Downtown Imlay City's Annual Events
The Imlay City Downtown Development Authority offers many events throughout the year to bring the community together in the Downtown area.
The DDA sponsors events throughout the year. We love to see community members and visitors in our downtown enjoying our beautifully landscaped streetscape and of course, patronizing our local merchants.
Imlay City Farmers Market
Our Farmers Market is open May 16 - October 17, 2019. The Market is held at the corner of Main Street and Third Street on Thursdays from
10 am- 4 pm (weather permitting). There will not be a market on Thursday, July 4.
The Market accepts Debit Cards, EBT(Bridge Card), Senior & WIC Project Fresh and offers Double Up Food Bucks.
Applications for the 2019 market season can be found in the folder below.
The Imlay City Farmers Market is Farm Fresh and Locally Grown!
Market Season Payment Options
The Farmers Market will be equipped to handle Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), also known as the Bridge Card or food stamps this season. EBT users can double their Michigan-grown vegetable and fruit purchases up to $20 per market day with the Double Up Food Bucks program! If you spend $10, Double Up Food Bucks will give you $10! For more information regarding the EBT card and/or Double Up Food Bucks, contact the Market Manager.
The Senior Project Fresh Program will also be accepted at the Imlay City Farmers' Market this year. The Senior Project Fresh program provides seniors, age 60 and over, with fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Seniors participating in the program may purchase fresh, unprocessed, Michigan grown fruits and vegetables and select fresh herbs.
The market will accept Debit Cards. Just come to the Farmers Market information tent, swipe your Debit card, enter your pin and the amount of cash you wish to receive and the market manager will give you tokens equal to the amount of cash you withdraw. Most of our vendors will accept your tokens as cash. Shopping is easy at the market! (there will be a $0.50 surcharge per use of the Debit machine).
For information on EBT and Debit Cards - read here
El Mercado ahora esta aceptando tarjetas EBT o Bridge
- Pase su tarjeta EBT y entre su numero PIN en el stand del encargado del Mercado
- Con la aprobacion, se le daran fichas de $1 dollar
- Compre a los vendedores participantes
- Disfrute los productos frescos
El Mercado ahora esta aceptando tarjetas EBT o Bridge
Summer Concert Series
2019 FREE Summer Concert Series
Our Summer Concert Series begins on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in Lamb Steele Park. All concerts will begin at 7pm. unless stated otherwise.
June 18 Third Degree Burns - Youth-Performed Rock'n'Roll
June 25 Lakestone Bank & Trust Ice Cream Social & Worlds of Music - Family Fun Concert
July 2 NO CONCERT -- Happy 4th of July
July 9 Delaney Natke - Pop, Rock, & Country
July 16 Zaynab Wilson - Caribbean-Inspired Folk Music
July 23 NO CONCERT -- Enjoy the Eastern Michigan State Fair
July 30 Rock of Ages Band - Swing Music, Vocals, and Show Tunes
Aug 6 Ground Zero Band - Youth-Performed Classic-to-Current Hits
Aug 13 Rich Eddy's Rockin' Oldies Band - Rockin' Oldies
Aug 20 Bob Marshall Band - Real Cowboy Rock'n'Roll
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) strengthens arts and culture in Michigan by increasing its visibility; supporting arts education; encouraging new, creative and innovative works of art; and broadening cultural understanding. A key conduit for arts and cultural information, MCACA is also a source of arts and culture grant funding.
June 18 @ 7pm
3rd Degree Burns
3rd Degree Burns is made up of young musicians from the surrounding area. The band is made possible by a non-profit Young Musicians Community. Come out and enjoy a spirited performance!
July 9 @ 7pm
Delaney Natke
Delaney Natke is a talented, young singer in our area. She was the 2018 Celebration of Music winner in Detroit, as well as the winner of the 20 Front Street Open Mic Night in Lake Orion.
July 23
Eastern Michigan State Fair
No concert will be held at the Lamb Steele Park on Tuesday, July 23. Please go and enjoy the Eastern Michigan State Fair, happening in Imlay City from July 23-27! See you next week.
August 6 @ 7pm
Ground Zero Band
Reason2Rock's Ground Zero Band is performing classic-to-current rock'n'roll hits. They are a not-for-profit project made up of kids, for kids; the band offers musical skills to young musicians who want to share their gift of music in a pay-it-forward kind of way.
June 25 Ice Cream @ 6pm
Ice Cream Social
Join us for a great night of family fun and entertainment.
Free ice cream, sponsored by Lakestone Bank and Trust.
July 16 @ 7pm
Zaynab Wilson
Zaynab Wilson, a Montreal-born Trinidadian-Canadian, will be singing Caribbean-inspired folk music. She brings a wealth of cultural and musical diversity to her sound, her heart, and her soul.
July 30 @ 7pm
Rock of Ages Band
Enjoy Big Band Music from 40's Swing to Motown to Current Hits.
August 13 @ 7pm
Rich Eddy's Rockin' Oldies Band
August 20 @ 7pm
Bob Marshall Band
A Real Cowboy bringing you real Country and Western music!
Ice Cream Social
2019 Lakestone Bank and Trust Ice Cream Social
The Twelfth Annual Lakestone Bank and Trust Ice Cream Social and Amazing Clark!
The Ice Cream Social will take place on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 6-8 pm at the Lamb Steele Park. As with previous years, the ice cream and following entertainment were FREE to residents, friends, and families!!
