Events of November 22, 23, and 24, 2024

Friday, November 22

Carnegie Holiday Open House.  Kick off the holiday season while you wait for the Jackson Holiday Parade to start! Kids will receive a free book, and the Friends of the Library will host their annual book sale and bake sale. Hot dogs and hot chocolate will also be available for $1 on the front lawn. Book Sale: November 20-24, Open Hours.  Bake Sale: November 22, 4-6:30 PM.

Downtown Jackson Christmas Parade.  6 PM.  The annual community start of the Holiday Season is the Downtown Jackson Christmas Parade!  Lighted floats, bands, costumed characters, surprises and more!  Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are special guests and will be featured at the end of the parade.  The parade route runs from the front of Flagstar Bank, in the 300 block of West Michigan Avenue and travels east down Michigan Avenue, ending at Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

Christmas Parade Afterglow at Flagstar.  All are welcome to join Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus following the Downtown Jackson Christmas Parade at Flagstar Bank.  301 West Michigan Avenue.  Bring your camera for pictures with Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.

The Polar Express.  Come join HOME.fm for a FREE SHOWING of “The Polar Express.” Join us after the Jackson downtown Christmas Parade and warm up at the Michigan Theatre with a heartwarming Christmas movie! This free event is our annual tradition to kick off the Christmas season. See you there! Come on down This will be lots of fun.

Nite Lites Drive Thru Christmas Display.  An experience like no other! Nite Lites is a five-mile long holiday lights drive through experience, running Nov 22, thru Jan 5, 2025.   Drive Thru tickets can also be purchased at the gate.  Train tickets must be purchased online in advance.  Sun – Thurs 5:30pm – 9:00pm, Fri – Sat  5:30pm – 10:00pm.  $35 Per Car.  Michigan International Speedway US-12 Entrances only, 12626 US-12, Brooklyn, Michigan.Ticket Booth is 15 minute drive off of US 12 Entrances Gate 8 Or Gate 14 thru our spectacular Pre Show.  WEST bound – use Gate 8 Entrance.  EAST bound – use Graves Farm Entrance Gate 14.

Grand River Winter Farmer’s Market.  A year-round community-driven market prioritizing fresh local products and Michigan made goods. Fridays 10 am – 3 pm.  Found Church, 141 E Michigan Ave., Downtown Jackson.

Twice Upon a Time.  Center Stage Jackson’s fall Youth Theater production. Friday and Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 3pm.  Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church, 743 W Michigan Ave, Jackson.

Live Music at Mancino’s.  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, Jackson.

Poetry Out Loud.  9 AM to 5 PM. James McDivitt Hall, Room 218, Jackson College Central Campus. Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with Michigan Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation—lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection.  Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.4 million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud. On November 21st and 22nd at Jackson College, high school students compete for a chance to win our local Poetry Out Loud competition! Students will recite works selected from an anthology of more than 1,200 poems. Judges will evaluate student performances on criteria including voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, and accuracy. The winner of our local competition will advance to the state Poetry Out Loud competition in Lansing on March 14-15th 2025.

Saturday, November 23

St. Demetrius Sisterhood Bake Sale.  9 AM to 1 PM.  The annual on-site bake sale at St. Demetrius Orthodox Church is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, on November 23rd at the church. This sale is open to the public and is a community favorite, featuring home made Baklava, cheese, leek and/or spinach Zelnic/Spanakopita, made from scratch lemon chicken noodle soup, cookies, breads, pastries, cakes and more. Lunch is available featuring Coney Island Hot Dogs. Tours of the unique church featuring breathtaking icons and frescos will take place during bake sale hours.  3043 Seymour Road, Jackson.

Wizard World Skate Party. 1 PM to 4 PM.  Join us for a magical event, costumed characters, Potions class, Trivia, Frozen Butterbeer, Skating, and more! Admission $12. We will have door prizes, trivia, and you can skate to Harry Potter music. Admission is $12, skate rental is $5, you don’t have to skate to enjoy the festivities.  Allskate Fun Center, 1313 West North Street, Jackson.

Reality’s Chance Gift Shop.  9 AM to 4 PM.  Reality’s Chance Gift Shop is excited to welcome a small but amazing group of Vendors to the Barn for the Christmas Craft Trail! We are joining the Pleasant Lake Craft Trail (What’s going on in Pleasant Lake) as well as Gee Farms Nursery & Greenhouses on Saturday, November 23rd from 9am-4pm to provide an amazing shopping experience! See you at the Barn! 4519 E Berry Rd Pleasant Lake.

The Commodores at Potter Center.  7:00 PM.  With a legacy spanning five decades, The Commodores continue to captivate audiences with their legendary Motown sound. Known as “The Legends of Motown,” The Commodores are a Grammy award-winning group celebrated for their chart-topping hits like “Easy,” “Brick House,” “Machine Gun,” “Nightshift” and “Three Times a Lady.”  The Commodores aren’t just any group. They have staying power. Just like their hit song “Brick House,” The Commodores have created a foundation that just won’t budge. With new discs, a new tour, and a new label, The Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime experience to see The Commodores up close and personal!  For tickets: jccmi.edu/pottercenter/commodores

Music on Tap Jazz Night.  8 PM.  Djangophonique, an award-winning ensemble celebrated for their captivating performances, will bring the vibrant energy of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche to Weatherwax Hall on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 8pm. Their music effortlessly blends traditional Hot Club sounds with a modern flair, keeping the spirit of Parisian dance halls and soulful ballads alive. Known for their lively, joyful performances, Djangophonique’s sound is perfect for both jazz lovers and those new to the genre. Their upbeat rhythms and smooth melodies will make for an unforgettable evening of music.  Guitar Workshop: Before the concert, join the band for Swingin’ with Django: A Journey into Gypsy Jazz, a FREE workshop at 4pm at Weatherwax Hall where musicians and enthusiasts can dive into the foundational elements of Django Reinhardt’s style. Open to all but reservations are required. Learn more and register at jacksonsymphony.org/concerts-and-events/jazz-night-with-djangophonique  Tickets for Djangophonique are $20 in advance at jacksonsymphony.org/concerts-and-events/jazz-night-with-djangophonique. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $25.

Sunday, November 24

Chris Janson in Concert.  6:45 PM.  Country Boots & Bands is excited to announce the return of CHRIS JANSON to the newly renovated Michigan Theatre of Jackson on November 24th! Our last show with Chris SOLD OUT, so get your tickets NOW!  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.  Information and tickets here.