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.
Handpicked Community Market and Health Fair: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, Big Rapids Farmers Market, 226 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Spectrum Health will be at the market offering blood pressure checks, recipe sampling, label reading tips, raffles, prizes and freebies.
Celebration on the Pond ... the early years: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at Morley American Legion, 2560 Northland Drive, Morley. Come out and watch a documentary about how it all got started. Cost: Free. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Rally for Our Rights: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Mitchell Creek Park, corner of Pine and State streets in downtown Big Rapids. Women's March-Big Rapids is hosting an afternoon of speakers, music and information about how you can make a difference. Visit facebook.com/womensmarchBR for more information.
Country & Gospel Music Second Annual Benefit Show: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at 11767 80th Ave., Mecosta. Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame will host an outdoor show featuring Hall of Fame Members along with special guests. Bring your own chairs. Food and drinks are available. The MCM Hall of Fame Picture Wall will be on display.
2022 Camp 911: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 27 at the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety building, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. This free hands-on learning experience is designed to provide seniors with readiness training for various incidences and emergencies. Open to older residents of Mecosta, Osceola and Lake counties. To register call 231-796-4848
National Night Out: 5-8 p.m. Aug. 2, Michigan Avenue, downtown Big Rapids. Free event features games, prizes, music, free food, and more.
Music on the River: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays, July 1-Aug. 26, at Bromley Park, 395 W Main St., Mecosta. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, bug spray and non-alcoholic beverage. Rain location: Mecosta Free Methodist Church. Cost: Free
Big Rapids Farmers' Market: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays from May 6 through October 28, at downtown Big Rapids city lot, 226 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Contact: Josh Pyles, 231-592-4038.
Pocket Park Music Series: Noon to 2 p.m. Fridays, June 3-Sept. 2, at 123 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapid, downtown Big Rapids. Visit downtownbigrapids.com/events for a list of bands.
Faithful Fridays: 6:30 p.m. the first Friday of June, August and September, at the Big Rapids Bandshell, Hemlock Park, behind the Big Rapids Middle School. Faithful Fridays is a series of Christian Worship services. The community is encouraged to grab a picnic dinner and a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the music and message offered by the following churches.
Free Concert by Cedar Creek Band: 7-9 p.m. Second and fourth Thursday of each month Reed City Depot. Bring chairs.
Lakeside Motor Sports Summer Concert Series: 7-9 p.m. Saturdays, June 11-Aug. 20, at Reuther Music Pavilion, 10690 Pierce Road, Canadian Lakes. Features music of all genres: jazz, rock, R&B, bluegrass, folk, etc. It is free to the public.
Mecosta County Historical Museum: 2-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2-4 p.m. the first Sunday of the month, at 129 S. Stewart, Big Rapids. We have a new furniture exhibit, our Madame Alexander First Lady doll collection, as well as many other artifacts from around the area. Private tours can be requested by calling 231-592-5091 or visiting the museum's Facebook page.
Mecosta County Genealogical Society: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. second Saturday each month, at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle, or by appointment. Volunteers needed to help with sorting and indexing. Public is welcome to stop in and view any of our holdings. 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: The center, at 151 7th St., Morley, hosts weekly pickleball, open gym, indoor garage sales and outdoor market, in addition to monthly ancestry class, craft night and blood drive. For a list of activities, visit morleycenter.org/events or call 231-856-4496.
Community Meal: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday nights at Big Rapids First United Methodist Church, 304 Elm St, Big Rapids. (NOTE: Meal will be carry out only May 26)
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.
Lord's Table Food Pantry: Open 3-5 p.m. Wednesdays at Faith Community Church, 610 Green St., Big Rapids. Everyone is welcome. Contact: 231-796-8389. (Hours will change to 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays beginning in April.)
Reed City Food Pantry: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 831 S. Chestnut St., Reed City. For questions or emergency food needs, call 231-215-6996.
Barryton Area Mobile Food Pantry: 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month, rain or shine, at the Fork Township Community Center parking lot, 3265 20 Mile Road, Barryton. Registration to receive food begins at noon. For more information, please see our facebook page or visit our website, bamfp.org.
106 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org
Poetry with a Twist: Noon to 1 p.m. Friday, July 22. Author Emily Haines Lloyd will read from her book "Pep Talk Poetry," and Katy McAvoy will mix cocktails from her book "Homemade Happy Hour."
Intermediate Watercolor: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 23. This class will cover techniques for painting skies, glazing, fading out, masking with tape and fluid, negative painting, texture, moving and removing color, spattering, and composing a landscape. Cost: $60
Artist Demos: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 26. Visit artworksinbigrapids.org/artist-demos for a schedule.
Summer Camps: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday in the Creative Education Center in the Lower Level at Artworks. Visit artworksinbigrapids.org/summercamp2022 for dates, costs and registration.
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.
Exhibit — The Horse Show: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, July 6-Aug. 18.
After earning a bachelor's in journalism and a master's in counseling psychology, Julie Norwood moved from the Chicago area to Newaygo County in 2006. She freelanced for a couple of small town newspapers before being hired at MLive Media Group, where she spent almost eight years in a variety of roles before being hired with the Pioneer. Outside of work, she plays drums and guitar at church; watches cop and educational shows on TV; and, when she has time, reads mystery/suspense/thriller novels.