News and events of Michigan’s Upper Thumb that are worth knowing in the region.
Here are some of the top stories.
Pigeon Band Shell opens its 35th season June 18 with five Thursday night concerts at Pigeon Recreation Park. The 2026 lineup includes rock, dueling pianos, big band, gospel and Woodstock-era music, with advance tickets available at several Thumb-area businesses.
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Step back to 1938 and visit one of Michigan’s most iconic historic hotels. This Michigan Moments video showcases the Hotel Ojibway in downtown Sault Ste. Marie during its golden age, when tourists, elegant automobiles, and Great Lakes travelers filled its front entrance. Learn about the hotel’s rich history, its connection to the Soo Locks, and the enduring legend of Room 616 that continues to intrigue visitors today.
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The History of Deford Michigan comes alive through rare early 1900s photos showing the depot, Bruce Block, post office, hotel, school, grain elevator and Standard Condensed Milk Co. plant. Together, they show how a small Tuscola County town became a working farm and rail hub.
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The 18th Annual Ribstock Festival in Caseville, Michigan, is a three-day celebration from June 26–28, 2026. It features rib cook-offs, live music, and community activities, showcasing local pride and supporting regional tourism and businesses.
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Michigan ghost towns offer a glimpse into the state’s boom-and-bust past. From mining camps and lumber ports to company towns and abandoned villages, these 17 lost communities reveal how industries, railroads and changing economies shaped Michigan’s history and left lasting stories behind.
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Sigma, Michigan, rose around 1910 as a railroad lumber town in Kalkaska County. Its depot, camps, shops and holiday crowds show a brief boom built on timber and rail service.
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Thumb Brewery will release Collin’s Mild Ale on July 2 in Caseville during a benefit for the Huron County Nature Center. The event includes samples, raffle items, commemorative cups and wildlife education.
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The Traverse Regional History Center is taking a different approach to preserving local history. Rather than focusing on artifact collections, the organization is building a regional resource dedicated to storytelling, education, and digital engagement.
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Concord, Michigan grew from waterpower, rail service and farm trade. This story follows its old mill, Michigan Central depot, Main Street, schools, baseball team and rural roots to show how one Jackson County village kept its identity through change.
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Acme, Michigan, began as a creek-powered mill town east of Traverse City, then shifted to farms, schoolhouses, roadside diners and resort travel. Its story shows how a Grand Traverse Bay community changed without losing its old outline.
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