Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.visitmuskegon.org
85th Anniversary of the Wreck of the Henry Cort
November 18 @ 6:00 pm
Monday, November 18 at 6:00pm, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum will be commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Wreck of the Henry Cort. The Henry Cort ended her days wrecked on the north side of the Muskegon channel break wall in Muskegon, Michigan on November 30, 1934. The 320-foot whaleback steamer hit the heavy stone breakwater after encountering a storm packing 45 mph winds. The incident showcased a dramatic rescue attempt by the U.S. Coast Guard.
This event will be presented by author and underwater explorer, Valerie Van Heest, and author Neal Zoss. The cost is $5.00 per person, or free with your USS Silversides Submarine Museum membership. For more information call (231) 755-1230.
NaNoWriMo: Family Stories into Fiction
November 18 @ 7:00 pm
Monday, November 18 at 7:00pm, come to Norton Shores Library for “NaNoWriMo: Family Stories into Fiction!” To celebrate National Novel Writing Month, local writer Fred Sanderlin, author of ‘Journey to Little Rock,’ shares how turning family memories into fiction can be the spark that gets you started on your creative writing journey. No registration is required. For more information call 231-780-8844.
Crafts & Drafts: Holiday Banner & Sign
November 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Monday, November 18 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, come to Pigeon Hill Brewing Co. for “Crafts & Drafts: Holiday Banner & Sign!” Thanksgiving is around the corner and it’s time to get together with friends and family. Talk to your friends and schedule a craft night this holiday season! $15 gets you a fun crafty night with all the materials and instructions PLUS any Tier I or Tier 2 beer!
You’ll be making a burlap banner with stencils. You can customize the banner to say anything but few ideas would be… grateful, thankful, your family name, happy thanksgiving…or how about BEER? The options are endless as YOU are the artist. Participants will also be able to make a burlap sign and can paint a variety of cute wooden phrases to attach to the burlap sign. The burlap sign looks cute on front doors or even hanging up in the window. Get crafty and pre-register now. Please call the taproom at (231)375-5184 to reserve your seat! Stay tuned for more crafts & drafts sessions this fall/winter.
Escape Box Challenge: Harry Potter & the Quidditch Quest
November 19 @ 4:30 pm
Tuesday, November 19 at 4:30pm, come to the Muskegon Heights Library for the Escape Box Challenge: Harry Potter & the Quidditch Quest Peeves has stolen the Quidditch golden snitch so all Quidditch practices and games have been suspended until it has been recovered. As members of your team, can you find the snitch in time to save the Quidditch season? It’s perfect fun for the entire family. Call 231-739-6075 to register for this free event.
Wherehouse Studio Presents “Basic Drawing: Simple Perspective with Jon Workman”
November 19 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Tuesday, November 19 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Wherehouse Studio invites you to their Pop-Up Class “Basic Drawing: Simple Perspective with Jon Workman” at Red Lotus Center for the Arts. Look forward to an awesome two hour workshop focusing on simple perspective (1 point and 2 point) of basic shapes, led by Jon Workman, painter and sculptor. This is the second session in Basic Drawing, and some knowledge of basic shapes is helpful. You will work with pencil and paper (all supplies will be provided). You may bring a drawing pencil set, but it is not required. The registration deadline is Sunday, November 17 and the cost for the session is $30, with seating secured by paid reservation. Ages 12 and above are welcome (with an adult).
Please use this link to register online: https://wherehousestudio.com/mc-events/basic-drawing-simple-perspective-with-jon-workman/?mc_id=2
Planetarium Show: Mystery of the Christmas Star
Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 7:00pm
November 5 – December 12 at 7:00pm, a holiday tradition returns to the Carr-Fles Planetarium with “Mystery of the Christmas Star!” No reservations are needed for this free, 30-minute show in room 1072 at Muskegon Community College. Be sure to come early and visit the John Barley Science Museum in room 1073, across the hall from the planetarium. The museum is open until 7:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays; allow 20-30 minutes. For more information, or to schedule a private planetarium show for groups of 15 or more, call 231-777-0289.
