Ideas for keeping up with groups and local events without Facebook?

Many bands, local businesses, and more, seem to primarily notify people of performances, events, and other things going on through Facebook in my area. A few have newsletters for email, but it’s few and far between. We live out in the middle of nowhere, with a local town of about 10,000 people 45 minutes away. Facebook is how we hear about fun cooking classes, town dances, bands that are coming to the town (or the nearby city), and more.

Are there any ways to access Facebook privately? Or are there other ways that we can reasonably find out this information?