MyNorth News Service

(Press Release provided by Michigan Legacy Art Park)

THOMPSONVILLE: From birding tours and guided hikes to outdoor concerts and artist collaborations, Michigan Legacy Art Park offers something for everyone this summer.

Beginning May 23, hike the park with Keith Westphal, an active birder for 48 years, to identify birds by their song. Bring your binoculars to spot birds that make the 30-acre preserve home each spring. Saturdays at 8:30 am, May 23 & 30 and June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Lasting 1 1⁄2 hours, no reservations are required. $5 suggested donation.

The park’s summer kickoff event is Fairies & Forts, Saturday June 20. Fun for the whole family, children especially will delight in crafting fairy- and fort-themed art projects. The event, from 2 – 5 pm, includes a kid’s concert by Miriam Pico. Children free, $5 per adult includes general park admission.

Join a guided hike and take the Art Park experience to the next level. Lasting about 1 1⁄2 hours, learn more about Michigan history, environment and sculpture. Sundays June 21 – Aug. 9 at 10 am and Thursdays June 25 – Aug. 13 at 9 am. No reservations required. $5 suggested donation.

Riding tours are the ideal choice for anyone unable to hike the hilly trail, and last about 1 hour. An experienced guide drives an all-terrain golf cart, with seating limited to five passengers. Advanced registration is required, $5. Riding tours run Wednesdays and Saturdays from June 24 – Aug. 15 at 10 am.

An unparalleled musical experience, the park’s outdoor amphitheater hosts six concerts this summer in the intimate, wooded setting. All concerts take place on Fridays at 7 pm, with rides from the parking lot to the amphitheater beginning at 6:15. $10 suggested donation, with the exception of our first concert which will be ticketed due to an expected high turnout.

The lineup for Summer Sounds 2015 is:

July 10 – Joshua Davis Trio

As seen on NBC’s television show The Voice, Joshua Davis writes songs that blend the roots of American music with gritty rock n’ roll and vintage soul.

July 17 – May Erlewine with Seth Bernard

The sounds and influences you’ll hear in her music range from good old-fashioned folk and country swing to soul singers, rock and music the world over. Bundled with stories and melodies, the experience is a journey of the heart.

July 24 – Benzie Playboys

K. Jones and the Benzie Playboys play some great “old school” zydeco and Cajun music with traditional button accordions, fiddles, and washboard for an authentic Louisiana dance experience.

July 31 – Interlochen Faculty Revue

From singer-songwriter Courtney Kaiser-Sandler to cellist Crispin Campbell, this performance will have something for everyone.

August 7 – Ruth and Max Bloomquist

With influences of folk, bluegrass, and country, Ruth and Max have created a heart-touching, audience-pleasing acoustic Americana that is all their own.

August 14 – The Accidentals

Back by popular demand, Traverse City singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Katie Larson, Savannah Buist and Michael Dause have created a sound all their own that is winning praise from music lovers across the country.

The public is invited to join the park’s artist-in-residence Nancy McKay in soul-searching activities inspired by nature. An interpretive artist, McKay is nationally recognized for her ability to engage others in producing transformational art through the experience of being “on the trail.” She guides audiences in finding the “stories” behind each landscape and developing themes that explore universal concepts: joy, natural beauty, perseverance, hope, and peace. Activities include journaling, meditation and art projects. No reservations required, 1- 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, July 11 August 2. Donations appreciated.

For more detailed information, visit www.michlegacyartpark.org.

###

About Michigan Legacy Art Park

Michigan Legacy Art Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, offers an unparalleled experience of art, nature and history. More than 40 outdoor sculptures line nearly 2 miles of hiking trails that wind through a 30-acre preserve of wooded hills. The Art Park inspires artists to create sculptures that interpret Michigan’s history, culture and environment – making a unique cultural and recreational destination located on the grounds of Crystal Mountain.

Crystal Mountain and Michigan Legacy Art Park received the Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration in March 2009. Michigan Legacy Art Park is supported in part by grants from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Photo(s) by Michigan Legacy Art Park