Jazz at the Watermark 920
November 19 @ 7:30 pm
Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30pm, come to the Watermark 920 for the Truth in Jazz Orchestra! There’ll be food by Fatty Lumpkins and a cash bar. Led by Muskegon legend, drummer Tim Froncek, the Truth in Jazz Orchestra has been a Muskegon institution for the past 15 years! There is a $5 cover. Students are $2 with ID. For more information, check out their website at www.tijo.org.
Festival of Trees
November 20 – December 1
The Muskegon Museum of Art Festival of Trees opens November 20 and runs through December 1, 2019.The beauty and spirit of Christmas inspire the Festival of Trees as it returns to the MMA for its 15th year as a Muskegon community holiday tradition. Visitors will see professionally designed holiday trees and decorations, most available in a silent auction to benefit the MMA.
Special Festival events include holiday shopping, First Day Food Drive, Family Day, Teddy Bear Breakfast, Deck Your Halls Decorating Demo Event, Senior Day, Holiday Concert by Max & Ruth Bloomquist and Julia & The Greensides, a pre-show Cocktail Hour for Muskegon Civic Theatre “The Christmas Carol” ticketholders, and visits with Santa.
Festival Hours & Admission
• Nov. 20 – Dec. 1: Open daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Sundays 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm / Closed Thanksgiving
• Admission: $10 adult / $5 for MMA members / $3 ages 3-17 (under 3 free) / $15 All-Festival Pass
Special Events
Visit with Santa at Festival of Trees
• Saturday, November 23, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
• Friday, November 29, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
• Saturday, November 30, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
First Day Food Drive
Wednesday, November 20
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Bring a food donation for Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry on the first day of Festival of Trees and receive half-off Festival adult admission.
Deck Your Halls
Holiday Decorating Demo Event
Sunday, November 24
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Floral designers Deb Moon from Le Fleur Shoppe and Skeeter Parkhouse from Wasserman’s Flowers and Gifts will demonstrate how to create unique holiday décor during this event. Items created during the demo will be raffled to the audience. Light snacks and coffee will be served. Advance Ticket: $35 per person/$30 MMA member. Call 231.720.2580 to purchase.
Senior Day
Tuesday, November 26
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Special Senior Day half-off ticket price for ages 65 and older: $5
• Free coffee & cookies
• Vendor giveaways & information
• Door prizes
• Blood pressure clinic
Call ahead for group bookings: 231.720.2571.
Family Day
Friday, November 29
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Santa will stop in for a visit from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and the fun will include a kids’ craft activity and scavenger hunt. Special Family Day half-off adult ticket price: $5. Call 231.720.2571 for group bookings.
Holiday Concert
Featuring Max & Ruth Bloomquist and Julia & the Greensides
Friday, November 29
6:00 pm Cocktail Hour | 7:00 pm Concert
Special holiday performance program. Cash bar. Ticket includes Festival admission.
Ticket: $12 per person/$10 MMA Member. Call 231.720.2580 to purchase.
Teddy Bear Breakfast
Saturday, November 30
8:30 – 10:30 am
Grab your teddy bears and get your tickets for this family-favorite Festival of Trees event! Activities are especially fun for kids 3-8 years old.
Ticket includes:
• Festive breakfast with fruit, sausage, muffins, quiche, juice, and coffee
• Teddy bear checkup by a certified teddy bear nurse
• A visit with Santa
• Teddy Bear Parade and Story Time
• Make-and-Take Craft
Tickets: Adults $15, Kids 12 and younger $10 (Tickets are limited; reservations are highly recommended. This event sells out.) Call 231.720.2580 to purchase.
Cocktail Hour
Partnering with the Muskegon Civic Theatre
Saturday, November 30
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Join us for a festive cocktail hour at the MMA. Free admission for ticket holders of the Muskegon Civic Theatre’s Saturday performance of “The Christmas Carol.” Admission: Present your MCT “Christmas Carol” ticket or pay $8 admission at the door. Cash bar.
