our story
Historic Downtown Alpena is the food, arts, and regional hub of Northeast Michigan, located on the shores of the Thunder Bay River and beautiful Lake Huron. As a major port of the lumber era, Downtown Alpena is home to a significant amount of historic buildings from the turn of the 19th century that have been preserved & renovated over the years.
Now Downtown Alpena is home to a diverse and vibrant set of nearly 200 businesses, including art galleries, a year-round professional live theater, a winery, the only Marine Sanctuary located on the Great Lakes, and a variety of offices, restaurants, bars, non-profits and shops. Alpena is the second largest city in Northern Michigan, second only to Traverse City, and our downtown is proud to be the commercial and cultural heart of our community.
If you haven’t taken a stroll through Downtown Alpena in a while, you’ll find that a lot has changed. There are so many new spots of growth, with new retail businesses opening their doors, new restaurants serving delicious meals, year-round festivities and events, and your old favorite shops and spaces waiting to welcome you with a smile.
Downtown Alpena is vibrant, artsy, and growing. Come join us!
Now Downtown Alpena is home to a diverse and vibrant set of nearly 200 businesses, including art galleries, a year-round professional live theater, a winery, the only Marine Sanctuary located on the Great Lakes, and a variety of offices, restaurants, bars, non-profits and shops. Alpena is the second largest city in Northern Michigan, second only to Traverse City, and our downtown is proud to be the commercial and cultural heart of our community.
If you haven’t taken a stroll through Downtown Alpena in a while, you’ll find that a lot has changed. There are so many new spots of growth, with new retail businesses opening their doors, new restaurants serving delicious meals, year-round festivities and events, and your old favorite shops and spaces waiting to welcome you with a smile.
Downtown Alpena is vibrant, artsy, and growing. Come join us!
what's new
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ARTIST APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FRESH WAVES 2023!
This summer, the Fresh Waves project will happen in the alleyways that run through the heart of Downtown Alpena. Our goal is to make these underutilized spaces into pedestrian gathering spaces filled with vibrant artwork in an outdoor gallery experience. We are looking for artists to contribute their artwork to our downtown this summer 2023 (painting to take place in July or August). Artist applications are due April 15, 2023 by midnight and can be emailed to downtownalpenami@gmail.com or mailed/dropped off at 124 E. Chisholm St. Alpena, MI 49707 Our 2023 project is supported by a grant provided by the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, Thanks to their generous support, we are able to target up to 3 large scale, full-wall murals and 3 smaller pieces of sport art. We are grateful for their support to make our fifth year of the project bigger, better, and more colorful than ever!
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ALPENA ICE FEST IS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2023!
Join us for the second year of this community-wide event. Stop by to Mich-e-kewis Park from 11 am- 3pm for sculptures, sledding, a HUGE bonfire, live ice sculpting, the Alpena Farmers Market, and more. Then, come to downtown from 4- 9 pm for FIRE & ICE! Second Ave. will be closed from 3 pm onwards with bonfires, smores, and an ice bar in front of Center Building. Peruse nearly 40 sculptures on display throughout our district. Warm up in local stores and enjoy live music throughout downtown from 5- 7 pm. Thank you to Thunder Bay Arts and all the community sponsors that make this event possible! |
announcements
upcoming meetingsThe Alpena Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors has rescheduled its March & April meetings to Tuesday, March 14, 2023 and Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 3:00 pm. The meetings will take place at City Hall Council Chambers (208 N. First Ave). with the option for the public to join virtually. The agenda will be posted below as the meetings get closer.
The DDA held two informational meetings this December to present projects, investments, and accomplishments. Want to learn more about what the DDA worked on last year? Check out the links below.
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The Alpena DDA is excited to announce its mural project, Fresh Waves, recently won a 2021 award for Best Placemaking Project through the Michigan Downtown Association! You can learn more about the project and award by clicking here. |
