Written by Kingsli Kraft | September 27, 2019

Just because summer is falling behind us, doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do downtown! We have a jam packed October ahead of us! As part of a new monthly feature, I’ll be releasing monthly overviews of what’s going on downtown, called “What’s Up, Downtown?”

*$$- indicates a cost associated with the event.

October 1st, 2019

Free October Horror Movies | B Royal Movie Theatre & Bob’s Bullpen | 7:00pm – For the month of October, all movies are free at the B Royal Movie theater adjacent to Bob’s Bullpen and the Bulldog. They will be showing 21 free spooky movies so check out their Facebook event to see which movies are playing when!

October 3rd, 2019

Cake by Kids “Creepy Cake” Edition | Art in the Loft | 6:00pm – 8:00pm – Join Brooke Fisher from Brookie’s Goodies in a class that leads kids through the basic techniques of cake decorating in a messy, hands-on class at Art in the Loft. $$

October 4th, 2019

LIGHT Juried Art Exhibit Opening | Art in the Loft | 6:00pm – Join Art in the Loft for the Opening of their annual juried art exhibit. This year the theme was LIGHT and the exhibit features over 40 local artists and 91 artworks!

Snowman/Scarecrow Feeding Kids Ministry | My Front Porch Decor by Tathia | 6:00pm – Join Tathia, owner of My Front Porch Decor for workshop to create a Scarecrow or Snowman Board. The class is $35 and $5 of each registration fee will go towards the Feeding Kids ministry. $$

October 5th, 2019

6th Annual Chili Chowder Cook-Off | Alpena DDA | 12:00pm – 4:00pm – Come on downtown for our 6th Annual Chili Chowder Cook-Off, taste the best chilis and chowders from both professionals and amateurs! The public will have the chance to vote for best in show. There will be live music and a cash bar with Michigan beer and wines. Tasting tickets are $10 to try all entries, beer/wine is $4. We are proud to say that this event will be zero-waste for the third year in a row! $$

Zentangle Animals with Expressive Artist Judy Lyon | Art in the Loft | 1:00pm – 3:00pm – Students will choose a favorite animal and learn how to add detail with patterns, symbols and designs with various permanent markers. Watercolor will then be added over top to create a background. $$

9th Annual Oktoberfest | The Black Sheep | 3:00pm – Celebrate with the Black Sheep at their 9th Annual Oktoberfest! They’ll have many Oktoberfest beers and Pumpkin Ales on tap for the occasion. The live music kicks off with the Birch Road Band at 3:00pm, Dallas Stephens at 5:30pm, Blood Money Men at 8:00pm, and Habana Gold at 9:00pm. $$

Hip Hop Glow with Jess | Bella Rose Yoga and Fitness Studio | 7:00pm – Join Jess for a yoga practice that feels like a dance party with black lights, a pumped up playlist and a vinyasa flow! Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door! $$

October 6th, 2019

Buddha Bowls | Art in the Loft | 2:00pm – 5:00pm – Learn the art of developing a one-bowl meal comprised of a grain base, hearty, flavor-filled toppings, and a delicious sauce in this Art in the Loft class hosted by Justin and Mary Christensen-Cooper. $$

October 8th, 2019

Spirit Night: Art in the Loft | Rusty Petunia’s Marketplace & Art in the Loft | 6:00pm – Stop by Rusty Petunia’s Marketplace and shop till you drop this evening, all while supporting Art in the Loft. 10% of everything purchased from 6:00pm to 8:00pm will support Art in the Loft. $$

NaNoWriMo Book Writing Prep | Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library | 7:00pm – Learn more about National Novel Writing Month at this free event open to all. This informational session will prepare you with all you need to know to participate in NaNoWriMo this year when participants attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript during the month of November.

October 10th, 2019

Farm to Fork Dinner | Thunder Bay Winery & The Fresh Palate | 6:00pm – Enjoy an intimate evening, a hand crafted meal made with locally sourced ingredients from Chef Eric Peterson at The Fresh Palate, delicious wine pairings, live music, local flowers and more. Tickets are $70 per person. $$

October 11th, 2019

Leather Earring Workshop | Art in the Loft | 6:00pm – Join Art in the Loft for this class where you will design and create your own set of leather earrings with local artist Melissa Burns. $$

October 12th, 2019

North45east | Susan Lane Foundation @ Art in the Loft | 5:00pm – attend this event at Art in the Loft hosted by the Susan Lane Foundation to listen to the works of award winning writers, live music provided by Conor Larkin, snacks and drinks. $10 entry fee and cash bar. $$

October 13th, 2019

Coffee Talk with Kingsli Kraft | Art in the Loft | 12:00pm – Join Kingsli for Coffee Hour at Art in the Loft to learn more about how coffee journeys from the farm to the cup, taste different Michigan coffees, and watch a demo to learn how to make a pour-over coffee! $$

October 16th, 2019

Spruce Up Your Holiday Marketing Plan | Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library | 12:00pm – Join Google and Constant Contact at the library for their annual holiday livestream. Learn three ways to reach customers during this presentation and workshop for business owners.

October 17th, 2019

Water Walkers: Native American Journey to Protect the Great Lakes | NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary | 6:30pm – Join children’s author Carol Trembath to learn about her experience writing the Water Walkers Series and the tradition of the many Native People who have dedicated themselves to walking 19,500 miles around each of the Great Lakes, rivers, and waterways to draw attention to the condition of the water and responsible usage.

