Looking for something to do? The Stay Local events calendar lists nonprofit and community events on Tuesdays and Fridays. Check with clubs and organizations for meetings, outings and classes. If the listing is incorrect or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358, julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com or darren.iozia@hearst.com. (Deadlines are Sunday at noon for Tuesday's newspaper and Wednesday at noon for Friday's newspaper.)
Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance visits: Aug. 27, 1:30 p.m., at Majestic Friesians Horse Farms, 21750 19 Mile Rd., Big Rapids. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are available at donaldjtrump.com/events .
Michigan Works! West Central Anniversary: Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m., at 14330 Northland Drive in Big Rapids. The open house will celebrate 50 years of workplace development.
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Broadway in the Park: Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 7 p.m., at the Big Rapids Bandshell along the Riverwalk, behind Big Rapids Middle School. Selected Broadway musicals will be performed, including: Into the Woods, Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors, Young Frankenstein, The Phantom of the Opera, Doctor Zhivago, Oklahoma, Back to the Future, Les Miserables and more. Cost: Free. Please bring a chair or blanket.
Castle Cruise: Sunday, September 1, 10am-2pm at Canadian Lakes Castle, 9400 Pere Marquette Drive, Canadian Lakes. Trophies in 11 classes and top 20 finishers will be awarded. Cost: $15 per vehicle, general admission free. Proceeds will benefit a local food pantry.
Labor Day Arts and Crafts Festival: It will be held in downtown Big Rapids on Monday, September 2nd from 10am to 4pm and will feature a car show, children's activities, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, touch-and-feel trucks and more.
Wheatland Music Festival: It runs Sept. 6-8 at 7251 50th Ave. Remus. It's a celebration of traditional arts with workshops, demonstrations, dance and impromptu jam sessions. For more information, visit www.wheatlandmusic.org/music-festival.
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WISE 5K Fun Run/Walk: Sept. 7, 8:30 a.m. at North End Riverside Park. Cost: $30 adults, $20 students. Proceeds will benefit WISE. For more information or to register, visit wiseagainstviolence.org/news-events
Music Festivals and Farmers Markets
Big Rapids Farmers Market: It will be held Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot next to Bernie's Place, 225 N. Michigan Ave., in downtown Big Rapids.
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Pocket Park Music Series: It will be held Fridays, May 31-August 30, from noon-2 p.m. at 123 N. Michigan Ave., between Horizon Bank and Blue Cow, in downtown Big Rapids.
Pocket Park Thursday Night: Every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., there's free live music at Pocket Park, 123 N. Michigan Ave., between Horizon Bank and Blue Cow in downtown Big Rapids.
Music by the River: Fridays in July and August from 6:30-8:30pm at Bromley Park in Mecosta. Bring lawn chairs or blankets, bug spray and non-alcoholic beverages. Parking available at the Morton Township Hall and Library. Cost: Free.
Farm & Yard Market: The event will be held on September 5th & 19th and October 3rd & 17th from noon to 6pm at Stone Hatchery Park, 21331 Northland Drive, Paris. Items available for sale: baked goods, produce, crafts, yard sale items. For questions, please contact Green Charter Township Hall at 231-796-6201.
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Barryton Farmers Market: It will be held at Stearns Park Pavilion (195 Rose Ave., Barryton) every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ongoing Programs and Activities
Nature play: The event will take place every Monday through Sept. 9 from 4:45-5:45 p.m. at North End Riverside Park, 1017 N. 4th Ave., Big Rapids. Mecosta County Kids, Big Rapids Park and Rec and Together2Thrive will host weekly classes that combine outdoor play with learning for a unique educational experience. For more information or to get free tickets, visit facebook.com/MecostaCountyKidsPlay.
Big Rapids Area Kiwanis Clubs: They meet the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the United Church Fellowship Hall, 120 S. State, Big Rapids. For more information, visit facebook.com/bigrapidsmikiwanis.
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Mecosta County Historical Museum: It will be held on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at 129 S. Stewart in Big Rapids. To schedule a private tour, call 231-592-5091 and leave your name and phone number. A museum volunteer will return your call as soon as possible.
Mecosta County Genealogical Society: Wednesdays 5pm to 7pm and the second Saturday of each month 10am to 2pm. or by appointment, 424 N. Fourth Ave. in Big Rapids, next to recycling. Open to the public to research genealogy and history of Mecosta County and the surrounding area. Volunteers are needed to help organize and index. For more information or to make an appointment, call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555.
Reed City Heritage Museum: Open Friday through Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 138 W. Slosson Ave. in Reed City. Admission is free. Groups are welcome.
Mecosta County Sheriff's Department: The second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Mecosta County Jail basement training room, 225 S. Stewart Ave. Big Rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for members. For more information, call 231-250-9241.
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Wheatland Jamboree: It takes place the second Saturday of every month from 2-5pm at the Wheatland Cabin (7251 50th Ave Remus). It's a free, informal gathering of acoustic musicians, open to the public and for all levels and abilities.
Morley Community Centre: 151 E. 7th St., Morley. For more information, visit the Morley Community Center Facebook page or call 231-598-1861.
- Cardio Drumming: Sundays from 3 to 4 p.m. Cost: $2 per session.
- Pickleball: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to noon and Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Donation requested: $5.
- FREE Kids Playgroup: Monday 9am-11am, Thursday 5pm-7pm.
- Eucher Night: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. Donation requested: $5.
- Community Coffee: Friday 9am-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 every odd-numbered month.
- Feeding America Food Distribution: Third Thursday of every even-numbered month.
Community Lunch: and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Third Avenue United Methodist Church, 226 N. Third Ave., Big Rapids. The Community Lunch Program has been resumed. The meals are free, but donations are welcomed. For more information, call 231-796-4157 or 231-796-6779.
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Swiss Steak Dinner: The event is held the last Friday of each month, April through October, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Barryton Senior Center (71 Northern Ave., Barryton). It is open to the public. Meal includes Swiss steak, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, roll, beverage and pie. Cost: $10. Proceeds support the Senior Center.
Art classes, exhibitions
106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org
Classes and Workshops: Register online at artworksinbigrapids.org , in person at the Painted Turtle gift shop or by calling 231-796-2420.
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- Open Pottery: Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Cost: $10 per session, $70 for an eight-session punch card (additional fees may apply).
Exhibits: Mon–Sat 10am–4pm.
- Stigma Awareness and Reduction Campaign: August 26-September 27, Bardolph Gallery. Opening reception August 29 at 5pm.
- Artist in Residence, Abigail Hegenauer: August through November at Alley Gallery. Hegenauer is a multimedia artist and Big Rapids native.
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