Edmund Fitzgerald: The Stories, the Song
November 20 @ 6:30 pm
Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30pm, come to the North Muskegon Library for “Edmund Fitzgerald: The Stories, the Song!” Author/storyteller/singer Mike Fornes shares the stories of the crewmembers, their families and the ironies of a doomed Great Lakes freighter ship, along with how the hit song “The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald” was written, recorded and performed by Gordon Lightfoot. For more information call 231-744-6080.
Sin City Scoop
November 20 @ 7:00 pm
Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00pm, come to the Norton Shores Library for “Sin City Scoop!” Pick up tips and tricks for making your next Las Vegas trip the best ever. Vegas veteran Lou Gifford will share insider information on attractions, hotels, casinos and more from the latest 4th edition of his guidebook, ‘Las Vegas – Your Way.’ Copies will be available for purchase. For more information call 231-780-8844.
Guinness World Record Attempt
November 21 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday, November 21 from 7:00am – 3:00pm, join Golden Key Charity at the L.C. Walker Arena as they attempt to break a Guinness World Record! They will attempt to break the current record for the World’s Longest Continuous Line of Canned Foods. Their goal is to collect 100,000 cans of food, which will be distributed immediately after the event to families and local food pantries to help those in need this Thanksgiving.
They are in need of people willing to collect food, and businesses willing to be drop off sites. Please contact Lisa at 313-363-8610 or email goldenkeycamp@yahoo.com to arrange pick up of your collection, or for more information. To donate online via Paypal, please visit www.facebook.com/events/2456365981243608.
Escape Box Challenge: Harry Potter & the Quidditch Quest
November 21 @ 4:00 pm
Thursday, November 21 at 4:00pm, come to the Dalton Library for the Escape Box Challenge: Harry Potter & the Quidditch Quest! Peeves has stolen the Quidditch golden snitch so all Quidditch practices and games have been suspended until it has been recovered. As members of your team, can you find the snitch in time to save the Quidditch season? This is perfect fun for the entire family. Call 231-828-4188 to register for this free event.
After Hours Tours at Hackley Public Library
November 21 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 21 from 4:30pm – 6:oopm, dive into history and learn details about Hackley Public Library during an ‘After-Hours’ guided tour! Visitors are asked to arrive at 4:45pm to gather in HPL’s lower level meeting rooms, and the tours will begin at 5:00pm. Please park in the rear parking lot as the front doors will be locked. These 1 hour tours are free, open to the public and recommended for all ages. Call (231) 722-8000 with any questions.
Gears & Beers
November 21 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Thursday, November 21 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, come to Pigeon Hill Brewing Company for “Gears & Beers” with Northern Edge Snowsports! Ever wonder where the best places to ski in Michigan are? What type of skis best suits the terrain at all the Michigan ski resorts? How to properly dress for skiing in the windy winters of Michigan?
The answer is Northern Edge Snowsports right here in Muskegon, voted #1 ski shop by Freeskier magazine! Join them in the taproom and enjoy a beer while discussing everything about Michigan downhill skiing and snowboarding. Owners Andrew and Wendy Horton will be there to answer all of your questions and share their knowledge from years of experience in the local ski business. Northern Edge Sports will have drawings for gift cards & passes to local resorts. They’ll also have coupons on hand! For more information call Pigeon Hill at (231) 375-5184.
Edmund Fitzgerald: The Stories, the Song
November 21 @ 7:00 pm
Thursday, November 21 at 7:00pm, come to the Norton Shores Library for “Edmund Fitzgerald: The Stories, the Song!” Author/storyteller/singer Mike Fornes shares the stories of the crewmembers, their families and the ironies of a doomed Great Lakes freighter ship, along with how the hit song “The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald” was written, recorded and performed by Gordon Lightfoot. For more information call 231-780-8844.
