May 01 & 02, 2026
Join us for the first-ever Fresh Coast Film Festival: Traverse City edition - celebrating the outdoor lifestyle, water-rich environment, and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest. The festival gathers the best in adventure, environmental, and cultural filmmaking from around the world while creating a community venue for Great Lakes storytelling.
Friday Night Gala - May 1, 2026 at 7pm ET
“Listers - A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching” / Special Screening and Q&A
Special Guests: Filmmakers Owen and Quentin Reiser
with birder Nate Crane and field ornithologist Hannah Toutonghi
$20 General Admission
All Fees Included
Bar Service and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Available
Ticket Code: COH01
6:00 pm Doors Open - Cash Bar Available
7:00 pm Program and Screening Begins
8:45 pm Q&A with Special Guests
9:15 pm Estimated End
“A down-the-rabbit-hole glimpse at the norms and neuroses of the ‘extreme bird-watching community.’ If that sounds painfully boring, it’s not—this is one of the funniest documentaries I’ve seen in some time.” – Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic Monthly
Following two novice brothers, Owen and Quentin Reiser, as they attempt a competitive "Big Year" in the U.S., racing to see the most bird species in a year while living out of a minivan, showcasing the raw, obsessive, and hilarious world of extreme birding as they learn to compete at the highest level.
“Field Guide of All the Birds We Found One Year in the United States” Book Signing presented with support from the National Writers Series.
This program has not yet been rated, but is recommended for those 18 and older and may include adult language, birdwatching, and displays of grown-ups deeply jealous of each other.
Please arrive early as General Admission seating is first-come, first-served with main floor and balcony seats available.
If you have any questions, or need any special assistance, email: [email protected]
You’ll receive a confirmation that includes the option to print or save your ticket - please bring your copy with you to the City Opera House for fastest entry.
Tickets and festival passes are transferable online through your purchase at Ludus.com All sales are final.
Saturday Night Gala - May 2, 2026 at 7pm
“Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” / Special Screening and Q&A
Special Guests: Journalist Beth Milligan in conversation with Filmmaker Sasha Waters
$20 General Admission
All Fees Included
Bar Service and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Available
Ticket Code: COH02
6:00 pm Doors Open - Cash Bar Available
7:00 pm Program and Screening Begins
8:45 pm Q&A with Special Guests
9:15 pm Estimated End
“Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” is the first documentary portrait of the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and explores how Oliver overcame a dysfunctional childhood by finding solace in nature and poetry, ultimately becoming a celebrated, private queer icon. The film runs 91 mins and was produced with support from PBS American Masters.
Passing away in 2019 at the age of 83, Oliver redefined American poetry by blending meticulous observation with profound spiritual accessibility. Her work invites readers to find wonder, stillness, and healing in the natural world, transforming simple moments into enduring, meditative wisdom. National Writers Series and Up North Pride will have outreach at the event, and The Folded Leaf bookstore will provide select book sales of Oliver’s works.
Please arrive early as General Admission seating is first-come, first-served with main floor and balcony seats available.
If you have any questions, or need any special assistance, email: [email protected]
You’ll receive a confirmation that includes the option to print or save your ticket - please bring your copy with you to the City Opera House for fastest entry.
Tickets and festival passes are transferable online through your purchase at Ludus.com All sales are final.
Admission
NOTE: You are leaving the City Opera House website to purchase tickets.