Events
There's a reason to come up north every season – not to mention the seasons themselves. Traverse City has become nationally renowned for its festivals and beaches but there are so many events that highlight everything that is special about the Grand Traverse region - from wine tasting to racing the crystal clear waters - there is an event that is sure to excite you. Check out our calendar of events and find the event that fits you.
Festivals
The northern Michigan region is host to a number of festivals throughout the year.
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Race Events
The region's scenic varied landscape inspires residents and visitors alike to hike, paddle, run and swim for exercise and competition throughout the year...
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Beer & Wine Events
With an ideal climate for growing hops and grapes, the greater Traverse City region is host to a number of beer and wine festivals.
Learn More
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June 2019
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July 2019
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August 2019
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September 2019
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October 2019
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November 2019
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Annual Friends of Fishtown 5K[{"StartDate":"7/20/2019","EndDate":"7/20/2019"}]FalseThe beautiful 5k course winds through Leland's neighborhoods and along the Leland River, starting and finishing in the heart of Fishtown.
Easy climbs and graceful descents make this an event for the serious runner or the whole family! Runners, walkers, strollers, and leashed dogs are all welcome.
Proceeds help preserve and maintain the historical integrity of Fishtown, and ensure that it remains publicly accessible. -
Downtown Traverse City Halloween Walk[{"StartDate":"10/26/2019","EndDate":"10/26/2019"}]FalseOctober closes with a parade of little ghosts and goblins as Downtown Traverse City hosts costume clad children and their parents to trick or treat at participating stores throughout the Downtown area.
This free event runs from 10:00-11:30am.
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11th Annual Tuff Enuff Golf Tournament[{"StartDate":"10/20/2019","EndDate":"10/20/2019"}]TruePlay Michigan's toughest golf course, The Bear, at its absolute hardest placements
This is a two-person Best Ball event. The $70 per person entry fee includes golf and prizes.
To book a golf tee time, visit our Pro Shop or call 231-534-6470.
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21st Annual Harvest Festival and Scarecrow Extravaganza[{"StartDate":"9/28/2019","EndDate":"9/28/2019"}]FalseScarecrows, Art, Local Brews & Tunes “Heat Up” Bellaire for the 21st Annual Harvest Festival.
Zany Scarecrows take over the streets of Bellaire where local businesses compete to win the “Best Scarecrow” award. Last year’s winner was Bellaire Pontoon with “Row, Row, Row your boat”.
Start the day with the the Fun Run 1 mile walk/run with Inspire Health at 10 am. Treasures await at the “Fine Art, Craft & Flea Market” along with Kid’s Bounce Houses, antique apple tasting, live music and the “Beverage Tent” on Broad Street from 10-6 pm. Check out the Best Dressed Pet Parade at 1 pm sponsored by the Bellaire Animal Hospital and the “Chopped: Disaster Style” Cook-off at 2 pm presented by Antrim County Emergency Management.
Highlighting the Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 28 is an Antrim “Craft Beverage” Tent featuring Antrim County producers including Short’s Brewing Company, Bee Well Mead & Cider, and more from 11-6 on Broad Street. Each pourer will feature of variety of $5 pours and money goes to support the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship program and year round operations. Rock out to local music from regional musicians during Harvest Festivals “Open Mic Sessions” 12-6 on Broad St.
Take a break from the excitement to explore Bellaire’s shops, restaurants and parks including the “Flying Piggies Funky Flea Market,” at the Bellaire Public Library in partnership with The Flying Pig.. End the day with Short’s Oktoberfest where you can pick up a commemorative stein at Short’s Mart and catch live music on stage at 8:30 pm. Lederhosen encouraged!
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80's Reunion Party at Leelanau Sands Casino[{"StartDate":"8/24/2019","EndDate":"8/24/2019"}]FalseRubik's Groove (80's pop) and HairMania (80's rock/metal) bring the excitement to Leelanau Sands Showroom with an 80's Reunion Party on Saturday, August 24 at 8pm
It's been two decades since Howie Mandell took the stage to open the Sands Showroom at Leelanau Sands Casino, and the casino is celebrating in grand style this August with live entertainment every weekend!
The Rubik's Groove (80's pop) and HairMania (80's rock/metal) continue the excitement with an 80's Reunion Party on Saturday, August 24 at 8pm (general admission advance tickets sales $20 through August 16, $30 after with no discounts).
To purchase tickets visit StarTickets.com.
CLICK FOR DETAILS -
9/11 Remembrance 5K Run/Walk[{"StartDate":"9/7/2019","EndDate":"9/7/2019"}]FalseThe 9/11 run is to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks, as well as Local First Responders and Veterans. Proceeds will go to the September 11th Families' Association Fund in New York, NY, http://911families.org/ and the Grand Traverse Area First Responder Coalition.
This non-profit is set up to help local first responders (police, fire, EMS, Emergency Management, 911 Dispatchers) which will allow for education opportunities, scholarships, recognition, emergency financial support, etc.
They welcome all Runners, Walkers, and Wheelchairs. If you would like to be pushed in a wheelchair or volunteer to push please visit the volunteer page.
The race start is at 8:46a which is the same time the World Trade Center Norther Tower was hit. Runners will gather before the race for a quick ceremony to remember and honor those who lost their lives that day and show support for Local First Responders who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and then show our spirit with an amazing run!
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9th Annual Big Hole Golf Tournament[{"StartDate":"10/5/2019","EndDate":"10/5/2019"}]TrueFinish out the 2019 golf season with a boost of confidence at our 9th Annual Big Hole Golf Tournament featuring gigantic, impossible-to-miss (okay, almost impossible-to-miss) 10" cups!
The tournament takes place on Saturday, October 5 on our Spruce Run course and is open to the public, Resort Club Members and Resort Guests.
This is a three-person Scramble, with 10” cups on all 18 holes. The $70 per person entry fee includes golf and prizes.
To book a golf tee time, visit our Pro Shop or call 231-534-6470.
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BB King Blues Band featuring Michael Lee Live at Leelanau Sands Casino[{"StartDate":"8/16/2019","EndDate":"8/16/2019"}]FalseHead to the Leelanau Sands Casino Friday, August 16 to see the BB King Blues Band featuring Michael Lee.
It's been two decades since Howie Mandell took the stage to open the Sands Showroom at Leelanau Sands Casino, and the casino is celebrating in grand style this August with live entertainment every weekend!
