EVENTS
Witches Night Out
Mark your calendars — the 2nd Annual Witches Night Out is taking over downtown Traverse City on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 5–10 PM!
Last year’s inaugural event brought more than 1,000 witches, wanderers, and wonder-seekers to the streets, and this year is shaping up to be even bigger. With 25+ confirmed businesses, live performances, enchanting activities, and plenty of magick in the air, this is one night you won’t want to miss.
Event Highlights:
Downtown Transformation – Local shops will offer exclusive sales, themed snacks and drinks, tarot readings, fairy hair, and other mystical surprises.
Costume Celebration – Come dressed as a witch (or however makes you feel magickal and powerful).
Live Performances – Featuring Hail Your Highness, Rebecca Jon, and more!
Shop Local – Explore Traverse City’s vibrant small businesses, including hidden gems!
Family Friendly Fun – All ages are welcome! Restaurants and bars are trained to serve responsibly, keeping retail and drinking areas separate. For a dry option,
The Little Fleet is hosting a Free Spirits Dance Party all night — a non-alcoholic bash alongside their stellar menu.
Participating businesses include: Blessed Be Tea & Apothecary, Brilliant Books, Slip Vintage, Higher Self, Evil Queen, My Secret Stash, Penny Lane, Intimi, Spice & Tea Merchants, Horizon Books, Surfaces, Haystacks, Nifty Things, Contigo Dogs, Darling Botanical, Middle Coast Brewery, Charles & Reid, The Workshop Brewing Company, Sweet Tartlette, Water Bearer Coffee, Little Fleet, Gypsy Spirits, Nolan’s Cigar Bar, Taproot & more.
Join the magick. Support local. Celebrate community.
Follow updates here blessedbetea.com/witches-night-out-2025
Special Shout Out to The Conscious Community Coven for Volunteering, Sponsoring and Event Planning!
UNP Hike at Alligator Hill
This month’s hike takes us out to enjoy the fall colors at Alligator Hill out in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore area in Empire!
We will be meeting at the trailhead on Stocking Road before hitting the trail. And then head over to Cherry Republic for a post-hike snack!
Pride Family Day at Wunsch Farms Apple U-Pick
Enjoy a family day on the farm!
Bring the whole family over to Wunsch Farms Apple U-Pick Sunday, 3pm-5pm, to pick apples, including Honeycrisp, McIntosh and Jonagold, Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening and Empire.
Click here for directions and parking information.
Queer Tales Book Club
Join us for Queer Tales Book Club where we chat about books that are by and/or about LGBTQIA+ people. Reading is not required, and everyone is welcome.
We hang out on the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Nelson Room.
Teen Art Night - Halloween Prep!
Join UNP and our friends from UUCGT for a Teen Halloween Art Night! Paint a pumpkin, work on your Halloween costume, and more hands-on art fun just for ages 13-17!
Transgiving Hillsdale
This is a charity drive for homeless around the community.
Contact transgivinghillsdale@gmail.com with more questions.
Queer Jam Night at UNP
This is an open Jam night to bring together other musicians in our LGBTQ+ community and their allies in order to meet other musicians and make music and new friends.
Queer Jam Night will be held every other Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30 at the Up North Pride Community Center
All ages, genres, and music levels welcome!
UNP Youth Group
We are kicking off a brand new Youth Group here at the Community Center — a time and space just for teens!
Ages 14-17 are welcome - Thursdays 4:15-5:45
A special thanks to our friends at 3 Owls who will be facilitating the group, and be available to provide free, confidential support for any teens that may need it.
Up North Pride Halloween Party & Costume Contest at Right Brain!
Mark your calendars and get your Halloween best ready for a Halloween Costume Party like no other as Right Brain Brewery hosts Up North Pride Halloween Party and Costume Contest!
Costume contest entry starts at 7pm, winners will be announced at 10pm!
Music, Halloween games, and more spooky fun all night long!
Queer Fiber Arts Club
A casual meet up to work on fiber arts projects in community. Fiber arts include things like embroidery, knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, and more!
Queer Book Club at the Folded Leaf
Calling all book lovers! Join us the first Thursday of the month at The Folded Leaf in Cedar for our monthly Queer Book Club!
Be sure to check Folded Leaf’s social media for current book selection and other updates!
