Today in the J

“Jaws” (1975) Film Screening.  7 PM.  Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water… experience the suspense, terror, and cinematic legend of Jaws on the big screen, where every note of the score and every shadow beneath the waves feels more intense than ever.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson. What I learned About Japan from Manga.  5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.  Manga is a Japanese style of graphic novel known for its fun and unique visual style. Like other forms of media, it can also serve as a wonderful introduction to other cultures. In this program, we will explore the different cultural touchstones found in Manga and their significance to Japan. Topics will include Hanami, honne/tatemae, and more!  Grass Lake Branch, Jackson District Library.

Friday, May 15 Grand River Farmers Market Downtown Market.  9 AM to 2 PM.  Grow Jackson invites you the Grand River Farmers Market at the downtown pavilion.  Come on down and reconnect… We’ve got dozens of your favorite vendors ready to go with seasonal fruits & veggies, flowers, beef, chicken, eggs, pork, cheeses, honey, syrup, pasta, dairy, artisan breads, mushrooms, granola, microgreens, tea, jams, pestos, sweets, coffee, soups, ready-to-eat hot foods, sandwiches, snacks, natural home, plants, health and beauty products, even pet treats - plus a few true artisans for a little retail therapy! The Jackson District Library returns - they’ll be with us each Friday, so bring your library card, and if you don’t have one - they can get you one! American 1 Spring Sale.  Join us for the American 1 Spring Sale at the American 1 Event Center at Keeley Park!  Shop local car dealers, 300 vehicles on-site, AND power equipment dealers! Get pre-approved today!  american1cu.org/pre-approval.  Sale Hours:    Friday, May 15, 11 AM - 8 PM.  Saturday, May 16, 10 AM - 3 PM.  Learn more:  american1cu.org/car-sale JATA Celebrates National Transit Week 2026. 10 AM to 4 PM.  Visit the Jackson Area Transportation Authority’s Transit Center all…

Charcuterie Board Walk. 4 PM to 8 PM.  Sip, snack, and stroll through Downtown Jackson at this one-night-only Charcuterie Board Walk on Thursday, May 14 from 4–8 PM. Tickets are limited! Grab them here: https://tinyurl.com/3mtt8nne.  Start your evening at Bella Notte Ristorante for check-in, where you’ll enjoy charcuterie-inspired small plates, a cash bar, and live music. Then explore downtown with a curated map guiding you to participating businesses. Enjoy charcuterie bites, 1–2 oz wine tastings from Sandhill Crane Winery, Cherry Creek Winery, and Sleeping Bear Winery, plus non-alcoholic options from Zero Bar & Lounge. Along the way, discover pop-up vendors, shopping, and interactive experiences designed to elevate your night. Visit every stop to be entered to win a Downtown Jackson Night for Two, and grab 4+ tickets to receive a charcuterie gift set.  Limited tickets available—don’t miss one of downtown’s most memorable nights of the year. American 1 Spring Sale.  Join us for the American 1 Spring Sale at the American 1 Event Center at Keeley Park!  Shop local car dealers, 300 vehicles on-site, AND power equipment dealers! Get pre-approved today!  american1cu.org/pre-approval.  Sale Hours: Thursday, May 14, 11 AM - 8 PM.  Friday, May 15, 11 AM - 8 PM.  Saturday, May…

Community Impact Day.  The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is proud to join chambers and communities across Michigan for Community Impact Day on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a statewide day of service dedicated to turning ripples into tidal waves of impact right here in Jackson County. In partnership with the Jackson Community Foundation, this powerful initiative focuses on the 5 T’s: Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimonies, and Ties, mobilizing volunteers and nonprofits to serve, connect, and strengthen our community. Make a difference as an individual, business, or team. Projects will vary throughout the day, and all volunteers will receive an official Community Impact Day t-shirt. Event page here. Register here:  https://www.jacksonchamber.org/community-impact.../volunteer Jackson Give$. On May 13th, the Community Foundation is leading a powerful day of giving for Jackson County! Join us for Jackson Give$, a 24-hour online giving event, where thousands of people will come together to support the local nonprofits that make our community thrive. Make your gift count! Thanks to a bonus pool and exciting prizes funded by generous donors and community partners, your donations will have an even bigger impact. Let’s make this a day to remember by giving BIG for Jackson County! To give visit jacksongives.org on May 13th!…

JATA Celebrates National Transit Week 2026. 10 AM to 4 PM.  Visit the Jackson Area Transportation Authority’s Transit Center all this week as JATA celebrates National Transit Week.  Meet vendors, partners and services displaying during Transit Week.  Free popcorn, giveaways, prizes and more.  All week, enjoy a hot dog and drink for $1.  See what JATA offers our community!  127  West Cortland Street, Downtown Jackson. Tech Help Tuesdays. 1 PM to 3 PM.  Need help with your phone, tablet, laptop, or other tech device? Join us every Tuesday from 1–3 PM at the Jackson District Library’s Brooklyn Branch conference room for Tech Help Tuesdays! Bring your device and your questions—our staff is here to assist with troubleshooting, setup, and basic tech support. No appointment needed!  Brooklyn Branch, Jackson District Library. From Pressure to Prevention.  3 PM.  Welcome to Otterbein Jackson, formerly Vista Grande Villa, we are hosting the 2nd part in our education series in partnership with Henry Ford Jackson. From Pressure to Prevention, understanding your blood pressure numbers and preventing strokes. Tuesday May 12th at 3 pm in the Grande Room. Please call 517-787-0222 for more information.  Event page here. Live Music with Massasauga.  6 PM to 9 PM…

