Copyright M Live Michigan
TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- The Upper Peninsula’s cinematic love for the Great Lakes is traveling down the lakeshore to Michigan’s Up North theatres. Every October, the Fresh Coast Film Festival hosts a multi-day film festival celebrating the the outdoor lifestyle, water-rich environment, and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest. This Marquette-based festival is crossing the bridge this spring for the inaugural Traverse City festival April 30 -May 3. For nine years, the film fest has brought environmental and cultural filmmaking to unique venues and expanded to guided outdoor activities in the U.P. Bringing the festival down along Lake Michigan, the film fest will be centered around the picturesque North Boardman Lake District and downtown Traverse City. Free community screenings will be happening simultaneously at six additional art-house movie theaters across northern Michigan The Traverse City edition is being led by local volunteers and presented by Traverse City Tourism, West Shore Bank, Herrington Fitch Family Foundation and Ludus. The U.P. festival aims to offer the same experiences in the Lower Peninsula, with visitors able to walk, paddle, or bike between festival venues. The festival previously hit the road and brough events to Grand Rapids, Saugatuck and Alpena, said Aaron Peterson, co-founder of Fresh Coast Film. “It’s inspiring to see people who love the Fresh Coast Film vibe so much that they came together just to bring it to their town,” Peterson said. “We’re always looking for new ways to share what we do, what we believe in, and to give our filmmakers platforms to share these stories with audiences.” Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City will kick off with a free opening night gala and community screening 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at ELEV8 Climbing and Fitness. The same program will be screened simultaneously at The Bay Community Theatre in Suttons Bay, The Vogue Theatre in Manistee, The Garden Theater in Frankfort, the Elk Rapids Cinema in Elk Rapids, the Charlevoix Cinema III in Charlevoix, and The Lyric Theatre in Harbors Spring. Donations will benefit the host venues. Traverse City venues will feature curated films from 100 selections in the Marquette program, with original add-ons and special films invited just for the Traverse City edition. Local nonprofits and impact organizations will partner to host screenings that connect with their causes and issues. “Hosting an event like this, especially in the early spring, brings fresh energy to our streets and provides important support for downtown businesses at a typically quieter time of year,” said Harry Burkholder, Traverse City Downtown Development Authority executive director. Traverse City venues include the following: City Opera House The Alluvion Silver Spruce Brewing Company Right Brain Brewery Up North Pride Community Center ELEV8 Climbing and Fitness Traverse Area District Library Weekend and day passes are on sale now with early bird prices. Also on sale are gala event tickets for the City Opera House, which will include special guests and one-time-only screenings. Individual $10 general admission screening tickets will go on sale January 1, 2026.
