Family Fun Guide

July 2026

FEATURED EVENT

The Summer Food Service Program serves nutritious meals to children up to age 18 living in low-income areas (where 50 percent or more of the students qualify for free or reduced price school meals). The program can operate in schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, and faith-based facilities.

Find a MEET UP AND EAT UP location near you.

FEATURED RESOURCES

HINTS, TIPS, & AT HOME ACTIVITIES

TALKING IS TEACHING

Let’s talk about BEDTIME! When our little ones are sleeping, their brains are busy building

connections! Sleep is important for brain development, learning, and physical development.

For more ideas on how to talk, read, and sing together visit: TALKING IS TEACHING

KINDERGARTEN READINESS:

Stack 10 or more blocks
Initiates, joins in, and sustains positive interactions with a small group of 2-3 children
Writes strings of letters, not necessarily words
Uses and responds appropriately to positional words indicating location, direction, and distance (under, over, between, close, far, behind, in front, etc.)
Explores the visual arts
Toilet Trained

HELP ME GROW

Every little step toward independence matters! Encourage your child to dress themselves, help with simple chores, and practice self-care. If you have concerns about self-help skills, call Help Me Grow

If you have concerns about your child's development, call Help Me Grow.

For more information visit helpmegrow-mi.org/counties or call 844-464-0005.

EARLY ON

Around 18-24 months, children develop hand-eye coordination for tasks like stacking blocks. Early intervention activities like puzzles or coloring enhance these skills.

If you have concerns or questions about your child's development please contact Amy Vallad, BAISD Early On Coordinator at vallada@baisd.net or (989) 262-4182

Learn more about EARLY ON.

UNPLUG & PLAY GREAT LAKES BAY

Maggie Dwan

🍪 Digital Diet Summer Tip: Try a screen-free Snack Break!

Need a quick reset this summer? Try a Snack Break.

A Snack Break is a short screen-free activity your family can do together. It does not need to be fancy. Five to ten minutes counts.

Try one today:

Take a walk
Have a dance party
Hop like a frog
Draw or color together
Tell a silly family story
Play pretend
Clean up one small space while one song plays
Look at a book and make up your own story

These little breaks give children a chance to move, talk, imagine, listen, and connect.

Sometimes the best reset is a few minutes together.

Learn more about UPLUG AND PLAY GREAT LAKES BAY

COOKING AT HOME

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

BANANA CRUMBLE

Cooking Matters

30 Minutes 6 Servings

Ingredients

4 large bananas

2 cups mixed fresh berries

Non-stick cooking spray

5 Tablespoons whole wheat flour, divided

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

¼ cup light brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

4 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter

⅔ cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 Tablespoon honey

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Peel and slice bananas in half lengthwise.
Rinse berries and pat dry.
Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place the banana halves flat side down in the baking dish.
Toss berries with 1 Tablespoon flour. Sprinkle berries over the bananas.
In a medium bowl, add 4 Tablespoons flour, oats, sugar, and spices. Stir to blend.
Cut cold butter into little pieces. Add to bowl. Using your fingers, quickly blend the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly.
Spread the crumbly mixture over the fruit in an even layer. Press down slightly.
Bake about 10–15 minutes, or until the crumble is firm and golden in color.
While crumble bakes, stir together yogurt and honey in a small bowl to create a lighter version of whipped cream.
When crumble is done, spoon 1 Tablespoon of the yogurt and honey topping over each serving.

View full recipe: BANANA CRUMB

FAMILY RESOURCES

FOOD RESOURCES

CLOTHING & DIAPERS

PARENT SUPPORT & CLASSES

WIC ELIGIBILITY CHANGES

Income limits for WIC eligibility changed, effective June 1, 2026.

SUMMER DAY CAMPS

MSU EXTENSION - FREE ONLINE PARENTING CLASSES

Extension Extras Parenting Hour

Tuesdays at 7:30 - 9:30 PM

July 7: Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Science for Children

July 14: Positive Discipline

July 21: How Children Develop

July 28: Together We Can: Co-Parenting

Class Times: 7:30PM to 9:00PM

RSVP

Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting

Thursdays: July 9, 16, 23, 30, August 6 at 7 - 8:30 PM

RSVP

The Parent Talk System

Mondays: June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3 at 7:30 - 9 PM

RSVP

Extension Extras for Professionals: Early Childhood Professional Development Classes

Purpose of Play - Thursday, July 16 at 7 - 8 PM RSVP

Mindfulness for Children - Friday, July 24 at 1 - 2:30 PM RSVP

Online Self-Paced Classes

Positive Discipline RSVP

Infant Safety RSVP

MI Parenting Resource. RSVP

CAN COUNCIL'S PARENT CAFES

Upcoming Cafes:

Bay County Health Departments - Wednesdays: August 12 - September 2 at 11 AM - 1 PM.

