Courtesy Photo TriPoint Church of God will host a Living Nativity on Friday and Saturday nights. Pictured are participants in last year's Living Nativity.

∫ Art in the Loft, on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in Alpena, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “WinterView 2024” is on display now through March 1, featuring the artwork of over 25 artists, for show and sale. Classes are also offered, and can be viewed online. Visit artintheloft.org, email director@artintheloft.org, or call 989-356-4877 for more information.

∫ Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is closed to the public now through mid-January for the installation of the new “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit. There will be no “Season of Light” exhibit this year. The Besser Museum is located at 491 Johnson St., Alpena. Call 989-356-2202, or visit bessermuseum.org.

∫ Mark and Lucia Behmer are the Thunder Bay Arts Gallery Featured Artists for Decemeber. The gallery features more than 20 local artists’ work on display and for sale. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit thunderbayarts.org or call 989-354-2586.

∫ The Dragonfly Art Gallery, located at 116 E. Main St. in Harrisville, is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The Dragonfly’s last day of operation will be Saturday, Dec. 21, due to staffing shortages.

Today, Dec. 17

∫ The Association of Lifelong Learners hosts Mexican Train Express dominoes from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.

∫ Great Start Collaborative Playgroup is held weekly at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at Alpena County Library. No registration necessary.

∫ TOPS #1614 Alpena welcomes new members who are looking for support in their weight-loss journey. Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at the First Presbyterian Church at 1600 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena. Weigh-ins start at 9:45 a.m. and meetings start at 10:30 a.m. There is no obligation to join if you attend your first meeting. For more information, call 989-255-4787.

∫ Potential homeowners can find out the steps they need to take to get closer to homeownership from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the Habitat for Humanity offices at 2630 U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

∫ Every Tuesday, practice ukulele at 10 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of Alcona County Library, with ukuleles available for checkout, and players of all skill levels invited to join.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center offers quilting at 10 a.m. and Spitzer at 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

∫ Good Grief is a grief support group at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, at Friends Together, 105 Prentiss St. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231 for more information.

∫ The Alpena Lions Club hosts their weekly meetings at noon on Tuesdays at First Presbyterian Church, Alpena. For more information, visit alpenalionsclub.com or the Alpena Lions Club on Facebook. For detailed membership information, call 989-464-5313.

∫ MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena has launched “Life As Improv,” a new support group designed to encourage adults to work together, listen and create a story. Participants will also learn about community resources and connections. The free support group will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Joshua Tree Studio and Spa, 112 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. Registration is required. Call 989-356-8193 or email karen.nowicki-compeau@mymichigan.org.

∫ Sewing Club meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. This club is open to all skill levels — newbie to expert, ages 10 and up. Bring your sewing machine, supplies (scissors, straight pins), and a project to work on. Space and guidance will be provided. For those without a sewing machine, there are three machines on site for use. Registration is required by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ ALL will host Behind the Scenes: A Chat with Santa from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at M. Briggs Center. Santa will share some of the experiences he has had in Alpena. Learn how he became Santa and enjoy reliving some of his favorite, and maybe not so favorite, memories. This afternoon with Santa is for adults, but no gift requests will be taken. Attendees are asked to bring a Christmas treat to share. Coffee, tea, and water will be provided.

∫ Alpena County Library hosts Tinker Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tinker Tuesday is about getting together and exploring projects ranging from Makey Makey, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, 3D Printing, Strawbees, littleBits, Snap Circuits, sewing and more. Let your curiosity take over and explore! Participants must be age 5 or older.

∫ Bay View Center hosts a diversity support meeting at 4 p.m. each Tuesday. This weekly meeting is for those in the LGBTQ community, their families, and supporters, at Bay View Center, 710 N. 2nd Ave. If you have questions, call 989-340-0955.

∫ A new women’s cancer support group is offered from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m on Tuesdays at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena’s Cancer Center. All women with cancer are welcome. This is a safe, confidential, peer-to-peer support group.

∫ Cub Scouts meet from 6 to 7 p.m., and Boy Scouts meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 727 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena.

∫ Karaoke Night is from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Black Sheep Pub in downtown Alpena.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.

∫ Friends of the Library will have a used book store open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday on the third floor of the Alpena County Library. The book store is currently holding a Christmas special of five books for $3. The public is welcome.

∫ Alpena Senior Citizens Center exercise is from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

∫ Guys Like Us is a Wednesday morning coffee crew of men who are coping with cancer, meeting at 10 a.m., in-person at Friends Together and via Zoom. Call Friends Together at 989-356-3231 for the link.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday mornings for Open MakerLab. If you have questions, call 989-356-6188, ext. 20.

∫ ALL presents Journal Writing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at M. Briggs Center. This session invites us to write — for ourselves and others. Journal writing is a first step for creating stories, capturing memories, and exploring our ideas and feelings. You can write in response to prompts instructor Mary Ann Krajnik Crawford will bring, or about whatever you choose, and you can do as much or as little writing and sharing as our time allows. Bring paper or a journal, pens or pencils, or a computer — whatever you need to be comfortable for writing.

