Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Ornament Extravaganza
November 14 – December 24 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Now through Christmas, you are invited to the Red Lotus Gallery/Muskegon Center for the Arts for their Ornament Extravaganza! Christmas ornaments have been created by local artists and will be available during the months of November and December. They make wonderful Christmas gifts. For more information, call 231-206-0426.
USS Silversides November Lecture Series
November 14 @ 6:00 pm
Monday evenings, November 14 – 21 at 6:00pm, you’re invited to the USS Silversides Submarine Museum’s November Lecture Series! The cost is $5, or free for museum members.
November 14: Veteran Uprising—Why veterans are poised to run the new American century presented by Wes O’Donnell
This is an inspirational speech from museum Executive Director Wes O’Donnell. Wes is passionate about veteran’s issues and believes that when all 21.8 million of them are united, they can change the world. Recently, Wes has been traveling the country on behalf of Military.com speaking to veteran’s groups about why vets are poised to run the new American century. www.silversidesmuseum.org
International Education Week
November 15 – November 17
Muskegon Community College will celebrate 2016 International Education Week with three free events on Tuesday-Thursday, November 15-17. Held annually in November, International Education Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.
On Tuesday, November 15, the feature documentary film “American Textures” will be shown at 12:30pm and 2:30pm in the Blue and Gold Room. The movie follows six creative individuals of Black, White and Latino origin on a journey through diverse communities in the southern U.S.
On Wednesday, November 16, learn about MCC’s Study Abroad opportunities and the benefits of those experiences from last year’s participants during “Student Reports from Nevis, Belize and Germany” in Collegiate Hall. The free event takes place from 12:30 – 2:00pm.
On Thursday, November 17, an International Student Panel Discussion will be held from 6:00-7:30pm in the Blue and Gold Room. Ethnic treats will be served at 6:00pm, then at 6:15pm, MCC students from France, Kenya, Laos, South Korea, and Vietnam will talk about their homelands.
For more information on International Education Week, contact Papa N’Jai at (231) 777-0693 or Mary Schutt at (231) 777-0380.
Mystery of the Christmas Star
Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 7:00 pm
Investigate the signs that led the Wise Men to travel to Bethlehem in “Mystery of the Christmas Star” at Muskegon Community College’s Carr-Fles Planetarium! No reservations are needed for this free, 35-minute program, which includes a brief lecture on the current sky conditions,as projected on the planetarium dome. Runs every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm November 1-December 1. The doors open at 6:45pm. There will be no show on Thanksgiving. Call (231) 777-0289 for more information.
Jazz at the Watermark 920
November 15 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday, November 15 at 7:30pm, come to the Watermark 920 for a night of jazz! Come and enjoy delicious sandwiches and beverages while listening to some of the best musicians in West Michigan. The band will be featuring 2 sets of top notch arrangements written by Sammy Nestico, Gordon Goodwin and others! You’ll hear some of the best jazz soloists in the state! For more information, call 231-727-0805.
Pasta and Pinot Culinary Class
November 16 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, November 16 from 5:00-8:00pm, come to Pub 111 for the Pasta & Pinot Culinary Class presented by Bygone Basic Culinary School. Enjoy wine and make friends as you learn all things pasta! Learn to make butter nut squash ravioli, basil egg noodles and delicious sauces from scratch, then dine on your creations at the end of class. The folks at Pub 111 will help you pair it with the right wine! This class is an adult only cooking class. The cost is $35.00. Call 740-4065, e-mail ICan@bygonebasics.com or register online.
Paint, Drink and Be Merry
November 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Wednesday, November 16 from 6:00-8:30pm, come to the Book Nook and Java Shop for an unforgettable evening of fun! Whether you have never picked up a paint brush before or if you want to spice up your painting experience, Sharon Smithem will guide you through every step. You’ll be sure to leave with a masterpiece! This class includes all painting supplies and a 16 x 20 canvas. To sign up, e-mail Sharon at sharonsmithem@gmail.com. The cost is $40.
Reception: Works by Ken Foster and Lisa Medendorp
November 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Muskegon Community College’s Overbrook Art Gallery highlights the work of retired MCC art instructor Ken Foster and MCC art alumna Lisa Medendorp.