JATA Celebrates National Transit Week 2026. 10 AM to 4 PM.  Visit the Jackson Area Transportation Authority’s Transit Center all this week as JATA celebrates National Transit Week.  Meet vendors, partners and services displaying during Transit Week.  Free popcorn, giveaways, prizes and more.  All week, enjoy a hot dog and drink for $1.  See what JATA offers our community!  127  West Cortland Street, Downtown Jackson. Dean Transportation Jackson Hiring Event. 10 AM to 4 PM.  Join Dean Transportation for a hiring event in Jackson on Monday, May 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Learn more about openings for school bus driver positions for routes supporting Northwest Community Schools. School bus drivers start up to $21.50 per hour. Unable to attend? Apply online today at https://careers.deandifference.com/search/jobs/in/jackson  4000 Van Horn Road, Jackson. “E.T. the Extraterrestrial“(1982) Film Screening.  7 PM.  Dive into the enchanting world of cinema as we bring back the beloved classic, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, for a magical evening under the stars. Join us on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 7:00 pm, for an unforgettable journey where friendship transcends galaxies. Relive the heartwarming tale of Elliott and his out-of-this-world friend, E.T., in this special performance rejuvenated for a new generation to…

Friday, May 8 Grand River Farmers Market Downtown Market.  9 AM to 2 PM.  Grow Jackson invites you to the Grand River Farmers Market at the downtown pavilion.  Come on down and reconnect… We’ve got dozens of your favorite vendors ready to go with seasonal fruits & veggies, flowers, beef, chicken, eggs, pork, cheeses, honey, syrup, pasta, dairy, artisan breads, mushrooms, granola, microgreens, tea, jams, pestos, sweets, coffee, soups, ready-to-eat hot foods, sandwiches, snacks, natural home, plants, health and beauty products, even pet treats - plus a few true artisans for a little retail therapy! The Jackson District Library returns - they’ll be with us each Friday, so bring your library card, and if you don’t have one - they can get you one! Slim Nichols at Mancino’s.  6 PM to 9 PM.  Come on down to hear Mike Slim Crupi and Kevin Nichols this Friday at Mancino's at 6:00 P.M. till 9:00 P.M. It will be a rocking good time for everyone!.  3017 Wildwood Avenue. Late Night Fridays with Live Music at Sandhill Crane Vineyards.  6 PM to 9 PM.  Join us in the vineyard, on the porch, and at our family-owned winery for live music every Friday from…

Wake Up! Jackson.  7:30 AM to 9 AM.  Start your morning building meaningful connections with fellow business leaders, gaining fresh networking insights, and celebrating the momentum happening across Jackson’s business community.  This Month’s Featured Speaker: Beth Kuiper, Executive Director, Jackson Downtown Development Authority (DDA).   Forty Nine South, 2527 Helena Ave., Jackson.  Cost: $15 (Members) | $25 (Non-Members).  Presented by Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Film Screening:  Back to the Future (1985).  7 PM.  Picture it: the year is 1985, denim jackets are all the rage, and the electric rhythm of Huey Lewis & The News vibrates through the air. You are invited to journey "Back to the Future" with us at our special cinematic showcase on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Grab a seat and transport yourself to Hill Valley where you will join Marty McFly as he stumbles into an accidental time travel adventure that changes the course of his life – and history – forever!  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson. Women 4 Women.  4 PM to 7 PM.  Women 4 Women invites you to join us for a meaningful evening supporting and uplifting women in our community.  SOAR Cafe, 401 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson.  Benefiting Jackson Friendly Home & SOAR. …

American 1 Community Shred Day.  4 PM to 6 PM.   Home Office, 201 S. Perrine Street, Jackson.  Identity theft is something everyone should be educated about, and it's important to understand the steps to take to prevent it from happening. At American 1, we offer Community Shred Days for free for individuals and small businesses. This is an opportunity to safely and securely destroy personal documents that include important and private information you would never want anyone to have. American 1 uses reputable shred companies to bring a shredding truck on-site to Shred Day where your documents will be shredded on-site before you leave. We make sure that all shredded materials are disposed of in a proper manner and the companies are able to recycle in a secure process to ensure no personal information could ever be obtained. american1cu.org/shred-days  Jackson Camera Club Open House.  6 PM to 7:30 PM.  Meet the photographers from the Jackson Camera Club behind our Photography Month photo exhibit at the Eastern Branch! Ask them questions about their work, and maybe you can learn a trick or two to enhance your own photography skills. Enjoy light refreshments as you browse the collections and make sure to chat with…

Tuesday TEN$.  Join us downtown for Tuesday TEN$ featuring $10 lunch specials at 18 participating Downtown Jackson restaurants. Tuesday TEN$ happens on the first Tuesday of every month, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Whether you’re on a lunch break, meeting friends, or just looking for a great mid-day meal, Tuesday TEN$ is an easy (and affordable) way to support local businesses.  Participating restaurants and featured menu items will be shared ahead of each event. Grab your friends and join us for lunch on May 5! Hope and Help Begins With Us:  How to Support Someone at Risk of Suicide. 10 AM to 11 AM.  FREE TRAINING by LifeWays, 1200 N. West Avenue, Jackson. This 1-hour training discusses the prevalence of suicide, reviews risk and protective factors, explores warning signs, teaches attendees how to facilitate a suicide risk assessment, and reviews questions to ask someone considering suicide. Click this link to register: https://www.lifewaysmi.org/event.../hope-and-help-5-5-2026 Tech Help Tuesdays.  1 PM to 3 PM.  Need help with your phone, tablet, laptop, or other tech device? Join us every Tuesday from 1–3 PM at the Jackson District Library’s Brooklyn Branch conference room for Tech Help Tuesdays! Bring your device and your questions—our staff is here to…