Category: Arts & Culture

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Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Returns This Month

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Get ready to celebrate Alpena’s rich maritime heritage at the 2026 Thunder Bay Maritime Festival from Friday August 21st to Sunday August 23rd along the Thunder Bay River. This year’s lineup features 2-hour tall ship excursions, deck tours, hands-on family activities, Great Lakes exhibitors, the Battle of the Paddles River Race and rooftop party, and a brand-new community boat parade along the river through the heart of downtown! Continue reading Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Returns This Month

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Upcoming Events this Summer 2026 in Downtown Alpena

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The first big event of the summer is the annual downtown Flower Festival! From Friday June 5th through Sunday June 7th, you can enjoy the many beautiful floral displays throughout downtown Alpena. There will also be many floral themed activities … Continue reading Upcoming Events this Summer 2026 in Downtown Alpena

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Downtown Alpena Gets Ready for 4th Annual Alpena Flower Festival

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Downtown Alpena is getting ready to burst into bloom as the fourth annual Alpena Flower Festival returns Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7, 2026. Presented by Alpena Agency and Auto-Owners Insurance, the beloved event has become a signature kick-off to summer, filling downtown with beautiful floral displays, interactive photo-ops, live music, and activities all ages. Continue reading Downtown Alpena Gets Ready for 4th Annual Alpena Flower Festival

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Alpena Ice Festival

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Instead of spending another boring winter day cooped up inside the house, come to Mich-e-ke-wis Park and Downtown Alpena and enjoy the Annual 2026 Alpena Ice Festival on Saturday February 21st from 9am-8pm! Buy something from the Alpena Farmers Market, check out the unique ice sculptures, warm up by the big bonfire and so much more! For the full schedule of events keep reading! Continue reading Alpena Ice Festival

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Fresh Waves 2026 Artist Applications Now Open

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The Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is looking for artists who are interested in painting vibrant murals in Downtown Alpena, Michigan this summer as part of the Fresh Waves project. Interested artists have until Sunday, March 15, 2026 at midnight to submit their application to be considered to participate in the project this summer. Downtown property owners are also able to apply to have a mural painted on their building. Those applications are due Sunday February 15, 2026 at midnight. Continue reading Fresh Waves 2026 Artist Applications Now Open

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2025 Recap in Downtown Alpena

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2025 was yet another busy year for downtown Alpena! We’ve seen lots of new businesses open up, facade work to buildings downtown, park renovations, new and old events and so much more! It was definitely a busy year for downtown Alpena, and I can’t wait to see what comes in 2026! Continue reading 2025 Recap in Downtown Alpena

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21st Annual Alpena Blues Festival this Saturday

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If you’re looking for something fun and free to do this weekend, you need to come downtown to check out the Alpena Blues Festival, in memory of Maggie Lamb Saturday June 21st! The event starts at 2pm and ends at 10pm and will be held in the bandshell at Bay View Park. Bring your group of friends and enjoy celebrating the history and culture of blues music. Continue reading 21st Annual Alpena Blues Festival this Saturday

Alpena DDA, Arts & Culture, Events, Food, People, People & Places, Photos, Shopping, Things to doLeave a comment

Upcoming Summer Events in Downtown Alpena

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The first big event of the summer is the annual downtown Flower Festival! From Friday June 6 through Sunday June 8th, you can enjoy the many beautiful floral displays throughout downtown Alpena. There will also be many floral themed activities … Continue reading Upcoming Summer Events in Downtown Alpena

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Looking for mural artists to paint in Downtown Alpena

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The Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is looking for artists who are interested in painting vibrant murals in Downtown Alpena, Michigan this summer as part of the Fresh Waves project. Interested artists have until Sunday, April 20, 2025 at midnight to submit their application to be considered to participate in the project this summer. Continue reading Looking for mural artists to paint in Downtown Alpena

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Alpena Ice Festival this Saturday

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If you’re looking for something fun to do this wintry Saturday, then look no further than the Thunder Bay Arts Alpena Ice Festival! The festival begins at Mich-e-kewis Park at 9am with plenty of ice & snow activities, unique ice sculptures, food trucks and a huge bonfire put on by the Alpena Fire Department. It ends downtown at 3pm with the all-new Polar Plunge, firepits and even more ice sculptures and winter activities! Continue reading Alpena Ice Festival this Saturday