In Downtown Alpena, we have a full calendar of events year round. From shopping events to our Chili Chowder Cook-off, from our Flower Festival to Visits with Santa, there are events each season to enjoy. Click the button below to view annual events in downtown.
Check out our calendar of all events happening downtown. Whether you're traveling from around the block or around the country, there's sure to be an event to check out during your visit!
Check out our calendar of all events happening downtown. Whether you're traveling from around the block or around the country, there's sure to be an event to check out during your visit!
Calendar of Downtown Events
Fall Events
Chili Chowder Cook-offEvery fall, the DDA hosts its annual Chili Chowder Cook Off! An average of a dozen contestants from around the region compete for Best in Show ($250 cash prize), Best Chili & Best Chowder ($200), Most Spirited Booth ($100) and Most Creative Recipe ($100). The Chili Chowder Cook-Off is proudly a zero-waste event with the help of our volunteers.
Our 2023 Chili Chowder Cook-off is Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 12-2 pm. The cook-off takes place on Second Ave, purchase your ticket to taste all the entries for $10 near Chisholm & Second. Registration is open for competitors, home cooks and professionals are all welcome! |
Bard at the BarBard at the Bar is a Shakespearean-Themed Bar Crawl hosted by the Alpena DDA and Thunder Bay Theatre (TBT). Professional actors and actresses from TBT's core company perform various scenes from Shakespeare's works at downtown bars and restaurants.
Bard at the Bar is postponed as Thunder Bay Theatre seeks to renovate and repair their building following the 2020 fire at the neighboring John A. Lau. For more information about TBT, visit their website. |
Witches Night OutThe Alpena Downtown Development Authority is hosting Witches Night Out in Downtown Alpena on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 5 pm- 10 pm! Enjoy spooky shopping specials, bewitching beverages, and other festive fun throughout downtown.
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Downtown Trick-or-TreatingThe Alpena Downtown Trick-or-Treating! 2023 times are TBD.
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Winter Events
Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade + Downtown Tree LightingJoin us to kick off the holiday season on Friday, November 24th, 2023 with the annual Bolenz Holiday Parade through Downtown Alpena! The tree lighting ceremony and arrival of Santa in Culligan Plaza follows the parade.
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Visit With Santa DowntownDecember 2023 Dates Coming Soon
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Holiday Open House
Kick off the holiday season in Downtown Alpena on Saturday, November 11th, 2023. This event will be an all-day event and the entire community is welcome to come and join in the fun! Each business will be decorated for the holiday season.
Cocoa Crawl
January 2024 Date Coming Soon
Participating locations will have cocoa treats including anything from hot chocolate to candies! After the holidays, cozy up and come downtown to enjoy chocolate treats, shopping specials, and more.
Participating locations will have cocoa treats including anything from hot chocolate to candies! After the holidays, cozy up and come downtown to enjoy chocolate treats, shopping specials, and more.
Alpena Ice Festival
Alpena Ice Fest is scheduled for Saturday, February 11th, 2023! The event begins at Mich-e-ke-wis Park with ice sculptures on display by Ice Creations of Napolean, Ohio, a huge bonfire by Alpena Fire Department, demonstrations, food and fun, and ice and snow related activities. Activities then move to downtown from 4-9 pm!
Nearly thirty ice sculptures will be on display throughout Downtown Alpena, including an ice throne in Culligan Plaza! 2nd Avenue will be closed with fire pits and "Fire and Ice" themed cocktails and specials at downtown restaurants.
Nearly thirty ice sculptures will be on display throughout Downtown Alpena, including an ice throne in Culligan Plaza! 2nd Avenue will be closed with fire pits and "Fire and Ice" themed cocktails and specials at downtown restaurants.
Spring Events
Downtown Clean Up & Flower Planting
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This year, a group of volunteers is leading an initiative to beautify Downtown Alpena by planting flowers in the tree bases along Chisholm Street! There is a planting day where you can participate in this event on Saturday, May 20,2023. Volunteers will be meeting on Saturday at Culligan Plaza to pick up gardening supplies if needed, but please bring your own if you have them!
If you want to sponsor a flat of flowers, you can donate $50 that will be used to purchase a flat of flowers from Kipfmiller's Produce & Nursery. Each sponsor will get a sign posted in one of the tree bases to recognize their support. You can donate online at the link below! |
Summer Events
Alpena Flower Festival
The Alpena Flower Festival is a new event for Downtown Alpena and will be taking place on Friday, June 2nd and Saturday, June 3rd, 2023. Local florists will be commissioned to construct large-scale and small scale floral structures in public spaces throughout downtown. There will also be an option for businesses to sponsor a flower construct similar to the Alpena Ice Festival. The hope is to jump into the spring and summer season by beautifying and celebrating Downtown Alpena!
Fishing for Downtown Dollars
Our Fishing for Downtown Dollars event will be back this year during the Brown Trout Festival! Stop in any participating business on Friday, July 14 & Saturday, July 15, 2023 to go "fishing" to win Downtown Dollars! Over $500 of Downtown Dollars will be in fishbowls throughout the downtown in participating businesses.
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Fresh Waves: The Downtown Mural Project
In 2019, the DDA launched a new arts initiative to bring vibrant murals and public art downtown. Over three years, the project has commissioned fifteen unique, inspiring pieces of artwork! Each year the location of the mural will change and be selected by the DDA's Marketing & Promotions Committee. We will be announcing 2022 details in Early 2022.
