FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2024

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Crooked Tree Arts Center with Petoskey District Library

PETOSKEY, Mich. – Ring in the New Year with family-friendly fun at Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) and the Petoskey District Library! This festive celebration will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 5-9 p.m., with activities both indoors and outdoors for all ages to enjoy.

Activities at Crooked Tree Arts Center

Inside CTAC, guests can enjoy a full evening of refreshments and creative activities, including face painting, pottery and dance workshops, magic shows, silent disco, and speed painting. Admission includes a pizza buffet from Mancino’s.

"The Arts Center's New Year’s Eve celebration is a cherished tradition filled with excitement, and tickets sell quickly!” shared Michelle Horn, CTAC’s events & development manager. “We love ringing in the new year surrounded by our incredible community.”

From dancing to DJ Michael’s festive tunes on the Bidwell Plaza to enjoying cookies, coffee, and cocoa, there’s something for everyone. CTAC is partnering with Little Bay Gourmet to offer chili, including a vegetarian option, to keep everyone warm. The evening will conclude with their “Midnight at 9” ball drop on East Mitchell Street, allowing younger families the opportunity to partake in the joyful countdown together.

Activities at the Petoskey District Library

While the library will be closed during the day on Tuesday, Dec. 31, it will reopen from 6-9 p.m. to host free activities, open to the public.

"Outside the library, staff and volunteers will again offer s’mores kits for roasting over the fire pits. Inside, kids can meet and take photos with Paddington Bear,” said Stacy Cox, the library's marketing manager. “We had Jeff Pagel playing mellow tunes on guitar in the main lobby last year and we’re delighted he’ll be back to entertain us again. Petoskey Chess Club will have chess games going in the lower level classroom this year and we’ll have other board games on tables throughout the library. The children’s area will be hosting Stickerpalooza, where we’ll be using stickers to create art. We look forward to a fun evening with our community to cap off 2024."

In addition to the above, the Library will have water, coffee and decaf available, along with cookies.

Featured Artwork

This year’s promotional artwork was created by Maya Kaufman, a third-grade student from Central Elementary School in Petoskey. Maya’s playful and vibrant design will be featured on this year’s event materials, t-shirts, and admission buttons.

“I love animals. They are fun to draw and very cute. I was going to make a tiger, but when I was done making it, it looked like a bear,” said Maya about her selected artwork. “I made the party hat with polka dots, because if it didn’t have the party hat, it wouldn’t look as cute. The confetti makes the bear look like it is partying, but without it, it would look like no party.”

Maya, a student in CTAC’s School of Ballet, is also performing in The Nutcracker on Dec. 21-22 as a Truffle and Soldier.

Tickets and Admission

• $10 Adults
• $5 Kids (ages 3-12)
• Free for children 2 and under

Tickets grant admission to all indoor activities at CTAC. Outdoor activities are free and open to the public.

Tickets are available for purchase at crookedtree.org and admission buttons can be picked up at CTAC - Petoskey starting Dec. 9.

Volunteers Needed

Want to join the festivities for free this year? We’re looking for volunteers to help with tasks such as registration and ticket sales, serving cocoa and cookies, and assisting with outdoor and indoor activities. Interested in signing up? Call 231-347-4337 or sign up here.

Presented By

This event is made possible with support from The Kroeger-Mainland Family Fund at PHSACF, the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, and in partnership with the Petoskey District Library.

For more information, contact Crooked Tree Arts Center at 231-347-4337 or visit crookedtree.org. Crooked Tree Arts Center is located at 461 E. Mitchell Street in downtown Petoskey.

Join us for a festive evening of creativity, community, and celebration – we can’t wait to welcome 2025 with you!

Artwork by Maya Kaufman, Age 8, Petoskey.

Maya Kaufman, Age 8

New Year's Eve at the Arts Center, Petoskey.

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About the Crooked Tree Arts Center: The mission of the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) is to create ways for people to connect, learn, and grow through the arts. CTAC offers exhibits, concerts, classes, lectures, special events, and so much more, from its campuses in Petoskey and Traverse City. For more information, please visit www.crookedtree.org.