Good morning, Traverse City.

Thrill Her: Authors and Alibis is a new monthly book club podcast that will review a thriller each third Thursday at 7 p.m. on UpNorthLive's YouTube page; its first episode airs January 15 featuring The Crash by Freida McFadden and will name February’s book after the discussion.

Local columnist Jake Smith explores the legacy of old shotguns and the stories they tell by asking who first carried them and what life was like long ago, in his column in The Pointing Dog Journal, The Retriever Journal (and Just Labs) published in Traverse City.

After a slow November, snow arrived in Traverse City around Thanksgiving and revived Hickory Meadows as the unofficial start of the cross-country ski season (Coach K leads the effort).

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.

Frozen Foot Race

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM — Eastern Elementary School — Entry fee applicable — Kick off the 2026 race season with a chilly 5-mile run through Traverse City.