Indoor and Outdoor Art
Every season provides a chance to enjoy all those things we love about living in Newaygo County. The beauty of seeing the “best sunset ever” every night of the summer, the sound of loons echoing over the lake, feeling your kayak glide along with the river current, smelling fresh cut hay or hearing the sound of the “swish, swish” as kids ice skate on one of our many lakes.
We are fortunate for not only the natural beauty but also an abundance of cultural opportunities: Seeing the bold colors in a beautiful painting on exhibit or at an arts and craft fair; dancing to your favorite band playing in an outdoor concert; seeing your child’s eyes light up as he or she exhibits a latest clay project.
Both connections, to nature and to culture, can provoke similar emotions: inspiring, energizing, motivating, empowering. Both touch our lives for the better. The value of both nature and culture goes beyond the beauty and power to move individuals: they contribute to advancing tourism and nurturing the creativity of our region.
Both our natural and cultural resources are a part of what makes our area unique to many other areas and we are fortunate to have such a great combination. From an outdoor concert, to ballet, to theatrical productions, to art exhibits; we hope you too enjoy the natural, cultural beauty of Newaygo County.
The facilities that house many of the cultural events are located throughout the County. Each offers its own flavor of activities, providing something for everyone throughout the year. There are many opportunities to become art-involved and we hope you and your friends participate in upcoming events.
In the southern part of the County, Grant Fine Arts Center is the home of community theater group, LionHeart Productions, and the Grant High School Fine Arts Department. This beautiful center offers performances year round in music and theater.
On the County’s northern side, Stage Door Theater is located in downtown White Cloud and is an intimate venue for the community theater group, Stage Door Players.
In Fremont, Newaygo County Council for the Arts (NCCA – Artsplace) specializes in the fine arts. With an exhibition gallery, local artist market, classes and workshops, the renovated century-old building buzzes with activity. Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts is a vibrant combination of a state-of-the- art performance center, gallery and a Black Box intimate venue. Concerts, theater, films and entertainment are on the schedule all year long.
Forget making a trip to the “big city” for your cultural needs. You’ve got it all right here in Newaygo County along with an abundance of natural beauty to boot!
Marianne Boerigter
The Great Pathfinder
Fremont Township was established and named in honor of John C. Frémont, western explorer, and future politician. So, who was John C Fremont and why was his name picked for the area we know as Fremont, Michigan? Eight states have a town named for Mr. Fremont –...
Grant Depot and Water Tower
The Grant Depot and Water Tower (or The Grand Rapids, Newaygo and Lake Shore Railroad Company Depot and Water Tower) is a state historical site in Grant, Michigan. The railroad depot and water tower were built in 1891 by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, and...
Newaygo’s Lumbering Legacy
Ride the River Back in Time – Newaygo County’s Lumbering Legacy! Being surrounded by densely forested land, Newaygo County is an area that was built on lumber mills. At its peak, loggers dumped thousands of logs into the Muskegon River a day to float down to the...
White River Railroad Bridge
A Piece of History Still Standing – The White River Railroad Bridge! The Great Railroad Trestle is the bridge that sits over the White River just south of White Cloud. It was built on September 29, 1875, completely made of wood! Its correct name is the White River...
Tis’ the Season for a Casual Getaway
The holidays are upon us and with it comes the hustle and bustle of preparations, decorating, party planning and more. It can really be overwhelming! So, here’s an idea… instead of the same routine of rushed online purchases or crowded mall shopping, come explore the...
Fremont Gets Ready to Jingle!
The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce invites the public to the Jingle Mingle Arts & Crafts Fair on Saturday, November 12th from 9 am to 3 pm at the Fremont Middle School at 500 Woodrow Street. Organizers say that attendees will find many unique handmade gifts and...
Punch your tag & bring home Thanksgiving dinner!
While the average weight of a fall turkey is below 15 pounds, a bird of that size will consume roughly five pounds of food each week. That doesn’t sound like much but fall turkey flocks’ balloon in size this time of year. On the small side, a flock of just a dozen...
Harvest Fest Returns to Fremont!
The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the schedule of events for the 16th Annual Fremont Harvest Festival, slated to be Thursday September 22nd, Friday September 23rd and Saturday 24th. The Fremont Harvest Festival celebrates the rich farming...
Hey Newaygo! Let’s CAN some food!
Fall in Newaygo County is full of rich colors as the trees change from green to reds, yellows, and shades of brown. It also is a wonderful time of discovering the amazing bounty of the fall harvest, presented at local farmer markets and roadside country stands. On...
A legacy of family, hunting & conservation: The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch
Welcome to The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch, an institution with a rich legacy of hunting, family, and conservation. A LEGACY OF FAMILY, HUNTING, & CONSERVATION OUR STORY Established in 2018, The Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch is a 501(c)3 nonprofit...
Never Underestimate a Woman With a Chainsaw
Growing up, my grandparents were farmers, and my grandpa and uncle were really into steam engines , restoring one and building one from scratch. They would go to steam engine shows and by chance at one of them, they met a group of lumberjacks doing a show. They...
Labor Day Weekend Logging Festival
The Logging Festival in Newaygo has been a part of Labor Day weekend for more than 60 years. I have been trying to research the changes throughout the years and have learned that while some of the weekend’s events and activities have changed, the common theme of...
8 Stops For a Unique Gift
Like it or not, the holiday shopping season is here! I’m probably more guilty than most of having a certain distinct box showing up on my porch on a regular basis, but this year is more important than ever to support small businesses. I’ve put...
Deer Hunter’s Must-Do in Newaygo County
The trees are bare, the air is crisp and the calendar has just flipped to November… In Northern Michigan, that means deer hunters are headed to the woods! If you haven’t tried your luck in the deer woods of Newaygo County, we recommend checking it out. With...
Fall Colors: A Bird’s Eye View
Flying amidst the clouds, high above Newaygo County, Doug Harmon captured Newaygo County's fall beauty perfectly. It's the season, jump in your car and head North! Newaygo County is here to greet you. Grab a bite, even stay the night! Come explore the rivers,...
Fall Means Apple Cider Slushies
The cider slushies are the best-tasting brain freeze I have ever had, and I look forward to it every year.
Christmas Season Festivities
I grew up in Newaygo country. My memories of the area are rich odes to the senses. There’s the feeling of the cold river running over my feet in the summer, sunlight on my face as it blinked through the rustling tree branches along the bank. There was the taste of...
Church’s Tree Farm
Finding the right tree!Snow fell, and we said goodbye to fall as if it were a thing that never existed. There were never leaves of red, yellow, or orange decorating the skyline. There were no greying trees of exposed branches and bark. There is only this place, this...
