COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Courtesy Photo The photo above, by Kingsli Kraft, shows the City of Alpena Christmas tree lit up in Culligan Plaza as snow falls from the sky.
∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “WinterView 2024” is on display now through March 1, featuring the artwork of over 25 artists, for show and sale. Classes are also offered, and can be viewed online. Visit artintheloft.org, email director@artintheloft.org, or call 989-356-4877 for more information.
∫ Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is closed to the public now through mid-January for the installation of the new “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit. There will be no “Season of Light” exhibit this year. The Besser Museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call the museum at 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.
∫ Mark and Lucia Behmer are the Thunder Bay Arts Gallery Featured Artists for Decemeber. The gallery features more than 20 local artists’ work on display and for sale. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.
Today, Dec. 24
∫ TOPS #1614 Alpena welcomes new members who are looking for support in their weight-loss journey. Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church at 1600 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena. Weigh-ins start at 9:45 a.m. and meetings start at 10:30 a.m. There is no obligation to join if you attend your first meeting. For more information, call 989-255-4787.
Courtesy Photo Alpena’s Department of Public Works creates the sphere that will be raised at midnight during the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown.
∫ Living Hope Church will host a Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. All are welcome. The church is located at 1499 M-32 in Alpena.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
∫ MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thursday, Dec. 26
∫ Community Walking Club for Everyone meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Call the library at 989-724-6796 for more information.
∫ Join the Alpena County Library Youth Services Department at 9:15 a.m. each Thursday for Weekly Storytime. Come for a few stories, then stay for an activity or craft! All ages are welcome.
∫ Alcona County Library in Harrisville will host a Versiti Community Blood Drive at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Sign up to donate on the library website at alconalibrary.com.
∫ Join the Alpena County Girlfriends at 10 a.m. on Thursdays for coffee and conversation. This is a women-only group whose purpose is to make friends and socialize with women from Alpena County and the surrounding areas. Please contact Betty at 734-693-2869 for weekly location.
∫ Needles and Threads group is held from 2:30 to 4:30 pm every Thursday at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Bring your latest knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlepoint, or other crafts. Call 989-734-2477, ext. 2 with questions. The library is located at 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle.
∫ Thursday Eve Serenity Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 351 Wilson St., Alpena. If a problem drinker has or is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help you. Meetings are anonymous and confidential. Call 989-354-5476.
∫ PIF Cider presents live electronic dance music with Dion Stepanski at 8 p.m. at 205 W. Chisholm St. in downtown Alpena.
Friday, Dec. 27
∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.
∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Then at noon, Mahjong is played, and pinochle starts at 12:30 p.m.
∫ Presque Isle District Library’s Posen branch offers knitting and crocheting from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. All levels are welcome. If you have questions, call 989-734-2477.
∫ On Fridays, Storytime and Craft for Kids meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.
∫ The Hillman VFW Post 2356 hosts its Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday night, with your choice of fish or shrimp, potato, coleslaw, roll, and drink. The fish fry is open to the public, and the cost is $12 for the fish dinner or $14 for the shrimp dinner.
Saturday, Dec. 28
∫ The Alpena Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mich-e-ke-wis Park, 1302 State Ave. in Alpena. For more information, visit the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.
∫ The Sunrise Side Co-op Market (indoor farmers market) is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, with 40 vendors represented weekly for your bakery, farm products, wellness items and high-end gift needs, located in the blue marina building at 401 E. Chisholm St., Alpena.
∫ Alpena County Library will host a storytime puppet show for ages newborn to 8 years old from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. He’ll huff and he’ll puff and wear your grandma’s clothes to trick you, or does he just have a cold? Listen to the wolf’s side in this take on a couple of well-known fairy tales.
∫ Jess Willyard will play acoustic rock starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday at Latitudes Tavern, 307 W. Chisholm St. in downtown Alpena.
Sunday, Dec. 29
∫ If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential and anonymous meetings are held from 2 to 3 p.m. every Sunday at St. Raphael Church in Mikado.
Monday, Dec. 30
∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.
∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Euchre starts at 12:30 p.m.
∫ Experienced bridge partners looking for some challenging competition can join the Alpena Duplicate Bridge Club that meets from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Mondays. For more information, call 989-354-2306 or 989-595-5119.
