Wow! When it comes to the Glen Lakes and boating, they know what they’re doing!
• Northwoods Hardware opened a new sister store this year, Northwoods Home & Gift, offering “Home accessories, Thoughtful gifts and Unexpected surprises.” Visit northwoodshardware.com for more on what’s new around Northwoods.
• Synchronicity Gallery will celebrate it’s 20th year in business. It will undergo a re-brand this year, gallery openings during the summer, staying open later for after dinner summer shopping, and a few other fun updates! Like and follow them on Facebook year-round for artistic inspiration.
• The Good Harbor Grill opens for its 25th season on May 21 ~ Congratulation Ann & Brendan!
• Momentum apparel shop has new owners ~ stop in to say Hi and Welcome, and see their get some Glen Arbor and Lake Michigan garb.
• Century 21 Northland / Northland Vacation Rentals has moved across town into a new space, located at: 6391 W. Western Avenue, Glen Arbor
• The Sylvan Inn and the Gersenson’s other property, The Lakeshore Inn, both underwent renovations and updates this winter/spring, open and ready for the summer season. Visit www.sylvaninn.com for more.
• Serbin Real Estate will be moving to the west end of town and is renovating the building before moving in. Stop in and say hi to Rob Serbin and his real estate team once they get into the new location, at: 6675 W Western Ave., Glen Arbor. Visit serbinrealestate.comto search their listings and the MLS.
Follow the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce on Instagram for more beautiful local images, year round. @visitglenarbor
Let us know about other local noteworthy things to celebrate by emailing us: [email protected]
Comments Off on What do you do up north all winter?
We thought it’d be fun to answer this common questions as a community and post the results here, and in social media, to create some real conversation with locals and visitors alike.
Hike around our beautiful lakes and take in gorgeous icy views.
Read a book with a glass of local wine.
Ski – cross country the heritage trail or out our backyard; Downhill ski at the Homestead
Snowshoe – the national park is right our our back door
Wine tours
Commit to a fitness program or train for an event…How’s that going for you?
Cooking
Go to Glen Lake Winterfest and eat chili until you can’t eat any more.
Shovel, salt the walk, carry firewood, repeat.
Take advantage of the off-season dining deals 🙂
Knitting groups
Pickleball in the Glen Arbor Town Hall. Yeah, believe it or not, we get pretty competitive.
“Lake Michigan and its bays are renowned for being the most scenic of the Great Lakes, with turquoise-colored waters similar to the Caribbean because of sandy bottoms and varying depth levels of the water. You almost expect to see palm trees, though a visit during winter would dispel that notion…”
Out on the west side of the county, most people don’t even know where the bear sleeps, or that it’s a national park. But, wow, Sleeping Bear Dunes can offer a similar outdoor adventure experience as the best parks of the West.
Sleeping Bear Dunes is a national lakeshore, not a “national park,” but nevertheless is part of that national program administered by the brown-hat rangers of the Department of the Interior.
When Sleeping Bear Dunes was carved out of the Michigan landscape in 1970, much of the land already had uses that predated park status. It was a lot easier to bestow the title of national lakeshore on it because it gives managers more flexibility to mesh federal, state and private lands into a workable park.
Sleeping Bear Dunes covers 71,000 acres on the Lake Michigan shore of Michigan’s lower peninsula. As a point of reference, Sleeping Bear Dunes is across the great lake from Green Bay in Wisconsin and sits quiet close to the 45th parallel of latitude, which also runs through Oregon at Salem and Lincoln City.
The gateway city is Traverse City, with air service from Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis year round and other major cities during the busy summer tourist season.
Unlike Wisconsin, which gives up most of its sand to the winds, Michigan collects that sand and has miles of gold sand beaches on the east shore of Lake Michigan. The highest dunes are at Sleeping Bear, though they are “perched dunes” because they sit atop a 450-foot high ridge above the lake
that was left behind by the glaciers of the last ice age.
Just inland are huge swaths of sand in this part of Michigan, not unlike the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on the central Oregon coast. But unlike in Oregon, the dunes of Michigan’s national lakeshore are limited to non-motorized recreation, though you can take a dune buggy tour beyond the boundaries.
