Events of August 4, 5, and 6, 2023

Friday, August 4

Grand River Farmers Market.  9 AM to 2 PM.  A community-driven market prioritizing fresh local produce and Michigan-only homemade & artisan goods.  Open Fridays and Saturdays, 9am-2pm throughout the summer into early fall. The Grand River Farmers Market is located in the parking lot of Grand River Brewery at the intersection of Louis Glick Highway and Mechanic Street. NEW: Rotating food trucks and music on select days. Vendors, artisans, and performers.  117 W Louis Glick Hwy, Jackson.

Gigantic Sale for Missions. 9 AM. Huge garage sale inside the east end of the church and under the tent in the north parking lot. Clothing, books, antiques, jewelry, shoes, linens, Christmas/crafts, toys, baby, household goods, home office/school supplies, tools, furniture, sporting goods, exercise equipment, lamps, electronics. All proceeds fund missions work locally and around the world in the coming year. If you want it, we will probably have it, and at bargain prices! Open until 4pm Friday (clothing, shoes and linens are $2/bag, and other items inside are BOGO free or half price), and 11am Saturday (all items inside are free). Arbor Church, Spring Arbor.

Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony.  The next County Historical Marker dedication ceremony will unveil our latest marker at the nationally renowned Michigan International Speedway. The 12:30pm ceremony will take place on grounds of the speedway, where ground was broken for the motorsport’s facility on Sept. 27, 1967.  This free event is open to all and parking is available at the Gate 3 entrance of the facility.

Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway.  6 PM.  The ARCA Menards Series will return to the two-mile track on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023 for the Henry Ford Health 200. The race will kick off a tripleheader weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Series headlining the weekend with Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400. General Admission tickets for Friday are $10. Kids 12 and under are free. Tickets for the FireKeepers Casino 400 start at $39 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Kids 12 and under also get a free Sunday Pre-Race Pass courtesy of Henry Ford Health. Campsites are available starting at $130.  Tickets are available for purchase via phone at 888-905-7223.

Vineyard Jams:  Friday and Saturday Music.  7 PM to 10 PM.  Join us this Summer for the return of our Friday & Saturday night music series: Vineyard Jams.  Every Friday and Saturday evening (Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend) from 7-10 PM on the Cherry Creek stage, enjoy some of the best bands in the area. From rock ‘n roll, to blues, and country and pop, there is something for everyone. Beer, Wine, Wine Slushies, & Cider.  Rotating Food Trucks.  Limited Cafe’ Menu.  Open to all ages. Great music and fantastic food trucks!   Aug 4: Grant Reiff & the Riflemen.  Featured Food Truck: Whiskey Jack’s BBQ.  Aug 5: Mojo & the Outlaws.  Featured Food Truck: Baby Bear Burger. Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Highway, Brooklyn.

First Friday:  Sip, Shop and Dine.  4 PM to 7 PM.  Friday just got a little more smooth. First Friday! Open late to Sip, Shop, Dine, and Explore Downtown Jackson!  First Fridays of the month our wonderful retailers put together a sip and shop!  This month’s theme is Bourbon! When you shop at any of the downtown shops, you can be entered to win a prize! One shopper from one store chosen at random will win. The more places you shop, the better your odds.  Downtown Jackson.

Movie Night at the Cascades.  9 PM.  Join us at Cascade Falls for a FREE outdoor movie!  Bring a lawn chair, or blanket and enjoy the DC League of Superpets movie under the stars. 

Entertainment at Mancino’s.  6 PM.  Mike Slim Crupi and Kevin Nichols are playing this Friday at Mancino’s at 6:00 P.M. It will be a rocking good time for everyone!  

Fiddler on the Roof presented by the Concord Area Players.  7 PM.  Come see Fiddler on the Roof performed by the Concord Area Players at White Auditorium on the campus of Spring Arbor University.  Buy tickets online and save! Online tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for Students. Buy 5 or more tickets for the same performance and get a 20% discount.   Performances:  August 3, 7:00 p.m., August 4, 7:00 p.m., and August 5, 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.  Tickets and event page here.

