Good morning, Traverse City.

The Old Mission Women's Club (established in 1931) will sell 5,000 cookies at the Peninsula Community Library this Saturday at 10 a.m. to raise funds for local nonprofits supporting the next grant cycle.

A $5,347,600 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund will turn an old industrial site on Elberta's Lake Michigan shoreline into a new village park — Michigan Natural Resources announced the grant Tuesday.

Residents can join the Christmas Bird Count this December; the event takes place on Friday, Dec.

19 in Antrim, Saturday, Dec. 20 in Benzie and Grand Traverse, and Wednesday, Dec. 17 in Leelanau — contact organizers Curt Hofer, Doug Cook, Nate Crane, or Kirk Waterstripe for details.

Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation opened Camp Greilick on Dec.

11 in Traverse City. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at 4754 Scout Camp Road and offers a hiking loop, skiing trails, an 18-hole disc golf course, a children's area, and pet waste stations.

Traverse City Light and Power is set to consider a nearly $40 million innovation campus on its 50-acre fly ash property in Garfield Township as part of facility upgrades.

A committee led by Chairman John Taylor and Executive Director Brandie Ekren will plan the campus over the next four years.

After its settlement proposal went unanswered, Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula will begin enforcing a $50M federal judgment awarded in July after a ruling on alleged zoning rights violations by Peninsula Township.

The wineries had first proposed mediation in October (but received no response) and are set to move forward.

Plans for an 89-room, $20M hotel at Cherry Capital Airport moved forward after review by the Northwest Regional Airport Authority's Zoning Board.

ShoreNorth Development will break ground next spring on the first phase over three acres (adjacent to a planned $120M terminal expansion).

Christmas in the Village 2025

3-6 p.m. / 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — The Village at Grand Traverse Commons — Free entry — Celebrate the season with festive activities, shopping specials, and visits with Santa.

DMC Concert: Mr. Sun

6-7:30 p.m. — Dennos Museum Center — Ticket info available — Experience the innovative sound of supergroup Mr. Sun reimagining classical works through American roots music.

Women in Tech Meetup – Traverse City

5-7 p.m. — Earthen Ales — Free entry — Connect and empower each other in a casual setting focused on women in tech.

Candlelight Concert: Christmas Carols on Strings

8:45 p.m. — Kirkbride Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of Christmas carols performed by the Listeso String Quartet under candlelight.

Dominic Fortuna’s Holiday Spectacular

4:00 – 9:30 p.m. — Hotel Indigo Traverse City by IHG — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night of festive entertainment, delicious holiday dining, and nostalgic music.

Traverse City Track Club Jingle Bell Run

5:30-11:30 p.m. — Park Place Hotel and Conference Center — Free entry — Enjoy a festive holiday run through beautifully decorated neighborhoods with cookies and hot cocoa afterwards.

Traverse City New Year's Eve CherryT Ball Drop

10:30 PM – 12:30 AM — Downtown Traverse City Real Estate — Ticket info available online — Celebrate the New Year with a giant cherry drop and fireworks in the heart of the Cherry Capital.

New Year, New Garden: Landscape Design Workshop

10 AM - 2 PM — The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park — Cost not specified — Enhance your gardening skills in this immersive two-day workshop led by expert Matthew Ross.