Porterhouse Productions and Bay Area Recycling for Charities are partnering up to launch the first annual Great Wakes Festival June 1 and 2 in downtown Traverse City. The festival will focus on raising funds and awareness for water-focused non-profits, supporting efforts to protect and keep clean the region’s rivers, streams and lakes and offering a wide variety of water-themed activities and entertainment throughout the weekend. Festival proceeds, which will be distributed by Bay Area Recycling for Charities, will help benefit local non-profit organizations focused on water-related causes.
Highlights of this huge bayfront festival will include the country’s largest self-contained wakeboarding pool system in downtown’s Open Space, featuring professional wakeboarding demonstrations and a Wakes War Tournament Cup with local and professional riders; paddle, kayak, and kiteboarding demonstrations and displays; boating displays and events; delicious water themed food court and soda jerk ice cream stations; water education activities; family-friendly games and events; a teen zone featuring a silent disco tent and activities produced by local student-run Youth Union; a community aerial art display project in partnership with GoodWill Industries of Northern Michigan (creating a large-scale image, when photographed from above, of the Great Lakes using volunteers, two tons of blue jeans and recycled materials); Coast Guard helicopter tours and search-and-rescue demonstrations; a competitive stand-up paddleboarding race down the Boardman River; a Great Wakes beach volleyball tournament (which will help raise funds for new beach sand for the West End volleyball courts); the first annual Traverse City Beach Race (organized in partnership with the Traverse City March of Dimes); local beach and water clean-up; and regional partner events, including the Grand Traverse Area Sport Fishing Association 2012 Trout Derby.
Festival tents on-site during the weekend will highlight award-winning Michigan microbrews and wines, as well as local food and local and national music on multiple stages.
Visit Great Wakes Festival Website >>>>
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Visit Great Wakes Festival Website >>>>
The Homestead is excited to add the Corvairs to our concert series this year. They have been making great music in Northern Michigan for over 15 years, playing a mix of Rhythm & Blues, Motown, and Classic hits. The fun-loving group has played from Detroit to the “Soo” and are thrilled to be playing at home in Leelanau County.
Featuring Frank Dituri and Angelo Meli on guitar, Dave Viswat playing keyboard, Bob DeKorne on bass, and John Kumjian as the percussionist.
Sure to be a crowd pleaser…The Corvairs can be found at http://www.thecorvairs.net/theband.html.
Music on the Mountain
This summer-long series of concerts will be held at the top of Bay Mountain. Mingle with old friends and new during the happy hour. Purchase one or more tickets in the 50/50 raffle. You could win half of the money and you will help our lakeshore, as the other half will be donated to Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. This year’s concert schedule is:
Ticket pricing $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Transportation to the top of Bay Mountain begins at 6pm, concert begins at 7pm. Call 231.334.5100 for tickets.
Visit The Homestead Website >>>>
Memorial Park, Elk Rapids, 10 am – 5 pm
A juried, fine-arts event in which selected artists will show, demonstrate and sell their work by Grand Traverse Bay in the heart of this charming harbor town, whose many galleries already attract an art-loving clientele the year around. Juried categories include oil/acrylic/tempera, watercolor, mixed media, drawings/pastel, sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass, and ceramic. Musical performances, artist demonstrations, and a kids’ art tent will complete the picture. The fair is held on the last Saturday of June.
A non-profit event to promote fine art and enhance Elk Rapids’ growing reputation as an art-focused community.
Proceeds will be used to enhance the arts and art education in the Elk Rapids area. Art Rapids! has established an art-focused school assistance program, as well as a scholarship program for Elk Rapids High School students.
Visit Art Rapids! Website >>>>