Events of May 8, 9, and 10, 2026

Friday, May 8

Grand River Farmers Market Downtown Market.  9 AM to 2 PM.  Grow Jackson invites you to the Grand River Farmers Market at the downtown pavilion.  Come on down and reconnect… We’ve got dozens of your favorite vendors ready to go with seasonal fruits & veggies, flowers, beef, chicken, eggs, pork, cheeses, honey, syrup, pasta, dairy, artisan breads, mushrooms, granola, microgreens, tea, jams, pestos, sweets, coffee, soups, ready-to-eat hot foods, sandwiches, snacks, natural home, plants, health and beauty products, even pet treats – plus a few true artisans for a little retail therapy! The Jackson District Library returns – they’ll be with us each Friday, so bring your library card, and if you don’t have one – they can get you one!

Slim Nichols at Mancino’s.  6 PM to 9 PM.  Come on down to hear Mike Slim Crupi and Kevin Nichols this Friday at Mancino’s at 6:00 P.M. till 9:00 P.M. It will be a rocking good time for everyone!.  3017 Wildwood Avenue.

Late Night Fridays with Live Music at Sandhill Crane Vineyards.  6 PM to 9 PM.  Join us in the vineyard, on the porch, and at our family-owned winery for live music every Friday from May through October! Music plays on the porch (weather permitting) 6-9 pm every Friday, with last call at 9:30 and close at 10 pm!  Join us at the winery for Mother’s Day Weekend! We’ll be releasing THREE rose wines (Sassy Rose, Blushing Crane, and Cabernet Sauvignon Rose), as well as welcoming vendors, classes, and musicians, all geared to help celebrate mom and mother figures, Friday: 12-10pm. Live music by Jay Fry 6-9pm.  4724 Walz Road, Jackson.

The Galen Bundy Organ Trio Live at Ironbark.  7 PM to 10 PM.  We are thrilled to announce the return of The Galen Bundy Organ Trio to Ironbark! This talented jazz trio combines traditional Organ-based jazz with groovy, experimental original compositions for a stellar and unique evening of live entertainment.  2610 Kibby Road, Jackson.

Adaboy at the Honky Tonk.  9 PM.  Friday night deserves more than sitting on the couch pretending you’re “resting.” Come do something louder. Adaboy hits The Honky Tonk bringing a crowd-pleasing mix of country and classic rock built for singalongs, dancing, and the kind of night that somehow gets rowdy before 10PM. If your playlist jumps from country anthems to rock favorites, this is your band.  151 West Michigan Avenue, Downtown Jackson.

Gus Macker Registration Now Open. The Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will be held in Jackson, Michigan from May 30–31, 2026 Part of the Gus Macker World Tour, a traveling 3-on-3 basketball event that brings together amateur and collegiate players from across the country.  Registration Details Event Dates: May 30–31, 2026 Team Entry Fee: $180 per team Registration Deadline: May 11, 2026.  Registration Portal: You can register online via the official Gus Macker site at macker.com/register macker.com. Login/Account: If you already have an account, you can log in to complete your registration; otherwise, you can create one on the site macker.com. Macker.com/local/jackson-mi

Saturday, May 9

Career Center Annual Plant Sale.   Get your gardens ready! The Jackson Area Career Center will be opening its greenhouses for the 18th annual Agriscience/FFA Plant and Flower Sale on Saturday, May 9, from 8am – 12pm. A variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and hanging baskets will be available for purchase. The complete variety list and pricing can be found at www.jacc-mi.net. Customers will follow a new traffic flow due to ongoing construction on campus to help limit the amount of people entering the sale. Students will be available to help people grab baskets, carry plants and load purchases in vehicles.  The Career Center greenhouses are located at 6800 Browns Lake Road in Jackson, across from Jackson College. Cash and credit/debit will be accepted. For more information on the plant sale, contact 517-768-5107.

Jackson County Free Museum Day.  10 AM to 4 PM.  Experience Jackson presents the return of Jackson County FREE Museum Day! Jackson County Museums welcome visitors to experience all there is to offer at their locations, featuring free admission on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10 am – 4 pm. Participating museums will host an “open-house style” reception and self-guided tours, alongside child-friendly activities, historical demonstrations and more during the event. With Museum Day intentionally planned on Mother’s Day weekend, it is a great opportunity for families to get together and learn more about their community’s history while checking some local museums off their bucket list.  List of museums and more details here.

