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Dow Diamond, home of Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate Great Lakes Loons, will be the site of the Great Lakes Beer Festival, sponsored by Michigan Brew Trail, on Aug. 20. The event features more than 50 Michigan craft breweries serving their specialties inside the stadium.

Chippewa Nature Center hosts Nature Play.

Chippewa Nature Center will offer naturalist-led kayak trips this summer. 

Families cool off from temperatures in the high 80s at Plymouth Pool Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Midland.

Guests enjoy cocktails, food and music in the Pendulum Lounge which is open Thursdays at Midland Center for the Arts. (Daily News file photo)

Chippewa Nature Center will host Homestead Sundays at 1-5 p.m. on Sundays, June through August. 

People gathered at Dow Gardens to enjoy a music performance from Freeland band "Laura and the Lefties" from 12-1:30p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10. 

Editor’s note: If you have an event you would like to have included, please email the information to Reporter Victoria Ritter, vritter@mdn.net.

Story Time is set for 10-11 a.m. at Dow Gardens. Come to hear award-winning children’s books read aloud in the Children’s Garden. All ages are welcome. Included with admission or purchase of an annual admission card. This is a drop-in event. Registration is not required. 

A Sturgeon Release is set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Caldwell Boat Launch in Midland. Join the Saginaw Bay Watershed Lake Sturgeon Reintroduction Program as young lake sturgeon are released into the Tittabawassee River. Fish will arrive at approximately 11 a.m. and participants of all ages are encouraged to help release individual fish into the river. Participants are asked to wear secure fitting shoes that can get wet. For more information about the Sturgeon Reintroduction Program or to "adopt a sturgeon," visit www.saginawbaysturgeon.org.

Herbert Dow's Garden Tour is set for 5-6:30 p.m. at Dow Gardens. Visitors will meet on the porch of The Pines, the home of Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow, and partake in a guided walking tour through the gardens. Photographs, along with letters and journals from the archive will shed light on how the property looked when it was the private residence of the Dow family. Cost is $15 for adults, $7 for kids ages 6-18 and $5 for ages 5 and under. Learn more at dowgardens.org/events/herbert-tour/

The Commons Live Music series will host Peacemaker at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

The Great Lakes Beer Festival is set for 2-7 p.m. at Dow Diamond. The event will feature Michigan craft breweries/cideries, all ballpark concessions available by Dow Diamond, VIP tickets for Suite Level entry with food buffet and A/C comfort, and live music provided by XLNC. There will aslso be the Michigan Cornhole Tournament. Admission is $45 in advance, $55 at the door, $85 for VIP, and $15 for designated drivers (no drink tickets).

Summer Concert Series featuring Roane is set for 6:30 p.m. at Creative 360. Roane specializes in Celtic, folk, and maritime music. Their music embraces the spirit of the storyteller and embodies the strength and beauty of their Celtic heritage. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door; kids ages 10 and under get in for free.

The Commons Live Music series will host Coleman Road at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

The Freeland Parkapalooza is set for 12-8 p.m. at Hayes Park, 9200 Midland St. in Freeland. Parkapalooza is a family music festival featuring activities for the kids. A number of quality food vendors will be on site, or visitors may pack a picnic to bring with them. The concert and most activities are free. For more information, visit www.dstreet.org or call 855-701-0111.

Airport Story Hour is set for 1-2 p.m. at Jack Barstow Municipal Airport. Children ages 2-5 are invited to enjoy a light snack while listening to an aviation/space related story at this free event. Warm weather readings will be held in the beautiful outdoor MCADA area near the terminal. Cold weather readings will be held in the terminal building. If held inside current CDC recommendations will be followed.

Homestead Sunday is set for 1-5 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center. Step back in time at CNC's log cabin, timber frame barn and one-room school for a family-friendly afternoon at the Homestead Farm and Log Schoolhouse. Weekly themed activities and tours will be available throughout the afternoon. Try grinding corn, pumping water, writing on a slate board, working in the garden, tilling the field or watering the animals. The Homestead and Schoolhouse will be open Sundays in June, July and August. This event is free.