October 19th, 2019

Kids Yoga | Bella Rose Yoga and Fitness Studio | 11:00am – Stop by Bella Rose for a fun 45 minute yoga practice specifically catered to kids! There will be stories, games that teach poses, teamwork and empathy. $10 for one child and $5 for each additional sibling. $$

October 22nd, 2019

Spirit Night: The Huron Humane Society | Rusty Petunias Marketplace | 6:00pm – 10% of all purchases made this night between 6:00pm and 8:00pm will go to support the Huron Humane Society!

October 23rd, 2019

Drive a Holiday Shopping Rush to Your Business | Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library | 12:00pm – Registration is required for this event where you will learn new techniques to market your business to customers during this holiday season.

Octover 24th, 2019

All About the Buttercream with Brookie’s Goodies | Art in the Loft | 6:00pm – Students will learn several different ways to work with buttercream when cake decorating in this fun hands on class for ages 15 and up. $$

Sanctuary Cinema Series: Haunted Lighthouse | NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary | 7:00pm – Check out this documentary at the Great Lakes Martime Heritage Center that explores Great Lakes lighthouse hauntings at Whitefish Point, Big Bay Point, Old Presque Isle, and Seul Choix Point!

Music at the Library: Great Lakes Graham | Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library | 7:00pm – Troy Graham, aka Great Lakes Graham, is a folk singer-songwriter from Marquette, MI. Troy has been touring extensively this last summer (regionally and as far south as Kansas) sharing both original and traditional old-time, folk, and gospel tunes. Join him at the library for a night of music.

October 25th, 2019

Downtown Trick or Treating & Trunk or Treat | WATZ Radio | 5:00pm – 8:00pm – From 5-7 pm, visit your favorite downtown stores and businesses as they pass out candy for the downtown trick-or-treating event. From 5:30- 7 pm, stop by Trunk or Treat in the parking lot behind City Hall. Trunk or Treat is hosted by the Michigan State Police and WATZ Radio. Afterwards, stop by the Haunted Ship at the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (500 W. Fletcher St) from 5 – 8 p.m. Come in costume and enjoy our festive downtown. Free and open to kids of all ages. Happy Halloween! Participating downtown stops include: The Rabbit Hole, Real Estate One of Alpena, The Local Basket Case LLC – Alpena, Regalo Luxury Gifts, Downtown Scoops, Shear Envy Salon, AMC State Theater

Astrology and Art with Local Artist Kristin Neumann | Art in the Loft | 6:00pm – Local Artist Kristin Neumann, your astrological sign, and the stars will guide you in this individual interactive workshop where students will create a work of art inspired by their own astrological sign and will finish the class with an astrological reading from Kristin. $$

October 26th, 2019

Halloween Crafts | Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library | 10:00am – Join the Library for some spooky crafts, treats, face painting and more. Ideal for kids preschool through 5th grade!

smART | Art in the Loft | 10:00am – Each session is sure to entertain and each student walks away with a completed work of Art! Students will study and explore the elements of Art utilizing a variety of mediums. The end project will be full of visual interest and packed with a colorful punch! $$

Rise Artisan Market | Irving Entertainment, Ceiara Ann Photography, Chippewa Valley Mercantile, Lines and Drips, Alpena DDA | 12:00pm – 9:00pm – Join us downtown on Water Street and in the empty lot on the corner of Second Avenue and Water Street for a pop-up market featuring local Michigan vendors, artists and artisans selling everything from artwork to food. The DDA will be providing a cash bar starting at 4:00pm and hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest all day for business owners. The public can vote for their favorite to win a special prize. There will be live music from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Look out for a more detailed blog post about this event next week! Free entry to this event.

Kids & Cookies | Art in the Loft | 12:00pm – Learn the Art of cooking decorating with Hannah Matzke, owner of Cookies by Hannah. We will go step by step while learning all the tips and tricks of the decorating process. Students will leave with a dozen of their own edible masterpieces. $$

October 27th, 2019

Cookie Decorating | Art in the Loft | 3:00pm – Learn the Art of cooking decorating with Hannah Matzke, owner of Cookies by Hannah. We will go step by step while learning all the tips and tricks of the decorating process. Students will leave with a dozen of their own edible masterpieces. $$

October 29th, 2019

Boo-ti Yoga Glow with Jess | Bella Rose Yoga and Fitness Studio | 7:00pm – Join Bella Rose for a glow-in-the-dark, full body Halloween party! Buti Yoga workouts involve cardio intensive bursts of tribal dance, primal movement, and a dynamic yoga practice. Treats to follow the class. $$

October 30th, 2019

Boo-tox Party | Bella Rose Skin Care and Wellness Center | 6:00pm – Join Bella Rose Skin Care for a beauty treatment event. Botox and filler done that night as will as a live demo of a vampire facial. Make sure to RSVP so they know who is coming as space is limited. $$

Don’t see your event? Email downtownalpenami@gmail.com and we’ll add it to the post! Please keep in mind that events must occur in the downtown district in order to be included in the “What’s up, Downtown?” series.

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Kingsli Kraft wrote this article for Blog Downtown Alpena. Kingsli is and Alpena native and a graduate of the University of Michigan. She now works at the Alpena Downtown Development Authority as the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. She enjoys reading, writing, yoga, hiking, caring for all of her plants and trying new recipes. You can follow her on Instagram here.