MEETINGS & EVENTS CALENDAR
Please note — You can change the way you view the calendar in the drop-down button on the top right above the calendar. By default, the calendar is now displayed in “agenda” mode. Other options include viewing by month, week or day.
The Emmet County Planning Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the commissioners’ board room, across from the treasurer’s office, on the first floor of the County Building, 200 Division Street, Petoskey. The meeting is open to the public. Those attending must enter through the Lake Street doors and be prepared to pass through a metal detector and security check. For questions, contact the Planning and Zoning office at (231) 439-8998 or email to [email protected]. Please visit the Planning Commission website section to view the current agenda (when available) and archived meeting minutes.
Good Hart Artist Residency, the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, and Little Traverse Conservancy offer a chance to sharpen the senses with Good Hart Artist Residency Composer-inResidence Susan Mayo. Mayo is a soundscape artist, composer, and cellist. Participants will embark on a guided hike beginning at sunset, led by Susan Mayo and assisted by Little Traverse Conservancy guides. Participants will silently observe the night music of nature, allowing the dark skies to help them tune in deeply with their ears and hear the magic of sounds that are easily missed if you aren’t paying close attention. Later, participants will gather in the Waterfront Event Center to hear works guided by the muse of nature sounds and composed and played by Susan Mayo.
The OSIRIS-REx Mission- Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 5/22/24 – 7pm – 8pm – Join us at the Waterfront Event Center for a presentation on OSIRIS-REx, the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid. It returned to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023, to drop off material from asteroid Bennu. The spacecraft didn’t land but has continued on a new mission, OSIRIS-APEX, to explore asteroid Apophis. Meanwhile, scientists are analyzing the Bennu sample OSIRIS-REx dropped into the Utah desert for clues to whether asteroids colliding with Earth billions of years ago brought water and other key ingredients for life here.
Navigating Through The Night Sky- Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 5/29/24 – 7pm – 8pm – Finding objects in the night sky using prominent stars and constellations can be a rewarding and awe-inspiring experience for stargazers. Using well-known constellations, we use their key stars as reference points to navigate the surrounding celestial expanse. Star-hopping is a technique where you move from one bright star to another, gradually reaching your target. At the Waterfront Event Center, we will demonstrate how mobile apps and sky maps can assist in the real-time identification of celestial objects, making the process of discovering the wonders of the night sky both accessible and enjoyable.
The Experience of “Totality” – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 6/5/24 – 7pm – 8pm – Join us and NASA JPL Ambassador, Mick Groszko, at the Headlands Waterfront Event Center for a look back at “Totality”, the total solar eclipse from April 8th, 2024.
Comets and Broom Stars of the Night Sky with Kevin Dehne – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 6/6/24 – 7pm – 8pm – Join us at the Headlands Waterfront Event Center where Kevin Dehne will be discussing a brief history of comets, how best to observe them, and the equipment needed for observation. This presentation will also include an active demonstration of comet making!
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The Emmet County Planning Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the commissioners’ board room, across from the treasurer’s office, on the first floor of the County Building, 200 Division Street, Petoskey. The meeting is open to the public. Those attending must enter through the Lake Street doors and be prepared to pass through a metal detector and security check. For questions, contact the Planning and Zoning office at (231) 439-8998 or email to [email protected]. Please visit the Planning Commission website section to view the current agenda (when available) and archived meeting minutes.
Fly Fishing Demonstration with Trout Unlimited – Camp Petosega – 6/8/24 – 1pm – 3pm Interested in learning how to fly fish? Join Trout Unlimited and our Parks and Recreation staff for an evening workshop at Camp Petosega’s Pavilion. No pre-registration or equipment required. Entry is free!
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Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast – Camp Petosega – 6/16/24 – 9am -11 am – Each year, Emmet County Parks and Recreation invites the public and campers to a free pancake and sausage breakfast for Father’s Day at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga. Breakfast will run 9 to 11AM on Sunday, June 16.
There is no charge for the breakfast. Campers are invited to enjoy breakfast at Camp Petosega’s Rec Hall. Come while supply lasts!
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Introduction to Astronomy with Angie Morthland – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 6/26/24 – 8pm – 9pm -Are you interested in celestial objects, space, and what the universe has to offer as a whole? Join Angie Morthland at the Headlands Waterfront Event Center for a fun introduction to Astronomy fit for all ages!
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Petosega 5K Fun Run – Camp Petosega – 6/29/24 – 9am -Come join Emmet County Parks and Recreation for a 5K run and walk for all ages which will benefit our local parks and facilities. Wear red, white, and blue in celebration of Independence Day! This will take place at Camp Petosega in Alanson, Michigan on the cross country trail. Early registration fee is $15 and $25 for signing up on the day of the event. Register early to secure a T-shirt while supply lasts. Find the application at HERE and for more information, email Austin from our Parks Department.
