The St. Mary of the Lake Family Festival is scheduled for May 23-27 at 718 West Buffalo St. in New Buffalo.
The carnival provider is Anderson Midways, and the festival will offer food, games and carnival rides for all ages. Advance tickets are $20 until May 19, and all-access, single day wristband sales are available at the event for $25 each. Additional Food vendors will also be available.
Hours of operation are: Thursday, May 23, 4-10 p.m.; Friday, May 24, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, May 26, noon to 10 p.m.; and Monday (Memorial Day) May 27, noon to 4 p.m. (Weather Permitting).
A Snack Shack and Bake Sale will be sponsored by the St. Mary of the Lake Altar & Rosary Society, which will hold a Silent Auction Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Interact Club events
The River Valley Interact Club and Harbor Country Rotary Club are sponsoring a 2-for-1 night of Bingo and a Bake Sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in the RVHS cafeteria.
Also, any purchases made at Patellie’s, 28 North Elm St., Three Oaks, from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 20, will benefit the clubs’ to send three juniors and a parent chaperone to the Dominican Republic for a summer service project.
Garden Club Plant Sale
The River Valley Garden Club’s huge plant sale on May 18, from 10 am to noon, will be at Harbert Community Park, 13300 Red Arrow Highway, Harbert, just north of the Chikaming Township Center.
Home grown perennials, flowers, ground cover, vegetable plants, bushes and small trees, are all from the gardens of club members. The sale goes on rain or shine.
“Our sale is always a big draw because the plants are all grown locally and it is a great kick-off for spring,” said Elizabeth Palulis, garden club president. “We think of it as the social event of the season.”
The annual sale includes gardening tools and books as well as the plants. The plants are divided as sun-loving and shade-tolerant, so people can choose plants that work for their environment.
The garden club offers field trips, guest speakers, a member’s plant auction, and hands-on workshops in addition to the annual plant sale. Anyone with an interest in gardening is always welcome at the River Valley Garden Club. The club is also involved in service projects throughout the year. Members come from Indiana and throughout southwest Michigan.
For more information contact Palulis at 269-362-4564 or email her at evpalulis@yahoo.com. Also visit the club’s website, rivervalleygardenclub.org.
Chamber to welcome Glik’s
The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce will perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 23, to celebrate the grand opening of the family-owned Glik’s at 26 North Whittaker St. in New Buffalo.
Day-long activities are planned to celebrate the occasion, which is open to the public.
Glik’s always considers the needs of the community when opening a new store. Providing service is at the core of their retail business, giving back to the community is also essential. As part of the celebration, Glik’s will be donating money to the non-profit New Buffalo Railroad Museum which helped provide historic images of New Buffalo for display in the store.
The store is curated to carry brands and styles that are specifically chosen for New Buffalo customers.
Kristi Ham states “The building is beautiful and we are excited to be in this historic location. We take pride in our long-standing history and the relationships we have built within our communities.”
Glik’s has served the Midwest for over 127 years- treating everyone like family. For more information, visit gliks.com, social media or call 618-876-6717.
Pets & Pours
The Michigan Humane Society’s spring fundraiser Pets & Pours is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Central Time) Sunday, May 19, at Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City, Ind.
The event is dog-friendly, and kids are welcome (children 12 and under get in free).
Walk the paved path with your friends and family, then lounge on the lawn and enjoy live music by Help Hounds and CAT MAN DOG! A limited number of chairs are provided (those attending are welcome to bring a chair or blanket).
Food and drink will be available for purchase from Burn ‘Em Brewing, Journeyman Distillery, Shady Creek Winery, Zorn Brew Works, Braden’s Boba Tea, DonutNV, and vegan-friendly La Patrona. One free drink ticket is included with admission.
Stop by Happy Hound’s photo booth with your pup, enter the raffle, and grab your commemorative pint glass to bring home. MC Joey D of Joey D’s Kitchen will announce the winner of the 2024 Pet of the Year competition as the 2023 Pet of the Year, Dutton, passes the torch. Pets & Pours t-shirts will be available and a “just for fun” cornhole tournament is planned.
For ticket information, go to https://michianapets.org. Event proceeds fund second chances for MHS shelter pets.
Program on E.K. Warren
A program at the New Buffalo Township Library at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, will examine the life of Edward Kirk Warren, the man who brought us Warren Dunes, Warren Woods and Featherbone.
Warren shaped Michigan history like few others, bringing prosperity, better roads and other civic improvements, strong religious convictions and a philanthropic streak that still benefits us today. An almost-accidental discovery of a use for previously discarded turkey feathers paid for that philanthropy and brought wealth and jobs to Three Oaks.
