Events of March 17, 18, and 19, 2023

Events on or opening Friday, March 17

St. Patrick’s Day Kegs & Eggs.  7 AM – 11 PM.  Grand River Brewery, 117 West Louis Glick Highway, Jackson. Our favorite day of the year is St. Patrick’s Day!  And this year our party is going to be better than ever!  Enjoy Kegs and eggs from 7 am-11 am with a special Irish brunch.  Following Kegs & Eggs other Irish specials will be served throughout the day.  Enjoy live music and entertainment inside and out, from morning until night.  In the competitive spirit? Enjoy an array of games available outside for anyone to enjoy!

Downtown Jackson Social District Grand Opening.  12:30 PM.  Downtown Jackson’s Social District Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening, located right outside the Jackson Chamber office (134 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson).  Get ready for a whole new kind of fun in downtown Jackson! The businesses participating are Axe Play, The Dirty Bird, Nite Lite, Junkyard Dog, Ogma Brewing Company, Grand River Brewery, Veritas, and The Crazy Cowboy.  The Social District will take place Thursday – Friday from 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM and Saturday – Sunday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM.  You can purchase and consume alcoholic beverages in the official Social District cup within the designated social district area. Each cup only has a one-time use.  Jackson’s new Social District is the perfect place to have fun and socialize with friends and family downtown. Remember to always drink responsibly and have a great time! This is made possible by Jackson Downtown Development Authority, City of Jackson, Jackson Anchor Initiative, and Experience Jackson.  Interested in learning more? Please visit their website.

St. Patrick’s Day at Ogma.  Opening early at 10 a.m., join us for St. Patty’s Day at Ogma! We can almost hear the Thin Lizzy & Flogging Molly rocking already.  St. Patrick’s Day Menu Specials include:  POTATO BOXTIES-Smothered in mushroom and bacon gravy, with sausage, a sunny side up egg, and green onion.  SAVORY IRISH STOUT STEW – Meats, veggies and Hellion Wølv.  We’ll also be rocking our regular full menu as well!  Ogma Brewing Co., 129 E. Michigan, Downtown Jackson.

Jackson YMCA Shamrock Shuffle.  5:30 – 7:30 PM.  Horace Blackman Park.  The Jackson YMCA is proud to present the 2023 Shamrock Shuffle 5k Run/Walk! Kick off St. Patty’s Day with a brisk run or walk through downtown Jackson. Keep an eye out on the course for festive Shamrock’s welcoming you into supporting businesses offering specials for race participants.  Pricing:  $30 from 3/1 to 3/17 (no shirt guaranteed), $40 on race day March 17 (no shirt) Shirts are not guaranteed after this date, supplies are available while they last.  Awards: Medals for prizes with an embroidered waist bag to the first place in each age group for men and for women.  Registration here.

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner.  4 PM.  Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, from 4 PM until gone!  Dinner open to the public.  American Legion Rose City Post #324, 1190 Falahee Rd, Jackson.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration w/ Foxtree Folk Band!  Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us this year! We’re feelin’ lucky that our Late Night Friday for March lands on St. Patty’s Day and we’re going all out!!!    Hear live music by Foxtree Folk Band from the Ann Arbor area from 6:30pm – 8:00 pm!  We’ll be open ’til 9pm!  Get BOGO 50% off glasses of beer, $5 beer flights, and $15 dollar pitchers!  Have corned beef and cabbage soup with green cider and sangrias!  Sandhill Crane Vineyards, 4724 Walz Road, Jackson.

St. Patty’s Day Party at Enchanted Forest.   St. Patrick’s Day weekend at the Enchanted Forest. Festive food and drink specials, live music starts at 8 pm!  Entertainment by Fortunate Greg.  Friday and Saturday!  Corned Beef Dinner Special.  3705 Ann Arbor Road, Jackson.

Columbia Schools Spring Musical:  Willy Wonka.  Columbia Central High School presents Willy Wonka!    CCHS Auditorium March 17 and 18th at 7 pm. March 19 at 2 pm! Tickets: Students and Seniors $7, Adults $10. Family of four $30 ($5 for each additional member). Children under 5 are free!

Northwest Community Players present Bye Bye Birdie.  Friday, March 17, 2023 7:30 PM, Saturday, March 18, 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM, Sunday, March 19, 2:30 PM.  Northwest High School.  Tickets here.

Center Stage Jackson Youth Musical.  The Jungle Book, directed by Melissa McElhone. Performances are March 17 and 18 at 7 pm and March 19 at 2 pm at Middle School at Parkside Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door. Come support our talented youth!