The Annual Pow Wow Weekend kicks off with the BB King Blues Band featuring Michael Lee (from “The Voice”) on Friday, August 16 at 8pm with riser row, table, and premium table seating options from $45 - $60.
To purchase tickets visit StarTickets.com. -
Bellaire Rubber Ducky Festival[{"StartDate":"8/12/2019","EndDate":"8/18/2019"}]False“DUCK” into BELLAIRE…let the “QUACKIN” begin. The Bellaire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the 30th ANNUAL RUBBER DUCKY FESTIVAL in Downtown Bellaire on August 12, 2019, sponsored by Bellaire Family Health Center.
This year’s festival is part of Bellaire’s 12 Days of Summer Celebration with the highlight of the festivities being the Rubber Ducky Festival – including a quarter-mile race on August 18th – when 2000 yellow ducks are dumped into the Intermediate River with the Ducks stopping at RIVERSIDE MARINA, the finish line!
Join Bellaire for Music Downtown, Children’s Activities, Sidewalk Sales, Duckling Park with games & large inflatables, Movies, Parades, Arts & Crafts and much more!!!
CLICK FOR DETAILS -
Cedar Polka Fest[{"StartDate":"6/20/2019","EndDate":"6/23/2019"}]FalseThis Polish-American Leelanau Peninsula community kicks up its heels June 20 to June 23 with hearty food, drink and continuous polka music and dancing.
Call for admission prices for adults- 231-228-3378. Ages 12 and under are free when accompanied by parent. Flag raising ceremony is on Thursday, parade on Saturday at noon and Polish mass on Sunday morning at 11 am.
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Cherry Bomb Long Drive Championship[{"StartDate":"7/6/2019","EndDate":"7/7/2019"}]TrueTour Prep Golf will host the Cherry Bomb Long Drive Championship July 6 –7, 2019, at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
More than 40 of the top competitors in the world, including hitters like Justin James, Maurice Allen, and Will Hogue, will be in attendance. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Folds of Honor, which provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.Tickets for the Cherry Bomb are available at the Golf Academy or can be obtained by contacting the Tour Prep Golf team. Media interested in attending should contact Jillian Manning at [email protected]
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Cherry Roubaix Grand Fondo[{"StartDate":"8/3/2019","EndDate":"8/3/2019"}]FalseYES, It's a Race, YES it's a Ride and YES it will be a Party... it's everything you have ever wanted rolled into one big day of cycling, celebrating and fun.
YES it’s Northern Michigan’s epic road cycling scene served up Cherry-Roubaix style.YES it’s Northern Michigan’s epic road cycling scene served up Cherry-Roubaix style.
90, 60, 40 and 20 mile courses featuring the best and most challenging roads of Leelanau County. Event starts downtown Traverse City and Finishes in Suttons Bay with after party at Herman Park.
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Daughtry Live Acoustic Performance At the Leelanau Sands Showroom[{"StartDate":"6/21/2019","EndDate":"6/21/2019"}]FalseHead to Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom on Friday, June 21 when Chris Daughtry—American Idol finalist and frontman for the Grammy-nominated rock band Daughtry—will perform live.
This one-night acoustic performance will feature many of Daughtry’s biggest hits, including “It’s Not Over” and “Waiting for Superman,” in a special unplugged performance.
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Dave Pelz Golf School[{"StartDate":"7/17/2019","EndDate":"7/17/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/18/2019","EndDate":"7/18/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/23/2019","EndDate":"7/23/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/30/2019","EndDate":"7/30/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/31/2019","EndDate":"7/31/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/6/2019","EndDate":"8/6/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/25/2019","EndDate":"7/27/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/2/2019","EndDate":"8/3/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/8/2019","EndDate":"8/10/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/13/2019","EndDate":"9/15/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/20/2019","EndDate":"9/22/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/26/2019","EndDate":"9/28/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/17/2019","EndDate":"9/17/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/25/2019","EndDate":"9/25/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/19/2019","EndDate":"7/20/2019"},{"StartDate":"6/28/2019","EndDate":"6/30/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/5/2019","EndDate":"7/7/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/11/2019","EndDate":"7/13/2019"},{"StartDate":"6/26/2019","EndDate":"6/26/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/4/2019","EndDate":"9/4/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/5/2019","EndDate":"9/5/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/6/2019","EndDate":"9/6/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/7/2019","EndDate":"9/7/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/10/2019","EndDate":"9/10/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/14/2019","EndDate":"8/14/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/15/2019","EndDate":"8/15/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/16/2019","EndDate":"8/16/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/17/2019","EndDate":"8/17/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/2/2019","EndDate":"7/2/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/9/2019","EndDate":"7/9/2019"}]TrueWe are pleased to welcome the Dave Pelz Scoring Game School to our Golf Academy. The Dave Pelz Scoring Game School applies a practical, scientific approach to golf instruction, honed through years of research and providing golf lessons to many of the game’s top professionals.
Pelz Golf Institute research has proven that golfers lose almost 80 percent of their shots to par inside of 100 yards from the hole. To that end, our golf school curriculum focuses strictly on what Dave defines as “The Scoring Game,” a combination of the short game (distance wedges, pitching, chipping, sand play) and putting, which comprise 60 to 65 percent of the total number of shots played per round. From three-foot putts to full wedge and long bunker shots, at this truly unique golf school, you’ll learn to properly execute shots from any scoring position.
Pelz’s staff instructors are highly-trained teaching professionals, and the low student/teacher ratio allows instructors to concentrate solely on their students and students on their instruction in the short game.
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Dune Dash 4-mile run/walk[{"StartDate":"8/17/2019","EndDate":"8/17/2019"}]FalseJoin the Dune Dash for their seventh annual 4-mile run/walk on Saturday, August 17th.
The race course showcases the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail located in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Starting and finishing at the base of the Dune Climb, runners follow the flat, paved Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail past rolling dunes and beautiful forests to the turn around point at historic Glen Haven. Don't miss your chance to experience one of the most beautiful scenic runs in Michigan. All proceeds from this event will go to the continued construction and maintenance of Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
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Elk Rapids Arts & Crafts Show[{"StartDate":"8/31/2019","EndDate":"8/31/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/20/2019","EndDate":"7/20/2019"}]FalseCome enjoy Elk Rapids 25th Annual Arts and Crafts Shows, located in the heart of the village on River Street.
