Live music and visits with Santa highlight the calendar this weekend in Northern Michigan.
Here’s what we recommend:
Experience ”Messiah by Candlelight”
The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra will present its beloved holiday concert “Messiah by Candlelight” on Dec. 11 and 12 at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor.
The orchestra’s popular musical tradition, now in its 23rd year, features Handel’s masterpiece, “Messiah,” performed by candlelight.
Shows on both nights will be at 7 p.m. The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Chorus will be joined by guest soloists Karen Beacom, Martina Portychova, Eric Boylan and Jason Coffey for the performances.
Tickets from $35-$65 are available at glcorchestra.org. The concert is free for veterans, active service members and students 18 and under by calling 231-487-0010.
Have breakfast with Santa
Pickford Lions Club members will be serving pancakes, sausages and a special visit with Santa during their holiday breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Kids will be able to chat with Santa, decorate cookies and make crafts during the event, which takes place from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Pickford Town Hall.
For more information, visit facebook.com/groups/233645743431118.
Enjoy “A Colonial Christmas”
You can step back in time during “A Colonial Christmas” at Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City.
From 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, guests will experience holiday traditions of the 17th and 18th centuries. Experiences include learning about the French tradition of Réveillon, listening to ghost stories, sampling coriander cookies and hot wassail, and much more.
Admission is $15 per adult, $10 for children ages 5-12, and free for children age 4 and under as well as Mackinac Associates members. Last admission is at 6:30 p.m.
To find out more, visit mackinacparks.com/event/a-colonial-christmas-2.
Listen to Downtown Sound
The latest in the Downtown Sound concert series will feature the Charlie Millard Band with Lara Fullford and Dane Tollas on Saturday, Dec. 13.
The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. The Charlie Millard Band features percussionist Will Harris, Jercat Millard on guitars and Charlie Millard on the keys, organ and Rhodes bass. They are joined by vocalist Lara Fullford and percussionist Dane Tollas. Their musical style is described as a “dynamic blend of indie, Americana and rock influences, offering performances that are both intimate and electrifying.”
Tickets range from $10-$40. For more information, visit crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/events/downtown-sound.html.
See a Santa spectacle
Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls will cap off its Holiday Open House Weekend with Santa Sunday.
This year marks the second annual Santa Sunday, where skiers dressed as Santa, Mrs. Claus, The Grinch, Buddy the Elf or other Christmas characters will fill the slopes. Skiers who participate will receive some special access, and all proceeds benefit Brother Dan’s Food Pantry.
To find out how to participate, visit boynemountain.com/upcoming-events/santa-sunday. — Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 5 fun things to do this weekend around Northern Michigan
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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