Art Exhibits, Fitness Classes, and Local Brews: Traverse City's Vibrant Culture on Display

Good morning, this is your Traverse City Local Frequency for Thursday, November 13, 2025. Start your day exploring Traverse City’s creative side with the Small Works Holiday Exhibition, which opened at 9 this morning. This showcase offers stunning two- and three-dimensional art, perfect for finding that unique holiday gift or just soaking up some inspiration. Also at 9, the Glen Arbor Arts Center is displaying Carol Spaulding’s mixed media paintings, certain to put a smile on your face. If you’re inspired to get active, join the “Ageless Grace” neuroplasticity exercise class at the Traverse City Main Library at 10. This gentle movement class for adults and seniors aims to keep both your mind and body sharp. Art lovers can swing by the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort at 10 to see Michigan artists’ take on the natural elements in the enchanting “Elemental: Earth, Fire, Air, Water” exhibition. November is a prime time for shopping local, with Merry Marketplace 2025 kicking off at 10 at the Crooked Tree Arts Center. From hand-crafted jewelry to one-of-a-kind pottery, you’ll find creative gifts while supporting area artists. The OAC Holiday Artisan Boutique is another stop for locally made, ready-to-gift items, also opening at 10. Today marks Hop Harvest for TC Beer Week. Grab your Beer Week Passport and make your way through the city’s breweries and restaurants. Each check-in boosts your chance to win some sweet prizes, and it’s an ideal excuse to revisit your favorite taprooms or discover new ones. This celebration of independent breweries runs all week, so pace yourself, but don’t miss out on the camaraderie and local flavor. At 11, the Dennos Museum Center hosts a roundtable on artist Dewey Blocksma, whose work sparks conversations with its lively mix of figures and ideas. Art-savvy visitors can also pop into the Ekphrastic 2 exhibit at the Crooked Tree Arts Center, where visual artists and writers unite breathtaking images with powerful words. Feeling curious about science and stewardship? The Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at Northwestern Michigan College invites you to “Beneath the Surface” at 11, a look at how young people are shaping the future of our inland seas. For those seeking comfort during this season, the Hope for the Holidays gathering at the Hagerty Center at 4:30 offers uplifting music, guest speakers, and a supportive environment for anyone who is grieving. After hours, make family memories at the Boardman River Nature Center’s Night at the Nature Center, running from 6 to 7:30. Michigan author Allison Bartlette will lead an interactive book reading, nature songs, scavenger hunts, and more. Registration is free, but spots fill quickly. Tonight, climate-conscious locals can attend a film series about climate change at 6, exploring how our community can help mitigate environmental impacts. At 7, laugh and chow down at the Escanaba in Da Moonlight film screening, followed by a venison chili cook-off—a Traverse City treat This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.