Things to do in Traverse City this weekend: Witches Night Out downtown, a ski swap and a $1 “Casper” matinee

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Saturday in Traverse City starts with a gym full of secondhand skis and ends with downtown dressed for Halloween, as Witches Night Out returns for its third year.

Witches Night Out, 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Downtown businesses taking part open their doors to visitors dressed as witches and other magical creatures, and each shop plans its own activities, according to the event listing from Traverse City Tourism. Costumes are strongly encouraged. The event is presented by Blessed Be Tea and Apothecary at 116 E. Front St. Organizers say it goes on rain or shine and that individual business hours may vary.

Hunters’ Ball, 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Artemis Books & Goods, 144 Hall St., is holding its first Hunters’ Ball alongside Witches Night Out. The bookstore describes it as a family-friendly evening with live music, a caramel apple bar and crafts, and costumes are encouraged.

Grand Traverse Ski Club Ski Swap, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. New and used downhill and cross-country skis, boots, poles, helmets, coats and racing suits go on sale in the TC West Middle School gym, according to the Northern Express calendar. Admission is free. Sellers drop off gear from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and pick up anything unsold from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds support the ski club.

$1 Kids’ Matinee: “Casper,” 10 a.m. Saturday. The State Theatre, 235 E. Front St., shows the 1995 friendly-ghost movie for $1, with doors opening at 9 a.m., according to an event listing for the theater.

Country Night & City Lights, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The City Opera House offers line dancing lessons at 2 p.m. and country swing at 3 p.m., then open dancing from 5 to 10 p.m. with drinks and light hors d’oeuvres, according to Northern Express. Tickets are $40 and include all the lessons.

Times and details can change, so check each listing before you go.

Sources:
Traverse City Tourism, “Witches Night Out”, https://www.traversecity.com/event-detail/witches-night-out/26950/
AllEvents, “Witches Night Out - Oct. 17th Downtown Traverse City” (organizer’s listing), https://allevents.in/traverse-city/witches-night-out-oct-17th-downtown-traverse-city/200030667561306
Artemis Books & Goods, “First Annual Hunters’ Ball”, https://artemisbooksandgoods.com/event/2026-10-17/first-annual-hunters-ball
Northern Express, “Ski Swap by Grand Traverse Ski Club,” Oct. 17, 2026, https://www.northernexpress.com/calendar/2026/10/17/ski-swap-by-grand-traverse-ski-club/
Northern Express, “Country Night & City Lights,” Oct. 17, 2026, https://www.northernexpress.com/calendar/2026/10/17/country-night-city-lights/
Yodel Today, State Theatre “CASPER - Sat, October 17th - $1 Kids’ Matinee”, https://events.yodel.today/traversecity-mi/event/State-Theatre-and-Bijou-by-the-Bay/CASPER---Sat--October-17th----1-Kids--Matinee/6ac5d3435bcdf586f814e8f7
Photo: Phoenix-Five, “Downtown Traverse City from Wayne Hill.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/), cropped and color-adjusted, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Downtown_Traverse_City_from_Wayne_Hill.jpg

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