The Moxie Strings are set to perform at 6:30 p.m. at Midland Center for the Arts. The Moxie Strings compose the majority of their pieces and arrange melodies from many countries, resulting in a genre-blurring blend of ear-catching, mainstream melodies and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms. The band’s show continues to redefine strings’ role in contemporary music, and offers audience members a diverse, fun, musical experience. Tickets are $18 (plus processing fees) and can be purchased at midlandcenter.org, by calling the Ticket Office at 989-631-8250 or in-person at 1801 W. St. Andrews Road. 

A Lunch and Learn session is set for 12 p.m. at the Greater Midland Community Center's 50+ Center. This lesson will focus on balance and fall prevention, presented by Abbi Brady, PT, DPT. Independence Village Senior Living will provide lunch. This event is free to seniors. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Amanda, 989-832-7937 ext. 2270 or aewald@greatermidland.org at least one week prior to the event.

Billy Gunther & The Midwest Riders are set to perform 6-8 p.m. at Northwood University as part of the Feedom Fest concert series. The concert will be held at the John and Marjorie Hohman Amphitheater on Northwood University's campus.  The event also will include food trucks, yard games for the whole family and free cake and non-alcoholic beverages. Adult beverages will be available for purchase at Tavern 59, which will be set up for attendees who are 21 years of age or older. This event is free.

Adventures for Women: Evening Kayak is set for 6-9 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center. The group will look for eagles and herons, river otters, muskrats and more as they paddle down the Chippewa River. After meeting at the Visitor Center, participants will travel to the Universal Access Site via CNC van and begin a leisurely paddle down river back to the Nature Center. CNC will provide a kayak, paddle and life jacket for each participant. Cost is $30.

A Lunchtime Concert featuring Jeff Walikangas is set for 12-1:30 p.m. at Dow Gardens. Bring a blanket or a chair and listen to live music in the dappled shade of the Birch Grove. Picnics are welcome. Included with admission or purchase of an annual admission card.

Michael Webber is set to perform at Sound Community Music Series, 7-9 p.m. at Live Oak Coffeehouse. This live music series features classical and jazz musicians from the mid-Michigan area.The first hour of each event is an opportunity for students, amateurs, and professionals to share musical performances. The second hour spotlights professional musicians as they perform a full-length concert. The featured artists of the evening gratefully accept financial support from the audience in the form of donations.

Outdoor Yoga Flow is set for 12-12:45 p.m. on Main Street between Ashman and McDonald streets in Downtown Midland. Allied Group Fitness will be offering free yoga classes. Reservations are highly recommended and suggested, but drop-ins are welcomed. There will be a select number of yoga mats that will be provided for those who don't have their own; drop-ins should plan on bringing their own mat. This class is open to all experience levels.

The Pendulum Lounge is open 4:30-8 p.m. at Midland Center for the Arts. Easystreet & Company will provide live music. Guests can enjoy craft cocktails, small plates and hearty offerings. Tickets are not required to attend the Pendulum Lounge, seating is available on a first-come first-served basis.

Yoga is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Dahlia Hill. Come early to peruse the blooms, then settle in for an all-levels yoga practice led by Sarah Nelson. No experience is necessary. Participants are asked to bring their own mats if they have one. This event is weather-dependent. Donation-based pricing ($5 suggested minimum) or use a class pass. Pre-registration is required at sarahnelsonyoga.com/classes

Nature's Camo is set for 6-7:30 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center. Meet an interpretive naturalist to see how your eyes stack up to wildlife’s camouflage. Participants will learn what tools animals use to go undetected. This program involves a half mile walk and games. Meet at the Visitor Center. This event is free.

An Improv Happy Hour is set for 6:30-8 p.m. at Creative 360 Galleries, 114 Ashman St. Everyone can do improv and it is hilariously fun. Join host Ariel Rak and a number of first timers and barely beginning improvers as we play games, try scenes and just generally crack each other up. No experience necessary. Snacks provided, BYOB. This event is free, but guests are encouraged to call 989-837-1885 to let Creative 360 know they're coming.

