Events of July 12, 13, and 14, 2019

July 12

Grass Lake Traffic Jam In.  Friday and Saturday in Downtown Grass Lake.  Friday’s schedule:   5 pm-11 pm.  Arts & Crafts, bounce house, water slide, raffles, food trucks, beer & wine garden.  5K run and walk, fun run.  Entertainment tonight:  5 pm: JOHN LEWIS GOOD & The Rose City Troubadours (Variety Blues/Rock/Country).  7 pm: JIMMY CLAY BAND (Classic & Outlaw Country).  9 pm: BILLY MACK & The Juke Joint Johnnies (Vintage R&R, Rockabilly, Blues). 

Jackson International Music Festival.  8 PM, Michigan Theatre.  Tonight’s show is free admission.  An incredible show featuring: Don Was All-Star Revue’s tribute to Motown including:  The Revue Band, Sweet Pea Atkinson, Donald Ray Mitchell, Sir Harry Bowen, Brian “Roscoe” White, Luis Resto, Dave McMurray, Rayse Biggs, Ron Pangborn, Ron Otis and Don Was.  Special guest Ann DeLisli of WDET.   Guest Performers: Martha Reeves, Mitch Ryder, The Velvelettes, Dennis Coffey, Melvin Davis, Nadir Omowale, Carolyn Crawford, Kenny Watson, Ty Stone, Jill Jack, Carolyn Striho, Kathy Rosins and The Drinkard Sisters.   Doors open at 7:00 pm  Show at 8:00 pm.  FREE!  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.

Grand River Farmer’s Market.  Downtown Jackson, along the Grand River, corner of Glick and Mechanic.  8 AM to 2 PM.  We accept cash, credit, checks, double up food bucks, wic project fresh, senior project fresh, and bridge cards!  Free Yoga Fridays! at 9:00 am!  Do some yoga and pick up some fresh produce in one stop!  Make sure to bring your water and a yoga mat.  If there is lightning or rain, the event will be at the downtown branch as normal. Weather related updates will be posted on the Jackson YMCA.  See you at the market!

26th Annual Learning Fair.  Northwest Elementary School, 3757 Lansing Avenue.  Discovering technology, industry and the arts.  Thursday, 12 PM to 7 PM, Friday 10 AM to 5 PM.  80 hands-on activities, magician and other scheduled shows.  Free fun for all ages.  Free lunch program 12 to 3 for those under 18.  Food court, hands-on manufacturing, music, dance and science.  Free event.

25th Anniversary Season of The Michigan Shakespeare Festival.  Tonight:  King Lear, 7:30 PM.  Bard Talk precedes the performance at 7 PM.  As the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a professional Equity theatre company dedicated to producing world-class classical plays. Now in our 25th Anniversary Season, the first two weeks of performances are at Baughman Theater, Jackson College Potter Center.  Tickets for all performances are on sale now and can be purchased here.

Live Music at Jackson Coffee Company.   7 PM to 10 PM.  Enjoy free entertainment by a variety of popular local and regional acts weekly.  Jackson Coffee Company, corner of Mechanic and Cortland, Jackson.

Arts in the Park Series.  7 PM.  Located in Swain Memorial Park, Brooklyn.  All concerts are free and family friendly!  Tonight:  Gospel Night.  Presented by Irish Hills Community Legacy and community sponsors, including Brooklyn Exponent,  JTV, Village of Brooklyn, West Bay Exploration, Absopure, Big Boy and ITC.

Human Library.  The saying goes “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” What if, for one day, that books was a person and you could ask them questions about their lives and experiences?  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be homeless? A single parent? A politician? An immigrant? Anyone with a very different life than your own?  Join us at the Carnegie Library to “check out” a human book and unjudge someone.  4 PM to 7:30 PM.  Carnegie Branch, Jackson District Library.

July 13

Grass Lake Traffic Jam’In.  SATURDAY JULY 13th , Downtown Grass Lake.  11 am-11 pm.  11 am: Bend & Brew (Yoga and Beer).  Noon-4pm: Classic Car Show (with Monster Truck & “Little Digger” courtesy Marshall Motors).  Noon: COLLIN DEXTER & The Memphis Thrillbillies (50’s R&R, Elvis)
Noon-6pm: Bounce House, Water Slide, Rock Wall, Rolling Meadows Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Kids Activities & Games
Noon-Dusk: Arts & Crafts Exhibitors, 50/50 Raffles.
Noon-11 pm: Food Trucks, Beer & Wine Garden (last call 11 pm).  4 pm-8 pm: Food Truck Rally (winner announced at 8:30 pm).  4 pm: THE SHELTER DOGS (Roots Rock, Swing, Blues).  6 pm: KUNG FU DIESEL (Variety Rock, Country, R&B).  9 pm: KEV NICHOLS & Blue Tuesday (Variety Rock, Blues).   

Jackson International Music Festival.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.  6 PM:  47 Soul.  47Soul is a Jordanian Palestinian electronic music group who are one of the main forces behind the Shamstep electronic dance music movement in the Middle East.  8 PM:  Third World.  Celebrating 45 years, THIRD WORLD is one of the longest-lived Reggae bands of all time, and one of Jamaica’s most consistently popular crossover acts among international audiences. Mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been described as “reggae-fusion”.  Tickets:  $9 at the door.

Grand River Farmer’s Market.  Downtown Jackson, along the Grand River, corner of Glick and Mechanic.  8 AM to 2 PM.  We accept cash, credit, checks, double up food bucks, wic project fresh, senior project fresh, and bridge cards!    See you at the market!

