After two years on mute due to COVID-19 precautions, Bay City is once again filling the air with music and the streets with people this summer;
The Chief Operating Officer of
Downtown Bay City, Michael Bacigalupo has announced there will be more events and entertainment than ever before.
“We're expecting this summer to be one of the biggest summers ever, because it's post COVID,” says Bacigalupo. “Everybody wants to get out and we're going to have a lot going on both sides of the river this summer.”
Kicking off the summer will be the
11th Annual Apps and Ales on June 9, put on by the Downtown Management Board. Tickets are still available.
June 11 and 12 is the
Riverside Art Festival put on by the
YWCA of the Great Lakes Bay Region, in Downtown Bay City. Billed as "48 Years Of Art and Creation," artists will be located all around downtown as well as the Saginaw Riverfront.
“
Country Music Festival is June 17, with Chris Cagle as the headliner,” says Bacigalupo. “Then June 18, Travis Tritt is the headliner.” Tickets can be found on the
State Theater Bay City website.
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"Leave Those Kids Alone," featuring five talented kids playing classic rock hit songs written decades before they were born, comes to Wenonah Park on June 15. The teens (and pre-teen!) are a sought after act at family-friendly festivals,“The annual music series
Thursdays in Uptown kicks off on June 23. June 25 is the
Great Lakes Bay Region Pride Festival in Wenonah Park. Then June 30, July 1 and 2nd is the
Bay City Fireworks Festival, in Vets and Wenonah Park,” he adds. “The popular
Friday At The Falls local music series starts July 1.”
Children will have two days to celebrate each week beginning July 5.
“Starting after the Fourth of July, we have
Tuesdays Free Movies in the Park, and these are all free. And again after the Fourth of July, under the Nickless Pavilion, we have
The Young People Summer Series, running Wednesdays at noon, beginning July 6. They are going to run six weeks each.That way, there's no break in the action or things like that and they're running right up again until they go back to school.
“Lunch will be served as well for Tuesday Movies and Wednesday Noon Concerts for the Young Peoples summer series. They can get a free lunch at those concerts. Lunch starts at 11, concerts start at 11:30. The
Big Brothers/Big Sisters are going to be doing arts and crafts projects, prior to the Movies For Kids, for something to do as well. All those are free.”
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Simply Queen, a live tribute band, performs in Wenonah Park at 7 p.m. Aug. 3. The concert is free, but donations accepted.The annual Wednesday night concerts begin June 15.
“The
Wednesdays In The Park free concert series runs straight through to Sept. 7,” says Bacigalupo. “Twelve shows, all free.
Donations will be accepted at all the events.
When it comes to more big ticket concert series events, there will be no shortage heading into July and August.
“July 8,
Pop Evil is the Rocking The River concert kickoff,” he says. “With special guests Riot V featuring our local guy Todd Michael Hall, from The Voice. They're being supported by a group called Zillions and Oxymorons. Four bands.
“Then on July 9,
Brett Young with special guest Matt Ferranti. On the 10th is
Lonestar with Randy Houser.”
The funk gets loose on at Wenonah Park July 23, with the
Here Come The Mummies concert, with special guest The Sinclairs.
August will start with a new location for a popular event.
“Aug. 2, is National Night Out in Wenonah Park, reimagining the national event,” says Bacigalupo. “It's the night where the community just comes together and they see the policemen, fire trucks, all the city services. It's just a big party downtown put on by the
Bay City Noon Optimist Club.”
“Brantley Gilbert concert in Vet’s Park is Aug. 5, followed by the
Hop Riot Beer Fest the next day on Aug. 6, from noon to 5. Then the Papa Roach concert in Vet’s Park that night.”
More concerts and local events continue through August.
“Aug. 12 in Wenonah Park we have
Five For Fighting and the Verve Pipe. Then during the day of Aug. 13, we have the
Chalk Walk Art Festival going on in Downtown Bay City put on through
Studio 23. That is followed by the
First Annual Jazz Festival in Wenonah Park also on the 13
th.
“The
CAN Council at nine o'clock in the morning at Wenonah Park is putting on their Ducky Derby, which is a rubber duck race down the Saginaw River. That night is the Concert For Brian's house with
Peacemaker and Jedi Mind Trip at 7 p.m. in Wenonah Park.
The big summer shows bow out on Aug. 27, with the massive ‘80s line up of
Rick Springfield, Men At Work and John Waite.
“We're expecting huge crowds at everything this year,” says Bacigalupo. “Feet On The Street are also going to be happening all summer long as well.”
Much as the summer events kick off with a celebration of beer, they end tipping the glass once more.
“Sept. 8, is the
Downtown Bay City Wine Walk,” he says. “So we started out drinking beer to start the summer and we end the summer by drinking wine.