Good morning, Traverse City.

Thousands of community members gathered on Saturday afternoon at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center for a No Kings rally organized by Traverse Indivisible and Leelanau Indivisible—participants marched, enjoyed musical performances, chanted and donated food while speakers like State Rep. Coffia urged them to unite in support of the Constitution.

EGLE announced the state’s first Microplastics Awareness Week—which began October 19 and runs until October 26—to address pollution in the Great Lakes, and Gov. Whitmer proclaimed the week to invite residents, businesses, and community groups to join events including a free virtual summit on October 22. The department will also use a $2 million appropriation over five years to strengthen research and monitoring of microplastics in Michigan’s waters.

Traverse City’s Downtown Development Authority approved the final design for Rotary Square—located at the corner of Union and State streets—with a lawn, Petoskey stone, a small stage, swing benches, and seating for gatherings.

The design was shaped by local surveys, but funding must still be secured before work can begin.

Week 8 sports saw several close contests including Charlevoix’s 13-12 win over Boyne City, Pickford’s 60-30 win over St. Ignace, and Traverse City Central’s 50-7 victory over Bay City Central — with Petoskey, Mancelona and Kingsley also winning and Elk Rapids claiming a 4-0 district soccer win over Kingsford. Upcoming games have teams set to host or travel as Charlevoix chases a 9-0 season and Elk Rapids moves to the Regionals against Fremont on October 21.

Mitch Albom Book Signing and Discussion

7 p.m. — City Opera House — Ticket includes a copy of Twice — Engage with Mitch Albom as he explores love and second chances in his latest novel.

Traverse City Zombie Run

9 AM – 12 PM — Right Brain Brewery — $30 Adults, $25 Students — A spooky 5K run/walk filled with zombies and fun festivities awaits.

NMC's Chamber Singers & Grand Traverse Chorale Concert

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Milliken Auditorium — $15 Adults, $10 Seniors/Students — Experience a captivating night of choral music featuring Randall Thompson's 'Frostiana' and empowering compositions.

Young Chefs Dinner

8:00-10:30 p.m. — The Cooks’ House — Ticketed event — Celebrate the culinary talents of young chefs from Traverse City with an evening of fine dining.

Toast The Season - Weekend 1

11 AM – 5 PM — Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail — $75/person — Celebrate the holiday season with curated wine pairing and festive gifts at Northern Michigan's beloved event.

Bell's Iceman Cometh Challenge

8:45 a.m. — Kalkaska Airport to Timber Ridge — Registration required — Conquer the rugged 30-mile race through the scenic landscapes of Michigan.

Joe Hill: King Sorrow Book Talk

7-8:30 p.m. — City Opera House — Ticket with book purchase — Engage in a chilling conversation about Joe Hill's latest novel, King Sorrow, followed by a Q&A and signing.

Nathan Graham and Noah Guthrie Concert

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. — City Opera House — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of soulful Americana music with two rising stars in the genre.