November Events in Traverse City 2026: Week-by-Week Guide

November is the quiet month between color season and ski season around Traverse City, and that makes it a good time for indoor shows, small-town shopping days, and the first holiday lights. This guide covers Sunday, November 1 through Monday, November 30, 2026: concerts and theater, the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race, holiday craft fairs, downtown's tree lighting and Light Parade, and Thanksgiving weekend in the Leelanau villages.

Every date, time, price, and location below was checked against the organizer's own website on October 19, 2026. Plans can change, especially for outdoor events, so recheck the organizer before you go. For everything else in town, browse the ExploreTraverse events calendar. Visiting in late October? See our fall events and Halloween guide.

November 1 to 30 at a glance

Date and time	Event	Where	Good to know
Sun., Nov. 1, 1 pm	Concerto Competition Finals	Corson Auditorium, Interlochen	Free, no tickets needed
Sun., Nov. 1, 2 pm	"Moby Dick: Rehearsed"	Harvey Theatre, Interlochen	$24 adults, $19 child through college
Sun., Nov. 1, 7:30 to 11:30 pm	Screams in the Dark: Black Out	5548 M-66, Kalkaska	One-night special; tickets online
Wed., Nov. 4, 7 pm	Interlochen in Town: Jazz Showcase	City Opera House	$25; students 18 and under $10
Thu., Nov. 5, 7 pm	David Cross stand-up	City Opera House	$30 to $98; students 18 and under $20
Fri., Nov. 6, 7 pm	Warren Miller's Days Off	City Opera House	$25 general admission
Fri. to Sun., Nov. 6 to 8 and Nov. 13 to 15	Toast the Season	Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail wineries	Ticketed by weekend
Fri. to Sun., Nov. 6 to 8	Hadestown: Teen Edition	Phoenix Theatre, Interlochen	Free; mature content
Sat., Nov. 7	Iceman Cometh Challenge	Kalkaska to Timber Ridge, Traverse City	Race is full; spectators welcome
Sat., Nov. 7, 10 am to 3 pm	43rd Annual Holiday Gift Fair	Bellaire Middle School	Free admission
Sat., Nov. 7, from 10 am	Traverse City Children's Book Festival	City Opera House	Free, no tickets needed
Thu., Nov. 12, 7 pm	Jitters: The Premiere	City Opera House	Free; registration required
Fri. to Sun., Nov. 13 to 15	"The Prom"	Corson Auditorium, Interlochen	$38 adults, $19 child through college
Sat. and Sun., Nov. 14 and 15	Deer Widow's Weekend craft and vendor show	Kirkbride Hall, Grand Traverse Commons	Free
Sat., Nov. 14, 10 am to noon	Natural Ornament Workshop	Boardman River Nature Center	Free; registration required
Thu. and Fri., Nov. 19 and 20	Jacob Ramseyer: Heart Sleeve	City Opera House	Free masterclass; shows from $40
Thu., Nov. 19, 7:30 pm	Brass and Percussion concert	Corson Auditorium, Interlochen	$17 adults, $14 child through college
Fri., Nov. 20, 4 to 6:30 pm	Tree Lighting	Downtown Traverse City	Santa lights the tree at 6:30 pm
Fri., Nov. 20, 5 to 7 pm	Wreath Workshop	Boardman River Nature Center	$50; registration required
Fri., Nov. 20 to Sun., Nov. 29	Find the Grinch	Downtown Traverse City shops	Free
Sat., Nov. 21, 6 pm	Traverse City Light Parade	Front Street, downtown	Free to watch
Sat., Nov. 21, 6 pm	Holiday Hideaway	City Opera House	$15 adults, $5 kids 12 and under
Mon., Nov. 23, 7 pm	National Writers Series: Daniel Kraus	City Opera House	$17 to $41; students and teachers $12
Wed., Nov. 25, 5:30 to 7:30 pm	Light Up Leland	Leland	Leland Chamber event
Thu., Nov. 26, 8:45 and 9 am	Traverse City Turkey Trot	123 E. Eleventh St., Traverse City	5 mile and 5K; register online
Fri., Nov. 27, 10 am to 6 pm	Black Friday in Leland	Leland	Shopping day at village businesses
Fri., Nov. 27, 6:15 to 8 pm	Glen Arbor Tree Lighting and market preview	Glen Arbor Town Hall	Caroling, then early shopping
Sat., Nov. 28, 10 am to 3 pm	Glen Arbor Holiday Market	Glen Arbor Town Hall	25-plus vendors

Week by week

Sunday, November 1

• Concerto Competition Finals, 1 pm, Corson Auditorium, Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 J Maddy Pkwy. Arts Academy string, woodwind, brass, piano, percussion, and voice students play concerto movements in the final round. Free, no tickets required.
• "Moby Dick: Rehearsed," 2 pm, Harvey Theatre, Interlochen. Interlochen's Theatre Division stages Orson Welles's play-within-a-play version of the Melville novel. Tickets are $24 for adults and $19 for children through college on the event page. This is the last performance; the run opens Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 pm.
• Screams in the Dark: Black Out, 7:30 to 11:30 pm, 5548 M-66, Kalkaska. A one-night special at the haunted attraction after its regular October season. Tickets are sold through the organizer's site, which lists the drive from Traverse City at about 35 minutes and asks GPS users to look for the driveway across from Blue Heron Dr. See our event listing.

