Looking for something to do? The Stay Local events calendar publishes a list of non-profit and community events on Tuesdays and Fridays. Check with your club or organization about meetings, outings, and classes. If the listing is inaccurate or you would like to submit an event, please contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com or darren.iozia@hearst.com. (The deadline is noon on Sunday for Tuesday’s newspapers and noon on Wednesday for Friday’s newspapers.)
Night light: Friday and Saturday nights, Nov. 11 to Jan. 6, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Canadian Lakes Castle, 9400 Pere Marquette Drive, Canadian Lakes. More than 100,000 LED lights cover the castle’s exterior walls. Cost: Free. Visitors must obtain a free vehicle pass at nightoflights.org/vehicle-pass.
Winterfest at New Hope UMC: Wednesday, Jan. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., New Hope United Methodist Church, 7296 9 Mile Road, Mecosta. Free family fun evening including pancake dinner, snacks and drinks. Bible message puppet show. music and games. handmade crafts. And a winter carnival in the gymnasium. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
State Rep. Tom Kunce’s office hours: 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at the Reed City office, 227 Lincoln Avenue, Reed City.
Winterfest at Cran Hill Ranch: Sunday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Feb. 18, from 2 to 6 p.m., at CranHill Ranch, 14444 17 Mile Road, Rodney. A free community event featuring tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, broomball, ice climbing, pony rides, a petting farm and more.Free meals will be served from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Big Rapids Park and REC.
For more information, contact Josh Pyles at 231-592-4038.
Coed Volleyball: It will be held every Sunday starting Jan. 14 at Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave. The time is undecided.
Delaying the disease Parkinson’s fitness: Held at Style Station (1619 Catherine St.) on Thursdays from 1:00pm to 1:45pm through May 9th. Cost: $2 per participant.
groove: Thursdays, Jan. 11 through May 16, 6-7 p.m., Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria, 500 N. Warren Ave. Cost: $5.
latin dance fusion: Mondays, Jan. 8 through May 13, 6-7 p.m., Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave. Cost: $5.
Pickleball: It will be held Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. and Fridays from 8-10 a.m. through May 10 at the Ferris State University Racquet Facility, 14342 Northland Dr. Cost: $5.
Walking program: Monday through Thursday, 4-7 p.m., through March 31, Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave. There are no walking programs on Fridays or school holidays.
Water aerobics: Held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from Jan. 9 to May 10 at the Ferris State University Recreation Center, 401 South Street.Cost: $4 per class or $40 for 12 class punch cards, available at Big Rapids City Hall, 226 N. Michigan Ave.
Ongoing programs and activities
Big Rapids Area Kiwanis Club: 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month at United Church Fellowship Hall, 120 S. State, Big Rapids. For more information, visit facebook.com/bigrapidsmikiwanis.
Mecosta County Historical Museum: The museum is closed for the winter. To book a private tour, call 520-334-0123, 231-796-4662, or 231-867-3311.
Mecosta County Genealogical Society: 2nd Saturday of every month 10am to 2pmor by appointment at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle. It is open to the public to research genealogy and history in Mecosta County and the surrounding area. Volunteers were needed to help sort and index. For more information or to make a reservation, please call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555.
Reed City Cultural Heritage Museum: We are open Friday through Tuesday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at 138 W. Slosson Ave. in Reed City. Free admission. Groups are also welcome.
Mecosta County Sheriff: Second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., Mecosta County Jail Basement Training Room, 225 S. Stewart Ave. big rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for new members. For more information, call 231-250-9241.
Morley Community Center: 151 E. 7th St., Morley. For more information, visit the Morley Community Center Facebook page or call 231-598-1861.
- Aerobic drumming: Sunday 3-4 p.m. Price: $2 per session.
- Pickleball: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Thursdays 6:30-8:30 p.m. Requested donation: $5.
- Free Kids Playgroup: Mondays 9-11 a.m., Thursdays 5-7 p.m.
- Euchre Night: Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Requested donation: $5.
- Community Coffee: Fridays from 9am to 11am
- Garage Sale: Friday and Saturday from 9am to 3pm
- Community Potluck: First Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Blood Drive: Second Monday of odd-numbered months.
- Feeding America food distribution: Third Thursday of even-numbered months.
Community lunch: Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Third Street United Methodist Church, 226 N. Third Ave., Big Rapids. The community lunch program has resumed. This is a free meal service, but donations are appreciated. For more information, call 231-796-4157 or 231-796-6779.
Swiss Steak Dinner: The last Friday of each month from April through October from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Baritone Senior Center, 71 Northern Ave., Baritone. Open to the public; everyone is welcome. Meals include Swiss steak, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, bread rolls, drinks, and pie. Price: $10. Proceeds support the senior center.
Artwork classes, exhibitions
106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 /artworksinbigrapids.org
After school art: Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm. Target age is 7 to 13 years old. Cost: Free. Class capacity is 12 people. Drop-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. She recommends calling 231-796-2420 to register by the Monday before each weekly class. (There will be no classes on November 29th)
Open pottery: Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Price: $10 per session, $60 for punch cards for 8 sessions. (Additional firing fees apply; clay is available in bulk for $20 per 25 pounds.) To schedule a session, call 231-796-2420.
Hope Network and MoCI exhibits: Monday through Saturday from January 2nd to January 28th from 10am to 4pm at Artworks Batdorff Gallery. Reception: Thursday, January 11th from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.
Veteran Art Exhibition: Through January, at Artworks Alley Gallery, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.