St. Patrick’s Day Parking Lot Party at The Chase.  5 – 9 pm.  The Chase Sports Bar parking lot, 105 E. Michigan Avenue, Downtown Jackson.  Featuring LIVE MUSIC from Bad Penny (Classic Rock cover band) and DJ Mike Holiday.  There will be giveaways throughout the event and tents/heaters should weather be an issue.

Our Lady of Fatima Fish Fry. 4 PM to 7 PM. All-you-can-eat fish dinners include fried and baked fish, baked potato and French fries, green beans, cole slaw, cornbread and dessert.  Adults $15, Seniors $14, Active Military & Veterans $13, Children 6-12 $8, Under 6 free.  Fr. Andy Dunne Hall, 911 Napoleon Road, Michigan Center.

Queen’s Fish Fry.  4:30 PM to 7 PM.  Fried Beer Battered Cod, baked Tilapia (lemon pepper or cajun), French Fries, Green Beans, Mac & Cheese, Fish Tacos, Cole Slaw, Cheese Pizza, desserts. Adults $13 Seniors and Students $11 Six and under $5 Drive Through $12.  Queen’s Parish Social Center, 811 S. Wisner, Jackson.

St. Mary’s Fish Fry.  St. Mary Star of the Sea Fish Fry, 120 E. Wesley Street, Jackson.  4-7 pm.  $16/meal.  Menu includes fried or baked fish, French fries, mac & cheese, and cole slaw.  Dine in or carry out. Drive-thru is located in alley on east side of the church. Enter from E. Franklin Street.

Polish Falcons Fish Fry.  Dine-in or Take-out avaialble.  4-7 pm.  50/50 raffle.  Adults are $15.  Children are $10 (age 6-10).  Age 5 & under FREE.  Dinner includes 3 pieces of fish, baked potato, mac & cheese, pasta salads, coleslaw and dessert.

Michigan Center Eagles Fish Fry.  5-8 pm each Friday.  Fish (COD) 3pc. (Extra fish $2.00 each), Baked Potato, Coleslaw, Roll.  $15.00.  This is Open to the Public.

Michigan Gem and Mineral Annual Show.  March 17-19, 2023.  Fri, March 17 (10 am – 7 pm), Sat, March 18 (10 am – 6 pm), Sun, March 19 (11 am – 5 pm).  American 1 Event Center, 200 W. Ganson St, Jackson.

DinoSOARS!  Change Over Time.  Did you know? Birds are living dinosaurs!  Follow the story of Malkia, a museum paleontologist, as she explores fascinating connections between birds and dinosaurs. Join us as we dive into the theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs!  Showings are: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 11 am (Especially for kids!) and 4 pm. Admission includes Museum Galleries and Hurst Planetarium Shows.  Adults: $10, Children up to 17: $5, Adults Over 65 & Military Members: $8, Museum Members and Children Under 5: Free.  Hurst Planetarium, Ella Sharp Museum.

Hidden Women of Color.  A Pop-Up Exhibit Featuring the Art of Jerome Washington during March 2023.  Whatever task they tackled, whatever sacrifices they made, whatever boundaries they had to cross. The Hidden Women of Color are women who made a choice to do what they had to do despite the cost.  One common thread that seems to fuel these remarkable women: To help and elevate others.  It has been a labor of love to discover these women, their achievements and to bring them out of the shadows. The Ella Sharp Museum is proud to feature this pop-up exhibit throughout the month of March. 

Saturday, March 18

Hanover-Horton Historical Society Maple Festival & Pancake Breakfast.  Sat, March 18, 2023.  8 am – 2 pm.  Hanover Heritage Park, 105 Fairview St, Hanover.  Want to learn how to make maple syrup? Teach how it’s done to the school kids? How it’s bottled? See how many pancakes you can eat? The maple syrup that we make is a big part of our general fund income.

Maple Madness Interpretive Tours.   Dahlem’s maple sugaring operation is small but an ideal site to demonstrate the science of collecting maple tree sap and making our favorite tasty maple syrup topping.  Sign up for an interpretive guided 1 1/2 hour tour at 10:00 am or 12:00 pm to learn about the history of sugaring, and learn through hands-on STEM activities; how to identify the right trees to tap, how tapping is done, how trees ‘work’, and finally, see the sap being boiled down at the sugar shack, and where everyone gets to taste the sweet golden nectar of the sugar maple.  Fee: $6/Dahlem member; $8/non-member; $20 Member Family (same household) and $25 Non-member Family (same household).  Advanced registration required. Complete the registration form below or call the office at 517-782-3453 ext. 0 to sign up and pay for your spot. Registration deadline is Friday, March 17 at 12:00 pm.  We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you don’t call to cancel and don’t show, you will be charged the full amount.  The Dahlem Conservancy, 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson.

