Dates: September 30, 2011 - January 6, 2012
Location: Dennos Museum Center

Sketches to Sculptures, Rendered Reality: Sixty Years with Marshall M. Fredericks. Marshall Fredericks (1908 –1998) was one of the most prominent Michigan sculptors of the 20th Century. His iconic imagery can be seen around the State and the nation. Most prominent in NW Michigan are the Cross in the Woods in Indian River and the Two Bears in front of Corson Auditorium at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Sketches to Sculptures: Rendered Reality, Sixty Years with Marshall M. Fredericks is an exhibition of 31 small sculptures and 36 related drawings and sketches that showcases the creative process of Fredericks both as designer and sculptor. From simple pencil sketches to presentation drawings, the creative mind of Fredericks is on display as he transforms two-dimensional ideas on paper into three-dimensional sculptures. While many of the drawings in this exhibition resemble the final sculpture they would become, others only hint at elements of their outcome or point to a different outcome entirely. This exhibition is comprised of four genres that represent most of Fredericks’ work: architectural, commemorative, spiritual and whimsical.

The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, until 8 pm on Thursdays and Sundays 1-5 PM. Admission is $6.00 adults, $4.00 for children and free to museum members. For more information on the Museum and its programs, go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call 231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1410 College Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.

Date: Dec 15, 2012 - Jan 1, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM To 07:00 PM
Location: History Center of Traverse City

Delightful and imaginative working model train layouts fill several rooms at the History Center of Traverse City at 322 6th St.

The Festival of Trains will be held from December 15 - January 1.

Date: Dec 31, 2012
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Downtown Traverse City

Party with a purpose! Downtown Traverse City is transformed into a miniature Times Square on New Year's Eve with this event, now in its third year. This year's event promises to be the best thus far; there will be a DJ with live music, a U.S. Coast Guard fly-over, fireworks,and the exciting descent of an enormous lighted cherry to mark the start of 2013.

Admission is free, but participants are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to local pantries and shelters. The fun starts at 9 p.m.