Events of Thursday, July 11, 2019

Jackson International Music Festival Opening Night.  The music of HuDost, the Neo-Folk-World-Rock Ensemble from Montreal and KY, weaves a seamless tapestry of sound that renders tears and laughter in listeners, cultivating the nameless longing that abides somewhere in all our hearts and invoking total celebration. SPECIAL GUEST:   CHRISTIE LENEE.  2017 International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion Christie Lenée is a captivating performer with a devoted following among instrumental, folk-pop and rock band audiences. Combining guitar mastery, contemporary singer/songwriter and a passion for storytelling, she thrives on bringing people together through the language of music.  8 PM, Michigan Theatre.  $9 admission.

25th Anniversary Season of The Michigan Shakespeare Festival.  Preview Night:  King Lear, 7:30 PM.  Q&A follows performance.  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.

Ella’s Patio Party.  5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  Tonight, entertainment by Judy Banker and Trio.  Snacks by In the Kitchen’s Lisa Spampinato.  Cash bar.  $5 admission, free for members.  Ella Sharp Museum.

The Kiwanis Summer Kids Series at the Michigan Theatre.  This week’s film is “Detective Pikachu”.   Doors open at 10:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. Film Times are 11 A.M. and 2 P.M. 1 Dollar Admission.  Michigan Theatre, Downtown Jackson.

Red Cross Blood Drive.  7/11/2019: 1 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Grace Church, 2692 North Dettman Road, Jackson. 

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.

St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Teen Wellness.  Each week, from June 20 to August 15, St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea will host a free summer wellness group for high school students.  The group, which will meet Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. inside the Chelsea District Library (McKune Room 221 S. Main St. in Chelsea), will offer 9^th – 12^th graders a fun, safe atmosphere to focus on developing healthy and happy lives.  Students will participate in a discussion on factors that contribute to a person’s overall wellbeing.  For more information, please call 734-593-5251.

Thursday Movies at the Eastern Branch, Jackson District Library.  2 PM.  Free admission.  Join us at the Jackson District Library Eastern Branch for Thursday Movies!  July 11: Soul Surfer.

Light Up the City.  Join us another walk departing from Habitat for Humanity as we go door to door and hand out free light bulbs to help brighten up the city! At 5:30pm we’ll eat, get to know one another, pass out routes, and then we’ll head out on our walk around 6:30pm. Learn more at www.lutcjxn.com.  5:30-8:30pm.  Habitat for Humanity of Greater Jackson 251 W. Prospect St, Jackson.