Events of August 6, 7, and 8, 2021

August 6

Grand River Farmers Market. The Grand River Farmers Market, at the corner of Louis Glick and Pearl Streets in Jackson. Located under the covered plaza in front of Grand River Brewery. Open Fridays and Saturdays, 9-2. Lots of great new vendors, and our favorite regulars too! Buy local at the Grand River Farmers Market and receive the freshest produce in the area. Now accepting credit cards and bridge cards. http://grandriverfarmersmarket.com/ (517) 788-4355 Follow their Facebook page.

ACS Relay for Life. The Jackson County American Cancer Society Relay for Life will be held at Northwest High School, 4200 Van Horn Road this year. Starting at 6 PM and running through 12 Noon on Saturday. Join dozens of teams in this annual fundraiser. Survivors’ Lap, Luminaria Ceremony, Food Trucks, Raffle Tent, Games, Entertainment, and more. All are welcome to attend, walk laps, and be inspired in the fight against cancer.

Stuff the Bus. The Salvation Army invites you to help Stuff the Bus to help families in need. Donate school supplies at Walmart anytime August 6-8. As kids head back to school, school supplies are crucial to help them succeed. Most needed supplies: flash cards, pocket folders, three-ring binders, rulers, no. 2 pencils, spiral notebooks, safety scissors, pencil sharpeners, colored pencils. Donate supplies to the onsite Salvation Army bus to help more children start the school year right. Walmart, West Michigan and Brown Street, Jackson.

#CollegeGetItDone. The College and Career Access Center is hosting this initiative to re-engage the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021, students whose post-secondary plans were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Enjoy a free lunch while getting help completing your FAFSA form. 1 PM to 4 PM. DaVinci High School, 2800 Springport Road, Jackson.

Bright Walls Community Mural Project. Looking for a fun summer project? How about contributing to our community mural? Head to your local Jackson District Library branch and grab a wooden tile. Take it home and decorate it using the instructions on the tile. Return your tile to any Jackson District Library branch before Aug 20 so the Bright Walls team can assemble them for a special exhibition. The community mural will be part of this year’s Bright Walls Bright Site.

Jackson District Library Bookmobile Coloring Contest. How would you decorate the JDL Bookmobile? Stop by any branch starting August 1 to pick up a coloring sheet. Get creative and color or decorate the bookmobile any way you’d like. Return your coloring sheet to your branch by August 31 to be displayed. Winners for each branch will be contacted on September 7 and receive a giant Crayola art set. You can also download and print off the coloring sheet here.

August 7

Art, Beer, & Wine Festival. Join Ella Sharp Museum for the annual Art, Beer, & Wine Festival presented by County National Bank. This year’s festival will feature Michigan wineries, breweries, cider mills, and artists. The museum will also host food vendors and live music on the grounds and within the courtyard of the museum’s historic Hillside Farm Lane. The Art, Beer, & Wine festival is Ella Sharp Museum’s largest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds from the festival (including bottled wine and beer sales) benefit museum programming. Ella Sharp Museum will be following all current State of Michigan COVID-19 guidelines for festivals. Please note with the changes to this year’s festival, we will have timed entry tickets, limited tickets for sale, and two festival entrances. *Online Ticket sales end after August 6. All festival-goers must have tickets readily available on a mobile device upon arrival to the event * There will be limited tickets available the day of the festival* This event goes on, rain or shine. No pets allowed.

Pedal & Whine Bike Tour. Cascades Cycling Club is proud to present a bicycle tour that showcases south central Michigan’s rural roads, summer scenery, its 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. The 8th annual Pedal & Whine Bike Tour will be held on Saturday, August 7, at Sandhill Crane Vineyards. Join us for this very popular, fully supported ride that has grown significantly in each of its first seven years. With routes of 11, 16, 29, 31, 53, and 68 miles, cyclists can choose to ride as much or as little as they like. All routes are fully supported by roving “SAG” vehicles so participants can ride worry-free. Online registration is now closed, but you are still welcome to come out and ride with us this Saturday. We have reached Sandhill Crane Vineyards’ capacity for serving lunches, so we will be discounting the registration fees and offering riders several different options for lunch. Registration will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

First Annual Summer Block Party. You’re invited! Join us at Jackson Interfaith Shelter for a FREE family event on August 7 from 11 am – 3 pm. We are so grateful to our community for helping us navigate this past year and come out on the other side even stronger. We’re excited to invite you to our first annual Summer Block Party! 414 S. Blackstone St., Jackson. Join us for free food, live music, inflatables, and other family fun. The event will take place in the Jackson Interfaith Shelter’s parking lot. More information can be found at interfaithshelter.com/blockparty.

Run Clark Lake. The ORS Race Series event Run Clark Lake returns. The event will take place Saturday, August 7th. This year, runners will compete in the 5K Run, 5K Walk, and 3/4K Kids Run. You will enjoy our USATF certified courses that encompass the lake on gently rolling hills with breathtaking lakefront views. Come see why we have been selected as one of Michigan’s premier summer races. Our post-race party and award ceremony on the Beach Bar patio is one to enjoy. 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. Online registration and details here.

Packet Pick Up: Friday, August 6th from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Beach Bar 3509 Ocean Beach Rd Clark Lake. Race Day 7 am to 8:15 am

Start Times: 8:30 am 5k Run Open ages 39 and under – 8:31 am 5k Run 40 and over – 8:32 am 5k Walk (There is no 12k run this year) Kids fun run 9:30 am

5k Entry Fee with Shirt: $25 until 7/30, $30 from 7/31 to 8/6, $35 on Race day Entry Fee without Shirt: $20 until 7/30, $25 from 7/31 to 8/6, $30 on Race day

Kids 3/4 Fun Run Entry Fee with Shirt: $13 until 7/30, $15 from 7/31 to 8/6 – Entry Fee without Shirt: $8 until 7/30, $10 from 7/31 to 8/6

The Cascades Rotary Community Bandshell Summer Concert Series. All concerts start at 7 PM and are free to the public. Tonight, Big Foot Bob. Original and classic R&B tunes that will speak to your soul. All shows are weather permitting. Entertainment sponsored by The Myers Family Little Caesars of Jackson. Cascades Falls Park.

Grass Lake Boat Races. The MHRA Racing schedule for 2021 has been set and will take place with the “Wet & Wild Regatta” on August 7 & 8 on Grass Lake. For more than 40 years the Michigan Hydroplane Racing Association (MHRA) has brought its annual power boat races to Grass Lake to tally up points in the race for the association’s annual driver of the year trophy. One of the many races sponsored by the association each year, the Grass Lake race, dubbed the “Wild Ones Regatta” has grown every year with new races, new drivers, expanded sanctioning, and boat racers from across the Midwest and Canada. Schedule and details here.

August 8

Food Giveaway. 12 PM to 4 PM. Compassionate Ministries of Jackson at JAXNAZ Church. Every Sunday is @JacksonmichigangivingbacktotheCommunity. Food giveaway at 1003 Clinton Rd, Jackson Michigan 49202!! 12-4 pm.

Jackson County Fair. Opening Day! The Jackson County Fair returns for 2021, running August 8 through August 14 at Keeley Park. Tonight’s grandstand show: Toby Keith. Tickets, schedule, maps and complete details of the Jackson County Fair here. Sunday: $3 admission for adults, $1 for children (no carnival rides on Sunday). All games, concessionaires, and vendor buildings open at 12 PM.