∫ Alpena County Library offers Lego Club from 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday. Builders ages 6 to 13 will compete in building challenges, collaborate with fellow builders, or free build! The library will provide the bricks and base plate, so please leave your personal LEGO bricks at home so they won’t get lost or mixed in with the provided assortment. All abilities are welcome. Creations will stay at the library and be displayed until the following meet-up. There is no registration necessary.
∫ If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential and anonymous meetings are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Monday at the Alano Club located at 3100 Piper Road, Alpena. For more information, contact Diane at 989-821-9601.
Tuesday, Dec. 31
∫ TOPS #1614 Alpena welcomes new members who are looking for support in their weight-loss journey. Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church at 1600 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena. Weigh-ins start at 9:45 a.m. and meetings start at 10:30 a.m. There is no obligation to join if you attend your first meeting. For more information, call 989-255-4787.
∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center offers quilting at 10 a.m. and Spitzer at 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday.
∫ The Alpena Downtown Development Authority and HPC Credit Union will host a Sunrise Side New Year’s Eve Celebration from 5 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday. Come ring in the new year with live DJs, and food and drink specials throughout downtown. As midnight approaches, there will be a spectacular “sunrise” celebration in the parking lot behind Mango’s, where downtown will be filled with light to celebrate the new beginnings in the year ahead. Alpena’s Department of Public Works created the sphere that will be raised at midnight during the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown.
∫ PIF Cider will host a New Year’s Eve party from 7 to 10 p.m. at the taproom, 205 W. Chisholm St. in downtown Alpena. Live music by Conor Larkin will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Come see the giant apple drop from the ceiling at 10 p.m. for all the early birds. Lady of the Lake Yogini Traci Boyle will be in house doing tarot card readings for $20 per three-card reading.
∫ The APlex will host a New Year’s Eve Party starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, featuring local band High Speed. Tickets are $20 per person, which includes hors d’oeuvres. For tickets, visit aplex.org/events. The APlex is located at 701 Woodward Ave., Alpena. Call 989-354-6164.
Wednesday, Jan. 1
∫ HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thursday, Jan. 2
∫ Community Walking Club for Everyone meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library. Call 989-724-6796 for more information.
∫ Join the Alpena County Library Youth Services Department at 9:15 a.m. each Thursday for Weekly Storytime. Come for a few stories, then stay for an activity or craft! All ages are welcome.
∫ Join the Alpena County Girlfriends at 10 a.m. on Thursdays for coffee and conversation. This is a women-only group whose purpose is to make friends and socialize with women from Alpena County and the surrounding areas. Please contact Betty at 734-693-2869 for weekly location.
∫ Join ALL for Spitzer from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, led by Marilyn Klingshirn.
∫ Zoom Book Club is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Thursday, with the Alpena Senior Citizens Center. For more information, call 989-356-3585.
∫ Pinochle and bridge are held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.
∫ Zoom meditation is at 2 p.m. on Thursdays, led by the Alpena Senior Citizens Center.
∫ Needles and Threads group is held from 2:30 to 4:30 pm every Thursday at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Bring your latest knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlepoint, or other crafts. Call 989-734-2477, ext. 2 with questions. The library is located at 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle.
∫ Thursday Eve Serenity Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 351 Wilson St., Alpena. If a problem drinker has or is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help you. Meetings are anonymous and confidential. Call 989-354-5476.
Friday, Jan. 3
∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 989-358-7207 for details.
∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Then at noon, Mahjong is played, and pinochle starts at 12:30 p.m.
∫ Presque Isle District Library’s Posen branch offers knitting and crocheting from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. All levels are welcome. If you have questions, call 989-734-2477.
∫ On Fridays, Storytime and Craft for Kids meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.
∫ ALL hosts contract bridge from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Fridays at M. Briggs Center. This group welcomes any players at any time. This group is a teaching class but experienced players are also welcome.
∫ The Hillman VFW Post 2356 hosts its Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday night, with your choice of fish or shrimp, potato, coleslaw, roll, and drink. The fish fry is open to the public, and the cost is $12 for the fish dinner or $14 for the shrimp dinner.
∫ ALL hosts square dancing from 4 to 6 p.m. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 or email all@alpenacc.edu. Come brush up on your mainstream and plus dancing.
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- Courtesy Photo The photo above, by Kingsli Kraft, shows the City of Alpena Christmas tree lit up in Culligan Plaza as snow falls from the sky.
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- Courtesy Photo Alpena’s Department of Public Works creates the sphere that will be raised at midnight during the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown.
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