Story Time is set for 10-11 a.m. at Dow Gardens. Come to hear award-winning children’s books read aloud in the Children’s Garden. All ages are welcome. Included with admission or purchase of an annual admission card. This is a drop-in event. Registration is not required.

A National Dog Day hike is set for 6-7 p.m. at Forestview Natural Area. What better way to honor your dog than by taking them for a walk in the woods and a chance to make a new friend? We encourage you to bring your dog for a 1.3-mile hike but a dog is not required. Dogs must be leashed.

The Commons Live Music series will host Rove of Love and JOVI, a tribute to Poison and Bon Jovi at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

The Dirty Dog Trail Run is set for 9-11 a.m. at City Forest. The 13th annual Dirty Dog Trail Run is for runners of all skill levels to run with or without their dogs. There is something for everyone, including a one mile walk, 5K run/walk and 10K run. Register at www.itsyourrace.com

Downtown Story Day is set for 12-4 p.m. in Downtown Midland. Downtown businesses will perform readings of circus themed picture books inside of their locations. All books are carefully selected and loaned by Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. Enjoy complimentary popcorn, courtesy of Pop Pops Gourmet Popcorn and the Midland Downtown Business Association, twisted balloon animals and other exciting circus entertainment in the Pedestrian Plaza.

The Commons Live Music series will host the Sinclairs Band at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

Homestead Sunday is set for 1-5 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center. Step back in time at CNC's log cabin, timber frame barn and one-room school for a family-friendly afternoon at the Homestead Farm and Log Schoolhouse. Weekly themed activities and tours will be available throughout the afternoon. Try grinding corn, pumping water, writing on a slate board, working in the garden, tilling the field or watering the animals. The Homestead and Schoolhouse will be open Sundays in June, July and August. This event is free.

Nature Play is set for 2-4 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center. Whether it's making pies in the mud kitchen, building forts, constructing river, lounging in hammocks or creating nature art, this hour of play is sure to engage everyone. Come make some new friends while enjoying a summer afternoon. Caregivers must remain with children during this program. This program will be facilitated by volunteer host families. Meet in The Woods Nature Play Area near Arbury Trail. This event is free.

Yoga and Kayaking is set for 3-5 p.m. at the Midland Tridge. In collaboration with Ike's Mobile Kayaks, the group will kayak upstream along the Tittabawasee River and then return downstream for a more leisurely float back to the Tridge. Back at the Tridge, participants will end the session with yoga to stretch out and wind down from the journey. Cost is $40, including all equipment.

A Community Worship Night is set for 6:30 p.m. at Central Park in Midland. Come for a multi-church gathering to worship together, pray for students and teachers and those they encounter this year, and for the Gospel to be spread. This event is free.

A poetry reading with Larry Levy and Skip Renker is set for 7-8:30 p.m. at Creative 360 Galleries, 144 Ashman St. in Downtown Midland. Renker's award-winning poems have appeared in numerous journals and magazines and in four books, including the just-published A Patient Hunger. Levy’s poems have appeared in The Virginia Quarterly Review, The Driftwood Review, Third Wednesday, South Carolina Review, Controlled Burn, and more. His latest poetry collection, Blessed Arrangement, includes a Pushcart Prize nominee. Books will be available for purchase. Contact Creative 360 at 989-837-1885 to let them know you are coming. Cost is $5.

Feed the City is set for 5-8 p.m. at Midland Center for the Arts. Area restaurants will provide free food. This event, hosted by Bridge the Gap, is free and open to the public.

A Bat Hike is set for 7:30-9 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center. Join CNC staff to look for and learn about these unique flying mammals. With the help of a bat detector, participants will be able to listen to the sounds of their echolocation. Guests are asked to bring a flashlight and meet outside the Visitor Center. This event is free.

A Lunchtime Concert featuring Monte Pride is set for 12-1:30 p.m. at Dow Gardens. Bring a blanket or a chair and listen to live music in the dappled shade of the Birch Grove. Picnics are welcome. Included with admission or purchase of an annual admission card.