A free public reception will be held on Wednesday, November 16, from 6:00-7:30pm with a gallery talk by the artists at 6:30pm. Overbrook Gallery hours are 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday with special weekend and evening hours during performances and concerts in the adjacent Overbrook Theater. For more information, call (231) 777-0324. The artists’ works share intriguing relationships of form and concept. Both artists have a respect for the environment as revealed in the repurposing of discarded materials in Foster’s assemblages and by the theme that underlies Medendorp’s paintings.
Festival of Trees
November 17 – November 27
The Muskegon Museum of Art’s 12th annual Festival of Trees community holiday celebration runs Thursday, November 17 through Sunday, November 27. The Festival will be open daily 11:00am to 5:00pm, noon to 5:00pm on Sundays, and closed on Thanksgiving. Vintage Downtown Muskegon holiday city scenes will be the backdrop of this year’s event. Professionally designed themed trees and décor will set a festive holiday mood and will be available for purchase through silent auction over the 10 days of the Festival. Raffles, music and holiday gift shopping will add to the fun. Special events include the popular Teddy Bear Breakfast, Senior Day, Family Day, Deck Your Halls holiday design workshop and two performances of A Christmas Carol.
Purchase admission tickets at the door:
$8 Adult | $5 MMA Member | $3 child 3-17 yrs. (under 3 free) | $14 All Festival Pass
Festival of Trees Special Events
• A Christmas Carol – Friday, November 18 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 20 at 2:00pm
$15 per adult, $10 MMA member, $5 for 15 years and under
Join us for Tom Harryman’s masterful one-man performance of the Christmas classic. The Friday night performance will be preceded by a special cocktail hour starting at 6:30pm.
• Festival Senior Day – Tuesday, November 22, 10:00am – 5:00pm
$1 off Festival admission for ages 65 and older. Enjoy free coffee and cookies, raffles, and entertainment throughout the day. Call 231-720-2571 for group bookings. Calling ahead to reserve an arrival time for your group will help us plan welcoming assistance and easier traffic flow.
• Festival Family Day – Wednesday, November 23, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Get out of the house for holiday fun the day before Thanksgiving! Discounted family rate and kids’ activities will add to the fun. Call 231-720-2571 for group bookings.
• Teddy Bear Breakfast – Saturday, November 26, 8:30-10:30am
Grab your teddy bears and get ready for another Teddy Bear Breakfast—great fun for ages 3-8 (and their adults). Includes full breakfast, visit with Santa, craft activity, and teddy bear checkup. Like last year, the event is longer with one more breakfast seating and fewer diners per seating. This change will provide more seating room. Tickets are limited, and always sell out. Plan to purchase early. Tickets: $12 for adults/$7 ages 1-17. Includes Festival admission. Call 231-720-2580 for tickets.
• Deck Your Halls Design Workshop – Sunday, November 27, 2:00-4:00pm
Enjoy wine, coffee, and snacks while Le Fleur Shoppe and Wasserman’s Festival designers demonstrate how you can make creative and affordable décor for gifts or for your own home, using new ideas inspired by Pinterest and other DIY sites. The many items crafted during the program will be given away to one-dollar raffle winning audience members. Tickets: $20 per person/$15 MMA member/$25 at the door. Includes Festival admission. Cash bar. Call 231-720-2580 to purchase tickets.
Jilly’s Trunk Sale
November 17 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Thursday, November 17 from 4:00-7:00pm, visit the Museum Store in the Lakeshore Museum Center for an opportunity to see and purchase some unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of art, fused glass, and dichroic jewelry from glass artist Jilly Barnes! Jilly, the owner of Jilly’s Gallery in Pentwater, will donate a portion of her sales that day to the Museum and shoppers may enter a drawing to win a special gift basket. In addition, shoppers will enjoy a 15% discount on store merchandise excluding books, consignment, and sale items. For more information, call 231-722-0278.
Muskegon Goes to War: Stories of Muskegon Area Veterans of World War II
November 17 @ 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 17 at 6:00pm, the stories of several Muskegon-area World War II veterans will be presented at a free lecture at the Lakeshore Museum Center. Grand Valley State University Professor James Smither will speak on “Muskegon Goes to War: Stories of Muskegon Area Veterans of World War II.” Professor Smither, the Director of the GVSU Veterans history Project, is collecting oral histories of Muskegon veterans of all eras in a partnership with the Lakeshore Museum Center. The GVSU Veterans History Project was established in 2006 to collect, record and archive oral history interviews and other material relating to the experiences of military veterans. They work in partnership with the Library of Congress and are one of a small number of archiving partners across the country. Veterans interested in sharing their story may call the Museum at 231-724-5526 to schedule an interview time.
