Events of February 14, 15, and 16, 2020

February 14

For the Love of the Arts Disco Party.  Sweep your sweetheart off of their feet at this unique disco-infused Valentine event!  The LOVE of the ARTS Party on Friday, February 14, 2020 features dancing, delicious munchies, a cash bar, and never-seen-before entertainment. The event will be disco-themed, so feel free to come dressed to party. All proceeds go to support Jackson School of the Arts mission to provide affordable arts education to the Mid-Michigan community.  7 PM to 10 PM.  $35 per person.  The Foundry, 216 MLK Jr. Drive (Francis Street) Downtown Jackson.  Tickets at jacksonarts.org. 517-784-2389.

Michigan Theatre Film “Last Blackman in San Francisco”.   Doors open at 6:30 pm. The film starts at 7:00 pm. Free for members, $5 for non-members. Tickets available at the door.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.

No School Valentine’s Party.  No School Valentines Party, Adm $6, Skate Rental $4, Laser Tag $6.  Family Fun Pack (Save $26) 4/$48 Includes: Admission, SR, 10 Tokens, 1 game of Laser Tag for 4 (Additional adm. are $12 each).  Allskate Fun Center, 1313 West North Street, Jackson.

Valentine’s Day:  Love in the 80’s.  Spend date night in another decade. The brewery is going back to the 80s where we’ll be playing all your favorite cheesy love songs and serving up a “Dinner for Two” special. Jason Cross will be gracing us with some beautiful tunes for our late night cocktail hour too.  5 PM to 10 PM, Grand River Brewery, Downtown Jackson.

Blood Bash 2020.  Blood Bash International Horror Film Festival and Convention is coming BACK to the Commonwealth Commerce Center on Friday, February 14th and Saturday, February 15th, 2020!  This year Blood Bash will once again be hosting a 2-day event for people who REALLY love horror movies!   Starting on Friday, February 14th, (Valentine’s Day), fans of horror and gore will be able to access our film festival BONUS DAY from 5:20 PM – midnight. The actual convention (vendors, games, etc) won’t be open until Saturday, but FRIDAY NIGHT is an extra opportunity to see some of our favorite horror flicks that didn’t quite make the final cut for our awards, but are still good enough to be featured in our festival.  Commonwealth Commerce Center.  Full schedule here.

Valentine’s Day Snowshoe Excursion.  1:30 PM to 4 PM.  Join us on our first guided snowshoe excursion! Snowshoeing is a fun, unique was to celebrate Valentine’s Day and a great way to enjoy all this snow that’s still coming down!!  $12 Members, $15 Non-Members.  $5 for kids under 17 when accompanied by a parent/guardian.  Bring your own snowshoes or borrow some from Dahlem (Included in the price).  Spots are limited!  Dahlem Environmental Education Center, 7117 S. Jackson Road, Jackson.

Live Entertainment at the Jackson Coffee Company.  Every Friday night, a local or regional act presents a free concert.  Tonight:  LVRS.  7 PM to 10 PM, Jackson Coffee Company, 201 S. Mechanic Street, Jackson.

Funday’s Lonely Heart Valentine Party.  Navigating the single life with kids? Boy, it isn’t easy.  Funday’s Family Fun Cafe has a Valentine Party for you!  Bring the kids in for a laid-back night of heart-shaped pizzas, Valentine’s Make & Take crafts and a crazy-good playlist that will make your heart feel warm and squishy. Maybe even meet a special someone!  $5 admission for kids. 5 PM to 7 PM, Funday’s, Summit Oaks Mall.

Late Night at Grand River Brewery.  10 PM to 12 Midnight.  Live music by Jason Cross.  Special late night appetizer menu.  Grand River Brewery, Downtown Jackson.

February 15

My Sky Exhibit Opening. My Sky is an exhibit about the universe. But it is also about each of us, and how the sky above impacts our lives here on Earth. The sky is, after all, universal. My Sky invites children and adults to explore the Sun, the Moon and the stars together in an immersive, inviting environment. The My Sky exhibit was funded by NASA and created through a partnership between Boston Children’s Museum and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. My Sky has four primary areas of activity: a skate park, in which children explore the Sun; a child’s room, where visitors investigate the Moon and the stars; a Moon Dome where families have a one-of-a-kind experience with the Moon; and a backyard that offers experiences about the Sun, the Moon and the stars together.  $5 gallery admission, FREE for ages five and under.  Free for members of the Ella Sharp Museum. 10 AM to 5 PM.  Ella Sharp Museum.

Cool Jazz at the Wax.  Cool Jazz with The Ben Rosenblum Trio  Award-winning jazz pianist, composer and accordionist Ben Rosenblum has been described as “mature beyond his years,” (Jon Neudorf, Sea of Tranquility), and as an “impressive talent” (C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz), who “caresses [the music] with the reverence it merits” (Bob Doerschuk, Downbeat Magazine). His original music combines his extensive knowledge of the history of jazz with a free-wheeling, modern melodic sensibility and powerful narrative approach to the piano.  8 PM, Weatherwax Hall, 215 West Michigan Avenue.  jacksonsymphony.org for tickets.

ArtPop 4 at Ogma Brewing Co.  We are stoked to have teamed up with LockwoodsLoot in hosting the 4th edition of ARTPOP! This year, the art-centric event will include:  10+ artists. Artist list here: LockwoodsLoot Presents ArtPop, 5 live bands including command prompt, LVRS, Unknown Crowe,  Free Coffee via Vito’s Espresso, $1 off all tall drafts at The Chase (our neighbor).  Artists & bands will have merchandise for sale. This is a solid opportunity to spend and support all things local.  Ogma Brewing Co. will also have NEW merchandise available as well as their membership mugs on hand to see in person. Three memberships have been saved and set aside to sell specifically at this event.  Door: $5 cash \ $6 card (swipe-swipe).  Ogma Brewing, 129 East Michigan Avenue, Downtown Jackson.

Bluegrass Bonanza.  Held at the Event Center in Hanover Heritage Park, bluegrass musicians join together to jam and to perform for listeners.  Join us for a hand-clappin’, toe-tappin good time!  Admission by Donation.  7 PM to 10 PM.  121 Tefft Road, Hanover.

Swamp Donkey at 308 Brass Rail.  8 PM.  Join us for a night of good drinks, good times, good food, and good live music from Swamp Donkey! 308 W Prospect Street, Jackson.

February 16

Jackson District Library’s 2nd Annual African American Read-In.  Join us to celebrate diversity in literature with public readings featuring works by African American writers.  The Read-In will be followed by a performance of “Harriet Tubman”, a one-woman show by masterful storyteller Miz Rosie.  2:30 PM, Meijer Branch, Jackson District Library.  All ages welcome!

Wild Game Dinner at Grass Lake Sportsman’s Club.  2 PM to 6 PM.  Open to the public.  50/50 Raffle, Gun Raffle.  Bring  your favorite wild game dish to pass – no wild game?  No problem – any dish to pass is welcome (main dish, side dish, appetizer, desserts).  13505 Leach Road, Grass Lake.