Community Calendar

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.

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.

Join us for an evening of laughs with 3 different Comedians throughout the month of July!
Bill Boronkay - July 10
Andy Beningo - July 17
David Dyer - July 24

On Stage at Riverbank Theatre, Marine City
All showtimes: 8:00 pm
All Seats: $25

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

Race Day Schedule
5:30-6:45am Packet Pickup
6:55am Kids Dash (Meet at the Start Line and we will walk participants out to the starting area)
7:00am National Anthem and Race Start!
Results and Awards are live and available at the Registration tent immediately following your finish!

Every Registration Includes
Great Swag - designer shirt
Custom medal
Chip-timing with live results and awards
Free photos
FREE Kona Ice at the finish line!
Plenty of fun!
Grab your friends and family, you are not going to want to miss this one!

*Youth-based pricing for the 5k/10k, 12 & Under are only $17!

*Register by midnight on Thursday, two Thursdays before race day, to guarantee your shirt!

More Than a Run
Because we’re all about fun, family-friendly events that welcome every pace and fitness level. This spring race is the perfect chance to challenge yourself, enjoy creative swag, and be part of an encouraging, affordable, and inclusive community. Whether you're chasing a PR or just showing up for the fun, we’re here to cheer you on every step of the way.

Run your race, your way.

5K/10K/Half- Marathon & Relay registration includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and a custom finisher medal!
1 Mile registration is untimed and includes a custom bib, designer shirt, and a custom finisher medal!
The kid's dash is a fun, untimed dash for our kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for our kids' dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid's dash, and doesn't want the SWAG, they are welcome to run with us on race day for free!)

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

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.

Artisan at Delamar Hotel Traverse City will host a special summer weekend brunch series featuring celebrated Detroit chef Kate Williams, founder of the acclaimed Lady of the House, in collaboration with Executive Chef Sarah Bobier. Every Saturday and Sunday in July and August 2026, guests can enjoy a seasonal, ingredient-driven brunch menu that highlights Northern Michigan flavors alongside Williams’ soulful, modern cuisine.
The partnership brings together two distinct culinary voices — Chef Williams' celebrated approach to soulful, ingredient-driven cooking and Chef Bobier’s mastery of Northern Michigan's finest local and regional flavors, for a brunch offering that is as much an event as it is a meal.