Presenter Nick Bogert of The Region of Three Oaks Museum has spent years collecting images and stories about Warren and his family. This presentation, originally delivered at the Historical Society of Michigan, tells a sweeping story of pioneer success that made Warren one of the largest landholders in the country.
All are welcome to attend this program, and admission is free. The presentation is part of the Friends of the New Buffalo Library’s Community Forum series. The library is located at 33 N. Thompson St.
Mobile food pantries
Feeding American Mobile Food Pantry visits are scheduled for: 4 p.m. May 16 at New Troy Community Center, 13372 California Road, New Troy; Noon on May 17 at New Buffalo American Legion, 19139 US Hwy 12, New Buffalo.
For information on other upcoming Mobile Food Pantry visits, log on to: https://www.feedwm.org/mobile-pantry-schedule/
SAM Spring Showcase
The School of American Music Spring Showcase at The Acorn will feature performances of intermediate and advanced students from the studios of instructors Tom Fischer, Madison Kutch, Donna Mitchell, Tom Parisi, Garth Taylor, and Denise Vanden Bussche. It will take place Sunday, May 19, at 3 p.m. Eastern at The Acorn, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks.
The showcase is free admission and an excellent way for the community to sample what the School of American Music, of Three Oaks, has to offer.
Performances will include “Sound of Silence” and “What Was I Made For?” on piano, vocal solos “Cry Me a River” and “I Feel Pretty,” blues and ragtime medleys on guitar, and many others.
The School of American Music Spring Recital, featuring students not in the Spring Showcase, will be Sunday, June 2, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, 14280 Red Arrow Hwy., Harbert. The recital is free and open to the public.
The nonprofit School of American Music (SAM) provides education, performance, and audience opportunities in music in the Southwest Michigan area. For more information, please contact SAM at 269-409-1191 or schoolofamericanmusic@gmail.com or visit School of American Music on Facebook or the website https://schoolofamerican music.com.
Acorn Shows
Upcoming shows at the Acorn Center for the Performing Arts, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks, include: The Heavy Heavy with Sugadaisy at 7 p.m. May 16; Jackie Venson at 8 p.m. May 17; Matthew Logan Vasquez with Justin & The Cosmics at 8 p.m. May 18; an American Red Cross Blood Drive begins at 11 a.m. May 22; Brooklyn Charmers, a Steely Dan tribute band comprised of Chicago’s top players, at 8 p.m. May 24; Chicago’s premiere jam band Mr. Blotto returns to The Acorn at 8 p.m. May 25; The Acorn Tree House presents Mr. Dave at noon May 25.
The deadline for entry in the 2024 Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights! is Friday May 31 at 11 pm.
For information on these and other upcoming events, go to acornlive.org.
Wine & Fine Art Festival
Lemon Creek Winery will celebrate its 40th Anniversary as an estate vineyard and winery with its annual annual Wine & Fine Art Festival.
During Memorial Day weekend, May 25th & 26th, the event features a captivating blend of art exhibits, live music, delectable wine specials, and a mouthwatering selection of cuisine from local food trucks.
Festivities begin at Noon on both days, with closing time at 6 p.m. A plethora of art will be available, including: handcrafted stained glass, exquisite jewelry, intricate pottery, breathtaking photography, masterful woodworking, and stunning fine art paintings. Enjoy live music by renowned blues guitarist Keith Scott, Fare from local food trucks will be available throughout the weekend.
Sip and savor Lemon Creek’s multitude of wine, with twelve flights from which to choose, including reserve, dessert, and high-end selections.
Admission to the festival is free, and you can find Lemon Creek Winery at 533 E. Lemon Creek Road in Berrien Springs.
Senior Choir organizational meeting
The School of American Music and the River Valley Senior Center are holding an organizational meeting for seniors interested in joining a senior choir on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 11 a.m. EDT at the River Valley Senior Center, 13321 Red Arrow Hwy., Harbert.
Members of the choir need to live in the River Valley Senior Center service area and be 60 years old or older. The purpose of the meeting is to see who is interested in joining and to discuss ideas and suggestions for how to proceed. If you like to sing for fun, please come to the meeting and join the choir.
The leader of the choir will be Tom Fischer, a recently retired Lutheran pastor, currently teaching piano at the School of American Music in Three Oaks. Tom has over 50 years musical experience as an organist, choir director and accompanist, handbell choir director, and guitarist. His “Beyond the Walls” choir has performed concerts in eight independent and assisted living facilities in Buchanan, Bridgman, St. Joseph, Stevensville, and other cities.