Shows run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The shows feature more than 70 different artisans who display, sell, and demonstrate their work.
2019 Arts & Crafts Show dates are:
Saturday, May 25
Saturday, July 20
Saturday, August 31 -
Elk Rapids Harbor Days[{"StartDate":"7/31/2019","EndDate":"8/3/2019"}]FalseHarbor Days is a four day community festival taking place in the quaint Northern Michigan town of Elk Rapids.
Harbor Days kicks off on Wednesday night with the popular Evening on River Street. With the street closed, the downtown is transformed into a vibrant street fair offering a cornucopia of sights and sounds to satisfy your appetite for food, music and entertainment! The next three days offers events for every age and every interest. The schedule includes Kids Day games, athletic events, carnival rides, festival parade, musical entertainment and so much more.
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Empire Hops and Harvest Festival[{"StartDate":"10/4/2019","EndDate":"10/5/2019"}]FalseBitter is back with the Hops & Harvest Festival!
Featuring Northern Michigan food and drinks, live performances, and more—all celebrating the beautiful and bitter hop plant.
We’ll be celebrating Friday, October 4 from 6-10pm and all day Saturday, October 5 in downtown Empire!
Saturday Admission is $20 | Includes a commemorative glass & drink ticket
Additional drink tickets and food available for purchase. Kids under 16 are free.
Purchase your Hops Festival tickets at MyNorth.com. Tickets will also be available at the door
Friday Night Fish Fry | On Friday Night under the big tent on Front Street, Art’s Tavern will host a classic fish fry. The event will be accompanied by live music and local craft beers. Admission is $5 and features the following menu:
Fish Fries & Coleslaw $11
Beer Brat $5
Pretzel Bites with Arts Tavern Mustard $5
Free Parking—two blocks north of Front Street in Johnson Park -
Evenings on River Street[{"StartDate":"6/26/2019","EndDate":"6/26/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/3/2019","EndDate":"7/3/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/10/2019","EndDate":"7/10/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/17/2019","EndDate":"7/17/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/24/2019","EndDate":"7/24/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/31/2019","EndDate":"7/31/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/7/2019","EndDate":"8/7/2019"}]True
A summer tradition, Evenings on River Street are a Wednesday-night favorite in beautiful downtown Elk Rapids.
The event features lots of food from local restaurants, kid’s activities, and live music. Each week features different music from some of Michigan’s most talented artists. 2019 dates are:
June 26 - The Plumville Project
July 3 - Dags und Timmah
July 10
July 17 - Brotha James
July 24
July 31 - Great Scott (Harbor Days Kick-off!)
August 7Head to downtown Elk Rapids every Wednesday from June 26 through August 7. Activities start at 6 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. Take a stroll down the street or bring your favorite chair to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, you’ll find something to love at Wednesday Evenings on River Street.
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Experience Art Rapids![{"StartDate":"6/7/2019","EndDate":"6/20/2019"}]FalseExperience Art Rapids! is a 14-day art competition and exhibition held throughout the Village of Elk Rapids with local businesses and public spaces hosting to some of the region’s finest artists.
The public will be invited to explore the many venues, experience the warmth and charm of Elk Rapids, and cast their vote for their favorite works of art. Art Rapids will award juried prizes and a people’s choice prizes totaling $7,000.
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Friday Night Live in Traverse City[{"StartDate":"8/2/2019","EndDate":"8/2/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/9/2019","EndDate":"8/9/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/16/2019","EndDate":"8/16/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/23/2019","EndDate":"8/23/2019"}]TrueMusic, art, food and fun will fill East Front Street when Downtown Traverse City kicks off its 2019 series of Friday Night Live!
Held the first four Fridays in August, Downtown’s popular community block party features a full slate of music, entertainment, food, demonstrations and family activities along the 100 and 200 blocks of East Front.
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Golf Your Daylights Out[{"StartDate":"6/16/2019","EndDate":"6/23/2019"}]TrueOur popular "Golf Your Daylights" annual promotion runs from June 16-23 and provides UNLIMITED golf on any of our three championship courses, including The Bear.
$109 for Resort Guests
$139 for Non-Resort guestsTo book a golf tee time, visit our Pro Shop or call 231-534-6000.
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Great Lakes Equestrian Festival[{"StartDate":"7/3/2019","EndDate":"8/11/2019"}]FalseThe Great Lakes Equestrian Festival will take place from July 3 through August 11.
The Festival will feature six weeks of exciting equestrian competition located in a fantastic tourist destination that caters to equestrian athletes and equine enthusiasts alike. Competitors and spectators will be able to enjoy all the Traverse City has to offer while attending this elite equestrian competition. Each week will also feature family friendly events with concerts and activities for children of all ages.
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Harvest @ The Commons[{"StartDate":"10/12/2019","EndDate":"10/12/2019"}]FalseFor the sixth year in a row, Groundwork will host the premier autumn harvest community celebration that allows friends, neighbors, and newcomers to break bread together and revel in all that is unique and beloved of Northern Michigan.
This annual event takes place at the historic grounds of Grand Traverse Commons featuring a delicious farm-to-table feast provided by some of Traverse City's best chefs and a selection of local libations, including Short's beer, L. Mawby bubbly, Chateau Chantal wines, and cocktails by Mammoth Distilling and The Little Fleet. For the fifth year, the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities invites you to join us for the premiere autumn harvest community celebration that gathers friends and neighbors to break bread together.
5:00 - 6:00pm, mingling, drinks and raffle
6:15 pm, farm to table family-style meal
8:00 pm, music and dancing with Thornetta Davis -
Ironman Traverse City[{"StartDate":"8/25/2019","EndDate":"8/25/2019"}]FalseTraverse City is excited to host the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Traverse City race on August 25, 2019.
The race consists of a 1.2 mile swim in West Grand Traverse Bay, a 56 mile bike through Leelanau County and Benzie County, and a 13.1 mile run along Boardman Lake, finishing on Front Street in the heart of downtown Traverse City. Athletes and spectators will find a host of unique restaurants and a variety of wineries and breweries to enjoy during their time in Traverse City.
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Jukebox Saturday Night Live at Leelanau Sands Casino[{"StartDate":"8/10/2019","EndDate":"8/10/2019"}]FalseHead to Leelanau Sands Casino for a night of swinging big band fun Saturday, August 10.