The Emmet County Planning Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the commissioners’ board room, across from the treasurer’s office, on the first floor of the County Building, 200 Division Street, Petoskey. The meeting is open to the public. Those attending must enter through the Lake Street doors and be prepared to pass through a metal detector and security check. For questions, contact the Planning and Zoning office at (231) 439-8998 or email to [email protected]. Please visit the Planning Commission website section to view the current agenda (when available) and archived meeting minutes.
Satellites, Starlink, and Space Junk with Aurelian Balan – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 7/11/24 – 8pm – 9pm – Remember gazing at the Milky Way and wishing on a shooting star? You might be wishing on a SpaceX Starlink satellite instead! The number of satellites orbiting Earth is skyrocketing, driven by ambitious projects and growing demand for global internet access, Earth observation, and scientific research. This new space race is changing the face of the night sky, but what does it mean for us here on Earth? Join Aurelian Balan, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Delta College, for a fascinating presentation exploring the satellite boom, its impact on our planet, and the challenges and advances it presents. Learn about the constellations of the future, the race for the final frontier, and what it means for the stars we wish upon. Don’t miss this chance to get your head in the clouds and look up at the fascinating future unfolding above you!
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Summer Craft Show – Emmet County Fairgrounds – 7/13/24 – 9am – 4pm – Join us on Saturday, July 13th, from 9 am to 4 pm to enjoy a summer craft show at the Emmet County Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds will host both local and guest vendors featuring a variety of jewelry, home goods, food, and more. Entry is $2 or a non-perishable food item. Interested in becoming a vendor? Call the Fairgrounds at (231) 348-5479.
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Seeing the northern lights is a top bucket list item across the world. While the aurora is always present somewhere across the planet, knowing when and where to find the mysterious lights is challenging. A quick google search on the topic can leave you in a state of confusion. Ross Ellet is a Meteorologist for the ABC station in Toledo, OH. He is also an avid photographer that chases the monsoon storms in Arizona each year, and chases the aurora in Michigan to Alaska. He will share his experiences and photographs, but more importantly, he will break down the science of the aurora and explain how to make a plan to see the northern lights and make that dream a reality!
Cruise-In Car Show – Emmet County Fairgrounds – 7/21/24 – 10am – 1pm – Emmet County Parks and Recreation is hosting a car show at the Emmet County Fairgrounds on Sunday, July 21, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Gates open at 9 AM the day of the event for vehicle registration. There is no pre-registration. Admission to the event is free for the general public. Participants will be required to pay a $15 fee per vehicle entered. Trophies will be awarded with door prizes given out throughout the day. For more information, please call the Programming and Sales coordinator at (231) 348-5479 or email [email protected].
Introduction to Astrophotography – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 7/24/24 – 8:30pm – 9:30pm – Learn the basics of Astrophotography with an introductory session lead by NASA/JPL Ambassadors, Rod Cortright and Mick Groszko.
Mysteries of the Southern Skies with Norbert Vance – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 7/31/24 – 8pm – 9pm – Peoples of the southern hemisphere see the Southern Cross, the Sun’s nearest neighboring star, Alpha Centauri, the supposed destination of the 60’s fictional Robinson family in “Lost in Space” and grandeur that is the center of our Milky Way galaxy, but they can never see the Little Dipper nor North Star. The Big Dipper is alien to them. We will extend our view below the southern horizon visible from the Headlands to see what treasures we are missing, and also the amazing visions they cannot see from our northerly perch that we take for granted.
Headlands Light’s Out Challenge –Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 8/4/24 – 10pm – 11pm – Once again, Emmet County’s Headlands International Dark Sky Park challenges the communities around Northern Michigan to turn off their lights so that we can try to get the darkest sky ever recorded at the Headlands. This challenge will take place in the 10 to 11pm hour on the night of the new moon when the sky is normally the darkest all month. Please note that participation is voluntary, so help us get the word out! The ‘Light’s Out Challenge’ is designed to help raise awareness about the effects of artificial light at night on nocturnal habitat, human health, and the way we use our energy resources.
National Lighthouse Day Open House – McGulpin Point Lighthouse – 8/7/24 – 10am – 5pm – Join us for spectacular views of the Straits of Mackinac with a free, self-guided tour to the top of the lighthouse tower in celebration of National Lighthouse Day! Enjoy complimentary food and refreshments while supplies last.
Why Do We Have Meteor Showers? – Headlands International Dark Sky Park – 8/7/24 – 8:30pm – 9:30pm -Rod Cortright, NASA/JPL Ambassador, will discuss the origins of meteor showers and why they occur on a regular basis throughout the year. Entry is free!