Native American Children in American History
November 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
As part of the Muskegon Community College Lecture Series, Matthew L. M. Fletcher, professor of law at the Michigan State University College of Law and director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center, will discuss “Indian Children in American History” on Thursday, November 17, at 7:00pm in Stevenson Center, Room 1100.
Fletcher is a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians located in Peshawbestown, Michigan. He sits as the Chief Justice of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Supreme Court and also sits as an appellate judge for the Grand Traverse Band, the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the Lower Elwha Tribe, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska.
For more information, call 231-777-0583.
Hands on a Hardbody
November 18 – December 4
November 18 – December 4, Muskegon Civic Theatre invites you to the Beardsley Theater for “Hands on a Hardbody!” Inspired by true events, and infused with a “fresh roots-rock vibe,” this is the hilarious musical about a hard-fought contest in which only one winner can drive away with the American Dream. Ten contestants are determined to endure four sleepless days in the Texas heat for a chance to win a brand-new Nissan hardbody truck. All they have to do is fight to keep at least one hand on the truck and they will drive it away. Last one standing wins! Tickets are $20 & $22. For more information, visit www.frauenthal.org.
Holiday Walk 2016
November 18 – November 19
Friday, November 18 from 2:00pm – 8:00pm and Saturday, November 19 from 10:00am – 4:00pm, ring in the holidays with the 23rd Annual White Lake Holiday Walk! Enjoy traditional Christmas Open Houses featuring unique gifts and yummy treats from participating White Lake Area merchants. Share the spirit of Christmas with holiday music and a visit with Santa Claus as you stroll along the streets. Whitehall will again host the “Tree Lighting Ceremony” at 7:00pm on N. Mears Ave. Members and friends of the White Lake Chorale will be leading sing-a-long carols. The aroma of roasted chestnuts will fill the air along with hundreds of luminaries lining the sidewalks Friday evening. There’ll be complimentary hot chocolate, old-fashioned carriage rides, trolley rides, Christmas crafts and much more! Find out more by calling 231-893-4585 or visit www.whitelake.org.
Build a Gingerbread House (Adults Night)
November 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Come to the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club this annual event where you can enjoy time with your friends as you build a gingerbread house with all the supplies and the mess at their “house” instead of yours. Friday evening is for adults (18+). For reservations, contact Nancy by text/phone at 231-730-0887 or email Nancy@HousesByNancy.com. Walk-ins are accepted as space allows, but this is usually sold out.
“Supaman” to Perform at Native American Heritage Month Celebration
November 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Christian Takes Gun Parrish, a.k.a. “Supaman,” is a Native American dancer and innovative hip-hop artist who will perform on Friday, November 18, at 7:00pm in the Bartels-Rode Gymnasium on the Muskegon Community College campus. The event, which concludes the inaugural Native American Heritage Month celebration at MCC, is free and open to the public.
A member of the Apsaalooke Nation from Montana, he has dedicated his life to empowering and spreading a message of hope through culture and music. He founded the Native American hip-hop group Rezawrecktion, whose first album, “It’s Time,” won a Native American Music Award in 2005. Since then, he has released four solo albums, and received acclaim, including the MTV Artist of the Week, for his ability to simultaneously fuse singing, rapping, DJ-ing and fancy dance. He was awarded the Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Award in Canada for best video. His videos “Prayer Loop Song” and “Why” both went viral and received more than 2 million views on YouTube and Facebook. He has performed for Google at the Google headquarters in San Francisco and danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
For more information, call (231) 773-9131.
A Christmas Carol
November 18 and 20
Friday, November 18 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 20 at 2:00pm, come to the Muskegon Museum of Art for “A Christmas Carol” as presented by Tom Harryman! The cost is $15 per adult, $10 for members and $5 for 15 years and under. You’ll love Tom Harryman’s masterful one-man performance of the Christmas classic. The Friday night performance will be preceded by a special cocktail hour starting at 6:30pm. For more information, call 231-720-2574.