Downtown Traverse City Shop Your Community Day
Saturday, November 8
Downtown Merchants Give Back 15% of Sales
Join us for the Shop Your Community Day fundraising event in Downtown Traverse City! On this special day, 15% of every purchase at participating stores will be donated to one of 30 local nonprofit organizations. You choose which organization benefits from your purchase, making it a great way to support both local businesses and important causes.
How it Works:
Shop at any participating downtown merchant.
Select a nonprofit from a provided list to receive 15% of your total purchase.
Feel good knowing you’ve helped your community while shopping local!
Click here to find list of participating downtown stores, non-profit organizations, and more details!
Art Meet Up at the UNP Community Center
Join us for an Art Meet Up at the Up North Pride Community Center! Bring your own art project and enjoy an artful evening with friends.
And if you don’t have an art project, just bring yourself and a smile!
Elev8 Climbing Meetup: Queer Night
A climbing meetup for our LGBTQIA+ community.
Details:
Friday 6pm-8pm
$15 in advance / $20 day of event
Rentals are included!
Free for members
The meetup kicks off with some light instruction and challenges/goals, and is followed by a couple hours of climbing, socializing and having fun while building relationships and expanding your comfort zone!
**Purchase our "Climb Together" shirt to wear at these meetups. Wear the shirt to Rare Bird after climbing to receive 15% off your tab!
Queer Tales Book Club
Join us for Queer Tales Book Club where we chat about books that are by and/or about LGBTQIA+ people. Reading is not required, and everyone is welcome.
We hang out on the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Nelson Room.
Game Night!
Join us for a game night at the UNP Community Center! Try out a new game, play a classic favorite, or bring a game of your own!
All ages welcome.
Queer Fiber Arts Club
A casual meet up to work on fiber arts projects in community. Fiber arts include things like embroidery, knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, and more!
Queer Book Club at the Folded Leaf
Calling all book lovers! Join us the first Thursday of the month at The Folded Leaf in Cedar for our monthly Queer Book Club!
Be sure to check Folded Leaf’s social media for current book selection and other updates!
Art Meet Up at the UNP Community Center
Join us for an Art Meet Up at the Up North Pride Community Center! Bring your own art project and enjoy an artful evening with friends.
And if you don’t have an art project, just bring yourself and a smile!
Queer Tales Book Club
Join us for Queer Tales Book Club where we chat about books that are by and/or about LGBTQIA+ people. Reading is not required, and everyone is welcome.
We hang out on the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Nelson Room.
Game Night!
Join us for a game night at the UNP Community Center! Try out a new game, play a classic favorite, or bring a game of your own!
All ages welcome.
Game Night!
Join us for a game night at the UNP Community Center! Try out a new game, play a classic favorite, or bring a game of your own!
All ages welcome.
LGBTQ+ Senior Coffee Morning
Start the morning off with a cup of Higher Grounds coffee at the Community Center with our LGBTQ+ Seniors Coffee Morning!
Community Movie Night: Rocky Horror Picture Show
Join us for the next Community Movie Night at the State Theatre — this month featuring The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring a vist form the Old Town Playouse Rocky Horror Show Cast!
Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named 'Rockv'.
Transgender, NonBinary+ Support Group
Up North Pride and Head & Heart Therapeutic Solutions are proud to offer a monthly peer support group for Trans & Nonbinary+ adults. Group is the third Wednesday of the month.
T&NB+ Support Group is free, although space is limited, so please register through QR code below or at this link: https://forms.gle/xo3rw8fSJTGGBNys6
Queer Jam Night at UNP
This is an open Jam night to bring together other musicians in our LGBTQ+ community and their allies in order to meet other musicians and make music and new friends.
Queer Jam Night will be held every other Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30 at the Up North Pride Community Center
All ages, genres, and music levels welcome!
15 Years of Traverse City Roller Derby Party!
Join us for a night of fun as we celebrate 15 years of Traverse City Roller Derby! Party with us at Right Brain Brewery October 11th from 4-7pm. We’ll have snacks, cake, and a silent auction to help us raise money to play roller derby in Scotland in 2026!
