Community Calendar

The Packard Farmers Market returns for the 2026 season at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site. Formerly the Shelby Farmers Market, the rebranded market runs Saturdays from May 16 through October 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Shop local farmers, artisans, bakers, and makers in a historic outdoor setting. The market is open on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and closed Saturday, July 4. Proceeds support the preservation of the Packard Proving Grounds.

More information and vendor details available at packardprovinggrounds.org/farmersmarket.

The Packard Farmers Market returns for the 2026 season at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site. Formerly the Shelby Farmers Market, the rebranded market runs Saturdays from May 16 through October 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Shop local farmers, artisans, bakers, and makers in a historic outdoor setting. The market is open on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and closed Saturday, July 4. Proceeds support the preservation of the Packard Proving Grounds.

More information and vendor details available at packardprovinggrounds.org/farmersmarket.

The Packard Farmers Market returns for the 2026 season at the historic Packard Proving Grounds, bringing together local farmers, artisans, bakers, makers, and small businesses in a one-of-a-kind setting where history and community meet.

Formerly known as the Shelby Farmers Market, the newly rebranded Packard Farmers Market reflects its deep connection to the Packard Proving Grounds and its mission to support the preservation of this iconic historic site. The market runs Saturdays from May 16 through October 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on the expansive front lawn of the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site.

Each week, the market is arranged in neat rows across the lawn, offering a relaxed, walkable shopping experience. Vendors may park directly next to their booths, and the grass setting provides a cooler summer atmosphere ideal for tent setups. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome. The market is supported by Packard Proving Grounds volunteers and local high school students earning community service hours.

The Packard Farmers Market is open on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and will be closed Saturday, July 4. Proceeds from the market directly benefit the ongoing restoration and preservation of the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site, owned and operated by the Packard Motor Car Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Dates: Saturdays, May 16 – October 10, 2026 *closed July 4th

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Location: Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site, Shelby Township

More information and vendor details: packardprovinggrounds.org/farmersmarket

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

Expanded programming hours every 4th saturday with a focus on family-friendly activities and fun

"Monumental Color: Cecily Brown, Sam Gilliam, and Joan Mitchell" brings together significant artworks by three quintessential abstract artists.

Through the performance series Monumental Connection, featured artists engage in dialogue with performers whose work resonates with Sam Gilliam’s love for jazz, Joan Mitchell’s lifelong connection to poetry, and the frenetic physicality of Cecily Brown’s paintings.

As part of Monumental Connection, this poetry reading is presented in partnership with Three Fold, a local nonprofit arts journal. The evening brings together New York–based poet Eléna Rivera, whose work with Three Fold has engaged the paintings of Joan Mitchell, and Detroit-based poet Chris Tysh for a program of readings in dialogue with art and place.

Guided tours exploring Greektown's history, culture, public art, and evolving streetscape

This annual exhibition transforms moments both grand and intimate into works of visual storytelling. Featuring the work of Emberlight’s acclaimed photography team and guest artists, these images form a vivid portrait not only of a region, but of the artists who continue to interpret it through their own unique lenses.

https://emberlight.org/event/emberlight-photographers-2026/

Free event

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

This annual exhibition transforms moments both grand and intimate into works of visual storytelling. Featuring the work of Emberlight’s acclaimed photography team and guest artists, these images form a vivid portrait not only of a region, but of the artists who continue to interpret it through their own unique lenses.

https://emberlight.org/event/emberlight-photographers-2026/

Free event