Yoga is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Dahlia Hill. Come early to peruse the blooms, then settle in for an all-levels yoga practice led by Sarah Nelson. No experience is necessary. Participants are asked to bring their own mats if they have one. This event is weather-dependent. Donation-based pricing ($5 suggested minimum) or use a class pass. Pre-registration is required at sarahnelsonyoga.com/classes

Curbside Comedy is set for 8 p.m. at Midland Center for the Arts. Enjoy an evening under the summer sky with 90 minutes of comedy from nationally touring comics in outdoor setting. Content is PG-13, viewer discretion is advised. A cash bar will be available; outside food and drinks are not permitted. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 the day of the event, and can be purchased at midlandcenter.org, by calling the Ticket Office at 989-631-8250 or in-person at 1801 W. St. Andrews Road. 

The Commons Live Music series will host Stone Street Revival at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

The Dows in Their Own Words is set for 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Dow Gardens. Join us in the 1899 Pines Home, as we read excerpts from family letters and shine a spotlight on life, for the Dow family, at the turn of the century. Participants will progress through this national historic landmark with readings along the way. The topic will be "The Dow Kids at College." Cost is $5, plus admission. Registration is recommended. Masks are required for Pines programming. 

The Commons Live Music series will host Andy Dalton at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

Yoga is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Dahlia Hill. Come early to peruse the blooms, then settle in for an all-levels yoga practice led by Sarah Nelson. No experience is necessary. Participants are asked to bring their own mats if they have one. This event is weather-dependent. Donation-based pricing ($5 suggested minimum) or use a class pass. Pre-registration is required at sarahnelsonyoga.com/classes

The Commons Live Music series will host the Robertson Brothers at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

A Pancake Breakfast and Fly-In is set for 7-11 a.m. at the Midland Jack Barstow Airport. Come see the aircraft on display from the chapter as well as those that fly in while enjoyin all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, eggs and homemade doughnuts. Kids will enjoy the pedal airplanes as well as activities at the Kid's Table. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids ages 5-12.Proceeds go toward supporting EAA Chapter 1093 and their mission to share the spirit of aviation with the local community. Funds raised will be distributed to local individuals pursuing a career in the aviation industry in the form of scholarships.

The Commons Live Music series will host Soul Xpress at 7-9 p.m. at the Pedestrian Plaza Stage at the intersection of McDonald and Main streets in Downtown Midland. Bring a chair (or snag one of the outdoor tables), grab a drink and some food from a downtown restaurant and enjoy the music. This event is free.

Family Fun Day: Fall Back in Time Social is set for 3-5 p.m. at Greater Midland Community Center. The community is kicking off Family Fun Days in style with a sock hop dance. There will be games, crafts, swimming, jungle gym, bounce house and snacks. Come dressed in a 1950’s costume and be entered to win a door prize! This event is free for members, $6 for non-members.

Yoga is set for 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Dahlia Hill. Come early to peruse the blooms, then settle in for an all-levels yoga practice led by Sarah Nelson. No experience is necessary. Participants are asked to bring their own mats if they have one. This event is weather-dependent. Donation-based pricing ($5 suggested minimum) or use a class pass. Pre-registration is required at sarahnelsonyoga.com/classes

Taste of Downtown is set for 6-11 p.m. in Downtown Midland. Participating retailers, restaurants and pubs will welcome guests with food and beverages of the downtown area. Musicians will provide live music 6-8:30 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., the taste portion will wrap up and guests will be invited to the outdoor patio at the H Hotel to continue the party with live entertainment, a cash bar, coffee and mini dessert station, and an evening under the stars until 11 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at tasteofdowntown.eventbrite.com. This event is for ages 21 and up.

Victoria Ritter grew up in Midland and after earning a degree in English at Grand Valley State University, returned. She joined the Daily News as its newsroom clerk, and eventually began editing obituaries, and in 2016 wrote her first article. She loves the arts, from reading and creative writing to catching a movie or singing in her church choir.