Spring Arbor Branch Jackson District Library Grand Opening. 11 AM.  The event begins at 11 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony by Spring Arbor’s local Boy Scout Troop 144, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the chamber of commerce. Attendees can enjoy games and activities throughout the day, goodie bags, and live music from the Jacktown Ukes from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Light refreshments from local businesses will be served.

The Blazer News 60th Anniversary Celebration.  5 PM to 8 PM.  Come celebrate with us! The community of Jackson has supported the Blazer for 60 years!  This is a ceremonial recognition of Jackson’s premier community newspaper. The newspaper was the first minority owned media outlet for the city of Jackson and continues to represent the voices of the unheard and provides access to marginalized communities in Jackson County.  Purchase your ticket today here.  Ticket Cost:  $50 General Admission, $25 Seniors & Students.  Jackson College Potter Center.

Art Battle State Championships.  Michigan State Championship is coming to Art 634!  Sat, March 18, 2023, 7:00 – 11:00 PM.  Regular season event winners and All-Stars from Jackson and Grand Rapids return for their chance to become the 2023 Michigan State Champion, and head to the US National Championships in Florida in April. Artists have 20 minutes to take their canvases from blank to beautiful, battling not only the clock but each other as well in 3 rounds. Watch the paint fly before your eyes and help vote to determine the Winner of the night!  All artwork created will also be available via silent auction.  Art Battle® Jackson is an All Ages event with a 21+ bar  Get your tickets now here.

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.  Third Saturday of each month through April 2023.  7-11 pm.  Hanover Heritage Park, 121 Tefft Street, Hanover.

SOLD OUT JSO Music on Tap Irish Festival.

SOLD OUT Commonwealth Commerce Center Mother-Son Dance.

The Moxie Strings at the TCA.  Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) will welcome The Moxie Strings on Saturday, March 18. This dynamic duo is celebrating their newest album “Live & Plugged In”- which debuted #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart.  Hailed by The Grand Rapids Press as “top-notch, instrumental wizardry,” The Moxie Strings offer listeners the unique opportunity to experience some of the world’s best- known instruments through an electric, innovative lens.   Tickets are $30-25 and are on sale now. The concert will take place Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 PM with doors opening at 6:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased at 517-423-6617, at the box office located at 400 N. Maumee Street, or on-line at www.thetca.org.

Mason Cabin Fever Craft Show.  March 18th & 19th 10 am to 5 pm.  Ingham County Fairgrounds, 700 East Ash St., Mason.  Over 100+ crafters. FREE admission and FREE parking. Don’t miss this one.

Sunday, March 19

Lonestar in Concert.  7 PM.  The Potter Center, Jackson College.  Country supergroup Lonestar has been performing hits for 30 years. Taking a fresh look at their biggest hits, Lonestar brings their chart-topping country sound to the Potter Center stage at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 19. Tickets are on sale now.   Lonestar has charted more than 20 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart, including 9 that reached No. 1. “Amazed” also charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first country song to do so since 1983. The group formed in 1992 in Tennessee – though all the members are from Texas. On the forthcoming TEN to 1 record, Lonestar— Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar)— take a fresh look at all 10 of their chart-topping country songs.  Tickets for these country music favorites start at $30 and may be purchased from the Potter Center Box Office, 517.796.8600, or online at jccmi.edu/pottercenter. 

Celtic Fest Program 2023.  200 Hanover St., Concord.  (517) 745-0167.  Program at 2pm at the Universalist Church and Open House to follow at the Paddock Hubbard house down the street.  Event page here.

People for the Parks and Trails Spring Kickoff Event.  6 PM.  A Spring Kickoff Event is planned by People for the Parks and Trails on Sunday, March 19, 6 p.m. at the Boos Recreation Center. This will be an opportunity for interested volunteers to learn more about the group and how to get involved in upcoming spring projects. The event will feature refreshments, free t-shirts for volunteers, and a look at the improvements taking shape in Loomis Park. The group will also use the event for their Annual Meeting, which will involve the confirmation of the board and selection of volunteer projects and fundraisers. Volunteer projects are open to anyone who wants to participate. You do not need to be a City of Jackson or Jackson County resident. The volunteer season takes place April through November, with volunteer projects often taking place monthly on Saturday mornings. The Boos Recreation Center is located within Loomis Park at 210 Gilbert St. Participants are advised to use the parking lot off Edgewood Street. Residents wanting to get involved with volunteer projects can submit an interest form through PPT’s website, peoplefortheparks.org.