∫ Alpena County Library offers Tech Help from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Get help with your computer, phone, or tablet from ACL’s knowledgeable and patient staff.

∫ ALL offers pinochle from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at M. Briggs Center with Julie Byrnes.

∫ S.T.E.A.M., formerly called Homeschoolers at the Library, will meet at 1 p.m. each Wednesday at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ Circle of Hope is a women’s only cancer support group that meets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Friends Together. For more information, call 989-356-3231, or drop in. No pre-registration is required.

∫ A Blue Christmas Service will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of U.S.-23 and Long Rapids Road in Alpena. Blue Christmas is a time to acknowledge the pain and difficulties that some experience during the holiday season. It is a time of remembrance of sorrows, past and present, and a time for hope, even in the dark of the long winter night. This hour-long service will include an anointing with oil.

∫ Alpena Sportsmen’s Club is a nonprofit located at 4260 M-32 West in Alpena, open to members and non-members — everyone with an interest in shooting sports. Skeet and sporting clay shooting are offered from 5:45 p.m. until dark on Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more info, text Joel Suszek at 989-255-4928 or Jeff Welch at 989-255-6068.

∫ Wednesday is Vinyl Night with Mike Furtaw, A.K.A. “The Gary”, from 6 to 8 p.m. at PIF Cider, 205 W. Chisholm St., Alpena.

∫ Rich Rider hosts Open Mic Night from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Black Sheep Pub, 113 S. 2nd Ave., downtown Alpena.

Thursday, Dec. 19

∫ Thunder Bay Audubon Society will participate in the 125th Christmas Bird Count in Hubbard Lake on Thursday. Members will be counting birds in the Hubbard Lake area from dawn to dusk. Contact Lynn Field for the Hubbard Lake count at lynnshaunafield@gmail.com.

∫ Community Walking Club for Everyone meets at 9 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ Join the Alpena County Library Youth Services Department at 9:15 a.m. each Thursday for Weekly Storytime. Come for a few stories, then stay for an activity or craft! All ages are welcome.

∫ Join the Alpena County Girlfriends at 10 a.m. on Thursdays for coffee and conversation. This is a women-only group whose purpose is to make friends and socialize with women from Alpena County and the surrounding areas. Contact Betty at 734-693-2869 for weekly location.

∫ Join ALL for Spitzer from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at M. Briggs Center, led by Marilyn Klingshirn.

∫ Pinochle and bridge are held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Alpena Senior Citizens Center.

∫ Needles and Threads group is held from 2:30 to 4:30 pm every Thursday at the Grand Lake branch of Presque Isle District Library. Bring your latest knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlepoint, or other crafts. Call 989-734-2477, ext. 2. The library is located at 18132 Lake Esau Highway, Presque Isle.

∫ Santa is coming to the Northland Area Federal Credit Union’s Alpena location from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday. There will be holiday music, hot cocoa, treats, and pictures with Santa. Bring your family, friends, furry friends, and your camera.

∫ Sewing Club meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Alpena County Library’s Makerspace. Registration is required by calling Barb Brege at 989-255-8969.

∫ Thunder Bay Silent Book Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at PIF Cider, 205 W. Chisholm St., Alpena.

∫ Thursday Eve Serenity Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 351 Wilson St., Alpena. If a problem drinker has or is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help you. Meetings are anonymous and confidential. Call 989-354-5476.

∫ Thunder Bay Theatre presents “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Latitudes Tavern, 307 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. Enjoy TBT’s newest holiday tradition with its annual and festive, if not necessarily accurate, retelling of a holiday classic. This year, the TBT Board of Directors is thrilled to present, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” Presented informally and hilariously, this annual event is the perfect way to lead up to Christmas. There is no admission charge, but goodwill donations to TBT’s reopening fund will be appreciated.

Friday, Dec. 20

∫ ALL pickleball plays from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 for details.

∫ Exercise is at 10 a.m. at Alpena Senior Citizens Center. Then at noon, Mahjong is played, and pinochle starts at 12:30 p.m.

∫ Presque Isle District Library’s Posen branch offers knitting and crocheting from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. All levels are welcome. If you have questions, call 989-734-2477.

∫ On Fridays, Storytime and Craft for Kids meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library.

∫ ALL hosts contract bridge from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Fridays at M. Briggs Center. This is an ongoing group of card players who welcome any players at any time. This group is a teaching class but experienced players are also welcome.

∫ The Hillman VFW Post 2356 hosts its Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday night, with your choice of fish or shrimp, potato, coleslaw, roll, and drink. The fish fry is open to the public, and the cost is $12 for the fish dinner or $14 for the shrimp dinner.

