Community Calendar

The MiCorps AIS Detection Blitz is a statewide event happening June 29 through July 12, 2026, and it is an easy way to turn time on the water into something meaningful. Participation can happen from anywhere in Michigan.

Whether you are on the water over the July 4th holiday with family and friends, or just enjoying a quiet moment on your own, you can take part. If you see something in the water that looks unfamiliar or that you know to be invasive, just snap a photo and upload it using the free iNaturalist app. No experience or identification skills are needed.

Once you join the project on the iNaturalist app, anything you upload during the event dates is automatically added to a statewide map of aquatic invasive species observations. Your photos help show where aquatic invasive species are appearing across Michigan. This information can be used by scientists, resource managers, and local organizations to better understand distribution, track changes over time, and inform management efforts.

It is something anyone can do. It is easy to turn into a game with kids, something to keep an eye out for with friends, something to get competitive with, or simply a reason to take a closer look at the water you already enjoy.

MiCorps, the Michigan Clean Water Corps, is a program of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and is administered through Michigan State University Extension. The program works with volunteers and partners across the state to monitor and better understand Michigan’s water resources.

Learn more and get started here: https://www.micorps.net/events/aisblitz

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park welcomes back acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly. Experience art like never before through CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens Presented by Macatawa Bank. This highly anticipated exhibition transforms both our beautiful outdoor gardens and inviting indoor Sculpture Galleries with the world-renowned artwork of Chihuly. Stroll through the gardens and discover monumental sculptures, vibrant Reeds, and stunning site-specific installations that harmoniously blend art with nature, creating breathtaking moments around every corner.

About Dale Chihuly: Chihuly is an American artist who transforms a space with experiments in color, light, transparency, and form. He is known for his exhibitions and large-scale architectural installations around the world and for revolutionizing the studio glass movement. Chihuly works with a variety of media including glass, paint, charcoal, neon, ice, and Polyvitro, and his work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide.

Sponsored by the Gogebic Community College Foundation, in memory of Alex Marciniak.

From June 27 through August 22, visitors are invited to wander the 1.2-mile Aurora Loop and discover large-scale installations nestled among towering pines, winding trails, and the rugged beauty of the Northwoods. Created by artists from across the region, this year’s exhibition reflects Emberlight’s 2026 theme, New Ways to Dream — exploring imagination, transformation, memory, identity, and the power of collective creativity.

Alongside this year’s juried installations, Emberlight proudly unveils two major community-centered projects through Art For All. A new collaborative installation invites audiences themselves to become part of the artistic process, while a second large-scale work — created in partnership with students from five regional schools — draws inspiration from Ojibwe doodems, reflecting themes of kinship, ancestry, and connection to the natural world through the voices and creativity of the next generation. Supported through funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, the project places young artists at the heart of the festival in a powerful new way.

https://emberlight.org/event/art-in-the-park-2026/

Free event

Inspired by the Bicentennial Freedom Train, the Freedom Plane National Tour will make original documents fundamental to America's founding accessible to Americans across the country as part of the commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, July 9th-26th.

The Henry Ford is honored to be one of eight institutions in the U.S. hosting The National Archives and Records Administration traveling exhibition.

Visit Tips: As you prepare for your visit to Documents That Forged a Nation, please be aware that these rare national treasures have special display needs. Lighting may be lower than usual in this exhibit to preserve the documents. Food and beverages are welcome while guests are in line, but will not be allowed in the display gallery. Reservations are required. Dates are selling out quickly, reserve your free tickets now.

Schedule Note: On July 23 only, this traveling exhibition will remain open until 8 p.m. for a special evening viewing.

Step into a powerful new exhibition celebrating the fearless women of the Greek Revolution.

#WeAreGreekWarriors brings the heroines of 1821 into today’s cultural conversation through bold contemporary art and modern storytelling. Fighters, strategists, and champions of freedom, these extraordinary women helped shape history, yet many of their names remain unknown.

