Summer has finally arrived in Downtown Alpena and we’ve compiled our official Downtown Summer Bucket List for 2019. These are the things that we look forward to all spring and the things we are sad to say good-bye to in the fall.

Get ice cream at Downtown Scoops – grab a homemade waffle cone and a scoop of your favorite flavor ice cream (our’s is Scout’s Honor) or one of Downtown Scoops’ specialty sundaes!

Participate in all of the Fourth of July events – the Fourth of July Parade, the Cardboard Boat Regatta, Battle of the Paddles, the Maritime Festival… come on downtown to celebrate your patriotism on the Fourth of July!

Grab a drink and eat dinner outside – whether you’re on Mangos Tequila Bar’s patio, the sidewalk in front of Thunder Bay Winery and the Fresh Palate or tucked up against the side of the Black Sheep, there’s nothing better than a glass of wine, a margarita, or a Michigan microbrew with your dinner in the evening shade on a warm summer night.

Enjoy Friday Night Street Performers – take a walk downtown on a Friday night to enjoy the music of the Street Performers. There are several different musicians scattered throughout downtown filling the streets and corners with music of all genres.

Attend a Thunder Bay Theatre Cabaret – with their Summer Core Company in town Thunder Bay Theatre showcases the professional talent they bring to our community with several Late Night Cabarets throughout the summer season. Come out, have a drink in the new lobby, and listen to some amazing vocal performances at Thunder Bay Theatre.

Picnic in Avery Park or Culligan Plaza – grab a blanket and some drinks, pack your own lunch or order some take out from one of our many downtown restaurants and enjoy a warm summer day in the grass at Avery Park or a picnic table in Culligan Plaza.

Take a glass bottom boat tour on the Lady Michigan – learn more about our rich maritime history with a glass bottom boat tour of a few of the shipwrecks in Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary.

Attend Thunder Bay Theatre’s Bandshell performance – every summer Thunder Bay Theatre also hosts a free to the public performance of one of their musicals at the bandshell. This year it’s Mamma Mia and it’s sure to be an amazing performance.

Spend an entire day exploring all of our downtown shops – get up early on a Saturday morning or a summer day off, treat yourself to a special coffee or smoothie from Cabin Creek, Biggby Coffee or As You Wish and wander through all our downtown shops to see what treasures you might find.

Explore the downtown galleries during the Art Walks – on the last Friday of every month the downtown galleries collaborate to host a series of Art Walks where the galleries are open late with music, drinks, snacks, live art and more! Come out and support local artists and have a great time.

Grab a drink with friends at Brown Trout Festival – this is the 45th year of the Annual Michigan Brown Trout Festival. Come down to the marina for music, beer, food trucks, fishing and more July 19th through 28th.

Take a walk through Art on the Bay – walk down to Bay View Park adjacent to Downtown Alpena to take a look through Thunder Bay Arts Council’s 43rd Annual Art on the Bay, an art festival/craft show drawing artists from all over the region.

Is there anything else you’d add to your Downtown Summer Bucket List?