It's been two decades since Howie Mandell took the stage to open the Sands Showroom at Leelanau Sands Casino, and the casino is celebrating in grand style this August with live entertainment every weekend!
Jukebox Saturday Night brings the biggest and best hits of the Big Band Era to The Sands with a dance floor and table and riser row seating options on Saturday, August 10 at 8pm. Tickets are $30 - $45.
To purchase general public tickets starting Monday, June 17, visit StarTickets.com.
*No Players Club discounts available for the following shows: Sips & Giggles (August 2); ‘80s party (August 24); $100 Premium seating package for Scott McCreery (August 30). -
Labor Day Weekend Golf Special[{"StartDate":"8/30/2019","EndDate":"9/2/2019"}]True
We have great deals on all three courses this Labor Day weekend.
$79-The Bear
$69-The Wolverine
$54-Spruce RunTo book a golf tee time, visit our Pro Shop or call 231-534-6470.
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Leelanau Harvest Tour[{"StartDate":"9/14/2019","EndDate":"9/14/2019"}]FalseThe Leelanau Harvest Tour is a great biking adventure for both families and single riders as the fall colors begin to show and apple trees are laden with fruit.
Leaving from the Suttons Bay High School, routes of approximately 20, 40, 65, and 100 miles wind throughout beautiful Leelanau County on excellent paved roads passing by farms, orchards, vineyards, dunes, and through quaint villages. So go, ride, relax, and enjoy all that this beautiful peninsula has to offer.
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Leelanau UnCaged[{"StartDate":"9/28/2019","EndDate":"9/28/2019"}]FalseThe seventh annual Leelanau UnCaged will be Saturday, September 28th, 2019 in Northport, Michigan. It will be a full day of music, dance, food and art.
This event is inspired by John Cage, the famous American composer of music who once said of Spain that it was "the multiplicity of simultaneous visual and audible events all going together in one's experience and producing enjoyment." So be ready to have the senses stimulated with an Uncaged, John Cage day.
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Leland Heritage Festival[{"StartDate":"9/21/2019","EndDate":"9/21/2019"}]FalseCome out to the Leland Heritage Festival for live music throughout town, great food and prizes, new and annual events.
Admission is free and events include:
• Van's Classic Car Show
• Wood Boats on the Wall
• Native American Cultural Dance
• Fishtown: Taste the History
• Films & N Manitou Hike presentation
• Library Book Sale & Author Exhibit
• Fire truck & fire prevention display -
National Cherry Festival Golf Special[{"StartDate":"6/29/2019","EndDate":"7/7/2019"}]True
During Traverse City's biggest festival we will be offering special rates on all three of our courses.
$99-The Bear
$79-The Wolverine
$59-Spruce RunTo book a golf tee time, visit our Pro Shop or call 231-534-6470.
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National Writers Series featuring Bryan Gruley and Steve Hamilton[{"StartDate":"6/27/2019","EndDate":"6/27/2019"}]FalseSuspense authors Steve Hamilton and Bryan Gruley will take to the stage to talk with each other in the way only that great friends, who also happen to be masters of the form, can—with wit, laughter, and insight into allure of the mystery novel.
Steve Hamilton is the two-time Edgar Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of fifteen novels. Since his breakout success, A Cold Day in Paradise, introduced readers to hero P.I. Alex McKnight in 1998, Hamilton has either won or been nominated for every major accolade in crime fiction. His recent Nick Mason series was also widely lauded. The Second Life of Nick Mason was an instant New York Times bestseller, attracting praise from the King of Horror himself, who tweeted, “Trust Stephen King. This book is the real deal.” The Nick Mason series is currently in film development with Lionsgate.
After a five-year hiatus, Hamilton returns to the detective series that put him on the map. Dead Man Running is the highly-anticipated eleventh book in the series. When a series of gruesome murders leads to an arrest, the deranged killer agrees to lead authorities to another victim who is still alive – but only if a certain retired Detroit cop comes along: Alex McKnight.
Hamilton called Gruley’s latest book, Bleak Harbor, “the best book Gruley has written and unlike any crime novel I’ve ever read.” It takes place in Bleak Harbor, a lakeside Michigan vacation town where, every summer, an annual festival draws tourists from all over the country. Sound familiar? Carey Peters, a descendent of the town’s founders, lives there with her husband and their son, Danny. But Carey’s family legacy mutates into an albatross of nightmarish proportions when her family becomes the target of extortion and Danny, a teenager with autism, is the defenseless instrument.
Gruley is an award-winning journalist and author of the highly-praised Starvation Lake trilogy, which are set in a fictional town modeled on Bellaire, Michigan. Growing up near Detroit, he worked for the Detroit News before beginning a career at The Wall Street Journal where, in 2002, he shared the Pulitzer Prize awarded to the journal’s staff for its coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Gruley now writes long-form features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine.
Event Details
Thursday June 27, 2019
Traverse City Opera House
7PM // Doors at 6PM
Live Music, Cash Bar, and Morsels Sweet Treats
Stage conversation and Q&A with authors
Post-event book signing
Tickets:
$5.00 Students
$15.00 Reserved
$25.00 Premium Reserved
National Writers Series has hosted more than 120 conversations with nationally recognized authors and guest hosts. Called one of America’s “premier literary events,” (Poets & Writers magazine), a “national treasure” by Harvard professor and philosopher Michael Sandel, and hailed by authors and publishers across the country as a must-see evening of conversation with today’s best storytellers, the National Writers Series has hosted events with Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, winners of Oscars and Emmys and Tonys, living legends and, according to People Magazine, two of the “most influential people in the world.”
CLICK FOR DETAILS -
National Writers Series featuring Doug Brinkley[{"StartDate":"7/13/2019","EndDate":"7/13/2019"}]False
American Moonshot is no giant leap considering Brinkley’s crucial pantheon of award-winning nonfiction titles, but it is a thrilling one.
Something was in the air in the 1960s; or, perhaps, it was the stars that had aligned to rouse some of the most turbulent and revolutionary events the modern world had seen. It would be those same stars that two world superpowers would shoot for.
The political, social, and technological factors that would make the 1960s a turbulent decade also aligned to make it one of the most revolutionary periods in modern history. The year was 1962, and President John F. Kennedy had just announced his intention to put a man on the moon by the decade’s end. The first commercial jet airliner had begun operation only nine years prior, a revolution that launched the West into the Jet Age. In other words, such a goal alone was astonishing—never mind its ultimate success.