Jackson READS! Families across Jackson County are invited to one of the community’s most anticipated events of the year as Jackson READS! hosts its annual “Imagine – Explore – Read” Big Book Giveaway on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ella Sharp Park, in partnership with Jackson County Museum Day. The free, family-friendly event will feature the distribution of more than 10,000 brand-new books for children from birth through eighth grade. Each child in attendance will receive a complimentary bag of books to take home, helping build personal libraries and encourage a lifelong love of reading. In addition, the event will offer a Choice Books area, allowing children to select titles that match their individual interests.

GRFM Saturdays at the River and Rail.  9 AM to 2 PM.  Directly from the farmers, ranchers, and producers, right here in Jackson! We’ve got the best fresh and local goods inside this historic venue, neighboring our vibrant art community, and just a short walk from murals, music, and theater! With live music every market day, along with seasonal fruits and vegetables, chicken, pork, grassfed/finished beef, fish right from Michigan’s own U.P., eggs, microgreens, gourmet mushrooms, locally made pasta, cheese, coffee, tea, jams, jelly, fresh milled flour, pesto, donuts, cider, croissants, scones, bagels, sourdough, artisan breads, honey, maple syrup, hot food, granola, nut butters, dry soups & pantry goods, roasted nuts, cake treats, cookies, pies, native plants, houseplants, natural body care and apothecaries, tallow beauty products, refreshing drinks, and a rotating variety of food trucks every week… even natural meat dehydrated pets snacks for your fur babies, as we’re also pet friendly – and a few *true* artisans for a little retail therapy! (Plus crafts and fun little activities for the kiddos!) Let us be your new Saturday morning destination, we’ve got the perfect market vibe you’ve been looking for!   137 W. North Street, Jackson.

YPOP Annual Mother’s Day Tea Party UNI-TEA. 2 PM.  Join us for tea, treats & a celebration of mothers everywhere.  Tickets are $20, or 2 for $30.  Three inspiring speakers:  Pastor Beverly White, Dr. Earnestine Harrington and Mia Williams Esq.  1107 Maple Avenue, Jackson.

Mother’s Day Weekend at Sandhill Crane Vineyards. Mother’s Day Weekend is here! And we have a bunch of exciting events, vendors, classes, and musicians at the vineyard to help celebrate mom!  Vendors, entertainment, food, wine and more all weekend! Macrame Class Tickets:

https://events.ticketleap.com/…/macrame-plant-holder… Brunch Tickets:

https://events.ticketleap.com/…/mother-s-day-brunch-by….

Join us anytime this weekend with the important maternal figures in your life and we’ll make it a very special occasion.

6th Annual Billy Joel Birthday Bash.  7 PM.  Join us for the 6th Annual Billy Joel Birthday Tribute Concert as Allentown celebrates the Piano Man’s 77th birthday with a full evening of his greatest hits and deep cuts. For 6 years, Allentown has delivered authentic, high-energy Billy Joel tribute performances across the Great Lakes region, featuring world-class musicians from the U.S. and Canada. This will be Allentown’s 2nd consecutive birthday concert at Michigan Theatre of Jackson.  Light his 77th candle with Allentown at The Michigan Theatre of Jackson and get in a New York State of Mind.  Tickets here.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.

Sunday, May 10

Matt Walch:  Love in the Afternoon.  Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with Matt Walch: Love in the Afternoon — a matinee of timeless classics from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis, and more. Join us Sunday, May 10th at 3 PM at the Jackson College Potter Center. Tickets are just $15 — available online or at the JC box office.  Get yours now at jccmi.edu/potter-center/events!”

Mother’s Day Drive In/Fly In Lions Club Pancake Breakfast.  8 AM to 11 AM.  Pancakes, sausage, eggs, drinks, and sausage & biscuits.  Door prizes.  Donations accepted.  Napoleon Lions Club House, 7935 Napoleon Road, Napoleon.

Walker Tavern Farm & Craft Market.  10 am to 2 pm. Walker Tavern Complex/Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, 13200 M 50, Brooklyn. The Walker Tavern is a historic structure located at 11710 U.S. Route 12.
The Michigan Recreation Passport is required for motor vehicles entering state parks. As of Jan 1, 2026, the annual fee is $15 for MI-registered vehicles (purchased with plate renewal) or $20 at park entrances, and $40 for non-residents.  Learn more at https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/cj

Mother’s Day at the Crossing.  Join us this Mother’s Day in the halls of the Jackson Crossing Mall for amazing deals made just for Mom! Treat Mom to a special meal with Alpha Koney and she’ll receive a FREE dessert with her purchase .Then take a stroll through the mall and stop by our local vendors to find the perfect gift to make her day even more memorable. Make a day of it at Jackson Crossing Mall and Discover the Difference!