Harvey – The Jack Rabbit Snowshoe Challenge will be held on Saturday, March 13 at 1000 Silver Creek Road in Harvey. Late registration is at 9 a.m. The Challenge begins at 10 a.m.

The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for students, which includes a t-shirt and lunch. Children 8 years and younger may participate for $3, which includes a participation ribbon and lunch.

Snowshoes will be available for a rental fee. Preregistration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call Jo Baysore at 249-KIDS.

All proceeds will benefit youth programs at Teaching Family Homes.

Marquette – The 18th annual “Learning to Walk Together” traditional powwow will be held on Saturday, March 13 beginning at 11 a.m. at Northern Michigan University’s Vandament Arena.

Grand entries will be at noon and 6 p.m. They will feature a veterans’ honor song, male and female traditional dances, jingle dress and grass dance exhibitions, and fancy bustle and fancy shawl dance exhibitions.

Audience members are invited to participate in social dances such as the two-step and round dance. Various vendors and artisans will also have items for sale. A traditional feast for those who attend the powwow and receive a hand stamp will be held at 4 p.m.

Admission is $3 for the general public and is free for NMU students with a student ID.

For more information or to volunteer, call the NMU Center for Native American Studies at 227-1397.

Ishpeming – St. John’s Parish in Ishpeming will host a St. Patrick’s Day Auction Adventure on Saturday March 13 with a social hour beginnning at 5:30 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Entertainment will be provided by Julie and Dave Williams. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Advance tickets are available at St. John’s Parish office.

Proceeds from the event will assist the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.

Marquette – Marquette Area Public Schools Theater Department and Kaufman Auditorium will present Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town” on Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Kaufman Auditorium.

Advance tickets are $12 and available at all NMU EZ ticket outlets, by calling 227-1032 or online at www.nmu.edu/tickets. Tickets at the door will be $14.

Negaunee – Brownie Troop 5044 of the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes Council will have a Cookie Booth at the Negaunee SuperOne, next to the check out lines on Friday, March 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Each box is $3.50 and all flavors will be available.

Marquette – Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula will offer Strengthening Families, a free program for families challenged by a substance abuse or mental health problems and have a desire to improve family life as a part of their recovery, on Thursday, March 11 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 927 W. Fair Avenue in Marquette. Families are defined as one or more adults with long-term responsibility for one or more children.

The program includes: a free family meal, child care for children age 3 and younger, a parents group with the focus on developing improved skills for family life, a skills group for children ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 16, and a family group to practice together the skills learned in groups.

The Strengthening Families program was specifically developed for the children of parents who abuse alcohol and drugs. Its purpose is to reduce the risk factors in children of substance abusers by improving the family environment and the parents’ abilities to nurture and provide appropriate learning opportunities for their children. The program is offered every Thursday through April 22.

For information or to register, call Judith Krause at 227-9119.

Marquette – The Marquette American Legion Blues/Reds baseball teams will sponsor their annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Thursday, March 11 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 44, 700 W. Bluff Street in Marquette.

Tickets cost $5; free for children 4 and younger. Tickets may be purchased from any Blues or Reds player or at the door. For more information, call 225-1690.

Marquette – The heritage of New Zealand’s indigenous culture will be the focus of the Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre performance on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Forest Roberts Theatre.

The event is part of the NMU International Performing Arts Series. Advance tickets cost $5 for students, $13 for NMU faculty and staff and seniors citizens 60 or older, and $18 for the general public. Cost at the door will be $6, $15 and $20, respectively. Purchase tickets at NMU EZ Ticket outlets, by calling 227-1032 or online at www.nmu.edu/tickets.

The performance is part of a series of First Nation performances being celebrated March 11 through 14 that will also includes NMU’s annual Learning To Walk Together Pow Wow on Saturday, March 13.

Marquette – The Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee will meet on Thursday, March 11 at noon at the Landmark Inn in Marquette.

Jack Deo, owner of Superior Views Studio will discuss “3-D Time Travel in Marquette – 1860’s to 1870’s.”

For more information, call Michelle Cook at 315-8143.

Marquette – Preserving brain health and function is the subject of the “Your Health” public lecture series on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Reynolds Recital Hall at Northern Michigan University.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Gretchen Birbeck, who will discuss steps to prevent stroke, keep dementia at bay, stay sharp at any age and most effectively recover from stroke, physical or emotional trauma.

“Your Health” is a designed to provide qualified, general health information to area residents through a collaborative effort between the MSU College of Human Medicine, NMU, Marquette General Hospital and the U.P. Health Education Corp.