Events of August 4, 5 and 6, 2017

The Jackson Downtown Development Authority presents the Grand River Farmers Market, today and tomorrow from 8am to 2pm.  The market, featuring seasonal farmers and other vendors is at Grand River Marketplace, corner of Glick Highway and Mechanic Street in Downtown Jackson.

The Home Builders Association of Jackson Presents: Parade of Homes.  Tour Homes in Jackson County, presented by the following builders:  Baldwin Building Co, LLC., Eagle Ventures, Inc., J. Mason Contracting,  M-R Buider, Inc. , Norfolk Homes, Ranch Life Plastics, Inc. , Strouss Construction LLC.  Tickets available from sponsors: Spring Arbor Lumber, Superior Industrial Sales, CP Federal Credit Union, Cook Foundation and Flatwork, Mechanical Extremes, Spink Insulation, and Willbee Transit-Mix Co.  Tour Dates & Times:  Friday, August 4th from 5 PM – 9 PM,  Saturday, August 5th from 12 PM – 6 PM, and Sunday, August 6th from 12 PM – 6 PM. Tickets are $5 for adults.  Map, details and a 2 for 1 coupon on the HBAJ website.

The American Cancer Society presents the Relay for Life of Jackson County, a 24 hour fundraising event to celebrate survivors, remember those who lost their cancer battle and fight back against cancer.  The theme this year is “Lights, Camera, Cure!”  Teams gather around Cascades Park to walk for 24 hours because cancer never sleeps.  The Relay begins at 6pm with the Survivors Lap, followed by the introduction of teams.  Activities during the relay include raffle, food vendors, games, and entertainment.  Parking available at Frost and Cascades Schools.

The Miss Jackson County Teen USA Scholarship Pageant will be held at the Western Performing Arts Center at Western High School, Dearing Road in Parma at 7:00PM.  Admission is $10.  Ten young ladies representing Jackson County will compete for scholarship prizes and the crown of Miss Jackson County Teen USA.  A division of the Jackson County Rose Festival and Miss USA.

Grass Lake United Methodist Church is holding a Chicken BBQ, Friday starting at 4:30pm at the church, 449 E. Michigan Ave, Grass Lake.   Menu includes Barbecue Chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, dinner roll, pie/cake/desert.  COST: $9.50 Adults, $5.00 Children 12 & under. Take Out Available.

Acoustic Roots Jam at the Michigan Theatre, presented by the Michigan Theatre and The Fourth Wall.  Hosted by George Eitel.  This is a free event.  Doors will open at 6:30 pm, music starts at 7:00.  There will be a sign up sheet at the concession area.  Everyone who signs up will get to perform! Acoustic guitar(s) and grand piano will be provided!  Guitar players and bass players just bring your instruments!  Drummers Bring your sticks!  Harmonica players please bring your own harps and mics.  Spoken word artists will be provided with a music stand.  All donations collected will be directed to The Fourth Wall.

Saturday

The Inaugural Jackson Pride Parade and Festival will be held in Downtown Jackson at Horace Blackman Park from 1pm to 9pm.  The March/Parade kick off 12:00 noon.   Staging to start at 11:00 AM at the corner of Mechanic and Morrell,  801 S. Mechanic.  March will travel through downtown ending at the corner of Jackson and Michigan at the Park.  Flag Raising and Rally upon reaching Horace Blackman Park.  Pride Festival to follow, with music, vendors, Miss Jackson Pride Pageant, beer tent, Dance Party.  $10 suggested donation.  This event is hosted by the Jackson Pride Center.

Pedal and Whine is a bicycle tour along lightly travelled roads of eastern Jackson County.  Routes of either 8, 16, 36 or 65 miles are designed so that bicyclists of all abilities will be able to enjoy the fun. Located at the Sandhill Crane Vineyards, this ride features a delicious, locally-sourced gourmet lunch that you will certainly enjoy.  All routes are SAG supported, with two separate refreshment stops along the way.   Cost: $35 individual and $70 family.  In addition to offering an excellent selection of their wines for purchase, this year Sandhill Crane Vineyards (SCV) will offer Pedal and Whine participants a special wine tasting package of 5 tastes for only $3.  And for the first time ever, SCV will have their own hand-crafted beer available for purchase. This year’s ride amenities include:  Complimentary coffee bar at ride start including Zingerman’s fresh roasted coffee and bagels, maps showing each of the 4 routes, roving SAG support vehicles, 2 SAG stops with food and refreshments, and a delicious, locally sourced lunch for all pre-registrants furnished by SCV.   To find further details, go to the Cascades Cycling Club website. 

