There’s a wide variety of activities on the schedule this week in Northern Michigan, from live music to author talks to theater performances.
Here’s what we recommend:
A salute to the passenger pigeon
Petoskey is paying respects to the extinct passenger pigeon with a series of events taking place June 15-19.
“The Great Petoskey Passenger Pigeon Nesting of 1878” includes activities like a birding walk at 8 a.m. along the Bear River on Tuesday, June 16, a screening of the “Lost Bird Project” at the Crooked Tree Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, kids activities at the Little Traverse History Museum at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 and much more. The week’s highlight is the unveiling of a new passenger pigeon monument at the Danser Professional Building at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 19.
Check out the full schedule of free, public events at petoskeymuseum.org/passenger-pigeons.html.
Find out about fossils
The Cheboygan Area Public Library will host a presentation about Michigan fossils at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17 with the Raven Hill Discovery Center.
Children in attendance will learn how to identify fossils and be able to polish a fossil of their very own. No cost or registration is required, but space is limited. This event is intended for children age 6 and older.
For more information, visit cheboyganlibrary.org.
Enjoy live music in Pennsylvania Park
The Crooked Tree Arts Center’s Charlotte Ross Lee Concerts in the Park summer series is back, starting on Wednesday, June 17.
Concerts take place from 12-1 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday from June 17 to Aug. 14 in Pennsylvania Park in downtown Petoskey. The first concert features John Richard Paul.
To see the full summer lineup, visit crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/events/concerts-in-the-park.html.
Hear all about the Edmund Fitzgerald
The Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor will host “An Evening with John U. Bacon” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 18.
Bacon’s latest book, “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was published in October 2025. The evening event will include discussion on the book and the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. McLean & Eakin Booksellers will be selling books in the lobby before and after the event.
Tickets are $20 for all seats.
Find out more at greatlakescfa.org/events/detail/an-evening-with-john-u-bacon.
Check out Shrek in the Sault
“Shrek the Musical” will take the stage at the Soo Theatre June 18-21.
Directed by Sara Perfetti, the lead cast includes Andrew Curtis as Shrek, Katie Becker as Princess Fiona and Levi McFarland as Donkey.
Show times are at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 21. Tickets are $12 for students and $25 for general admission.
For more information, visit sootheatre.org/product/2026-shrek-the-musical.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 5 fun things to do this week in Northern Michigan
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
