The Highlands scheduled its closing for October 19, and neither ski hill has posted an opening day. Between now and the 112th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on November 28, most of what happens in Harbor Springs is organized by a small group of downtown businesses. Many of them sit within a block of State and Bay streets. Between now and November 28, The New York Restaurant, The Pier and a handful of Main Street shops show up on nearly every listing on the Chamber calendar. Most of that schedule is in place before any snow arrives.
The Resort Calendar Has Already Gone Quiet
The Highlands set October 18 as the final day of its summer and fall season, with the resort closing starting October 19 to get ready for winter. Its hours page gives no ski opening date yet.
At Nub's Nob, the 2026–27 calendar shows the hill's final scheduled day as April 4, 2027, with December events already listed. It doesn't show an opening day. In April, Nub's Nob announced that its summer crew would replace the Orange lift with a U.S.-built SkyTrac fixed-grip quad, nearly identical to the Green lift installed in 2023. The April announcement describes planned summer work, so for now the new chair is best treated as announced until the hill shows it running. Families planning winter lessons have a nearer deadline. On October 12, Nub's Nob posted 10% off Academy Programs and racing memberships through November 10, 2026.
For about a month, then, neither resort is setting the town's schedule. Downtown is.
The Calendar, Week by Week
Here are the dated items on the downtown calendar from this week through early December.
| Date | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Through Sat., Oct. 31 | SkeleTOUR displays and Facebook voting | Around Harbor Springs |
| Nov. 7 or 8 through Nov. 26 | The Depot's fall break | Bay Street |
| Tue., Nov. 10 | Last day for the Nub's Nob Academy and racing discount | Nub's Nob |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Ladies Night Out, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Downtown shops |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving dinner at The Pier, noon to 5 p.m. | 102 Bay St. |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | The Depot reopens | Bay Street |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Christmas Tree Lighting, 6 p.m.; Main Street west of State closes at 3 p.m. | Main Street near Holy Childhood |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Merchants Holiday Open House, 6 to 9 p.m. | Downtown |
Every date above comes from the businesses and organizers themselves. The sections below cover what's behind each one.
Skeletons Through Halloween
The Harbor Springs SkeleTOUR runs October 1 through 31. Local businesses and community members sponsor and decorate skeleton displays around the area, and the public votes for a favorite on Facebook for what the Chamber calls "community bragging rights." The Chamber hosts it and links an interactive map for finding the displays.
The list of participants previews the rest of the season. It includes A.R. Pontious Flower Shop, American Spoon, Birch Tree Bakery & Cafe, The Depot Club & Restaurant, Ivy Boutique, Johan's Pastry Shop, The New York Restaurant and the Pier Restaurant. Four of those businesses come up again in November. Ivy Boutique is part of Ladies Night Out, The New York and The Pier host that evening's opening and closing parties, and The Depot's fall break sets the rhythm of Bay Street before Thanksgiving.
Halloween is a Saturday this year, and the SkeleTOUR's last listed day is October 31. If you haven't walked the route yet, you have until October 31 to see the displays and cast a vote.
Ladies Night Out, From 101 State to 102 Bay
Ladies Night Out is set for Saturday, November 14, with shopping from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting. The evening starts and ends at two restaurants that sit nearly across from each other.
It starts at The New York Restaurant, 101 State St., with a pre-party from 4 to 5 p.m. featuring drink specials and $10 small plates. Dinner reservations there are at (231) 526-1904. During shopping hours, you get a passport initialed at each participating store you buy from. Only initialed passports earn raffle tickets.
It ends at The Pier Restaurant, 102 Bay St. A table inside the front doors starts collecting passports at 7:30 p.m., The Pier provides light appetizers, and the drawing begins in the dining room shortly after 8 p.m. You have to be there to win, and no purchase is needed to enter the drawing. Dinner reservations at The Pier are at (231) 526-6201.