“In Their Own Words”, a series of interviews with World War II Veterans will be held at the Carnegie Branch of the Jackson District Library, downtown Jackson.  Join Larry Martin as he interviews Bill Ingram about his time in the Navy during WWII. The presentation is from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.  There is no admission charge.  Part 2 will take place on September 9th.  This program is intended for adults.

Walker Wheels vs Saginaw Old Golds, historic base ball.  The Walker Wheels Base Ball Club is a team that plays baseball the way it was played in the 1860s, when the game was still new and spelled as two words. It’s a game that didn’t use gloves but did have a standard of gentlemanly conduct – and today, it’s a great time for the family!  The game begins at 1pm.  The ball diamond is located just off the parking lot. This event is free of charge; a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.  Walker Tavern Historic Site is located at 13220 M-50, Brooklyn, MI 49230, near the intersection of M-50 and U.S. 12.

Concert of the Grass:  Come on down to the Carnegie Branch of the Jackson District Library from 2pm to 3pm to enjoy the folk sounds of Andy & Judy. All ages welcome and no admission charge.   Held on the front lawn of the library.

The Summer Campaign at the Michigan Military Heritage Museum in Grass Lake.  This is the much anticipated sequel to the Taste of the Trenches spring event. Presented by GLAHC and the Michigan Military Heritage Museum, the event features live entertainment by The Dugouts, performing traditional songs from the Civil War thru the First World War.  Beer and wine, soft drinks and traditional snacks.  2:30pm:  Veterans Honor Guard of Washtenaw County will do Honor Ceremony with flag raising and flag presentation to WW II Veterans.  3:00pm:  Ribbon Cutting of the new World War I Trench Display  3:00pm to 6:00pm:  The Summer Campaign Event, with tours of the redesigned exhibit areas and fun for all.  Location: MMHM, 153 N. Union St, Grass Lake.  Tickets are $15.00 single, $25.00 couple. 

The Miss Jackson RoseQueen Scholarship Pageant will be held at the Western Performing Arts Center at Western High School, Dearing Road in Parma at 7:00PM.  Admission is $10.  Ten young ladies representing Jackson County will compete for scholarship prizes and the crown of Miss Jackson County RoseQueen.  A division of the Jackson County Rose Festival and Miss USA.

The  Cascades Saturday Night Summer Concert Series at the Cascades Rotary Band Shell continues on Saturday night at 7pm,  providing great entertainment all summer long.   Tonight’s performer is The Aimcriers, a 4 man band based in Lansing, will offer up their unique Americana, alternative country, and southwest folk rock music.  Free admission. 

Sunday

The 57th-annual Raft-O-Rama will be held on Clark Lake Sunday.  Raft-O-Rama is a fundraiser for the Clark Lake Lions Club.  This year’s theme is “Television Shows”.  Rafts gather at the west end of Clark Lake at 10:30 am and make a lap around the lake.  Awards are announced at 4 pm.  Registration is 7 to 9pm Friday at the Beach Bar and Saturday from 7 to 9pm at Ship Wreck Party Store on Eagle Point.  Registration is also available on Sunday before 10am at the judges raft, west end of the lake.  There is no charge for registration.  The Clark Lake Lions Club is holding a chicken broil dinner at Eagle Point Marina.  Entertainment by Spur 9 from 1 to 5pm.

The 2017 Jackson County Fair begins today with Preview Day.  Events begin at 9am with animal judging.  A week long fair with great grandstand entertainment and many animal and still exhibits and a midway full of food, rides and games. The Grandstand entertainment begins at 7 PM everyday during fair week. Sunday’s Grandstand Show:  TruTV’s Impractical Jokers, starring The Tenderloins.  Tickets, information and schedule at Jackson County Fair online.

Walker Tavern Farmers Market is one of the largest open air markets in Southeast Michigan. There are over 50 vendors that can be found on most Sundays. There are local seasonal produce and handmade crafts at this farmers market, there are even some special Sunday events. A Recreation passport is required for State Park entry.  Hours are 10am to 12 noon.  Walker Tavern is located at M-50 and U.S. 12 in Brooklyn.

Today in the J is sponsored by Experience Jackson.