Blandford Nature Center Birds & Bagels, Tomorrow, July 20, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Birds and Bagels - now there’s a curious mouthful. Blandford Nature is inviting you to an early morning -8:00 a.m. rise and shine - event with Grand Rapids Audubon Club member Emily Tornga who has a great love for birding, with over 400 species spotted through the years. Can you recognize the distinctive bird calls? Can you identify the field marks of wetland, meadow or forest dwellers? Bring your binoculars and Emily will help you begin your very own list of identified birds and the coffee and bagels are just a bonus to keep you fortified! Pre-registration is required and closes today, July 19 at noon, so hurry and get signed up. The cost is $ 20 and ideally suited for children 14 up, who must attend with an adult. Younger children are also welcome if supervised by an adult.
Choose Marshall Market on Main Block Party, Tomorrow, July 20, 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
There are lots of reasons to head to Marshall this weekend as there are numerous events going on. One of our favorites is the annual outdoor Market on Main which goes on until 10:00 p.m.! The main block of downtown Marshall will be closed and transformed into a lively shopping scene which also encompasses their social district, so there are plenty of opportunities to shop in the quaint boutiques, grab lunch, dinner, or a cocktail from Marshall's famed restaurant, Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub. The whole family will love participating in the special activities for adults and kids, an eating contest or the pet parade…which we hear even includes some Alligators! The Marshall Farmers Market is going on from 8:00 - 1:00 so be sure and come on out to support the local farmers, growers, artisans and producers and enjoy this festive scene.
John Ball Zoo Breakfast with the Animals; Book now for July 31 or August 14 - keep in mind, these sell out fast; 7;30 a.m - 9:00 a.m.
How about an exciting morning on the wild side! If you recall, Dr. Doolittle could talk with the animals, but the John Ball Zoo goes one even better! Breakfast with the Animals! Book your tickets online for July 31st or August 14th; the breakfast is from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. and the cost is $45.00. This summer series sunrise breakfast will begin on the South American Boardwalk. After, you can choose one of two different tours where guides will share all the fun facts about the animals in that area and hopefully, they will be out and about as there are no other visitors at the zoo during these early hours. And of course, once your breakfast, bird-friendly coffee and animal visits are over, you can spend the rest of the day, for no additional cost, exploring all the fun and exciting things the Zoo has to offer. For additional fees you can engage in camel rides, the zip line or sky trail ropes course or engage in a virtual experience called Wild Explorer. Keep in mind all of these are weather dependent and occur at different times.