Here are the participating businesses, with specials as the Chamber lists them:
- Finishing Touch
- Greyson Clothiers
- HANNI Gallery: pick a gift from the tree, while they last, including gift cards, discounts and free items
- Ivy Boutique: 20% off regular-priced items
- J. McLaughlin: wine and cheese
- Little Traverse Tile Works: buy one, get one discounted tiles
- McClutchey's Store: storewide discounts, refreshments and giveaways
- Polished on Main: service specials and 20% off all products
- Redvanly: 25% off in-store purchases
- Rocking Horse Toy Co.: 20% off storewide
- Witty Galerie: 20% off limited-edition and giclée prints
The timing of this evening matters. It falls about two weeks before Thanksgiving, after the summer staff has gone and before the holiday shopping weekends begin. A gift list started at Rocking Horse Toy Co. or Witty Galerie on November 14 can be finished locally before December.
The Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving
Bay Street changes shape after Ladies Night Out. The Depot is a members-only dining club downtown, and it takes a fall break. Its homepage lists the closure as "November 8 thru November 26." Its fall calendar puts the start at November 7. Both say the club reopens on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Members planning a dinner around the holiday can count on November 27 as the first night back.
The Pier stays open through the holiday. Its Happenings page advertises a three-course Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 26, from noon to 5 p.m. In early October, the restaurant's homepage listed hours of 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hours this time of year can change week to week, so call ahead before you head down for lunch on a weekday.
For a few weeks, then, The Pier links the Chamber's November evening to the town's holiday table. It is a SkeleTOUR participant in October, hosts the Ladies Night after-party in mid-November and serves Thanksgiving dinner later in the month.
One Detour Note for Late-Fall Drives
Some of the leaves are still up, and a drive north on M-119 is a common late-October outing, though only part of the route is open. The M-119 Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route Committee reports that MDOT reopened the stretch between West Stutsmanville Road and Terpening Road in early September after a $300,000 slope-stabilization project. Final restoration there will use single-lane closures with traffic regulators.
Two sections are still closed to through traffic, and the committee says that includes pedestrians and cyclists. Near Division Road, the detour uses Island View Road and North State Road, and that section is expected to stay closed until at least late 2027. At Devil's Elbow, the detour runs along West Stutsmanville, Townline, Church and Robinson roads, and no repair timeline has been announced. Our late-summer look at Harbor Springs covers the background on the washouts. The detour routes above are current as of the committee's update.
November 28, When Main Street Closes at 3
The month ends on Main Street. The 112th Annual Harbor Springs Christmas Tree Lighting is Saturday, November 28, at 6 p.m. on Main Street near Holy Childhood Catholic Church. It's free and open to everyone. Main Street west of State Street closes to traffic at 3 p.m. that day, so plan any afternoon errands downtown around the closure.
The evening includes caroling and a countdown, and the winners of the annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest are announced. When the main tree lights, every tree along Main Street lights with it.
After the lighting, everyone is invited to an ecumenical chili dinner in the Holy Childhood Parish Hall at 150 W. Main St. Holy Childhood Catholic Church, Stutsmanville Chapel, First Presbyterian Church and United Methodist Church provide the chili and soups. The American Legion Auxiliary brings homemade cookies and hot cocoa, with sponsorship from First Community Bank, and Santa makes an appearance. Earlier that day, the Harbor Springs Lyric Theatre hosts a free holiday matinee. The film hasn't been announced yet. Through December, the Lyric also keeps a Santa Mailbox for children's letters.
The downtown merchants shape this night too. Their window displays are what the contest judges, and the next weekend is theirs as well, with the Merchants Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. That makes three Saturdays in the same few blocks: November 14, November 28 and December 5.
If you're deciding which November weekend to open up the cottage, or you'd like to know which Harbor Springs streets are lively when the resorts are quiet, I'm happy to share what I know. Kristin Keiswetter Clark keeps close track of the Harbor Springs calendar year-round, and you can find more about the town on my Harbor Springs page or reach out directly to Plan Your Next Move.
