Muskegon County Calendar of Events 05/02/16-05/08/16

Presented by the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Historic Sites Open for the Season TODAY!
May 2
The Lakeshore Museum Center is pleased to announce that its historic sites are now open for the season! Enjoy the Hackley & Hume homes, the Fire Barn Museum, Scolnik House of the Depression Era and Michigan’s Heritage Park!  Regular hours for all sites are Thursday through Monday from 10:00am-4:00pm and Sunday from 1:00-4:00pm.  For the month of May, Michigan’s Heritage Park will only be open weekdays from 10:00am-4:00pm.  Learn more about them at lakeshoremuseum.org.

Cruise-Ins at Fricano Place
May 4 @ 5:00pm – 8:30pm
Cruise-Ins at Fricano Place are back every Wednesday starting May 4 (weather permitting) from 5:00-8:30pm.  Antiques, customs, classics and novelty vehicles are all welcome.  Enjoy oldies music and door prizes, too!  Come on down and check out some unique cars and enjoy some Fricano’s pizza and Sweet Treats from Fricano’s Sweet Shoppe!  All Cruise-In participants will be given a coupon for $3 off a dine-in or take-out Fricano’s Pizza purchase.  For more information, call 231-722-7775.    

Marsh Field Celebrates 100 Years
May 4 @ 6:30pm
Event Navigation
On May 4, 1916 the Muskegon Reds of the professional Central League played the first baseball game at brand-new Marsh Field and lost 4-0 to visiting Terre Haute.  Although the Muskegon Reds lost the home opener over 5000 eager fans jammed the new field to welcome the home team. A huge parade from the Muskegon Hotel to the ballpark was staged with automobiles and open trucks.  100 years later Marsh Field continues to be the principal home for Muskegon baseball and is by far the oldest minor league ballpark still in use in the state of Michigan.

On Tuesday, May 4, 2016 – 100 years to the day – another baseball game will be played on historic Marsh Field between Muskegon High School and Muskegon Catholic Central High School.  The community is invited to attend as these two storied high school baseball teams do battle and also participate in special ceremonies celebrating the 100th anniversary. The festivities begin at 6:30pm.

Many events will be held throughout the year at Marsh Field to commemorate its 100th anniversary.   For more information call Pete Gawkowski at 231-638-7696 or ptgawkowski@gmail.com.

Art & a Glass: Thursday Happy Hour at the MMA
May 5 @ 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Every Thursday from 4:00-8:00pm you’re invited to the Muskegon Museum of Art for “Art & a Glass!” Bring your friends to a museum-style happy hour! Take a break and enjoy the art with a glass of wine or a great craft brew. General admission is free Thursday evenings from 4:00 to 8:00 pm so take advantage of the opportunity to discover your Museum at no cost. There will be a cash bar. You must be 21 or older to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. For more information call 231-720-2570.

Fashion & Frolic
May 5 @ 4:30pm
Event Navigation
The Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce presents their 12th Annual Fashion & Frolic Thursday, May 5 at 4:30pm at the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor!  This year’s theme is “Run for the Roses” with a silent auction, style show, light dinner, vendors and a cash bar.  Doors open at 4:30pm, dinner starts at 6:15pm and tickets are $35.  Get yours by calling 616-550-6084.

Artist Reception: Candace Law
May 5 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Event Navigation
The Arts Council of White Lake is proud to introduce Candace Law as one of the selected 2016 emerging artists. Her unique body of work will be on display at the Nuveen Center, 106 E. Colby, Whitehall, from May 3 to June 25 in the exhibit In the Abstract. Her work explores the world of non-objective through the use of rust, natural materials, and the encaustic process. A public reception will be held on May 5 from 5:00 to 7:00pm where you can meet and talk with the artist.  For more information, call 231-893-2524.

Into the Woods – Muskegon Civic Theatre
May 5 @ 7:30pm – May 8 @ 7:30pm
Event Navigation
Into the Woods based on the book by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim will be performed at the Frauenthal Theater May 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2016. Thursday Friday and Saturday performances 7:30pm. Sunday performances are at 3:00pm.Season Tickets on Sale Now through the MCT office 231-722-3852 or muskegoncivictheatre.org. Single Tickets go on Sale September 8 2015. The story follows a Baker and his wife who wish to have a child Cinderella who wishes to attend the King’s Festival and Jack who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. www.muskegoncivictheatre.org

Norton Shores Library Used Book Sale
May 6 – May 7 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Event Navigation
Thousands of good condition used books will be on sale for this annual book sale Friday May 6 from 9:00am -4:00pm and Saturday, May 7 from 9:00am-2:30pm in the Norton Shores Library Community Room located at 705 Seminole Rd. On Saturday from 1:30pm-2:30pm there will be a $5 bag sale. This is a great way to stock up on summer reading! For more information, call 231-981-5625.

First Fridays
May 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
First Fridays events happen every first Friday of the month year round in Downtown Muskegon. All events are kid friendly and mom approved such as street performers concerts acoustic strolls snowman building and more. Events happen from 6:00-8:00pm. This week, it’s a Downtown Dance Party at the Muskegon Farmers’ Market! For more information call Ellen at 231-724-3173.