∫ ALL hosts square dancing from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, call the ALL office at 989-358-7207 or email all@alpenacc.edu. Come brush up on your mainstream and plus dancing with fabulous caller Dave Boggs, of Desert Aire, Washington.

∫ On Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., Santa’s house will be open for visitors at Culligan Plaza in downtown Alpena, next to the City’s Christmas tree. Visitors can stop in to take their photo with Santa, drop off a letter, and tell him what they’d like for Christmas this year. The events are free and open to people of all ages. There will be elves on hand to help hold coats, take photos, and assist with the events. Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union and the Alpena High School Key Club are providing volunteers to make Santa’s visits possible. Santa also has a mailbox in front of his house where families can drop off their letters to Santa at any point leading up to Christmas. For more information on the Visit with Santa events, visit downtownalpenami.com/events or call the DDA Office at 989-356-6422.

∫ First Congregational United Church of Christ will host a Christmas open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the church, 201 S. 2nd Ave., downtown Alpena. The community is welcome to come enjoy the Christmas spirit in their historical church gifted in 1954 by Jesse and Anna Besser. The evening will include refreshments, tours, and music. The public is also invited to First Congregational’s Christmas Eve Worship service on Tuesday, Dec. 24. A musical prelude will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a candlelight service at 7 p.m.

∫ TriPoint Church of God in Alpena invites the community to their Living Nativity, with three showtimes: 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. This is a free event, open to the public. Stay after the show and enjoy cookies, cocoa, and caroling. The event will be held at TriPoint Church of God, 500 S. Brooke St., Alpena. Join TriPoint in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. For more information about this event, email tripointalpena@gmail.com, or call 989-356-2021.

Saturday, Dec. 21

∫ Thunder Bay Audubon Society will participate in the 125th Christmas Bird Count on Saturday in Alpena County. Members will be counting birds in Alpena County from dawn to dusk. Contact Andrew Wolfgang for the Alpena count at a19wolfgang@gmail.com.

∫ The Alpena Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mich-e-ke-wis Park, 1302 State Ave. in Alpena. A Christmas Market with Santa will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come see Santa Claus and get your last-minute local unique artisan gifts, decorations, baked goods, cookies, and much more. Falls Creek Produce and Flowers will be doing a centerpiece class at 10 a.m., and preregistration is required. The cost for this class is $40 and includes snips, floral, and vessel. Register at fallscreekmi.com. For more information about the Alpena Farmers Market, visit the Friends of the Alpena Farmers Market on Facebook.

∫ The Sunrise Side Co-op Market (indoor farmers market) is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, with 40 vendors represented weekly for your bakery, farm products, wellness items and high-end gift needs, located in the blue marina building at 401 E. Chisholm St., Alpena.

∫ Keepsake Ornament Decorating will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Alpena County Library. Decorate a holiday-themed salt dough ornament in this art-based program that families can attend together over the holiday season. Registration is not required, but limited supplies are available.

∫ Santa will be in his house at Culligan Plaza, accepting visitors from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

∫ Join the Presque Isle County Historical Museum in Rogers City from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday to see Santa Claus at the Bradley House, 176 W. Michigan Ave. All children will get a free gift bag from his elves. If you have questions, call 989-734-0123.

∫ Open auditions for Alpena Civic Theatre’s 2025 production of Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at ACT, 401 River St., Alpena. Director Bill Powell and Assistant Director Lucas Moquin are casting for six women for the production, ages 17 to late-60s. “Steel Magnolias” will be playing March 13 to 16 and March 20 to 23. For more information, call Alpena Civic Theatre at 989-354-3624, or visit the ACT Facebook page.

∫ The Alpena American Legion Post 65 invites the community to a Christmas dinner at 4 p.m. on Saturday at 1316 M-32 West, Alpena. Donations will be taken at the door. There will be 50/50 drawings and raffles. The menu includes beef and pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, cole slaw, dinner rolls, and a dessert bar. If you have questions, call 989-356-3357.

∫ TriPoint Church of God in Alpena invites the community to their Living Nativity at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. This is a free event, open to the public. Stay after the show and enjoy cookies, cocoa, and caroling. The event will be held at TriPoint Church of God, 500 S. Brooke St., Alpena. Join TriPoint in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. For more information, email tripointalpena@gmail.com, or call 989-356-2021.

Sunday, Dec. 22

∫ If a problem drinker is affecting your life, Al-Anon can help. Confidential and anonymous meetings are held from 2 to 3 p.m. every Sunday at St. Raphael Church in Mikado.

∫ The Alpena Symphony Orchestra has prepared a musical treat for the community titled Holiday Serenade, which will be performed at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Hope Lutheran Church, 5462 W. Nicholson Hill Road, Hubbard Lake. A variety of music performed by several musical ensembles and soloists from the ASO will provide a note of festivity to your holiday season. There is no charge for attending this event. Donations are appreciated if you desire to contribute to the orchestra, which is a nonprofit organization. The community is invited to come and enjoy this musical celebration.