November 2 to 8

• Interlochen in Town: Jazz Showcase, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7 pm, City Opera House, 106 E. Front St. The Arts Academy Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Combo play standards and newer charts downtown. Tickets are $25, or $10 for students 18 and younger.
• David Cross, Thursday, Nov. 5, 7 pm, City Opera House. Stand-up from the comedian and actor. The event page lists four price tiers from $30 to $98, with $20 tickets for students 18 and younger.
• Warren Miller's Days Off, Friday, Nov. 6, 7 pm, City Opera House. The 77th annual Warren Miller ski film, hosted locally by the Crystal Community Ski Club, with ski reps and ticket deals. General admission is $25.
• Toast the Season, Friday to Sunday, Nov. 6 to 8 (and again Nov. 13 to 15), Leelanau Peninsula wineries. The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail sells tickets by weekend. Each ticket gets a 2 oz. pour and a food pairing at every participating winery, plus "Cork Cash" to spend at any winery. Tickets cover tastings but not tips. Prices, hours, and the winery list are on the Toast the Season page. Plan a designated driver or a tour service.
• Hadestown: Teen Edition, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 2 pm, Phoenix Theatre, Interlochen. Interlochen's Musical Theatre Company performs the teen edition of the Tony-winning folk opera. Free, no tickets required; the school notes mature content.
• Live music at Iron Fish Distillery, Friday, Nov. 6, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, 14234 Dzuibanek Rd., Thompsonville. Matt Gabriel plays the farm distillery, per its events page, which posts later dates as they are booked. See also our weekly listing.
• Iceman Cometh Challenge, Saturday, Nov. 7, Kalkaska to Traverse City. The roughly 30-mile point-to-point mountain bike race starts at the Kalkaska Airport and finishes at Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort in Traverse City, per iceman.com. The official registration page shows the main race is full, lists its start window opening at 8:45 am, and says nearly 12,000 spectators line the course. The Ice Cycle Expo and packet pickup are Friday, Nov. 6, at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme. Our event listing has more.
• 43rd Annual Holiday Gift Fair, Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 am to 3 pm, Bellaire Middle School, 204 W. Forrest Home Ave., Bellaire. The Bellaire Chamber's indoor fair of local artisans, crafters, and food vendors, with raffle drawings and a soup cook-off (cook-off tickets sold separately). Free admission.
• Traverse City Children's Book Festival, Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 am, City Opera House. Publishers, authors, and illustrators, plus kids' crafts from local nonprofits. Admission is free and no tickets are needed. Every attendee gets $1 in Book Bucks toward a book at the festival while supplies last, per the festival page. No end time is posted.

November 9 to 15

• Jitters: The Premiere, Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 pm, City Opera House. A premiere screening of a short comedy-drama about a boy with dyslexia facing his fears at a spelling bee, with a live jazz band, a Full Tilt comedy show, and an interview with the director and lead actor. Admission is free, but registration is required.
• Toast the Season, weekend two, Friday to Sunday, Nov. 13 to 15. Same format as weekend one; tickets are sold separately.
• "The Prom," Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 pm, Corson Auditorium, Interlochen. Interlochen's Musical Theatre Company stages the Broadway musical comedy. Tickets are $38 for adults and $19 for children through college on the event page; the school notes mature content.
• Deer Widow's Weekend, Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 am to 3 pm, and Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 am to 2 pm, Kirkbride Hall, 700 Cottageview Dr. A two-day indoor craft and vendor show at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. It is free, and the first 250 people each day get a free logo bag. Free tunnel tours run late morning to 1 pm each day; the start time differs between the Saturday page and the Sunday page, so check before you go.
• Natural Ornament Workshop, Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 am to noon, Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd. The Grand Traverse Conservation District leads a hands-on session making ornaments from milkweed pods, leaves, and other natural materials, for adults and families. Free; registration required.

