The art and craft show circuit in Northern Michigan is one of the most respected in the Midwest. Juried shows in Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Leelanau County attract artists and collectors from across the Great Lakes region — and the quality consistently reflects the fact that Northern Michigan has a working arts community, not just a tourist arts economy.
What distinguishes these shows is the maker-to-buyer relationship. You buy a ceramic bowl from the person who threw it, fired it, and loaded it in their car that morning. You buy a painting from the artist who stood at the shore of Lake Michigan to make the sketch. There's a provenance to Northern Michigan craft and art that mass-market goods simply can't offer — and collectors have taken notice.
The Gaylord Alpine Village Street Fair, the Ellsworth Art in the Park, and dozens of similar shows throughout the season cover every medium: hand-thrown pottery, forged metalwork, handwoven textiles, photography, watercolor, woodworking, jewelry, and glass. Many artists show exclusively in Northern Michigan, which makes attending these events the only way to own their work.
What to Expect
- Juried art shows in Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Petoskey
- Gaylord Alpine Village Street Fair — 60+ artisan vendors
- Studio tours across Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties
- Pottery, metalwork, glass, and textile makers selling direct