In addition to the dunes, the national lakeshore is known for two islands that helped give the landscape its name. As the native legend goes, long ago a great fire was burning on the Wisconsin side of the lake, causing a mother bear to flee across the water with her two cubs. She made it to the Michigan shore and sat down to await their arrival. Alas, they never made it, instead becoming islands out in the lake where they drowned. The mother bear never gave up her vigil as she cast her gaze westward to North Manitou Island and South Manitou Island.
Erosion over the years changed the profile of a bear asleep on the shore, but the two islands are still there to explore. Both were inhabited by pioneer settlers long ago, but life was so difficult that everyone either moved to shore or were buried on the islands.
The National Park Service acquired most of the islands’ acreage as part of the national lakeshore. A seasonal passenger ferry transports day trippers and overnight backpackers to the islands from the mainland port of Leland. The only long-term inhabitants on the islands are national parks staff,
though in winter they are not occupied.
Lodging in historic buildings that were preserved on the islands is limited to official visitors, but that doesn’t stop a steady stream of overnight visitors during the busy June to September season. Walk-in campgrounds are less than a half-mile from the ferry landings on both the North and South Manitou Island, or you can hike further for more privacy in other campgrounds, or look for you own campsite on the north island. South Manitou still has one of the best preserved lighthouse of the several hundred that line the shores of the Great Lakes.
A visit to the islands can provide unimaginable quiet, the darkest night skies in the American Midwest and easy, mostly level, walking to pocket beaches, a lake and sand dunes. The only similar experience in the Pacific Northwest would be to visit one of Washington’s uninhabited San Juan Islands, though there would not be public ferry service to get there.
The mainland farms and towns around Sleeping Bear Dunes are amazingly tidy, with none of the urban blight in evidence you would expect in the factory zones in the industrial southern part of the state.
In 2011, viewers of ABC’s “Good Morning America” named Sleeping Bear Dunes the “Most Beautiful Place in America.” Visit and it’s easy to understand why. Lake Michigan and its bays are renowned for being the most scenic of the Great Lakes, with turquoise-colored waters similar to the Caribbean because of sandy bottoms and varying depth levels of the water. You almost expect to see palm trees, though a visit during winter would dispel that notion.
The area has dozens of inland lakes that send crystal clear rivers flowing gently through the landscape. There are even enough rolling hillsides to allow for a few downhill ski areas, though they would only qualify as the bunny hill in the West.
The Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas, just north of Traverse City, are Michigan’s wine growing region. Mainly known for cool weather German varietals, Michigan’s wine isn’t widely known, but is very popular locally and gets consumed without having to travel far.
In addition to the two Lake Michigan islands, the national lakeshore has two auto campgrounds, wilderness designated by Congress, outstanding dune and lake vistas from Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and an historic shipping port and U.S Coast Guard station at Glen Haven.
Adjacent sites include the historic fishing port of Leland, from where the ferry to the islands runs; the prettiest small town park you will ever see at Empire; and the Betsie Point Lighthouse, where Lake Michigan does its imitation of the Pacific Ocean when winds crash waves 10 feet high on shore.
This year will be a good time to find a new adventure in a U.S. national park. May it be as pleasant as what waits at Sleeping Bear Dunes, which will be celebrating it’s 100th year!
If you go:
Sleeping Bear Dunes Air: Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport has regular service on Delta Airlines to Detroit and Minneapolis and on American Airlines to Chicago. Air fare is around $500.
Lodging: Traverse City, population 15,000 but 10 times larger in the commercial area it serves, is one of the busier vacation destinations on the Great Lakes. It has all types of lodging and related services; Traverse City Tourism, 800-872-8377, traversecity.com.
The dunes: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore headquarters at Empire is 25 miles west of Traverse City. The lakeshore goes 25 miles north from there, to the ferry port at Leland, or 15 miles south through the park’s Platte River section. Small towns next to the park’s districts offer a variety of services and lodging. Besides hiking, main park activities are paddling the clear rivers, sun bathing on the beaches and biking the long distance Sleeping Bear Heritage multi-use path; 231-326-5134, nps.gov/slbe.
The islands: Spending a night or more on North and South Manitou Islands ranks among the great national park experiences in America. Book passage with Manitou Island Transit, 231-256-9061, manitoutransit.com.