For more information, please contact the School of American Music at 269-409-1191 or schoolofamericanmusic@gmail.com or the River Valley Senior Center at 269-469-4556 or director@rv seniorcenter.org.
‘Five Easy Pieces’ at Film Group
The Harbor Country Film Group with Eve Moran will screen and discuss “Five Easy Pieces” at the New Buffalo Township Library at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20.
The film stars Jack Nicholson, who received an Academy Award nomination in 1970 for his role as Bobby Dupea. Karen Black co-stars as Dupea’s girlfriend, Rayette Dipesto.
Dupea is a shiftless 30-something oil rigger and former piano prodigy. He is immune to any sense of responsibility and full of rebellious spirit. Learning that his distant father has suffered a debilitating stroke, Dupea sets out on a road trip to reconsider his past.
“Five Easy Pieces,” from Director Bob Rafelson, is at once a simple story and one of the most complex and exciting dramas of its time.
All are welcome at Film Group meetings, and there is no cost to attend. Free popcorn will be available. The New Buffalo Township Library is located at 33 N. Thompson St.
StoryWalk
Chikaming Open Lands’ StoryWalk on the Preserves is taking place through June 16 along the hiking trails at Jens Jensen, Myron Perlman, Robinson Woods, and Turtle Creek preserves.
Life-sized storybook pages line the trails. Read the story as you hike, then scan the QR code for a chance to win copies of all four StoryWalk books which have been provided by Bridgman Public Library, Buchanan District Library, New Buffalo Township Library, and Three Oaks Township Library. Horizon Bank New Buffalo has sponsored the event for four years in a row.
Playing at the Vickers
Playing at the Vickers Theatre, 6 North Elm St., Three Oaks are “The Fall Guy,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Nowhere Special” and “Blade Runner.”
Livia Gazzolo returns to the Vickers stage with Ben Kinsinger on piano at 7 p.m. May 31 for the second installment of her Silent Film Series. Livia and Ben will be playing a medley of music from the Carpenters, Beach Boys, and the like in front of three short silent films of Shakespeare plays all made in 1908 including The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, and Romeo Juliet.
For more, go to https://vickerstheatre.com.
Dunes 2024 season
The 2024 season schedule at Dunes Summer Theatre, Northwest Indiana’s oldest continually producing professional summer theatre, includes the following productions:
BLITHE SPIRIT by Noel Coward (May 31-June 16, 2024).
TALLEY’S FOLLY by Lanford Wilson (June 28-July 14, 2024).
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, book by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown (July 26-August 11).
The 4th Annual DUNES BROADWAY CABARET (August 15-17).
VOICES FROM THE HEARTLAND: The 2nd Annual New Plays Festival (September 19-22).
For more, go to www.dunesarts.org/tickets.
Three Oaks Library events
The Three Oaks Township Public Library is celebrating 165 years of service.
ONGOING
Story Time for all ages at Three Oaks Township Public Library is on Tuesdays 10:30 – 11:00 and Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:00.
Drop-In Play Doh Play Date is Tuesdays, 11:00 – 12:00 noon. Drop in to squish, shape, and roll with our Play Doh and supplies. Parents must accompany young children.
Knitting & Crocheting Circle is Wednesdays, 10:30 – 11:30. Individuals of all skill levels are invited to bring any needlework and enjoy a cup of coffee while visiting with others.
Lego Club @ the Library is all day Thursdays. Drop in for a few minutes or stay all day to build and create with our 1000s of Legos. All creations will be left up for one week.
Adult Drop-In Color Me Happy Hour is Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:00. Coffee, coloring sheets, and colored pencils will be provided for this adult only social time.
Take & Make bags for children are available on a first come, first served, basis.
The coffee pot is always and free of charge compliments of the Three Oaks Library Friends.
Singer-Songwriter Competition
Perennial fan favorite Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals returns to the Center for the Acorn Performing Arts (107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks) for its 12th consecutive year.
An esteemed panel of judges and our beloved Acorn audience will participate as six finalists take the stage for this thrilling performance, with the field narrowing to the ‘top three’ artists over the course of two rounds.
Songwriters have until Friday, May 17 at 12 p.m. (noon) ET to submit their entry for this year’s competition. Three video entries of original songs are required. Each song must have accompanying lyric sheets with song title and songwriter’s name on each song and video performances should be as close to “live” as possible.
Full details are available at acornlive.org on the Singer-Songwriter Competition Page.
