Fall is around the corner and we’re celebrating all September long with concerts, intimate wine tours, an art fundraiser and more! Add these Northern Michigan events to your calendar, and get ready to enjoy one of the most beautiful months Up North.
Harvest Days // September 1–30
All month long (Saturdays excluded), Harvest Days ticket holders experience what it’s like to be a wine club member at 25+ Leelanau Peninsula wineries, enjoying exclusive benefits.
Guided Urban Hike in Traverse City // September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Explore one of TC’s most interesting trails—close to downtown but with an Up North feel. The hike is moderate and will take you through woods and meadows, with great views, plants and wildlife. Hear about the beginnings of Traverse City, the former State Psychiatric Hospital, the geology of the area and more.
Craft & Sip // September 2, 16, 30
Enjoy a night of creativity and refreshments at Otsego Resort in Gaylord. Your host, Deanna, will be choosing a new craft project each week—every night is unique and no experience is necessary.
Red, White and Sparkle Wine Pairing Dinner // September 2
Enjoy a three-course meal paired with three wines at Otsego Resort in Gaylord. The evening will start with whitefish dip and crispy pita, followed by elk steak and strawberry swirl cheesecake.
Black Star Farms Estate & Wine Tour // September 3, 10, 17, 24, 27
Join Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay for a one-hour guided walking tour through the picturesque property. Tour highlights include a centennial barn, vineyard and wine cave. During the tour, you’ll learn the history of the iconic 160-acre estate and about the journey from grape to glass. An informative wine and spirits tasting, hosted by your guide, follows the tour.
Minnehaha Brewhaha Music Festival // September 4
Friday is free admission. The festival starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday with music and local beer tastings in Arcadia.
LaborFest 2021 // September 4
LaborFest is an all day event with a car show from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m., parade at 12:30 p.m. and music, food and drinks starting at 1 p.m. Head to Douglas Park in Manistee for a fun filled day with all proceeds going toward the Outdoor Amphitheater Project for First Street Beach. Admission fee only required after 5 p.m.
The Insiders Live at Coyote Crossing // September 4
Close your eyes and you won’t know the difference. Open them and you still might be fooled. The Insiders present the premier Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers experience. With six veteran musicians and decades of combined stage and touring experience, The Insiders are genuinely running down the dream. See them in Cadillac at Coyote Crossing Resort.
4th Annual B3 Festival // September 5
It’s Eagle 101.5’s 4th Annual B3 Festival (Beer, Blues & Barbecue) on the slopes of the scenic Treetops Resort in Gaylord. This year’s lineup features award-winning blues rock guitarist Albert Castiglia, along with special guest Joanna Connor, the Jon Archambault Band and Cold Shot: A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan. In addition, a large variety of Michigan craft brews will be featured, along with the annual pig roast and an array of other food to enjoy.
Artists for Wings of Wonder – Community Fundraiser // September 10
Higher Art Gallery in Traverse City invites you for an evening of art, music, libations and cross-cultural experiences all in an effort to benefit the new Wings of Wonder Tribal Raptor Rehabilitation Center.
Panda Paws Rescue and Cherryland Humane Society Benefit // September 17
Animal lovers, you may know Amanda Giese, the founder and director of Panda Paws Rescue. The nonprofit specializes in taking care of animals with major medical or special needs, and Amanda also has a television show, “Amanda To The Rescue,” on Animal Planet. Join Panda Paws and Cherryland Humane Society at Bonobo Winery in Traverse City for a benefit event and meet and greet.
Pentwater Solfest Music Festival 2021 // September 17
The fifth annual event will be held in the backyard of the Village Cafe, located at 347 S. Hancock Street in Pentwater. Food and drinks will be available all weekend. Come and enjoy a weekend full of fantastic music and fun times!
May Erlewine “Here We Are” Tour // September 17
After 18 months of performing virtually, Michigan songwriter May Erlewine returns to live venues this September. The songwriter, known for her cathartic and emotionally rich songs brings you an evening of community and togetherness at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey.
Hops & Props on the River // September 18
Located in historic Manistee along the Riverwalk, Hops & Props pairs Classic Century boats with Michigan craft beer, cider, wine and spirits.
España – From the Old World to the New World // September 18
This Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra concert of Spanish music will be held in Bay Harbor at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts.
Annie & Rod Capps with Jason Dennie // September 18
The Pine Performance Center in Curtis welcomes Annie & Rod Capps with Jason Dennie. Over the years, Annie and Rod have done it all; from rock to musical theater and while they continue to draw from a wide range of genres and influences, what comes out is a hybrid sound all their own.
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre in the U.P. // September 20, 21
Head to Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn in Curtis to help solve this mystery. It’s 1857 in New Orleans. The Mystick Krewe of Cochon is having an end of Mardi Gras Ball, and things are about to get messy as surprise guests arrive searching for coveted treasure … a dead man’s chest! Local actors, lots of fun interaction and laughs.
TC Germanfest 2021 // September 24
TC Germanfest is back and it’s expanded. Here’s the scoop:
Friday, September 24 – Take and Heat. Pre-order your German meals for pick up. Adult dinners: Bavarian pork, German potato salad, kraut, brat and chocolate stout cake. Kid’s meals: hot dog, buttered noodles, chocolate cake and applesauce. Orders need to be placed by September 17. They do sell out, so place your orders now!
Friday, October 1 – ‘Sip and See’ (tickets sold separately). This is your chance to view online auction items in person. Ticket price includes German appetizers, music and dancing (DJ) and karaoke. German bier and wein can be purchased for $8. This is a 21 and over community outreach event.
Saturday, October 2 – Familienfest is new for 2021. This family-friendly event will also be under the Bavarian tent. Familienfest is free and open to the public. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to the tent and enjoy Gemütlichkeit, games and adventure. Brats, hotdogs, pretzels and other food items will be available for purchase. A freewill offering will be available.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse Beacon Road Rally // September 25
This family-friendly scavenger hunt around Leelanau County will include 12-15 mystery spots in Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau and Northport. Each team will have to decipher clues which will lead them to a mystery spot to collect an item or take photo proof. All proceeds will benefit the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum US Coast Guard boat restoration which will be used for school programming to find local shipwrecks.
Collaboration – Live Art & Music Featuring The Jeff Haas Trio // September 27
Higher Art Gallery in Traverse City is excited to welcome the energy of live music back into the space with a bi-weekly Monday night concert featuring The Jeff Haas Trio. “Collaboration” is an intimate, multi-disciplinary art experience. Jeff’s trio will perform favorites from the Great American Songbook as well as original music. Throughout the audience/gallery space, visual artists will be drawing, sketching or painting. As a fluid and evolving event, we never know who else could show up to create or perform! Call or email the gallery to find out which artists will be featured at each performance.
