Downtown Bay City

Welcome to Downtown, soon to become your favorite place to visit, work and live. We offer festivals throughout the year, celebrating annual and special events. We have plenty of sites to see, one-of-a-kind shops and places to eat.

Located on the water you can stroll along the Riverwalk and enjoy the parks or visit one of our art galleries. At night the downtown comes alive with concerts, movies, and other special events.

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Events

Downtown and Area Events

march 2023

24mar(mar 24)11:00 am25(mar 25)5:00 pmSpring Autumn Open House11:00 am - 5:00 pm (25) Event Type :Area Events

25mar(mar 25)11:00 am26(mar 26)5:00 pmSpring Autumn Open House11:00 am - 5:00 pm (26) Event Type :Area Events

26mar(mar 26)11:00 am27(mar 27)5:00 pmSpring Autumn Open House11:00 am - 5:00 pm (27) Event Type :Area Events

27mar(mar 27)11:00 am28(mar 28)5:00 pmSpring Autumn Open House11:00 am - 5:00 pm (28) Event Type :Area Events

chili cookoff v2

Chili Cook-Off

January 21, 2023
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The Downtown Chili Cook-Off brings together some of the area’s finest restaurants and their creative chili recipes for a tasty showdown in Downtown Bay City. Come try them out and vote for your favorite. Tickets can be purchased at participating locations.

Participating Businesses:
BarqueBC
Gatsby’s Seafood & Steakhouse
MI Table
Mulligan’s Pub
Old City Hall
Riverfront Grille & Lounge
Tavern 101
The Chambers

2022-1


Feet on the Street

We are asking for your help in sponsoring some activities, beautification, live music & more!
See the sponsorship below for more details, we appreciate your support!

Instagram and Social Media Feeds

Put some Spring in your step and hop on over to Downtown Bay City for our Step Into Spring Open House! 🌷

With over 25 participating businesses, you'll be sure to find a refresh for the new season!

The open house starts today, March 24th and last all weekend long until ...Sunday, March 26th.

Hey Downtowners!

Did you know that Studio 23 used to be in the Little Red Schoolhouse on the corner of Knight Road and Center Avenue?! History states that they paid a mere $1 a year to Bay City Public Schools for rent.
This wasn’t the only other place Studio 23 has been housed since... being established in 1959. Below is a quick timeline of where they have been before calling 901 N. Water St. their home!

1959 – 1962 – Second Floor of the Weiland Furniture Store (with the name Studio 23 originating from the store’s location on U.S. 23.!)
1962 – 1985 – the Little Red Schoolhouse
1982 – 1986 – Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
1986 – 1989 – Searching for a new location
1989 – 1997 – Third floor of Bay City Hall
1997 – Current – 901 N. Water St. in Downtown Bay City

You can read more about Studio 23’s history, exhibits, events, membership and programming on their website at www.studio23baycity.org or by visiting them in Downtown Bay City!

Please welcome to Downtown Bay City, Kelly Thompson! Kelly is the Co-Owner and Clinical Therapist at The Center for Emotional Health & Empowerment. The Center is a new counseling agency offering individual counseling from adolescent to adult age located at 509 Center Ave, Suite 212!

...Kelly specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Grief & Loss and Life Adjustments. Whether it is dealing with past hurts or coming to terms with a present circumstance, she offers a supportive, whole-person approach (body, mind, and spiritual health) through various therapeutic modalities. Kelly believes we are each on unique journeys that bring about different seasons that affect us in many ways. Taking time for ourselves to reflect, learn, grow, and deal with specific issues gives us the chance to grow into the best versions of ourselves. For the sake of our own lives, and the people in them.

"In my work, I am passionate about empowering and inspiring my clients and I am dedicated to equipping each person with the personalized, practical solutions needed to pursue the changes they are seeking.

As a Clinical Social Worker and Advanced Life Coach I have extensive experience working with adolescents, adults, and families. For over 30 years I have been both a School Social Worker and Clinician in the mental health field. I hold a Master's degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Bowling Green State University, as well as have various training in evaluation and treatment."

You can contact Kelly on Facebook: Center for Emotional Health & Empowerment
Website: www.centerforehe.com
Email: Kelly@centerforehe.com

Happy first day of Spring! 🌷☀ With Spring comes new opportunities, new possibilities & new menus! Check out the new seasonal menu at Populace Coffee!

Make sure to grab some BRUNCH at Populace on Saturday 3/25 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM while you're shopping around during the ...Step Into Spring Open House & visiting the fine establishments below!

🌷 Alice & Jack Wirt Library
🌷 artigiano, artisan cheese shoppe
🌷 Bar-Fly Pub & Grub
🌷 Bay City Antiques Center/Bay Antique Center
🌷 Beatles And Beans Coffee Emporium
🌷 Believe Inspire Beauty Boutique
🌷 DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City-Riverfront
🌷 ellie & isabelle
🌷 Essentially Unique LLC
🌷 Half Mile Handmade
🌷 Herman Hiss & Company
🌷 Little House
🌷 MeadowCreek Clothiers
🌷 Mulligans Pub
🌷 Oily Apothecary LLC
🌷 Panache Boutique
🌷 Perfectly Imperfect Creations
🌷 Populace Coffee
🌷 Riverfront Grille & Lounge located in The Doubletree Hotel
🌷 Saginaw Bay Trading Company
🌷 St. Laurent Brothers
🌷 Studio 23/The Arts Center
🌷 Super Chic Designs/Table
🌷 The Historical Museum of Bay County
🌷 The Vintage Greenhouse
🌷 Uptown Girl
🌷 Urban East Footwear
🌷 Water Street Nutrition

We hope everyone have a fun & safe St. Patrick's Day & exciting weekend ahead!

It's a great weekend to be in Bay City! ☘

📸 by: MLive.com , Bay City St. Patrick's Day Parade 2022

Hey Downtowners!

Did you know that this is the 68th year of the Bay City St. Patrick's Day Parade and the 50th Anniversary of the Bay Area Runners Club Races?! Beginning in 1955, the parade originally had just nine participants this year, there are over 150 participating floats, ...groups & bands and over 4,500 participating in the races!

The original 9 parade participants were:

☘️ Central High School Marching Band

☘️ Local Boy Scout troops

☘️ Auburn Accordion Marching Band

☘️ Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Drill Team

☘️ AAA Furniture

☘️ Michigan Bell Telephone

☘️ Gillman Plumbing

☘️ Sabourin Drugs

☘️ Munger Civil Defense Unit

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was on March 17, 1955 at 5:30 p.m. The parade started at Center Avenue and Monroe Street and disbanded at City Hall on Washington Avenue. Now the parade runs down Center Avenue and wraps up at Water Street in Downtown Bay City.

This years Grand Marshal is Agnes (Brennan) Reder accompanied by the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Queen, Elizabeth Watz and Princess Johanna Elder and their courts. The parade begins at 2:00 PM down Center Avenue, or it can be found live streamed on Bay County TV, Channel 199.

What are your favorite memories from the Bay City St. Patrick's Day Parade?!