Community
Traverse City
About Traverse City
Traverse City sits at the foot of Grand Traverse Bay and calls itself the Cherry Capital of the World, with orchards and wineries on the Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas just outside town. Front Street’s shops and restaurants, the restored State Theatre and the open parkland along West Bay anchor a walkable downtown. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a short drive west. The National Cherry Festival fills the bayfront every July, and fall brings color tours and harvest weekends. Our Traverse City coverage follows city commission and Grand Traverse County news, Traverse City Central and West sports, and things to do around the bay.
Top things to do in Traverse City
- Walk Front Street and catch a movie at the restored State Theatre.
- Taste your way along the wineries of the Old Mission Peninsula.
- Climb the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
- Explore the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, the restored former state hospital.
- Ride the TART Trail along the bay.
- Spend an afternoon at Clinch Park on West Grand Traverse Bay.
Guides
- Sleeping Bear Dunes in Late Fall and Winter 2026-27: Trails, Pierce Stocking Closing, Passes and Skiing
- Things to Do in Traverse City This Fall (2026 Guide)
- Things to Do Up North This Fall (2026 Guide): Traverse City, Leelanau, Charlevoix and Boyne
- Michigan Halloween Guide 2026: Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes and Trick-or-Treat Events by Region
- All Mitten Daily guides
Nearby on The Mitten Daily
Latest from Traverse City
News · October 21, 2026
Grand Traverse County Commissioner Lauren Flynn pleads not guilty to a ‘super drunk’ charge from a July traffic stop
The Traverse City-area commissioner is charged with driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.17 or more. Her bond bars alcohol, bars and casinos. She is presumed innocent.
News · October 21, 2026
Traverse City’s new attainable housing district offers small landlords about half the building tax for income-qualified renters
Small rentals of up to four units could pay about half the usual tax on the building if one unit goes to a household under 120% of area median income.
News · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport board votes Oct. 27 on a $750,000 grant aimed at nonstop flights to Los Angeles or San Francisco
The federal money would guarantee an airline’s revenue on a seasonal West Coast route. United has written a letter of support, but no deal is signed. Meanwhile, steel is rising on the $120 million Concourse B.
News · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Northwestern Michigan College gets $630,876 in state money for maritime training, new engines for its research vessel
The college says the money will replace the 57-year-old engines on the 56-foot R/V Northwestern and let it own multibeam sonar for seabed mapping for the first time.
Sports · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Iceman Cometh Challenge is Nov. 7: about 30 miles from Kalkaska to Timber Ridge, with registration full
About 5,000 riders are expected on dirt roads, two-tracks and the Vasa trail. The race crosses one paved road, Williamsburg Road, near mile 17, a popular spot for spectators.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Boardman Lake Loop Trail: a guide to the 4-mile walk around the lake, where to park and what’s along the way
The loop has been complete since July 2022. It mixes pavement, boardwalk and gravel, is fully accessible, and passes the library, two parks and the NMC University Center.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City things to do Nov. 4-8: Interlochen jazz, David Cross and Warren Miller at the City Opera House, plus Beer Week starting Nov. 6
A busy first week of November downtown: a free children’s book festival Nov. 7, Shop Your Community Day the same Saturday, and a Beer Week passport running through Nov. 14.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City in December: Ladies’ Night Dec. 3, Men’s Night Dec. 10, and Jeff Daniels at the City Opera House Dec. 13
Downtown’s three evening shopping nights run 5 to 9 p.m. The Opera House lineup includes its gala Dec. 5, A Magical Motown Christmas Dec. 12 and a holiday family show Dec. 19.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Deer Widow’s Weekend is Nov. 14-15 at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, with free tunnel tours and a vendor show
The free indoor craft and vendor show in Kirkbride Hall runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, opening weekend of Michigan’s firearm deer season.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Grand Traverse Commons: how a former state asylum became a village, and how to tour its 1883 steam tunnels
The state hospital opened in 1885 and closed in 1989. Today it holds condos, shops and restaurants, and guided tours run year-round, rain or shine.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Grand Traverse Mall holiday season in Traverse City: Festival of Trees Nov. 6-8, Santa photos from Nov. 27, and four craft shows
Santa’s photo set opens Black Friday and runs through Christmas Eve. Craft and vendor shows fill the concourse Thanksgiving weekend and three December weekends.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City Halloween 2026: Downtown Halloween Walk Oct. 31, mall trick-or-treating and the Spooktacular vendor show Oct. 23-25
Front Street shops hand out treats Saturday morning, Oct. 31, from 10 to 11:30. The Grand Traverse Mall adds an indoor trick-or-treat and a three-day craft and vendor show the weekend before.
Michigan Travel · October 20, 2026
Traverse City’s Light Up Downtown: tree lighting Nov. 20, Light Parade Nov. 21, Santa’s House and a Find the Grinch hunt
The holiday kickoff weekend also brings a Cookies & Cocoa Crawl. Santa’s House opens Fridays through Sundays until Christmas Eve, and the City Opera House adds a Holiday Hideaway Nov. 21.