Saturday, August 5

Grand River Farmers Market.  9 AM to 2 PM.  A community-driven market prioritizing fresh local produce and Michigan-only homemade & artisan goods.  Open Fridays and Saturdays, 9am-2pm throughout the summer into early fall. The Grand River Farmers Market is located in the parking lot of Grand River Brewery at the intersection of Louis Glick Highway and Mechanic Street. NEW: Rotating food trucks and music on select days. Vendors, artisans, and performers.  Today:  John Louis Good performs a solo show starting at 11 AM. 117 W Louis Glick Hwy, Jackson.

ORS Race Series:  Run Clark Lake.  Welcome to the 46th running at beautiful Clark Lake.  You will enjoy our USATF-certified courses that encompass the lake on gently rolling hills with breathtaking lakefront views. We have been road racing at Clark Lake since 1976 with the original CL-7. In 1993 we changed the 7-mile run around the lake to a 12K. At this time, we added the 5K Run and 5K Walk and to make it a total festival of events we added the 3/4K kids run. Thirty years later we are continuing that tradition. We invite you to join us for this 30-year celebration and the 48th anniversary of the original event. Truly one of Michigan’s premier running events. You will enjoy our post-race party and awards ceremony at the Beach Bar Patio on the shore of Clark Lake. All races will be chipped-timed by the Michigan Running Foundation. The proceeds from this event will be used for the continued progress and maintenance of the Thomas R. Collins Memorial Spirit Trail.  More details and SIGN UP: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/ClarkLake/ClarkLake.  Complete details of all Clark Lake weekend events here.

Pedal & Whine.  Cascades Cycling Club is proud to present a bicycle tour that showcases south central Michigan’s rural roads, summer scenery, wine country and delicious, locally sourced food.  Enjoy riding scenic, lightly traveled country roads and the new linear State Park, the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail.  Details, registration and event page here.  The 10th annual Pedal & Whine Bike Tour will be held on Saturday, August 5, at Sandhill Crane Vineyards. Join us for this very popular, fully supported ride that has grown significantly since our first event in 2013. 

Jackson Rotary Breakfast Club Pancake Breakfast.  Rotary All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast, Silent Auction, & Back to School Supply Drive, One North Kitchen and Bar, 2115 Bondsteel Dr, Jackson.  We are collecting school supplies for needy kids in our area in  partnership with several organizations.  Details and event page here.

Jackson Interfaith Shelter 3rd Annual Block Party.  Jackson Interfaith Shelter is hosting the 3rd annual Jackson Interfaith Shelter Block Party on August 5 from 11:00-2:00. Join us for free food, live music, inflatables and other family fun!   We will be hosting guided tours of the shelter throughout the event, and would love to show you the updates we’ve made over the last three years (and give you a chance to enjoy some air conditioning).Thank you to our event sponsors Emmons Service, Inc., American 1 Credit Union and HOME.fm. We are grateful to partner with MyPlace as they will be serving the food and Amanati’s Frosty Boy of Vandercook Lake for providing ice cream!  Jackson Interfaith Shelter, 414 S Blackstone St, Jackson.

Nascar Xfinity Series at Michigan International Speedway. 3:30 PM.   A race weekend you don’t want to miss! What better way to spend your Saturday than with the Cabo Wabo 250!  Complete details, tickets and add-ons here.

Best Foot Forward Family 5K Run/Walk.  If you are looking for some summer fun and a little workout too? We got you covered, join JCHD in our first 5k run/walk. After the races we will have inflatables, food trucks, music and so much more. The Family 5K Walk/ Run will be August 5th, 2023 at Cascades Park. The Run will start at 9am by the baseball field parking lot. The walk will begin shortly after that.  After the 5K join us at the Urban Fishery Picnic shelter and parking lot for Food Trucks, Bounce Castles, Raffles, and much more.  You do not have to participate in the Run/ Walk to come enjoy the rest of the event.  This event is designed to promote health and wellness and family engagement. So bring your family out and enjoy some FUN!  Cascades Park, 1401 S Brown St, Jackson.  Click this link to sign up!

Mt. Evergreen Cemetery Tours. Join the Jackson District Library for a guided cemetery tour led by local historian Linda Hass to discover Jackson’s Civil War history.  This event will take place Saturday, August 5 at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery (1047 Greenwood Ave, Jackson, MI 49203). Tours will begin at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 PM.  Call the JDL Adult Services Department at 517-905-1339 to register for a tour.