CHILD CARE AVAILABILITY

FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS

VENDORS NEEDED:

Summer Touch-A-Truck/Family Fun Fest

Vendor & Truck/Vehicle Registration Form

Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 10 AM - 3 PM at the Bay City State Park

- Touch-A-Truck/Vehicles, please register your vehicle and contact Michael Barker for parking and logistical planning at barkerm3@michigan.gov, or call at 989-684-3020

- Community Resource Vendors

Vendors will be encouraged to bring your own tent, however, a large tent will also be available for vendors that don't have a tent. Note: Vendors bringing tents will want to consider stakes/weights to help secure your tent/s during the event.

Community resource vendors may contact Rich VanTol with any questions: vantolr@baisd.net or 989-233-8729

COMMUNITY CALENDARS:

There are always family-friendly events happening throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. The following Community Calendars are wonderful resources to help you find a fun outing for your family.

GO GREAT LAKES BAY

GREAT LAKES BAY PARENTS

HEY BAY CITY

FARMER'S MARKETS:

Thursdays (June 4 to October 1) at 2-7 PM: PERE MARQUETTE PARKING PLAZA FARMER'S MARKET, Bay City

Fridays (June 5 to September 11) at 2-6 PM: STANDISH DEPOT FARMER'S MARKET, Standish

FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS:

July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 9 - 11 AM: BUSY BEES PLAYGROUP @ Bay City State Park, Bay City

July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 5 at 10:15 AM: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (ages 2-5) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 5 at 10:30 AM: FAMILY STORYTIME (ages 0-6) @ Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning

July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 5 at 10:30 AM: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (ages 2-5) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 5 at 11:30 AM: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (ages 2-5) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 1 at 12 PM: HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY AMERICA @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 1 at 12:30 PM: 4TH OF JULY CRAFT @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 1 at 11 AM - 3 PM: BOARD GAME DAY @ AuGres Community Library, AuGres

July 1 at 4 PM: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 1 at 4 PM: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA @ Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning

July 1 at 5:30 PM: BABY BOOK CLUB (ages 0-3) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, August 5 & 12 at 6:30 PM: AUGRES MUSIC IN THE PARK @ AuGres City Park, AuGres

July 1, 6, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26, September 2 & 9 at 6:30 PM: WEDNESDAYS IN THE PARK @ Wenonah Park, Bay City

July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 5 at 6:30 PM: FAMILY STORYTIME (ages 0-6) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 at 10 AM - 12 PM: GREAT LAKES BAY MOMS CAFE @ Monitor Township Park, Bay City

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & August 6 at 10:15 AM: BABY STORYTIME (ages 0-2) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & August 6 at 10:30 AM: BABY STORYTIME (ages 2-5) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & August 6 at 11:15 AM: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (ages 2-5) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 2 at 5:30 PM: TIE-DYE ICE CREAM SOCIAL @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 2 at 6 PM: AMBER BUG SLIME (ages 5-12) @ Pinconning Branch Library

July 2 & 9 at 6 PM: MUSIC AT THE FOUNTAIN @ Uptown, Bay City

July 2, 3, & 4: BAY CITY FIREWORKS FESTIVAL @ Vets Park, Bay City

July 3, 17, & 31 at 11 AM: TODDLER TIME (ages 0-5) @ Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning

July 3, 10, 24, 31, August 7, 14, 21 at 6:30 PM: SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ Standish Historical Depot, Standish

July 4 at 9 AM: KIDS WORKSHOP @ Home Depot, Bay City

July 4, 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, September 5 at 7 PM: MUSIC FROM THE MARSH @ Bay City State Park, Bay City

July 6 at 11 AM: WIRT SUMMER ART SERIES - DINOSAUR SAND ART(ages 5-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 6, 13, & 24 at 12:30 PM: STORIES AND SONGS IN THE PARK @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4 at 10 AM: PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (ages 2-5) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4 at 11 AM: BABY STORYTIME (ages 0-2) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 7 at 11 AM: WAITING FOR WINGS STORYTIME (ages 4-9) @ Alice and Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 7 at 1 PM: MOVIE EVENT: THE LORAX @ AuGres Community Library, AuGres

July 7 at 4:30 PM: CAT LOVERS LOUNGE (ages 6-12) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 8 at 12:30 PM: FOAM PARTY! (ages 0-12) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 8 at 4:30 PM: ALEX THOMAS AND FRIENDS PUPPET SHOW @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 9 at 12:30 PM: LAWN SERIES - EXOTIC ZOO! @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 9 at 4:30 PM: TRACTOR STORYTIME @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 9 at 4:30 PM: EXOTIC ZOO @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 9 at 6 PM: EXOTIC ZOO @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 9 at 6 PM: PUPS & PAGES (ages 4-12) @ Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning

July 10 at 10:30 AM: LITTLE WIGGLERS (ages 0-5) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 10 at 10:30 AM: GUPPY BABY & TODDLERS (ages 0-5) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, & 14 at 2:30 PM: FREE ART FRIDAY @ Studio 23, Bay City