Brinkley recreates the nationalistic fervor surrounding the Space Race in riveting detail with all-new first-hand accounts from the likes of astronaut John Glenn, rocketeer Wernher von Braun, and his own signature insights and depth of historical knowledge.
Douglas Brinkley is a professor of history at Rice University and author of several New York Times best-selling works of nonfiction including The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America and The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is editor of two volumes of Reagan Diaries.
Event Details
Saturday July 13, 2019
Traverse City Opera House
7PM // Doors at 6PM
Live Music, Cash Bar, and Morsels Sweet Treats
Stage conversation and Q&A with author
Post-event book signing
Tickets:
$5.00 Students
$17.00 Reserved
$27.00 Premium Reserved
National Writers Series has hosted more than 120 conversations with nationally recognized authors and guest hosts. Called one of America’s “premier literary events,” (Poets & Writers magazine), a “national treasure” by Harvard professor and philosopher Michael Sandel, and hailed by authors and publishers across the country as a must-see evening of conversation with today’s best storytellers, the National Writers Series has hosted events with Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, winners of Oscars and Emmys and Tonys, living legends and, according to People Magazine, two of the “most influential people in the world.”
CLICK FOR DETAILS -
NMC Scholarship Open[{"StartDate":"8/1/2019","EndDate":"8/1/2019"}]TrueHeld every year in early August, the NMC Scholarship Open is the premier tournament in Northern Michigan, raising funds for Honors, Presidential and Academic Area Scholarships.
The 2018 Scholarship Open Golf Outing was held at Grand Traverse Resort on the award-winning Bear and Wolverine courses, and thanks to you raised over $129,000.
Sponsors and golfers help to make the NMC Scholarship Open a top-ranking tournament in Northern Michigan each summer and ensure its financial success for the benefit of our scholarship students.
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Old Town Arts and Crafts Fair[{"StartDate":"6/23/2019","EndDate":"6/23/2019"}]FalseStroll through the beautiful Old Town district in Traverse City while browsing among the booths of more than 90 artists and craftors who will be displaying and selling their work.
Choose something memorable to take home as a memento of your art-filled, pretty-as-a-picture day in Traverse City.
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Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing School at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa[{"StartDate":"8/23/2019","EndDate":"8/23/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/30/2019","EndDate":"8/30/2019"},{"StartDate":"9/6/2019","EndDate":"9/6/2019"},{"StartDate":"6/28/2019","EndDate":"6/28/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/13/2019","EndDate":"7/14/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/20/2019","EndDate":"7/20/2019"},{"StartDate":"7/26/2019","EndDate":"7/26/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/10/2019","EndDate":"8/11/2019"},{"StartDate":"8/17/2019","EndDate":"8/17/2019"}]TrueJoin us for an Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing School at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
Schools utilize private trout ponds and classrooms, as well as serene stretches of the Boardman River only a few minutes away. Orvis Michigan is designed to introduce the intricacies of fly fishing to an absolute novice, but even experienced fly anglers will find personal and advanced instruction tailored to their level of experience. From knots to entomology, casting to tackle, the instructors at Orvis Michigan will fully prepare you to step into the stream.
At Orvis Michigan you’ll learn:
– Casting techniques
– Proper fly selection
– Essential knots
– How to play, land and safely release fish
– How to choose your gear and tackle
– How to read the water
– Stream entomology, and more! -
Paddle Antrim[{"StartDate":"9/12/2019","EndDate":"9/14/2019"}]FalseMark your calendars, you won’t want to miss the fifth annual Paddle Antrim Festival.
On Friday, the paddle kicks off in Ellsworth going through Central Lake and ending in Bellaire. This stunning portion of the paddle meanders through numerous small inland lakes. On Saturday, the paddle continues from Bellaire and finishes in Elk Rapids and travels through the Torch Lake’s amazing turquoise waters.
Paddle Antrim is a non-profit organization protecting water quality, improving water trail infrastructure and educating the public in Antrim County MI.
CLICK FOR DETAILS -
PEACE Ranch 5k Farm Day[{"StartDate":"9/28/2019","EndDate":"9/28/2019"}]FalseFun farm day activities, wagon rides, food and entertainment 10am - 1pm.
The 3.2 mile course winds through the beautiful Pere Marquette forest that surrounds Hoosier Valley on a dirt county road. For those who wish to participate but neither walk nor run, a wagon ride pulled by a team of spotted drafts will be available.
After the race, they will offer a fun family farm day with food, games and activities including demonstrations with horses. The money raised from this event will go specifically to meet the needs of the horses.
Event Location:
PEACE Ranch
2570 Hoosier Valley Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49685
CLICK FOR DETAILS -
Planet of the Grapes[{"StartDate":"6/22/2019","EndDate":"6/22/2019"}]FalseJoin Planet of the Grapes for a fun afternoon on Saturday, June 22, 2019 from 3:00 to 8:00 pm at Leelanau Studios at the Grand Traverse Regional Campus Festival Lawn.
Indulge in local wines, brews and foods while grooving to live musical performances by Soul Patch, Levi Britton and others. Comedy performances include Norm Stulz who has been seen on Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime, NBC, ABC and heard on Bob & Tom Show, Sirius XM and more. Enjoy the Wine Education Room for educational wine tasting seminars to learn about the wines being produced in the Traverse Wine Coast region in a fun and interactive way.
Ticket Levels:- Early Bird Tickets for only $18 (available in April only, limited quantity)
- Wine Bird Tickets (advance general admittance) are $25.
- Lazy Bird Tickets (day-of, at the gate) are $35.
- Big Bird Tickets (VIP) are $100 and are limited. Big Bird Tickets include an exclusive lounge area, complementary featured wine tasting each hour with the winemaker, a wine and cheese tasting with The Cheese Lady, a wine and dessert tasting, 10 tasting tokens and an exclusive stemmed wine glass.
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Reebok Ragnar Relay Michigan[{"StartDate":"9/27/2019","EndDate":"9/28/2019"}]FalseReebok Ragnar Relay Michigan, happening on Sept. 27-28, 2019, is a magical combination of fall colors, sugar sand beaches, massive dunes and wild Ragnarians.
This 200-ish mile overnight adventure kicks off in the charming town Muskegon. From there, teams run two days and one star-filled night, past historic ships and lighthouses, apple orchards, cherry blossoms and rolling hills painted in vibrant autumn hues.