Northern Michigan Dance Festival
Tickets are LIVE for the Traverse City Dance Project’s newest program: Northern Michigan Dance Festival
✨ October 10–12 | Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center
Oct 10th: 7-8:30PM – Program A Miami City Ballet dancers perform William Forsythe’s “Herman Schmerman” • Eisenhower Dance Detroit • Anishinaabek Singers & Dancers • Falco Dance • Traverse City Dance Project • dancers from Alvin Ailey & Joffrey Ballet
Oct 11th: 7:30-9:30PM – Program B Grand Rapids Ballet performs Trey McIntyre’s “Be Here Now” • Mixed bill • Installation with live music by the @hattiejanemusic (Charlie Millard Band)• Reception • Presented with support from the Dennos Museum Center
Oct 12th: 2-3:30PM – Program B Afternoon festival finale featuring live music by the Charlie Millard Band • “Be Here Now” by Grand Rapids Ballet • Mixed bill • Watch the dancers take ballet class onstage as they warm up for the show.
What Matters Most - An Evening of Song and Spoken Word
PFLAG Traverse City presents a musical and spoken word event. Join us for an evening of music, fun and laughter. Learn more about PFLAG Traverse City and its mission. The program starts at 7 pm and will go until about 8:15 pm. Light refreshments to follow.
Elev8 Climbing Meetup: Queer Night
A climbing meetup for our LGBTQIA+ community.
Details:
Friday 6pm-8pm
$15 in advance / $20 day of event
Rentals are included!
Free for members
The meetup kicks off with some light instruction and challenges/goals, and is followed by a couple hours of climbing, socializing and having fun while building relationships and expanding your comfort zone!
**Purchase our "Climb Together" shirt to wear at these meetups. Wear the shirt to Rare Bird after climbing to receive 15% off your tab!
Art Meet Up at the UNP Community Center
Join us for an Art Meet Up at the Up North Pride Community Center! Bring your own art project and enjoy an artful evening with friends.
And if you don’t have an art project, just bring yourself and a smile!
Queer Fiber Arts Club
A casual meet up to work on fiber arts projects in community. Fiber arts include things like embroidery, knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, and more!
Brilliant Books & Benzie Pride Book Fair for Grown-Ups
Join Brilliant Books at Five Shores Brewing for a Book Fair for Grown Ups to benefit Benzie Pride Network!
Queer Book Club at the Folded Leaf
Calling all book lovers! Join us the first Thursday of the month at The Folded Leaf in Cedar for our monthly Queer Book Club!
Be sure to check Folded Leaf’s social media for current book selection and other updates!
Queer Jam Night at UNP
This is an open Jam night to bring together other musicians in our LGBTQ+ community and their allies in order to meet other musicians and make music and new friends.
Queer Jam Night will be held every other Wednesday, 6:30 - 8:30 at the Up North Pride Community Center
All ages, genres, and music levels welcome!
Belles & Chimes Pinball Tournament
Belles and Chimes is an international network of inclusive women's pinball leagues. We host bi-weekly tournaments at the Coin slot for women, femmes, and thems to play together in a casual and supportive environment.
No entry fee for tournament, coin drop applies (5 games, $5. but bring $8 in case you make it to finals!)
Tournaments are every other Sunday- 3/30, 4/13, 4/27, 5/11, 5/25, 6/8, 6/22, 7/6, 7/20, 8/3, 8/17, 8/31, 9/14, 9/28
Visibility Rally & March, Resource Fair, Drag Show, Concert & Silent Disco!
Pride Week wraps up with the biggest Pride Celebration in Northern Michigan!
The excitement starts at F&M Park at the Visibility Rally starting at 12pm.
We’ll then take to the streets for the Pride March through downtown along Front Street to the Open Space Park.
Visibility Rally & March sponsored by The Fierberg National Law Group and The Little Fleet
Immediately following the Rally and March, the Resource Fair will take place at the Open Space Park, where local non-profits will be on-hand to share info about the services and support they provide for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Resource Fair sponsored by Huntington Bank and Priority Health
The fun continues with the Drag Show starting at 6pm featuring our favorite queens and kings from around the state!
Keep the party going with a special Pride Concert with EMM live on the Open Space stage at 9:00 pm!
Dance with us under the stars at the Silent Disco beginning at 10pm!
Drag Show, Concert, and Silent Disco sponsored by The Begonia Foundation, Fox & Fern Events, Gilead, ViiV Healthcare, and Traverse City Tourism
Thank you to bar sponsors Gypsy Spirits Distilling, Short’s Brewing Company, and Bonobo Winery
Video Sponsor OB&Co Media
Pride Week: Comedy Night
Join us for Up North Pride's fifth annual Pride Week Comedy Night, presented by Higher Grounds Trading Co, featuring returning fan favorite Kristin Key, with special guest Nicole Melnyk on Friday, September 26th, at the City Opera House!