First Friday Fan Fun-Raiser
May 6 @ 7:00 pm
Event Navigation
The first Friday of the month, The Book Nook & Java Shop features a celebrity bartender and encourage their fans to show up and raise money.  Tips and 20% of all proceeds will benefit the charity of their choice.  May 6, the Celebrity Bartender is Mitch Coleman!  This month’s charity is Hope Scarves whose mission is to share scarves, stories and hope with women facing cancer.  There’ll be live music from Legal Rehab and the dinner special is Bourbon-Glazed Pork Ribs, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Seasoned Green Beans with Toasted Pecans.  There’ll be a $5 cover at the door.  Dinner is $9.25.  For more information, call 231-894-5333.

March for Babies
May 7
Saturday, May 7, come to Heritage Landing to “March for Babies”!  This fundraiser for the March of Dimes gives hope to the families of the nearly half a million babies born too soon each year. The money you raise supports programs in your community that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies.  For more information, call Melissa at 616-247-6861.

Hero Mud Run
May 7 @ 8:00 am
HERO_Mud Run is not your ordinary Mud Run. It is an insane 3-8 mile obstacle run. It is equipped with 40+ unique and crazy obstacles with mud fire and barbed wire. The best part is you can choose the day of the event to run the 3 mile 6 mile or 8 mile course all for the same price. To complete a HERO Mud Run requires teamwork, courage and determination to push your body further than you ever have before. Attempt it individually if you’re up for it or have a blast with your team! To sign up or for more information visit heromud.com.

Kids Introduction to Fruit Carving: Edible Bouquets for Mom with Chef Char
May 7 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Event Navigation
Saturday May 7 at 9:00am come to Kitchen 242 inside the Muskegon Farmers’ Market for the class “Kids Introduction to Fruit Carving: Edible Bouquets for Mom with Chef Char!” Make a special edible treat to take home for mom! You will be using various fruits and vegetables to put together a completely edible fruit basket that will surely make mom smile. Warning: the carved creations may be just too cute to eat! This class is for ages 7-13. The cost is $25 and you can register at the website below.

Earth, Wind & Tired 5K Dune Dash
May 7 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Event Navigation
Saturday, May 7 from 11:00am-1:00pm, you’re invited to participate in the “Earth, Wind & Tired 5K Dune Dash” featuring a course 10,000 years in the making!  This 5k will bring you back to nature with some “tough mud” and a few man-made obstacles. If you want a real challenge try Mother Nature’s course, built over thousands of years, with sand dunes, rocks, fallen trees and forest terrain.  While you’re dodging prehistoric woolly mammoths, giant beavers and the dune devil, you’ll have a view of the Lake Michigan shoreline that is unmatched.

This race is designed to be a fun challenge for the whole family. Register as a team of 4 and receive a discount. Age divisions for males and females are: 13 and under, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29,30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80+.

Immediately following the race, come enjoy a replenishing meal, beverages and live music from Julia and the Greensides at the Sports Complex lodge. Registration fees cover the cost of your meal. Complimentary libation tickets are available to racers.  Register now at msports.org/ewt. Registration cost goes up after April 18 and again the week of the race.  For more information, call 231-744-9629.

Victorian Tea
May 7 @ 1:00 pm
Event Navigation
The Historic Sites will host a pre-Mother’s Day Victorian Tea in the Hackley & Hume courtyard on May 7 from 1:00-3:00pm. The color theme of the tea party is pink and yellow and you are encouraged to wear those colors. _Experience a lesson in tea etiquette finger foods and lawn games. There is limited space so please RSVP by calling Erin at 231-724-5535.

West Michigan Ironmen Professional Football Game
May 7 @ 7:05 pm
Event Navigation
West Michigan’s only professional football team is coming to Muskegon LC Walker Arena. This is your team West Michigan! General admission upper bowl tickets are just $8 each or you can get the VIP hottest tickets in town for $25.00 each. These tickets will put you in the action every week! This Saturday, it’s the Ironmen VS the Marion Blue Racers at 7:05pm. For more information, visit www.wmarenafb.com.

9th Annual White Lake Blues Fest
May 7 @ 7:30 pm
The 9th Annual White Lake Blues Fest is happening Saturday May 7 at 7:30pm at Howmet Playhouse. This fundraiser features awesome blues music and benefits the Killer Blues Headstone Project which exists to provide headstones for blues musicians lying in unmarked graves. The doors open at 6:30pm and the cost is $20. For more information call 231-894-4048.

YMCA Camp Pendalouan Preview Day
May 8 @ 1:00pm
Event Navigation
Sunday May 8 from 1:00-4:00pm come to the Camp Pendalouan Preview Day! Rain or shine this is a great chance for_kids and parents to sit on a bunk hike the trails and canoe on the lake. They’ll have_activities (archery canoeing and a climbing wall) open for campers and families to enjoy as well as staff on hand to answer any questions you may have about Summer Camp at Pendalouan. Returning campers will want to show friends their lake and camp too! Staff will provide tours of the facility and assistance in registering. They will also be offering a chance to win $100 off of the Summer Programs! Come see what Summer Camp YMCA Camp Pendalouan is all about! For more information call 231-894-4538.

Free Tours for Moms at the Hackley & Hume Historic Site
May 8 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Mother’s Day, May 8 from 1:00-4:00pm, mothers can enjoy a free tour of the Hackley & Hue Historic Site!   For other visitors, admission is $7 for adults and teens, $5 for 65 and older and free for visitors 12 and younger.  For more information, call 231-722-7578.