The event is financed by Lakestone Bank and Trust and Bank employees serve the delicious frozen dessert!
This is just one of the many ways that Lakestone Bank and Trust gives back to their community- and it is a crowd pleaser!
Last year the bank served over 18 gallons of ice cream to 350 people!
Storytime at Lamb Steele Park
The DDA is thrilled to work with the Ruth Hughes Library this summer to once again bring StoryTime to the Lamb Steele Park Gazebo!
Miss Mandy will again host this awesome event at the Gazebo for free, child friendly activities and reading. Check out the new and exciting Themes for Summer 2019!
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
1:00 PM
Theme: Space
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
1:00 PM
Theme: Sharks
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
1:00 PM
Theme: Ice Cream in English and Spanish
Busker Festival Parade
June 15, 2019
The Imlay City Downtown Development Authority would like to invite you to be a part of this year’s Busker Festival Parade Please join us on Saturday, June 15th at 5:00 p.m. as we celebrate Imlay City and the 2nd Annual Michigan Busker Festival.
The DDA sponsored Parade has been a long standing tradition that has featured civic organizations, entertaining high school marching bands, decorative floats, high-stepping dance demonstrations, honor and color guards, lively cheer leading squads, equestrian groups, and of course local firefighting/emergency units.
This year will be no different!
The Parade is a fun, effective and inexpensive way for your organization to reach several hundred parade observers, participants and their families. Trophies will be awarded for a variety of categories.
Art in the Rough
This year marks our 5th Annual Art in the Rough held in Downtown Imlay City. Third Street is closed off for our private event and filled with pop-up galleries and live music. We feature dozens of Michigan artists in our downtown businesses. Come join us Saturday night on September 28th for a night of fun, culture, and more!
Artists, entertainment, and drink will be set up along a cordoned off area on Third Street. Tickets will be required for entry into Art in the Rough.
MAIN ART IN THE ROUGH EVENT
>> Our main event will be held on Saturday, September 28th, 2019 from 6 PM - 10 PM. The event will be located along Third Street in Downtown Imlay City, outdoors as well as inside many Imlay City businesses.
Advanced Art in the Rough Tickets can be purchased for $15/person. This ticket includes entry to the event, plus 6 complimentary Beer & Wine Tasting for 21+.
At-the-door ticket pricing will be $25/person.
Students with ID can purchase tickets for $15/person at the door as well.
Families who wish to attend can get children 12 and under in for free from 6 PM – 7 PM. After 7 PM, children admittance will be the regular cost of a ticket.
ENTERTAINMENT:
>>6 PM – 8 PM: Davis-Green Duo is set to perform at Art in the Rough. They are a local husband-wife musical duo, with Wendy Davis on vocals and Matt Davis on guitar. They will be performing outside for everyone to enjoy.
>>8 PM – 10 PM: Pat Smillie Band is making a return to Art in the Rough this year! This headliner will be a blend of blues, R&B, and soul music outside on the Downtown stage.
VIP ART IN THE ROUGH EVENT
>> A private 21+ VIP cocktail event, happening 4 PM – 6 PM, will prequal the main Art in the Rough event. This private event will be held inside 244 E Third Street, Downtown Imlay City.
A limited number of VIP tickets are available and can be purchased for $50/person. These tickets will include early entry for private entertainment, a meet-n-greet with our artists, free drinks and appetizers, and one-of-a-kind souvenir mugs made by Virginia Rose.
ENTERTAINMENT:
>>4 PM – 6 PM: Jim Bach Trio, a 3-piece band setup, to perform for the private VIP event. Enjoy complementary drinks and appetizers while you meet the Michigan Artists and listen to live music.
OUR SPONSORS
>> Imlay City DDA
>> Lapeer Art Association
Imlay City DDA is proud to once again host Art in the Rough, with the Lapeer Art Association as our co-sponsor again this year. You can find more information about our event hosts at icdda.com or lapeerart.org
Winter Playground
Winter Playground 2019 -- December 7th @ 5 PM
Every year, Imlay City aims to ring in the holiday season with something special: Winter Playground!
This is a family and community-oriented event, so come one and come all. Downtown businesses welcome you with open arms as they offer an assortment of holiday readings, crafts for kids and adults alike, as well as warming stations with refreshments! Every year, the outdoor highlights include the lighted parade, the tree lighting, and horse-drawn wagon rides. Imlay City puts all of this activity on for you free of any charge! We just want you and your family to enjoy our town.
Imlay City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Imlay City Area Chamber of Commerce have partnered together to bring you another amazing Winter Playground! This year, the downtown event will be held on Saturday, December 7th, 2019, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring and organizing the annual Winter Playground Parade, which will march through town at 6:00 PM.
>>For more information about the Winter Playground Parade information, contact Shannon Hamel (Executive Director of the Imlay City Chamber of Commerce) at (810) 542 - 3256.
Immediately following the parade, the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place in front of the Imlay City Police Department.
During the evening, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be around town doing children's activities; our small businesses will have crafts and warming stations; and horse-drawn carriages and more will be available in downtown Imlay City.
>>For more information about Winter Playground 2019, contact Lorrelei Natke (DDA Director) or Katrina Morrow (DDA Assistant) at Imlay City Hall (810) 724 – 2135.