Cascades Rotary Bandshell Concert Series.  7 PM.  The Cascades Rotary Bandshell Presents Reeds and Steel Acoustic Duo. Show starts at 7pm.  Free!  Bring a blanket or lawn chair.  Sponsored by Alro Steel, Celebrating 75 Years!  Grand Light Show at 10pm.

Live Music at Ironbark Brewing Company.  Come on down to Ironbark Brewery Company to hear some tunes from 5-Second Rule. Playing from 7:00 – 10:00 P.M. Located at 2610 Kibby Road. Come on over and enjoy the music!

Fiddler on the Roof presented by the Concord Area Players.  7 PM.  Come see Fiddler on the Roof performed by the Concord Area Players at White Auditorium on the campus of Spring Arbor University.  Buy tickets online and save! Online tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for Students. Buy 5 or more tickets for the same performance and get a 20% discount.   Performances:  August 3, 7:00 p.m., August 4, 7:00 p.m., and August 5, 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.  Tickets and event page here.

Clark Lake’s Freedom Fireworks.  Freedom Fireworks will thunder again over Clark Lake.  The dramatic displays of colorful and intricate designs accompanied by earth-shaking roars and rumbles is set for Saturday, August 5th.  Ralph Mahalak Jr. and friends have made Freedom Fireworks an annual celebration – this will be year five.  Show at dark, fireworks will be launched from barges in the middle of the lake.  Complete details of all Clark Lake weekend events here.

Sunday, August 6

Firekeepers Casino 400.  2:30 PM.  The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Michigan International Speedway in 2023 for the FireKeepers Casino 400 as the finale to a tripleheader weekend! Drivers put it all on the line in the Manufacturers’ Backyard for a chance to take home the Michigan Heritage Trophy. With great camping options, special kids’ pricing, concerts, vendors, and more, MIS is the perfect place to end your summer vacation with family and friends.  Tickets are available for purchase via phone at 888-905-7223 and at mispeedway.com.

62nd Annual Raft-O-Rama at Clark Lake.  Raft-O-Rama is celebrating its 62nd year on Sunday.  The parade starts at 10:30 am and follows the shoreline counterclockwise around the lake.  Then the party begins at Eagle Point, including voting for the People’s Choice Award. Complete details of all Clark Lake weekend events here.

Jackson County Fair.  Preview day, Fair opens at 12 PM.  There is so much to experience at the Jackson County Fair located at Keeley Park in Jackson, Michigan.  View the fair schedule by clicking here.  Come out and enjoy a day or two at the fair filled fun games, exciting rides, livestock, events, and tasty food! The Jackson County Fair has something for everyone in the family. Enhance your summer in Pure Michigan by attending a fun-filled community fair. Keeley Park, Downtown Jackson.  Tonight’s Grandstand Show:  Twisted P Rodeo.  A friendly reminder for ticket buyers: Be sure to ONLY purchase tickets to our shows from www.Jacksoncountyfair.net, or call/stop in to the fair office.

Keeley Park Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony.  12:30 PM. Join us for our second upcoming County Historical Marker dedication ceremony, where we will unveil one of our latest markers at James J. Keeley County Park (Jackson County Fairgrounds). The 12:30 pm ceremony will take place outside the American 1 Credit Union Event Center. The gathering is open to the public and free of charge.  Original portions of the Jackson County Fairgrounds were purchased by the Jackson County Agricultural Society (JCAS) in 1856 from the widow of Dr. Oliver Russ (1795-1846), Jackson’s first resident physician. This story and others will be featured on the new marker.

Swingin’ at the Shell.  6 PM.  Albion – FREE Music Concerts on Sundays all Summer Long.  Swingin’ at the Shell is an annual series of FREE music concerts, held each Sunday during the summer at 6 p.m. in Beautiful Albion, Michigan. Come out and enjoy a wide variety of sounds including Jazz, Soul, Rock, Brass, Big Band, Celtic, Piano, Funk, Blues, and more. The Victory Park Band Shell has plenty of room for you and your friends to have a great time!  BRING your lawn chair or blanket!  This Sunday:  ONE (A Tribute to U2) (Rock).  As the world’s best U2 tribute band, ONE plays all of the classic U2 hits, especially the fan favorites, with a soulful intensity to match. The tribute doesn’t just stop at the songs though: ONE maintains the look, sound, and overall vibe of the original U2 band, keeping their legacy of great rock music alive. When the band ONE plays, you know it will be a Beautiful Day!