This overnight running relay race doesn’t stop when the sun goes down (or when the tough gets going!). On Friday, as the sun sinks below the horizon, stars will inspire a sense of wonder. This is when the real fun begins! You’ll have to dig deep and push yourself—and your teammates—to keep running through the night as headlamps illuminate your way and into the sunrise on Saturday morning.
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Ride Around Torch[{"StartDate":"6/21/2019","EndDate":"6/21/2019"}]FalseThe Ride Around Torch is an annual one-day 26, 40, 63, or 100 mile bicycle tour primarily along the scenic shores of Torch Lake, Michigan's longest and one of its most beautiful inland lakes with unusually clear, bright turquoise hued waters.
Several villages and hamlets lie along the lake's shore including Alden, Eastport, Clam River and Torch River. You will enjoy a recreational, social tour that is neither a race nor a test of strength, although the very hilly 100 mile route can be a challenge.
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Scotty McCreery[{"StartDate":"8/30/2019","EndDate":"8/30/2019"}]FalseHead to Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom to see one of the biggest names in country music, Scotty McCreery, live on Friday, August 30 at 8pm.
It's been two decades since Howie Mandell took the stage to open the Sands Showroom at Leelanau Sands Casino, and the casino is celebrating in grand style this August with live entertainment every weekend!
The month culminates in one of the biggest names in country music with Scotty McCreery, live on Friday, August 30 at 8pm. Tickets range from $65 to $100 for theater row seating options to a premium seat ticket package with WTCM Radio Tailgate Party entrance.
To purchase tickets visit StarTickets.com.
*No Players Club discounts available for the following shows: Sips & Giggles (August 2); ‘80s party (August 24); $100 Premium seating package for Scott McCreery (August 30). -
Sips & Giggles featuring Dave Landau - Leelanau Sands Showroom 20 Year Anniversary[{"StartDate":"8/2/2019","EndDate":"8/2/2019"}]FalseJoin us for Sips & Giggles Comedy Show featuring Dave Landau. This is the kick offf event for the Leelanau Sands Showroom 20 Year Anniversary.
This event pairs Leelanau Peninsula Wine with nationally touring stand-up comedian Dave Landau. Dave has been featured on Comedy Central, AXS TV, a finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing Season 8, Bob & Tom Radio, the new co-host of the Anthony Cumia Show in NYC and more!
Ticket options are: Advance general admission for $20; day of at the door are $25. VIP tables for 4 are $140 and include a bottle of Sex, a sparkling Rosè by Mawby (or any other bottle of featured Leelanau Peninsula Wine).
Dave Landau might appear to be just like you, but he’s not really. His mind goes to places that angels would fear to tread, and he has no problem telling you about it. The mark of a great comedian, it is said, is the ability to find jokes where others would find tears. Dave finds jokes everywhere; with his own foibles and faults, to his family, to pop culture and the state of the world today.
Cutting his comedic teeth as a teenager in Detroit in the Second City’s Conservatory, Dave Landau has risen to become one of the most in-demand headliners working today. He’s appeared 5 times on Comedy Central’s and AXS.TV’s “Live At Gotham” and was a finalist on season 8 of “Last Comic Standing” on NBC. He became a regular on the extremely popular “The Artie Lange and Anthony Cumia radio show,” and was honored to be brought in full time as 3rd mic. When Artie left the program, It became “The Anthony Cumia Show with Dave Landau” and continues to gain popularity and new subscribers daily. -
Skid Row Live at Leelanau Sands Casino Showroom[{"StartDate":"8/23/2019","EndDate":"8/23/2019"}]FalseThrowing it back for a big blow out of fun, Skid Row takes the stage on Friday, August 23 at 8pm with their 80's rock.
It's been two decades since Howie Mandell took the stage to open the Sands Showroom at Leelanau Sands Casino, and the casino is celebrating in grand style this August with live entertainment every weekend!
Throwing it back for a big blow out of fun, Skid Row takes the stage on Friday, August 23 at 8pm with their 80's rock - theater row seating tickets are $35 - $60.
To purchase tickets visit StarTickets.com. -
Stars, Stripes & Splatter[{"StartDate":"6/29/2019","EndDate":"6/29/2019"}]TrueJoin us Saturday, June 29 for Stars, Stripes and Splatter, a 5k Color Race! This is a color run style event with color stations featuring patriotic colors.
The 3.1 mile course will start at 9 a.m. on Jazz Live Field on the grounds of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and loop back to the start area, with portions of the race running on Lautner road.
The race will be followed by an after party with refreshments, an inflatable obstacle course, color toss, and a spray down area. -
The Great Beerd Run 5K[{"StartDate":"11/9/2019","EndDate":"11/9/2019"}]TrueJoin us November 9 for The Great Beerd Run- a 5K fun run designed to celebrate all things beer and beards! This is an untimed fun run with three on-course beer tastings, featuring Beards Brewery, Short's Brewery and Right Brain Brewery.
Stick around after the race for a wacky post-run party, featuring "Best Beard Contest," live music and plenty of warm food and cold beer. Prizes will be awarded for the First Place Male and Female as well as for Best Natural Beard and Best Assisted Beard.
The race is open to participants 21 or over. Must provide photo ID.
For race details or to register for the race, visit The Great Beerd Run 5K website.
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The National Cherry Festival[{"StartDate":"6/29/2019","EndDate":"7/6/2019"}]FalseRunning from June 29 to July 6, the National Cherry Festival is the oldest, biggest and still the champion festival of the region.
It celebrates that heritage every year during the first full week of July with an eight-day party featuring over 150 family activities: air shows, fireworks, parades (including the nation's largest all-children parade) games, races, midway rides, demonstrations, nightly outdoor concerts and lots of chances to taste delicious cherry products.
Now in its 91st year, the Cherry Festival is Traverse City's signature event, drawing as many as 500,000 attendees from around the country. Since almost all the events are free, it offers more than a week of affordable family fun.
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Tour de TART[{"StartDate":"7/19/2019","EndDate":"7/19/2019"}]FalseTART Trails is thrilled to host the 19th Annual Tour de TART bicycle tour on Friday July 19, 2019. More than 600 people of all ages will hit the TART and Leelanau Trails for an evening ride that begins in Traverse City at Darrow Park and ends at Village Marina & Park in the Village of Suttons Bay.
