Celebrate September with festivals, nature walks, & community events throughout mid Michigan

With fall just around the corner, you won’t want to miss these exciting September events in Isabella County. Whether it’s meeting local candidates, watching a movie on the lawn at City Hall, indulging in music at a local festival, or exploring local nature preserves in search of beautiful birds and end-of-season mushrooms, there’s something fun for everyone this month in the Mt. Pleasant area. 

Courtesy Wheatland Music Festival51st Annual Wheatland Music Festival
Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8 
This year’s Wheatland Music Festival takes place September 6 through 8. Each year, thousands of children and adults converge on the 160-acre festival site in Remus to enjoy a wide variety of traditional arts. Festival goers take part in workshops, demonstrations, dances, and impromptu jam sessions as well as viewing stage performances, juried arts and crafts, and sampling a wide variety of foods. For tickets and information, visit: https://wheatlandmusic.org.

CMU Dance: Nothin' But a Good Time
Sunday, September 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Get out the hairspray and leg warmers for a nostalgia-fueled music-and-dance journey through the 1980s. Hear songs such as “True Colors,” “Man in the Mirror” and “I Love Rock ’n Roll!” at CMU’s Bush Theatre. The show is directed by Elaine DiFalco Daugherty with music directed by Bruce Bonnell and choreography by Heather Trommer-Beardslee. Purchase tickets at: www.cmich.edu/events.

Chippewa Valley Audubon Club Program: Improving Birdwatching Skills
Wednesday, September 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
Meet at the Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant to hear long-time birder and bird photographer Greg Bodker discuss how to improve birding skills. Topics will include differences between watching birds at a feeder and birding in the field, plus personal benefits of birding and exciting stories of bird chasing. Learn more at www.facebook.com/chippewavalleyaudubonclub.

Something to Chew On: Sustainability in Business
Thursday, September 12 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Join moderator Marie Koper and panelists as they discuss the topic of sustainability in business. This event will take place in the Community Room at Mid Michigan College. It is free for Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce members and $5 for non-members. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch. Registrations can be found here.

A Thrill of Hope: Fall Benefit for HopeWell Ranch
Wednesday, September 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Little Flower Barn
Enjoy a delicious country style benefit dinner in the warm, rustic environment of Little Flower Barn in Lake Isabella. Guests can look forward to raffle baskets and a live auction as well as testimonials of people who have experienced the opportunities HopeWell Ranch has to offer. Angie Evans-Tessman will emcee the evening. Guests may RSVP by calling (989) 644-5965 or emailing info@hopewellranch.org. Learn more here.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s End-of-Summer Mushroom Hunt
Friday, September 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join Sister Marie Kopin of the North American Mycological Association for a Friday morning mushroom hunt at the 80-acre Weting Preserve in Clare County. The event will culminate with an identification of each participant’s findings. This event is free and open to the public. 

Matchbox Twenty Outdoor Concert at Soaring Eagle
Friday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy Matchbox Twenty live at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort with special guests Gavin Degraw and Smash Mouth. Tickets for the outdoor concert can be found at www.soaringeaglecasino.com/shows.

15th Annual Central Michigan HIV/AIDS 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, September 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Join the Central Michigan District Health Department at the 15th Annual HIV/AIDS 5K Run/Walk through Island Park in Mt. Pleasant. 100% of proceeds from the event will help those living with HIV/AIDS within the central Michigan community, and support programs that provide solutions for stopping the spread of the virus.

Let Peace Reign: International Day of Peace Event
Saturday, September 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Gather alongside members of the Mt. Pleasant community at Island Park for arts and crafts, food vendors, door prizes, a peace walk, community speakers, and a candlelight vigil. The Let Peace Reign: International Day of Peace Event hosted by Isabella County’s Human Rights Committee is a non-partisan, non-religious, non-discriminatory opportunity to commemorate peace and acceptance in the community.

Your Body, Your Mind, and the Economics of Being a Woman
Thursday, September 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mid Michigan College, MyMichigan Health, and Central Michigan District Health Department invite the community to attend the Women’s Health Summit 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 26 at Mid Michigan College's Mt. Pleasant Campus. A panel discussion, free health screenings, and flu and COVID vaccinations will be provided. Find out more about the event here.

Meet Your Candidates Event
Thursday, September 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Join the League of Women Voters and the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce for a unique opportunity to engage with candidates and representatives from all parties in an open and inclusive setting. Attendees can walk from table to table, meet political candidates, and learn more about their platforms and visions for the community. This event will take place at the Commission on Aging in Mt. Pleasant.

Zonta Applefest 2024
Saturday, September 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Join the Zonta Club of Mt. Pleasant for Applefest 2024 at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch. This is a family friendly event with games, crafters, a bake sale, farm produce, and an assortment of apple-based desserts. Watch Zonta’s Facebook page for updates.


ONGOING EVENTS

Fridays at the Race Track
Enjoy high-energy races at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway every Friday night from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. throughout the summer! Each “full show” includes modifieds, pro stocks, street stocks, rear-wheel-drive cylinders, and mini wedges. From die-hard racing fans to those brand new to the sport, these Friday night events can be a great way to spend time with friends and family at Mt. Pleasant Speedway.

Live Music at The Ginkgo Tree
Enjoy live music, food trucks, and refreshments on the riverfront terrace on select evenings at The Ginkgo Tree Inn in Mt. Pleasant. Upcoming dates are September 7, 13, and 22, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. There is a $10/cover upon entering.

Movies by Moonlight
Grab a blanket or chair and head to City Hall in downtown Mt. Pleasant for a free outdoor movie showing this September. On Saturday, September 7, Cars and a classic car exhibit begins at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m., Barbie will be shown and event–moviegoers are encouraged to wear pink. 

Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market
The Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market will continue to run through October 31. The Thursday market runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Island Park in Mt. Pleasant while the Saturday market runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at City Hall. Offering fresh produce, organic plants, cooking demonstrations, and live music, the Mt. Pleasant Farmers' Market provides an opportunity to gather as a community while supporting area farmers.

Native Farmers Market
Find seasonal produce, baked goods, beaded/sculpted/natural art, and Indigenous foods at the Native Farmers Market on Broadway Park at the corner of Broadway and Leaton in Mt. Pleasant. The market runs every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through September 17.
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Read more articles by Daria Blond.

Daria Blond is a native Metro Detroiter and CMU alumna who loves chasing Beaver Island sunsets. She has been writing ever since she could read and prefers to work remotely from the public library. When she's not writing, she's off doing things worth writing about.