Muskegon Civic Theatre presents: A Christmas Carol
November 21 – December 1
Come to the Beardsley Theater as the Muskegon Civic Theatre presents, “A Christmas Carol!” The Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand has teamed with Sheldon Harnick, one of the theatre’s most celebrated Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning librettists, and the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s prophetic Christmas Eve is reborn. From the pages of Dickens comes this scintillating musical adaptation of the Yuletide classic that continues to touch hearts and minds the world over. Tickets are $26.50. For more information call 231-727-8001.
• November 21: 7:30pm (Please note, there was an error published in the marketing materials. The show on November 28 is scheduled for November 21.)
• November 22: 7:30pm
• November 23: 7:30pm
• November 24: 3:00pm
• November 29: 7:30pm
• November 30: 7:30pm
• December 1: 3:00pm
White Lake Area Holiday Walk
November 22 – November 23
The 26th Annual White Lake Area Holiday Walk is happening Friday, November 22 from 2:00pm – 8:00pm and Saturday, November 23 from 10:00am to 4:00pm in White Hall and Montague! Dozens of participating businesses will offer Christmas Open Houses, featuring gift guides, discounts and special sales, as well as delicious refreshments. Visit with Santa Claus and see if you made the nice list this year! Participating merchants and Santa’s time and locations are located on the Holiday Walk Star Map/Entry Form, which can be picked up at the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce or any participating Holiday Walk stop (look for the big blue sign in the window). Submit your completed Holiday Walk Map/Entry Form and enter the drawing to win a $50 White Lake Gift Certificate.
Whitehall again hosts the White Lake Area “Tree Lighting Ceremony” Friday, November 22 at 6:30pm, culminating with the tree lighting on North Mears Ave. at 7:00pm. Children of all ages are invited to help decorate the Community Christmas Tree by bringing their own ornaments or create make-and-take ornaments from participating stores. Gather at the north end of Mears Ave. and enjoy the festive voices of the members of Whitehall High School with friends and family, while the aroma of roasted chestnuts fills the air and hundreds of holiday luminaries line the sidewalks.
Friday from 5:00pm – 8:00pm, and Saturday from 12:00pm – 3:00pm, enjoy old-fashioned carriage rides in both Montague and Whitehall. Trolley rides will transport you to any of the participating merchants throughout Montague and Whitehall on Saturday from 11:00am – 3:00pm, courtesy of Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt. Share in the spirit of Christmas with holiday caroling and a visit with Santa Claus as you stroll along the downtown areas. Again, visit and shop local area stores and take part in their special discounts and offers this weekend only! For more information call (231) 893-4585.
Back Alley Comedy Club: Steve O
November 22 – 23
November 22 and 23 at 6:30pm and 9:30pm, come to the Back Alley Comedy Club for Steve-O (a.k.a. Stephen Glover)! VIP tickets are $50 and include laminate, preferred seating, and you’ll be at the front of line for the Meet & Greet. General Admission tickets are $25 and on sale at www.backalleycomedyclub.com/muskegon. For more information call (616) 570-8765.
Friday Family Fun Night: Foundries
November 22 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Friday, November 22 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm, join the Lakeshore Museum Center and the American Foundry Society for a night dedicated to foundries in Muskegon. Learn about historical foundries in Muskegon, experiment with making your own foundry sand, and cast a real metal object to take home. This event is $5, or free for Muskegon County residents. For more information call (231) 722-0278.
Gingerbread House Building
November 22 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Come to the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club to build and decorate your own gingerbread house! Instruction and materials are all included. You must reserve your space in advance by contacting Nancy at 231-730-0887 or at nancy@housesbynancy.com. Walk-ins will be accepted only as space allows. The cost is $16 per house in advance or $20 at the door. Take-home kits are $25 and must be pre-ordered. Children must be accompanied by an adult and there is a strict limit of 3 people per house kit. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club.
Sip & Shop
November 23 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday, November 23 from 11:00am – 4:00pm, the Watermark 920 is bringing back “Sip & Shop” for the holidays! Are you looking for that special gift for someone, or for yourself? Browse the wide variety of vendors and crafters! From Thirty-One Bags to wire wrapped jewelry, you are bound to find something you love!