Now, their stories come to life at the Hellenic Museum of Michigan in a groundbreaking exhibition featuring original campaign prints alongside stunning works by acclaimed contemporary artist Ramona Pintea. Reclaiming history through a fresh, fearless lens, the exhibit honors and highlights the women of the Greek Revolution while speaking directly to the women of today. Through dynamic programming, cultural events, and interactive experiences, it connects the strength of 1821 to the leadership, voices, and impact of women now.

Women of all backgrounds and generations are invited to experience this inspiring tribute and rediscover their own warrior spirit.

For more information, visit www.hellenicmi.org.

Join us for an exclusive exhibition tour of Labyrinth/Laboratory: Selections from the Cranbrook Collection, guided by one of the curators of the show. Largely focused on work produced since the 1960s, Labyrinth/Laboratory presents work by alumni and faculty of Cranbrook Academy of Art drawn from Cranbrook Art Museum’s permanent collection of over 8,000 objects, and places into dialogue various aesthetic, material, and conceptual connections across time by Academy artists.

Situated within our redesigned Upper Gallery, you’ll be guided through the exhibition, highlighting key objects, curatorial decision-making, and recent acquisitions to the permanent collection, as well as learning about the Academy of Art’s experimental and transformative pedagogical approach.

$22 a person, including museum admission. $5 for ArtMembers. Tours meet in Main Gallery, at the entrance to the exhibition.

Image: Guardians of the New Life (1987), Gerhardt Knodel (CAA, Artist-in-Residence, Fiber, 1970-1996; Director, 1995-2007)

Take a deep dive into our underwater worlds during an evening of freshwater and ocean storytelling. Join acclaimed filmmakers Jennifer Idol and Alex Rose for a special screening of four short films from their Protected Waters series. Together, you will explore underwater sanctuaries, vibrant aquatic ecosystems, and the science shaping their future.

The screening features films that have premiered at previous Thunder Bay International Film Festivals, including Acid Trip, which highlights vital conservation work right here in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The evening will wrap up with an interactive Q & A session, giving you the chance to chat directly with the filmmakers about their adventures and the marine life they document.

Join us for an unforgettable summer evening of live jazz, handcrafted cocktails, delicious grilled food, and great company at The Highland Room.

Experience the smooth sounds of an incredible live band featuring:

🎤 Vicha'e Nance – Vocals
🥁 NaTasha Williams – Drums
🎹 Twon Green – Keys
🎸 Scotty B – Bass

Whether you're a longtime jazz lover or simply looking for a unique night out, Jazz Under The Stars offers the perfect atmosphere to relax, connect, and enjoy live music in an intimate indoor and outdoor setting.

Your admission includes:
✔ Live Jazz Entertainment
✔ First Drink Included
✔ Access to Indoor & Outdoor Event Spaces
✔ Free On-Site Parking
✔ Grilled Food Available for Purchase
✔ Signature Cocktails & Specialty Drinks

📅 Friday, July 10, 2026
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Door OPEN at 6 pm, Event starts PROMPTLY at 6:30PM)
📍 The Highland Room
13232 Woodward Ave.
Highland Park, MI 48203

🎟 General Admission: $15 (Includes First Drink)

Come enjoy an evening of jazz, cocktails, food, and good vibes under the stars. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot today.

Before there were cameras, astronomers put pencil to paper to record what they saw. Using the Observatory’s historic and modern telescopes, learn how to image the sky like a nineteenth-century astronomer. If weather prevents observing, we’ll simulate the experience with images taken from our instruments. Part of the Imagining the Cosmos series.

Ryan Brown Presents Scumbaggery, an interactive, story-driven comedy experience where comedians and panelists share true personal stories about bad decisions, questionable behavior, and moments they're not proud of – but absolutely own now. The audience is actively involved through live interaction and an anonymous Confessional Box, where audience members submit their own scumbag stories to be read and riffed on during the show.
Cost: $20 per seat
Date: Friday, July 10, 2026
Time: Doors open at 6:15pm / Show starts at 7:00pm
Location: Emagine Royal Oak