Homemade Holiday Pies with Chef Char
November 19
Saturday, November 19th – Homemade Holiday Pies with Chef Char – This class is just in time for Thanksgiving pie making! Learn to make a delicious homemade pie crust and various fillings for holiday dessert pies or meals. Demo and discuss: how to make perfect pie crust, how to roll out dough, how to make a lattice top crust, and importance of egg wash and venting in top crust. You will be making a pie to take home and you can bake it while in class or take it home for baking later. Older Teens and Adults. Cost $35.
Go to www.eventbrite.com and search on Muskegon Farmers Market and all currently scheduled classes will pop up. Also subscribe to our Kitchen 242 Facebook Events Page to receive notification when new culinary events are added.
Creative Saturday
November 19 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Join Muskegon Center for the Arts members in creative idea exchanges, inspiration and camaraderie as you work on your own project the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Red Lotus Gallery. “Creative Saturdays” are for ages 12 and up and are free to the public, but donations are always welcomed. Bring a new or current working project and your own supplies for your artwork; whether it be sewing, drawing or painting projects. Artists’ trading cards are also available. For more information visit www.muskegonca.org.
Build a Gingerbread House
November 19 and 20 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club in building a gingerbread house with your child(ren) at this annual event. All supplies and instructions are provided. Visit with Santa at all sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Children must be accompanied by an adult. There is a strict limit of 3 persons per house purchased due to space constraints. For reservations, contact Nancy by text/phone at 231-730-0887 or email Nancy@HousesByNancy.com. Walk-ins accepted as space allows, but this is usually sold out!
The MCA – Red Lotus Gallery Open Mic Night
November 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Muskegon Center for the Arts presents Open Mic Night at the Red Lotus Gallery, located in the Century Building, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. If you have a love for the stage and can perform an activity such as music, anything theatrical, poetry or readings, you may want to express it here or just show up to watch the show. There is always something new and unique to enjoy. This event happens on the third Saturday of every month and is for persons 18 years and older. This is a free event. For more information, call (231) 206-0426.
Free Family Movie Night: Jumanji
November 19 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 19 at 7:00pm, come to the Howmet Playhouse for a Free Family Movie Night featuring Jumanji from 1995!
Jumanji is a visually elaborate fantasy about an enchanted board game that opens a magical portal to a jungle universe. Two young children, Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce), discover the game in an abandoned home and suddenly are greeted by Alan (Robin Williams), an adult who has spent his life trapped inside the game since playing it at age 12. Alan’s only hope for freedom involves finishing the game, but this proves rather dangerous, as Judy, Peter, and Alan find themselves running for their lives from huge rhinoceroses, evil monkeys, vicious lions, and other terrifying jungle beasts. PG (for menacing fantasy action and some mild language.)
Free drinks and popcorn are included. For more information, call (231) 894-4048.
Pure Pro Wrestling with Silas Young
November 19 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 19 at 7:00pm, it’s the Pure Pro Wrestling event featuring Ring of Honor wrestling star, Silas Young! This is family-friendly entertainment happening at VFW Post 446. Ringside seats are $20 and include a free poster. All other seats are general admission and are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Buy tickets at the VFW or online at www.prowrestlingatitsfinest.com.
Kids @ The Block
November 20
Sunday, November 20 at 2:00pm & 4:00pm, the West Michigan Concert Winds present “Kids @ The BLOCK! This is a family-friendly concert featuring the music and stories of “Peter and the Wolf”, “Flight of the Bumblebee” and more. For more information, call 231-557-4499.
West Michigan Lake Hawks Basketball Game
November 20 @ 5:00 pm
See the back-to-back North Central Division Champions! November 20 at 5:00pm, catch their home game at Reeths-Puffer High School as they play Team NetWork. All tickets are just $8 each. Ages four and under are FREE! Purchase Lake Hawks tickets at the Frauenthal Center or at the door. www.lakehawksbasketball.com
USS Silversides November Lecture Series
November 21 @ 6:00 pm
Monday evenings, November 14 – 21 at 6:00pm, you’re invited to the USS Silversides Submarine Museum’s November Lecture Series! The cost is $5, or free for museum members.
November 21: The Discovery of the USS Conestoga presented by David Ruck, MFA, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
This was one of the top unsolved maritime mysteries since it went missing in 1921, until it was found in 2016, 95 years later. Come hear about the discovery and identification of the USS Conestoga as told by documentary film maker David Ruck. www.silversidesmuseum.org