Events of October 6, 7, and 8, 2023

Friday, October 6

First Friday Featuring Art Walk. All Day! Come and join the retailers and businesses of downtown Jackson for the First Friday of every month for some shopping, sipping, and dining. This month’s event features an Art Walk by the Jackson DDA. Downtown Jackson Artwalk runs from 4-7 PM. The final route map and participating artist map are found here. Visit artist Zach Snyder at JTV! Plus, check out the Neat-O installation at the tasty Junkyard Dog! Pro-Tip: The more you enjoy the social district, the more fun you will have at the Artwalk. Sip and support the arts. Each purchase made at a participating business gets you entered in a drawing for prizes! Must be present to win, locations for drawings will vary based on event. Downtown Jackson.

Rise and Shine Breakfast at Vista Grande Villa. Join us and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce on Friday, October 6th at Vista Grande Villa for this informative Rise and Shine featuring Michigan Chamber’s Wendy Block, Senior Vice President of Business Advocacy and Member Engagement. Wendy is consistently named one of Lansing’s most effective lobbyists by lawmakers and capitol insiders. She will be giving an update, including Q@A, on several noteworthy items from Lansing and how they affect business and individuals in Jackson. 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM. Located in the Grande Room. Parking in the rear of the main building. Registration & Breakfast 7:30am – 8:00am. Program 8:00am – 9:00 am.

Grand River Farmers Market. 9 AM to 2 PM. A community-driven market prioritizing fresh local produce and Michigan-only homemade & artisan goods. Open Fridays and Saturdays, 9am-2pm throughout the summer into early fall. The Grand River Farmers Market is located in the parking lot of Grand River Brewery at the intersection of Louis Glick Highway and Mechanic Street. Rotating food trucks and music on select days. Vendors, artisans, and performers. 117 W Louis Glick Hwy, Jackson.

10th Annual Pink Ribbon Party. 6 PM to 8 PM. Please join us as we do Zumba and raise money for our Turning Point Program! This program helps our members who are battling breast cancer. $10 per adult are for purchase that night, no advance sales. There will be prizes available, t-shirts for sale and the best Zumba instructors in the Jackson area! This event is open to the public and kids are welcome! Wear your pink and join us! Jackson YMCA, 127 W. Wesley Street, Jackson.

Jackson Antique & Collectible Show. 10 am – 5 pm. American 1 Event Center, Keeley Park, 200 W. Ganson St., Jackson. The Jackson Antique & Collectible Show is coming October 6-7 2023 10am to 5pm. Admission $3. 12 and under free.

The Riflemen at Enchanted Forest. The Riflemen will be back at Enchanted Forest on Friday Oct 6th from 8-midnight. Come out for a fun night and bring some friends with ya! 3705 Ann Arbor Road, 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! Wildwood Avenue, Jackson.

Saturday, October 7

Greetings from Los Angeles. 7:30 PM. The Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-24 Season Opener! Soloist William Hagen visits the JSO for our first of two programs this year featuring American music. Join us as we explore the generations of American music, beginning with John Adams’ most recognizable work – Short Ride in a Fast Machine. We will also hear a violin concerto by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, one of Hollywood’s most influential composers. Then the program will finish with Aaron Copland’s epic Third Symphony, harkening to sounds of Fanfare for the Common Man. Details and tickets here.

Rode to Hell Gravel Bike Race. Experience Jackson is proud to be the title sponsor of the 2023 Rode to HELL Gravel Bike Event! Rode To HELL is a gravel bike event consisting of four distances: 101 Mile, 65 Mile, 39 Mile and 25 Mile. The event encompasses Jackson, Washtenaw, Livingston and Ingham Counties. A majority of the roads traveled will be gravel with smaller segments of paved portions, making for a memorable and unique challenge at the longer distances. Go to Hell with us and get registered here.

ETA Downtown Cleanup Day. 9 AM to 1 PM. Hosted by Jackson Young Professionals. Help us create a fresh canvas for the upcoming art installations! We need your help on Saturday (10/7) as we clean up the site where the festival will be held. We will be weeding, removing debris, and other things to make the festival site shine! Please bring gloves to wear and feel free to bring rakes, shovels, and brooms to help. If you have any questions, please reach out to JYP or ETA Jackson. Hope to see you soon! Event page here.

Fun Fall College Application Frenzy. 11 AM to 7 PM. Join the College and Career Access Center for the first-ever Fun Fall College Application Frenzy event on Saturday, October 7th. Get expert assistance with completing college applications, enjoy some delicious free food, and even win some prizes! Can’t join us at the Center? No problem! Get assistance with your college applications via Zoom. You can join by visiting this link between 11 AM and 7 PM: https://bit.ly/ccacevent . College and Career Access Center, Jackson Crossing Mall.

Art Opening with Audra Olivia and Music by Paka Plaza. 3 PM to 6 PM. We love starting the spooky season off with artwork by Audra Olivia! Visit on this autumn Saturday to meet Audra and hear live music from 3-6pm by Paka Plaza! Pieces & prints will be available through October. Sandhill Crane Vineyards, 4724 Walz Road, Jackson.