November 16 to 22

• Jacob Ramseyer: Heart Sleeve, Thursday, Nov. 19, and Friday, Nov. 20, City Opera House. A two-day songwriting event led by the Traverse City native. Thursday has a free masterclass from 4:30 to 6 pm (registration required) and a 7 pm storyteller show ($40, with priority seating for $20 more). Friday at 7 pm is the full concert, $55 reserved or $74 premium, with an optional meet-and-greet add-on. Details are on the event page.
• Brass and Percussion, Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:30 pm, Corson Auditorium, Interlochen. An Arts Academy brass and percussion concert. Tickets are $17 for adults and $14 for children through college.
• Light Up Downtown: Tree Lighting, Friday, Nov. 20, 4 to 6:30 pm, downtown Traverse City. The Downtown Traverse City Association's kickoff has holiday activities, treat giveaways, music, games, Santa's arrival, and visits to Santa's House. Santa lights the tree at 6:30 pm at Cass and Front streets. Front Street closes from Park to Union streets from 3 to 8 pm. Details are on the tree lighting page.
• Wreath Workshop, Friday, Nov. 20, 5 to 7 pm, Boardman River Nature Center. Make a fresh holiday wreath with the Grand Traverse Conservation District. $50 per person; registration required.
• Find the Grinch, Friday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Nov. 29, downtown Traverse City. Look for a hidden Grinch inside participating downtown businesses. Spot him and you could get a treat, a discount, or another surprise from that shop, per the DTCA.
• Traverse City Light Parade, Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 pm, Front Street. Lighted floats, marchers, and decorated vehicles head down Front Street from Franklin to Union streets, with a run time of about 1 hour and 20 minutes. It is free to watch. Front Street closes from Park to Union streets from 3 to 8 pm. The DTCA says the tree lighting and parade tradition draws nearly 20,000 spectators to Front Street, so arrive early. Details are on the Light Parade page.
• Holiday Hideaway, Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 pm, City Opera House. Watch the Light Parade from inside the theater with carolers and holiday activities. Tickets are $15 for adults, including a holiday cocktail or nonalcoholic cocoa, and $5 for kids 12 and under, including cocoa.

November 23 to 30

• National Writers Series: An Evening with Daniel Kraus, Monday, Nov. 23, 7 pm, City Opera House. The novelist talks about his World War I novel "Angel Down," followed by a Q&A and signing. Doors open at 6 pm with live music. Tickets run $17 to $41 depending on seat and whether a signed book is included, with $12 student and teacher tickets, plus fees, per the event page.
• Light Up Leland, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Leland. An evening holiday kickoff on the Leland Chamber calendar. The chamber has not posted program details yet; contact information is on our Leland Chamber of Commerce listing.
• Traverse City Turkey Trot, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, 123 E. Eleventh St. The 19th annual race has a 5 Mile Flyer at 8:45 am and a 5K run/walk at 9 am. Strollers and dogs on non-retractable leashes are welcome, and kids under 3 in a stroller are free. On the registration page, the 5K is $35 and the 5 mile is $40 through Nov. 6, then prices rise in steps until race day; runners 17 and under pay $20. A signup fee is added to every entry.
• Black Friday in Leland, Friday, Nov. 27, 10 am to 6 pm. A day-after-Thanksgiving shopping day at Leland businesses, on the Leland Chamber calendar.
• Glen Arbor Tree Lighting and Holiday Market Preview Party, Friday, Nov. 27, Glen Arbor Town Hall. Tree lighting and caroling outside the town hall at 6:15 pm, then early shopping at the holiday market from 6:30 to 8 pm, per the Glen Lake Chamber. Chamber contact details: Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce.
• Glen Arbor Holiday Market, Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 am to 3 pm, Glen Arbor Town Hall. Gifts from more than 25 vendors inside the town hall.
• Last days of Find the Grinch downtown, through Sunday, Nov. 29.

Every Monday: Split Flipper Pinball

Right Brain Brewery, 225 E. Sixteenth St., runs a weekly two-player pinball tournament every Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Two players share one machine, one on each flipper, in a double-elimination bracket. No partner? The brewery says to just show up and find one. See our event listing.

How to plan your November trip

1. Watch the weather. The Turkey Trot organizers point to "unpredictable November Northern Michigan weather," and most of this month's outdoor events, from the Iceman to the Light Parade, happen in the cold or after dark. Check the National Weather Service in Gaylord before you head out.
2. Plan parking for Light Up Downtown. Front Street is closed from Park to Union streets from 3 to 8 pm on both Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21. Use our downtown parking guide and arrive early for the parade.
3. Expect race traffic on Iceman Saturday. With more than 5,000 riders and nearly 12,000 spectators along the course on Nov. 7, allow extra time near the Kalkaska start, the Williamsburg Road crossing, and the Timber Ridge finish.
4. Book or register ahead. The Jitters premiere, both nature center workshops, and the Ramseyer masterclass require registration. Toast the Season, the Turkey Trot, and most City Opera House and Interlochen shows sell tickets online.
5. Check the organizer that week. Program details for Light Up Leland, the Children's Book Festival end time, and Iron Fish's later music dates were not posted as of October 19.
6. Keep an indoor backup. Our rainy day guide and family activities hub list ideas for cold, wet days. Looking ahead to snow season? See our winter guide.

More ideas: Traverse City events and festivals, things to do in Traverse City, the Leelanau Peninsula guide, and the wineries hub.

Last verified October 19, 2026. Dates, times, prices, and registration rules change; confirm with each organizer before you go.

Hero photo: Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Northport, Leelanau County, by Sheen Watkins, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.