Riders will enjoy two food stops along the 17-mile ride, waterfront dinner at the Suttons Bay Marina, local beer and wine, lots of treats and then a relaxing bus ride back home. Bus service begins at 6:30 pm and the last bus departs at 9 pm.
$40 for adults 13 and up
$15 for kids 12 and under
Prices will go up $5 per participant two weeks prior to event.
The event is capped at 600 participants. -
Traverse City Beer Week[{"StartDate":"11/8/2019","EndDate":"11/15/2019"}]FalseTest your beverage IQ at the TC Ale Trail IPA Challenge, run a beer-themed 5k during The Great Beerd Run or get out your coziest flannel and be ready for the Flapjack and Flannel Festival. These quirky events and others are all part of the seven days of craft beer during Traverse City Beer Week (November 8-15).
For a complete list of events, visit the TC Beer Week website.
11% tax and $16.95 nightly resort fee apply. Rooms at this rate are limited. Not available to groups. May not be combined with other offers. Certain other restrictions may apply. Dates of avilability are subject to change. Must be 21.
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Traverse City Film Festival[{"StartDate":"7/30/2019","EndDate":"8/4/2019"}]FalseFrom July 30 to August 4, movie buffs are lured away from the beaches and golf courses with an outstanding selection of independent, foreign, and documentary films, as well as premieres, parties, panel discussions and lectures about the world of film at the annual Traverse City Film Festival.
Most events are held near downtown at the vintage State Theatre, Bijou by the Bay, the City Opera House, and the Old Town Playhouse, but there are also many free festival opportunities including the family movies shown each night at an outdoor screen at Open Space Park on the shore of West Grand Traverse Bay.
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Traverse City Shop & Sip[{"StartDate":"11/16/2019","EndDate":"11/16/2019"}]TrueThe Traverse City Shop & Sip is northern Michigan's favorite handmade holiday craft market!
This year's Shop & Sip event will offer over 75 vendors, a new ticketed VIP Preview Experience, cash bars, specials at Spa Grand Traverse and our Gallery of Shops. Finding parking is a breeze with free parking in our main lot or valet service at our Port Corchere.
We are pleased to offer a special TC Shop & Sip room rate. Call 231-534-6000 for overnight room rates and availability.
For official event details or to buy tickets, visit the TC Shop & Sip website.
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Traverse City Triathlon[{"StartDate":"7/28/2019","EndDate":"7/28/2019"}]FalseDividing West and East Grand Traverse Bay, Old Mission Peninsula offers stunning scenery and a challenging landscape for a triathlon.
The Olympic- and sprint-distance races start in the calm, clean waters of Bowers Harbor on West Grand Traverse Bay for a loop swim. The bike courses point athletes past picturesque orchards and vineyards and over a few tough climbs. Heading out on the run, racers follow Neahtawanta Road along the water before turning up a dirt road into the Pyatt Nature Preserve. Athletes then return to the pavement for the final stretch to the finish line at Bowers Harbor Park. The Traverse City Triathlon delivers a beautiful course, professional race management, and great racing; this is Northern Michigan’s most memorable triathlon.
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Wine on the Water Festival[{"StartDate":"7/20/2019","EndDate":"7/20/2019"}]FalseThe Leelanau Peninsula Wine on the Water Festival will feature tastes from Leelanau wineries, a cidery, and a brewery as well as delicious local fare. Also enjoy all-day live musical entertainment.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate and includes a commemorative wine glass and 3 tasting tickets. Extra tasting tickets are available during the event.
Upcoming Events
Barefoot Magazine
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Destination Relaxation
For five years, Spa Grand Traverse Director Dawn Olsen thought about the changes she wanted to make to the resort’s 7,000-square-foot spa and salon.
By Cymbre FosterRenovated Spa Grand Traverse is a serene have for guests. For five years, Spa Grand Traverse Director Dawn Olsen thought about the changes she wanted to make to the resort’s 7,000-square-foot spa and salon.
It had been 12 years since there had been any major renovations, and she knew it was time for a transformation. “I’ve thought a lot about what a guest wants,” says Olsen, who has been Spa director for six years. Ultimately, her goal was to create a space with even more benefits for guests. The long-awaited facelift to the two-story spa became a reality in February 2018. Olsen, her staff, and guests couldn’t be happier with the outcome that includes improvements to traffic flow and increased privacy and serenity. The new space is also fresh and inviting — from updates to the lobby and 23 treatment rooms to makeovers of the reception area and décor.
“It’s just much more modern,” Olsen says. “For me, it’s now a more serene spa environment, and the spa aesthetic has changed dramatically.”
Her favorite addition is the noise barrier that was installed between the reception area and the rest of the spa, because it immediately created a more relaxed environment.“I love the wall that we built in the reception area,” she says. “It really makes it much more conducive to guests as well as giving it a much more updated appearance.
“There’s also a better flow for relaxation purposes". They can no longer hear the phone ring or hear us greeting other guests. We also moved the upstairs waiting area away from the facial rooms, again, to diminish the noise levels while guests are in treatment.”
Adding to the serenity is a change-up in the color scheme and the addition of an updated, modern finish with new furnishings and artwork. “The color palette is more relaxing, and we also changed the furniture,” Olsen says. “We ended up repainting all of the cherry wood throughout the spa with a more up-to-date paint color. Ultimately, we made small aesthetic changes that created a fresh space for our guests.” The renovations, which took two months to complete, are more than skin deep.
“I think our local guests love to see us reinvesting in the business and keeping up with the times,” she says. “Overall the resounding response is that they love the new setup.”
The staff is also thrilled with the new space, she adds.
“The team absolutely loves the new fresh space,” Olsen says. “We all feel very proud of our current work environment and feel that it offers a more modern approach to our goal of relaxation.” -
New Look for Iconic Governors' Hall
Premier gathering space undergoes $1.5 million renovation
By Brian McGillivaryGovernors’ Hall at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has hosted hundreds of stellar events over the years. Now it enters its fourth decade with a $1.5 million renovation.
The ballroom at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa had a stately and august air that never revealed its age. Still, after three decades, it was time to shake off the old and make a splash. Governors’ Hall, named after the convention that led to its construction, underwent a $1.5 million renovation in 2018 and now sports a look that celebrates the waters of Northern Michigan, says Ryan Buck, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Director of Sales. “It’s a total transformation, which is incredibly exciting for everybody,” Buck says.