Fall Festival at Hidden Lake Gardens. It will be a day filled with family-friendly fun starting at 10:00 a.m. Become a knight on the Knight’s Adventure Trail, search for Gnomes and other whimsical creatures around Hidden Lake Gardens, and hear stories by Mother Goose herself. Make sure to check out our full schedule of demonstrations and live music at our Gazebo, including the opportunity to be “knighted” on the hour. DIY stations for pumpkin painting, succulent planting, and the ‘Fairy in Fall’ canvas painting workshop (pre-registration for this activity only). Bring your own picnic and blanket or purchase treats from our snack and hot dog vendors to picnic with your favorite Fairy Tale characters. Browse the countless selection of nature-base crafts and wares at the Artisan Village & Shoppes. Don’t forget to visit our NEW Sky Walk for the first time or to see it again this time anew with fall color! Learn more at Hog Warts & Toad Bellies Fairy Tale Festival | Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (msu.edu) Costumes encouraged!

Helping Out Pets Everywhere presents their 3rd Annual Halloween Fundraiser. 6 – 11 PM. Commonwealth Commerce Center, 209 E Washington Ave, Jackson (Atrium Ballroom, 2nd Floor). FREE ADMISSION WITH DONATION. Come on out and support the Helping Out Pets Everywhere Animal Organization. Features of the event: Performance by Belly Bancers – Kindred Sisters, Card reader Kelly Lubbe (A Touching Hand), Live DJ, Light Dinner, Costume contest, 50/50 drawing Raffle baskets, Cash Bar. Costumes are optional. Please note… This party is for people 18 and over.

Dylan Tolbert Live at Ironbark. 7 PM to 10 PM. Get ready for an unforgettable night of soulful melodies and timeless hits at Ironbark Brewing Co.! We’re thrilled to announce that the incredibly talented Dylan Tolbert will be gracing our stage with a breathtaking performance. Prepare to be amazed as he takes you on a musical journey through the iconic sounds of Stevie Wonder, Prince, Marvin Gaye, Elvis and many more! Join us at Ironbark Brewing Co. for an evening filled with nostalgic tunes and an unforgettable performance. Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of Dylan Tolbert as he pays homage to some of music’s greatest legends! 2610 Kibby Road, Jackson.

“#No Filter 2-An Adult Cabaret”. 8 PM. Join us for our 2nd #NoFilter Adult cabaret! This is an evening of song as we travel through different situations that leave us laughing, crying, and relating to different aspects of life that we tend to shy away from in the public. This is intended for audiences of 21+. Tickets are $25 (plus service fee) online and $35 at the door. This includes admission to the show, free water and coffee, light refreshments like veggies, toast and bar cheese and sweets. A cash bar will be available for use. Prices are based on cash sales, the use of a card will have an additional surcharge. Bella Notte Ristorante, 137 W. Michigan Avenue, Downtown Jackson. Event page and tickets here.

Sunday, October 8

Ella Sharp Museum Fall Harvest Festival. Noon – 4 PM. Ella Sharp Museum, 3225 4th St, Jackson. Featuring Apples & Cider, Food Trucks, Make & Takes, Petting Zoo, Pumpkins, Jackson Candy & Fudge Factory and more! Price: Free Admission to Farm Lane. Visit http://www.ellasharp.org for more details. Fun for the whole family!

SAU Tennis Bowling Fundraiser. 12 PM. Sign up as team of two! For $60, you both can enjoy up to four hours of bowling from 12pm-4pm on October 8. There will also be three bonus games held during this time frame. These games will be included in the cost to bowl. A prize will be given to each of the winners. Last, but definitely not least, we will be hosting a silent auction with a variety of great items- so we recommend bringing extra cash! You are not going to want to miss out! If you are unable to join us on this day and are looking to support out program, there is a “donation” ticket option that you can choose. Tickets and event page here.

After The Downbeat with David Phelps featuring special guest, comedian Mickey Bell. 7 p.m. Best known for singing tenor in the Gaither Vocal Band, David Phelps is credited among today’s most spectacular voices. David grew up in a musical family where his natural gift for song was evident from his young age. Today, his seemingly endless vocal range, which extends more than three octaves, coupled with his gift for communicating a song, has brought the house down in the world’s most prestigious venues. As a member of the popular Gaither Vocal Band for more than 15 years, David won many Dove Awards, Grammy Awards and multiple platinum-selling recording projects. Tickets and event page here.

82nd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. 5 PM. The Jackson County Branch of the NAACP presents the annual Freedom Fund Banquet. The theme this year: Black History is American History. Dinner, scholarship presentations and program with keynote speaker Dr. Pamela Pugh. Tickets are $75 and includes membership in the NAACP Jackson County Branch. Gene Davis and Sons Banquet Center, 3575 Francis Street, Jackson. Tickets available by calling 517-784-3842, or by emailing president@naacpjackson.org. Tickets will also be available at the door.