25th Anniversary Season of The Michigan Shakespeare Festival.  Today:  Two Gentleman of Verona, 2 PM and King Lear at 7:30 PM.  Bard Talk precedes the performance at 7 PM.  As the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a professional Equity theatre company dedicated to producing world-class classical plays. Now in our 25th Anniversary Season, the first two weeks of performances are at Baughman Theater, Jackson College Potter Center.  Tickets for all performances are on sale now and can be purchased here.

Relay for Life Ducky Derby.  Cascades Falls.  Gates open at 5 PM, Ducks run at 6:30 PM.  Entertainment until 9 PM.  No charge to enter the Falls!  Purchase a duck for $5 and a chance to win $1,000 First Place and other prizes. 

Cascades Rotary Bandshell Concert Series.  7 PM, Free!  Tonight:  Big Foot Bob.  Original and classic R&B tunes that will speak to your soul.  Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Porkapalooza 2019.  Barbecue competition and live entertainment at the 308 Brass Rail. Families welcome!4:00pm-8:00pm at 308 Brass Rail, 308 Prospect St. in Jackson.  Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to purchase new audio and lighting equipment for Center Stage Jackson!  For $10 you’ll get tickets to sample each competitor’s barbecue, each of their signature sides, one vote for your favorite, and one drink ticket (beer, pop, or water)! A portion of drink sales will also be donated to Center Stage Jackson. Tasting tickets will be sold at the door only, with cash, credit or debit.

One Helluva Ride.  Join the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society for the 43rd annual One Helluva Ride on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Three paved, road rides (39, 62, and 100 miles), a Fun Ride (16 miles) and a 40-mile gravel ride–all start from the Chelsea Fairgrounds.  All routes are on rural, scenic roads and are clearly marked. Maps are provided. New this year is an end-of-ride, buffet lunch provided at the Chelsea Fairgrounds in addition to the numerous snack stops along the routes. There will be entertainment, embroidered patches (for first 1000 registrants), quality custom merchandise, friendly volunteers, and the traditional, ice-cold watermelon at the end. SAG support and bike mechanics will be available. Register at http://www.aabts.org/one_helluva_ride.php.  Day-of-ride registration is also available.

Tompkins Freedom 5K Run/Walk.  The Tompkins Historical Society is excited to announce we will be hosting a 5k Run/Walk on the Stewart Farm Property. This will be a timed cross country 5k Run/Walk.   Registration is $25.  A participant t-shirt is included in the registration cost. Awards to the Top Male and Top Female, and participant awards to the first 100 signed up.  There will also be a chiropractor, massage therapist, and physical therapist on site day of event.   Details and sign-up here.

Wet and Wild Regatta Hydroplane Boat Racing.  Be sure to visit beautiful Grass Lake in the village of Grass Lake, MI to see the American Power Boat Association’s Stock and Junior Outboard Hydroplane Racing.  The event is free and only requires a waiver to be signed for pit entry.  If you like motorsports come out and witness 9-12′ outboard powered hydroplane reaching speeds up to 80 mph.   10 AM to 5:30 PM, Grass Lake.

Rockin’ the Hills Craft Beer Festival.  Join us for the 5th Annual Rockin’ the Hills Craft Beer Festival at Devil’s Lake in the Irish Hills featuring over 30 Michigan breweries, with wines and ciders too!  Our unique selection of the best of craft beers, great live music with an amazing location makes this festival you don’t want to miss!  A fun, Rockin’ Festival for craft beer enthusiasts and wine lovers too!  At Manitou Beach Village on Devils Lake in the Irish Hills.  4 PM to 9 PM.  Tickets and info here.

Country Boots and Bands Outdoor Parking Lot Concert. Come join us for an outdoor parking lot party with FREE entertainment, giveaways, and drink specials.  Time: 5pm-9pm  Location: Buffalo Wild Wings – Jackson, MI (Boardman Rd)  Cost: This is a FREE SHOW – prices for food/drinks are determined by BWW. Why: This will be a pre-cursor to the #CBB2019 Festival.  Performances by Matt WIliams, Sadie Bass Music and Jason cross Music.

July 14

Jackson International Music Festival.  7 PM  Ramy Essam.  Egyptian hard rock. Exiled political activist and dissident and inspiration for the Arab Spring.  Egypt’s Ramy Essam exploded into international fame as the real voice of the Egyptian revolution in 2011, when his songs spread like wildfire among the demonstrators.    Ramy is an artist of and for the people, with songs built on the words of the streets. Or as Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave etc) puts it: Ramy is like a ”Rock Bob Dylan of the Middle East”.  Admission:  $9.

25th Anniversary Season of The Michigan Shakespeare Festival.  Today:  Two Gentleman of Verona, 3 PM. As the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a professional Equity theatre company dedicated to producing world-class classical plays. Now in our 25th Anniversary Season, the first two weeks of performances are at Baughman Theater, Jackson College Potter Center.  Tickets for all performances are on sale now and can be purchased here.

The 8^th Annual ART 634 July Blue Event, dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Kenny Wayne Price. 1 PM to 4 PM.  This year see a diverse collaboration of art based on the word BLUE hanging in Gallery 634, make sure to come visit with the artists to find out their inspiration. Enjoy live music outside on the dock performed by Slim Nichols and Billy Joe Hunt. Visit our vendors bringing jewelry, pottery, fabric arts and more. A great deal of food will be available for a small donation. We’d be blue without you so bring the whole family for this free event right here in Jackson.   Art 634, 634 North Mechanic Street, Jackson.