Looking for something to do? The Stay Local events calendar publishes a list of nonprofit and community events Tuesdays and Fridays. Please check with your club or organization to be certain of meetings, outings and classes, as they may be canceled due to bad weather or COVID-19. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com. (Deadline is noon Sundays for Tuesday’s paper and noon Wednesday for Friday’s paper.)
St Mary/St. Paul Fall Festival: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the St Mary’s School, 927 Marion Ave., Big Rapids. Mass at 4 p.m., followed by games, face painting, food truck, and live music at 5:30. Everyone is invited to join.
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins: 7 p.m. Sept. 14-16 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at Artworks Intimate Theater, 106 N Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Tickets are $15 at the Painted Turtle Gift Shop inside the Artworks building.
Michigan Hydroplane Racing: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-17, weather permitting, at Brower Park, 23056 Polk Road, Stanwood.
Tuba Bach Festival: 7 p.m. Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 9 to Oct. 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 726 Fuller Ave., Big Rapids. All concerts livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube, and Sunny 97.3 FM. For more information, visit tubabach.org/2023-tuba-bach-festival.
BIG RAPIDS PARK AND REC.
For more information, contact Josh Pyles at 231-592-4038.
Women’s Volleyball: Sundays beginning Sept. 17 at Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave., Big Rapids.
Water Aerobics: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Sept. 11-Dec. 15, at the University Recreation Center pool. Cost is $4 per class or $40 for a 12-class punch. No classes Oct. 16 and Nov. 24.
Latin Dance Fusion: 6-7 p.m. Mondays, beginning Sept. 18, at the Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave., Big Rapids. Cost is $5. No classes Oct. 23.
Groove for the Young at Heart: 4-4:45 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Sept. 21, at the Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria, 500 N. Warren Ave., Big Rapids. The cost is $5.
Groove: 6-7 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Sept. 21, at the Big Rapids Middle School Cafeteria, 500 N. Warren Ave., Big Rapids. The cost is $5.
Pickleball: 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 8-10 a.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the pickleball courts behind the Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave., Big Rapids. Cost is a $1 donation to assist with supply costs.
Senior Fit Time: 4-5 p.m. Tuesdays and 3-4 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 12-Dec. 14 at the Style Station, 1619 Catherine St., Big Rapids. Cost is $2 per participant.
Delay the Disease Fitness for Parkinson’s: 1-1:45 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 14-Dec. 14, at the Style Station, 1619 Catherine St., Big Rapids. Cost is $2 per participant.
Walking Program: 4-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Oct. 31-March 31, at the Big Rapids Middle School, 500 N. Warren Ave., Big Rapids. Cost is free. There will be no walking program Fridays or any non-school days.
ONGOING PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES
Big Rapids Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays (May 3-Oct. 27) and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays (May 23-Sept. 26) in the city hall parking lot, 226 N. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids.
Morton Township Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays, June 3-Sept. 20, at Morton Township Business Park, 7217 9 Mile Road, Mecosta.
Kiwanis Club of the Big Rapids Area: 6:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at United Church Fellowship Hall, 120 S. State, Big Rapids. For more information, visit facebook.com/bigrapidsmikiwanis.
Mecosta County Historical Museum: New summer hours, 1-3 p.m. Saturdays at 129 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. For more information or to schedule a private tour, call 520-334-0123, 231-796-4662, or 231-867-3311.
Mecosta County Genealogical Society: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 10-2 p.m. second Saturday of each month, at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle. Open for the public to research genealogy or the history of Mecosta County and surrounding areas. Volunteers needed to help with sorting and indexing. Call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555 for more information.
Reed City Heritage Museum: Open from 1-4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday at 138 W. Slosson Ave., Reed City. Free admission. Groups are welcome.
Mecosta County Sheriff Posse: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Mecosta County Jail basement training room, 225 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for more members. For more info call 231-250-9241.
Morley Community Center: 151 7th St., Morley. For more information, visit morleycenter.org/events or call 231-856-4496.
Cardio Drumming: 1-2 p.m. Sundays
Pickleball: 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 5-7 p.m. Thursdays.
Open Gym: 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays.
Garage Sales: Every other Friday and Saturday (Feb. 17-18, March 3-4, etc.).
Blood Drive: 1-7 p.m. second Monday of odd numbered months
Wheatland Jamboree: 2-5 p.m. the second Saturday of the month through November, at Wheatland Cabin, 7251 50th Ave, Remus. (Informal jam session for acoustic musicians. Free and open to the public)
Community Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Third Avenue United Methodist Church, 226 N. Third Ave., Big Rapids. The community lunch program has re-opened.This is a free meal service, although donations are appreciated. For more information call 231-796-4157 or 231-796-6779.
Swiss Steak Dinner: 4-6:30 p.m. the last Friday of every month from April-October at the Barryton Senior Center, 71 Northern Ave., Barryton. Open to the public; everyone is welcome. Meal includes Swiss steak, potato, gravy, veggies, roll, beverage and pie. Cost: $10. Proceeds support the senior center.
ARTWORKS CLASSES, EXHIBITS
106 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org
Beyond the Brush: 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 14 and Nov. 11. In this monthly workshop, you will try creative techniques like: collage, spray, spatter, salt, pouring, sponges, scraping, etc. Ideas and tools will be presented and participants can follow along or go beyond on their own. Cost: $40. Register at artworksinbigrapids.org/painting.
After School Art: 3:45-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays. For ages 7-13. Cost: Free. Class capacity is 12 children; drop-ins are welcome on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is encouraged by calling 231-796-2420 no earlier than the Monday prior to each week’s class.
Handbuilt Pottery: 6-8 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 11-Oct. 23 (no class Oct. 9). Learn to make jewelry, functional pottery and sculptures with traditional handbuilding methods. Cost: $165. Register at artworksinbigrapids.org/pottery.
Open Pottery: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $10 per session, $60 for an eight-session punch card. (Additional firing fees apply. Clay may be purchased in bulk for $20 per 25 lbs.) Call 231-796-2420 to schedule your session.
Open Basket Weaving: 6-9 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $10 per session.This is not a class, but an open weave night to socialize and work on individual projects. No need to preregister.
Exhibit — Hispanic Heritage: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, in Artworks Batdorff Gallery.
Opening Reception: 5 p.m. Sept. 15.
Day of the Dead Presentation: 7 p.m. Sept. 29
Exhibit — Artist-in-Residence Vincent Johnson: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday in Artworks Alley Gallery.