Sip while you shop! There will be a cash bar featuring Mimosas, wine, beer and mixed drinks, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. For more information call 231-727-0805.
18th Annual Mona Shores Fiddle Festival
November 23 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday, November 23 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, it’s the 18th Annual Fiddle Festival featuring guest artists ESME, as well as appearances by The Mona Shores Fiddlers and Middle Fiddles. Tickets are $10. For more information call 231-332-8327.
Downtown Live Concert Series
November 23 @ 7:30 pm
The Downtown Live Concert Series at the Frauenthal Center begins its second season in October 2019 and will feature every Muskegon Community College music ensemble, as well as the West Michigan Concert WINDS which is affiliated with MCC. The 10-concert series continues through April 2020. Some of the musical selections this season are based upon the 2019 Arts and Humanities Festival (ahFest) theme of “Hope.” Saturday, November 23 at 7:30pm, the West Michigan Concert WINDS present “Superheroes & Princesses” in the Frauenthal Center. Tickets are $12.00 for adults, $2.00 for students and $10 each for groups of 6 or more. For more information call 231-727-8001.
Walvoord and Co: Classical Chamber
November 23 @ 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 23 at 7:30pm, come to The Block for Walvoord and Co: Classical Chamber! Tickets are $25 – $35 or $10 for students. West Michigan Symphony Concertmaster Jennifer Walvoord and Principal 2nd Violin Amanda Dykhouse are joined by their sister Martha (former WMS Concertmaster) for an evening spanning Baroque to Romantic, Fiddle to Contemporary. Expect great music with lots of sibling banter thrown in. For more information call 231-726-3231.
Shoreline Community Orchestra Presents: “A Classical Afternoon”
November 24 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Shoreline Community Orchestra, formerly the Shoreline Symphony, opens its 2019-20 season with “A Classical Afternoon” on Sunday, November 24 at 3:00pm at The Playhouse at White Lake! The Shoreline Community Orchestra is led by conductor Dr. John Blakemore, the band director for Grand Rapids Christian Schools, who holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Michigan State University. The orchestra was established in September 2012 by Muskegon Community College and its founding director, the late S. Annette Jurcevic.
Appropriately titled “New Beginnings,” the orchestra’s eighth season launches with the ensemble’s debut in the Whitehall area. “A Classical Afternoon” will feature the following works:
• Edward Elgar’s Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 20
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Serenade in C Minor, K. 388
• Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, Op. 88
Preceding the concert at 2:30pm, Blakemore will present an informal discussion in which audience members are invited to learn about the background of the pieces being performed. Admission is $11 in advance and $15 at the door. Children under 18, and accompanied by an adult, receive free admission. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.theplayhouseatwhitelake.org.
MCC to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Exhibit & Powwow
November 25 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Muskegon Community College will celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November with a display of artwork and a powwow on campus. Native American art will be on display in the Overbrook Theater hallway from Friday, November 8 – 30. Works by Native American artists Steve Kequom, Waabishiki Meegwan Tony, and Ron Wittenberg will be featured, as well as a video of the artists describing their work.
On Monday, November 25, a powwow with participants from across Michigan will take place in MCC’s Collegiate Hall from 12:00pm – 4:00pm. Students and the public can drop in for any part of the ceremonies, which are free. The emcee and head drummer will be Al Metzgar.
The events are being organized by MCC student Bernadene Crampton and the MCC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. For more information, contact Dan Rinsema-Sybenga at (231) 777-0569 or dan.rinsema-sybenga@muskegoncc.edu. For more information about the MCC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, contact Trynette Lottie-Harps at (231) 777-0559 or trynette.lottie-harps@muskegoncc.edu.
Family Game Night at the Library
November 25 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The last Monday of the month from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, come to Ravenna Public Library for Family Game Night! Would you like to try new or different board games? Join them as they partner with the Muskegon Area Gamers and The Gaming Annex for a night of family fun. Selection will vary, but could include games such as Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, and Pandemic. This event is free and for ages 7 and up. For more information, call 231-853-6975.