Doors at 7pm, Show starts at 8pm
Tickets $20 - $30
The Intimi Affair - Fashion Show & Disco Dance Party for Up North Pride
Lingerie, lounging, and a little bit of lust.
Get ready to recline, revel, and raise a brow at our unapologetically inclusive lingerie fashion show — where the only thing more scandalous than the outfits might be the faces you see on the runway!
Prior to the show enjoy the complimentary activities while you strut around, including Glamour Shots with Viking Sister Photography, Glitter Freckle Station with Initmi, and Live Temporary Tattoo Drawings with AI Allegedly Tattoo
Then we dim the lights and dial up the disco — because nothing says "intimate evening" like sweating glitter ’til sunrise.
Snacks and nibbles provided throughout the evening. Cash bar featuring signature Intimi drinks created by Gypsy.
Combo (show + disco): $60
Show Only: $40
Disco Ony: $20
Age Limit 18+
Dress code: lounge/lingerie to your personal comfort level encouraged.
Pride Week: Sign Making Party
Join Up North Pride and Idea Farm at The Little Fleet for our annual Sign Making Party!
The Sign Making Party is your chance to make a statement and prepare for the Pride Visibility March on Saturday.
QUEERStory Storytelling
QUEERStory Storytelling
Queerstory is a live storytelling show where we can reconnect through the hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes horrifying stories that tell life’s many truths. This special edition, paired with Up North Pride, will feature storytellers from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
House opens at 6:30pm. Event starts at 7pm.
Event Partners: The Alluvion
Sponsored by Grocer's Daughter Chocolate
Video Sponsor OB&Co Media
Tickets $15.00
Parental guidance is advised
TBCAC Talk.Protect.Report.TM Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training: 2 Part Webinar Series
Join Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center (TBCAC) for their signature child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention program. Learn how to be an effective advocate for children by: 1) Talking about bodies, boundaries, and relationships honestly with children of all ages, 2) Protecting children from risky or unsafe behaviors and situations, and 3) Reporting suspicions and disclosures of CSA appropriately and accurately. Whether you have kids, work with kids, or care about kids, this training will equip you with the tools you need to keep kids safe and thriving! This two-part webinar series will be hosted virtually, via Zoom, over two separate sessions, each 75-minutes in length (5:00-6:15 P.M. on 9/22 & 9/24). Based on the sensitive content of this presentation, the training is intended for adults only (18+); Please be aware of young listening ears when attending the training virtually.
Sign up on Eventbrite to receive Zoom link & program materials
Teen Zine Party
Join Up North Pride and volunteers from the UU Congregation of Grand Traverse for this *teens only* Pride Week meetup and zine making party!
A zine is a homemade mini magazine, perfect for expressing yourself and sharing your unique voice and perspective. Learn how to make your own zine from a single sheet of paper, then copy them to share with friends or at Pride events throughout the week!
Sequins & Spotlights: Broadway Edition
Sequins & Spotlights: Broadway Edition!
Broadway is coming to Room 94 Taps & Bourbon - Odawa Casino for a spectacular show full of glitz, glam, and unforgettable performances!
Game Night!
Join us for a game night at the UNP Community Center! Try out a new game, play a classic favorite, or bring a game of your own!
All ages welcome.
LGBTQ+ Senior Coffee Morning
Start the morning off with a cup of Higher Grounds coffee at the Community Center with our LGBTQ+ Seniors Coffee Morning!
Community Movie Night: Heightened Scrutiny
This month’s Up North Pride Community Movie Night at the State Theatre is HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY
Amid the surge in anti-trans legislation that Chase Strangio battles in the courtroom, he must also fight against media bias, exposing how the narratives in the press influence public perception and the fight for transgender rights.
2025 Documentary directed by Sam Feder
Transgender, NonBinary+ Support Group
Up North Pride and Head & Heart Therapeutic Solutions are proud to offer a monthly peer support group for Trans & Nonbinary+ adults. Group is the third Wednesday of the month.
T&NB+ Support Group is free, although space is limited, so please register through QR code below or at this link: https://forms.gle/xo3rw8fSJTGGBNys6