The makeover included new lighting, audio, wall coverings, flooring, ceilings, and furniture. The warm blue and gray color scheme depicts water interacting with the elements in nature.
“It’s neutral enough that a group can come in and really make it their own without having issues,” Buck says. “But it definitely will feel like Northern Michigan. It’s going to be a very exciting, but calming, space for our guests.”
The makeover does not alter the original bones of a structure designed for its ease of use and ability to accommodate a wide array of events. It can be used as a theater for 2,300 people, an elegant dinner setting for 1,500, or to even host a cattlemen’s auction. It has a door large enough to truck in a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter.
“Some groups come in and spend a lot of money transforming the space,” Buck says. “Governors’ Hall really cleans up nice.”
A Grand Vision
With 580 rooms and 86,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, the Resort gets little downtime. Technology upgrades to the hall started months in advance, with the major work for the $1.5 million project squeezed into a three-week window.
The short turnaround and attention to detail mirrors the Resort’s actual founding by Paul Nine, a Detroit-area attorney. “Our founder had a really great vision for this property and this area,” Buck says. “He envisioned a meeting-focused resort experience operating year-round.”
It was 1980 when Nine decided to build a six-story hotel outside of Traverse City, followed by a signature golf course designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. He took it even further when, a few years later, he announced plans for a $7 million, 17-story, 186-room tower and a 19,000-square-foot banquet hall just to hold a national governors’ meeting.
The Resort had a lead on hosting the National Governors Association summer meeting, but needed a ballroom and additional rooms, Buck says. The move clinched the 1987 National Governors Association Summer Meeting, chaired by future President of the United States Bill Clinton.
Now, Governors Hall is long established. Its unique setting earns many repeat customers, including a rare return visit by the National Governors Association in 2007.
“We have groups who have been coming here for 30-plus years,” Buck says. “It’s quite extraordinary, and having a great event space makes that happen.” -
Reuniting at the Resort
“It’s a beautiful place to reconnect and build close ties to those we love in one of the most spectacular places in Michigan.”
—Lori, Leaver family reunionBy Jillian Manning // Photography by Megan Renae StudiosIn the early 1980s — when wineries were few and far between and the State Theatre was enjoying its original heyday — the Leaver family held their first family reunion in Traverse City. Ross and Kathryn Leaver’s four daughters had growing families of their own, and the reunion was a chance to gather the children and grandchildren together for a weekend of fun.
Fast-forward nearly four decades, and the Leavers now boast more than 50 family members, including four generations that stretch from ages 1 to 87. Although the family is spread throughout the country, the beauty and tranquility of Northern Michigan draws them back to Traverse City every few years. For the last three reunions, they have returned to Grand Traverse Resort and Spa to celebrate.
“The Resort is the perfect place for us to stay for our reunion,” says Lori, whose family lives a few hours south in Midland. “My adult children agree that this year was one of our best vacations ever. “It’s a beautiful place to reconnect and build close ties to those we love in one of the most spectacular places in Michigan.”
On a July weekend this past summer, 28 Leavers arrived at the Resort for a welcome reception in one of the Valleyview condominiums. Shouts of greeting chorused from the balcony, and hugs and headlocks were doled out in equal measure. Lynda, one of the original Leaver daughters who started the reunion tradition, smiled as she thought about how her family has expanded. “It’s a joy to see the spouses and little ones joining the family,” she says. “I can’t believe how much things have changed.”
The Resort’s wide array of lodging opportunities and amenities appeals to Leaver families of all sizes, from couples staying in the Tower to larger groups spread among the condos. Those with young children, like Ryan and Maigan, parents to a 4-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, especially love the family-friendly atmosphere.
“They may be too young to fully appreciate dinner with their aunts and uncles, but they’re definitely not too young to appreciate the pool,” Maigan says, laughing. “They stayed in until they were both pruney. And they were so excited to visit the toy store in the lobby.
“Grandma let each kid pick out a toy, so Hunter got a giant brachiosaurus and Hannah immediately spotted a colorful caterpillar.”
All Smiles
Once the greetings had been shared, what’s new had given way to remember when and photographer Meg Bowen of Megan Renae Studios sprang into action. Family photos are a must-have for each reunion, though it’s nearly impossible to convince this crew to keep straight faces.
“It’s so great to be able to see my cousins that I grew up with as adults and have relationships with them,” says Kristen, one of the 14 Leaver cousins. “Every time I’m with all the cousins, my sides are in stitches from the laughter — I feel like I did a thousand sit-ups and my face hurts from all the smiling.” The next 48 hours of the reunion weekend plowed ahead at full steam. Family time with the Leavers is packed with adventure, from swimming in Grand Traverse Bay to a highly competitive “jarts” tournament, a vintage lawn game that inevitably brings out the family’s cheerleaders and trash talkers. Jesse, the 22-year-old runner-up of the 2018 games, nearly lost to two of his great uncles during the tournament. But in the end, beginner’s luck triumphed.
“This was my first year playing, and they definitely have more experience than I do. I don’t want to lose my title, so I’ll have to practice before the next reunion,” he joked.
Breakfasts were shared at Sweetwater American Bistro, and several couples headed 16 floors up in the Resort’s Tower to enjoy dinner at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge. “The out-of-town families are always stunned by the view,” says Ralph, who lives in Traverse City and loves to bring visitors to Aerie. “The food is excellent and creative, and you can’t beat the sunset over the bay.”
Out and About
For the Leavers, another part of the beauty of the visit is the chance to explore the Traverse City area. That includes scenic morning drives along the Leelanau Peninsula or tours of the old state hospital inside the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.
“Visiting the state hospital was awesome,” says Josh, who as a lover of history and ghost stories found the old buildings and sprawling grounds fascinating. “It was so cool to learn about the area and the history.”
In fact, Traverse City has become so beloved to the family that a growing number of them now call it home all year round. “I’m so grateful we can gather our family here,” says Eric, who moved to Traverse City in the early 1990s. “Year after year, we continue to enjoy Traverse City with a family that appreciates the natural beauty in our area. It’s important to us to be able to share this special place with the younger generations.”
Multiple generations come together for the Leaver family reunion, made easy with the variety of family-friendly accommodations available at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa and the diverse array of activities and attractions on-site and around the Grand Traverse area.