July 11 at 9 AM - 4 PM: VINTAGE CAR SHOW @ Standish Historic Depot, Standish

July 11 at 11:30 AM: MOVIE EVENT: THE GOOD DINOSAUR @ Mary Johnston Memorial Library, Standish

July 12 at 1 PM: AUBURN CORNFEST PARADE @ Williams Township Hall and ends at the Cornfest grounds, Auburn

July 13 at 11 AM: SUMMER ART SERIES - MAKE YOUR OWN STICKERS (ages 5-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 14 at 9:30 AM: WALKING CLUB @ Sage Branch Library

July 14 at 11 AM: BUGS ON WHEELS (ages 3-12) @ Alice and Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 14 at 2 PM: DINOSAUR CRAFT @ Mary Johnston Memorial Library, Standish

July 14 at 4:30 PM: WE DIG DINOS! @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 15 at 11 AM - 3 PM: LEGO DAY @ AuGres Community Library, AuGres

July 15 at 12:30 PM: CHIPPEWA NATURE CENTER: SNAKES ALIVE @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 15 at 4:30 PM: REPCO WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS: JURASSIC DINOSAURS @ Auburn Branch Library

July 15 at 5:30 PM: PUPS & PAGES (ages 4-12) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 16 at 12:30 PM: SUMMER LAWN SERIES - CAMERON ZVARA @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 16 at 6 PM: FOAM PARTY! (ages 0-12) @ Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning

July 17 at 10:30 AM: CLAY CREATIONS! (ages 2-12) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 17 at 10:30 AM: YOUNG SCIENTISTS: FIZZY FUN (ages 2-5) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 17 at 11 AM: BUILD WITH DINO BONES@ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 18 at 12 - 4 PM: LIGHTS, SIRENS AND SMILES! @ Doc Letchfield Park, Pinconning

July 18 at 2 PM: PUPS & PAGES (ages 4-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 18 at 3 PM: T-REX TEA PARTY (ages 5-12) @ Pinconning Branch Library, Bay City

July 19 at 12 - 4 PM: SUMMER WITH THE DISTRICT: MAKE IT & TAKE IT EVENT @ Arenac Conservation District, Standish

July 20 at 11 AM: SUMMER ART SERIES - DINOSAUR SUNCATCHERS (ages 5-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 20 at 12:30 PM: FAMILY MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY BEVERLY MEYER (ages 2-5) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 21, 11 AM: SKINS AND SKULLS STORYTIME(ages 5-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 21 at 4:30 PM: LLAMA-VERSARY PARTY @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 21 at 12 PM: STORY TIME WITH A CRAFT @ AuGres Community Library, AuGres

July 21 at 1 PM: MAGICIAN @ Mary Johnston Memorial Library, Standish

July 21 at 5-7 PM: CONE WITH A COP @ Wanigan Eatery & Pub, Bay City

July 22 at 12:30 PM: CENTRAL MICHIGAN STEM @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 22 at 1 PM: SUMMER MOVIE - THE GOOD DINOSAUR @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 22 at 1 PM: STORY TIME WITH A CRAFT @ Mary Johnston Memorial Library, Standish

July 23 at 12:30 PM: SUMMER LAWN SERIES - THE REPTARIUM @ Alice & Jack Wirt Branch Library, Bay City

July 24 at 11 AM: PUPS & PAGES (ages 4-12) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 24 at 6 PM: OBSERVE THE MOON FAMILY NIGHT @ Delta College Planetarium, Bay City

July 25 at 10:30 AM: STORYTIME @ Riser Kitchen, Auburn

July 25 at 1 PM: SWITCH SATURDAY @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 25 at 7 PM: CHRISTMAS IN JULY GRINCH MOVIE NIGHT @ The Salvation Army of Bay City

July 27 at 11 AM: SUMMER ART SERIES - CRAFT EXTRAVAGANZA (ages 5-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 28 at 11 AM: DINO-RAMAS WITH SLOAN MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY (ages 7-12) @ Alice & Jack Wirt Library, Bay City

July 28 at 12 PM: EXOTIC ZOO! @ Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning

July 28, 4 PM: EXOTIC ZOO! @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 28, 6 PM: EXOTIC ZOO! @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

July 29 at 9:30 AM: STORYTIME @ Trombley House, Bay City

July 29 at 11 AM - 3 PM: PUZZLE DAY @ AuGres Community Library, AuGres

July 29 at 12:30 PM: BAFFLING BILL THE MAGICIAN @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 30 at 12:30 PM: SUMMER LAWN SERIES - COPPER TOM @ Alice & Jack Wirt Branch Library, Bay City

July 30 at 5:30 PM: MAD SCIENTIST: EARTHQUAKES (ages 6-12) @ Sage Branch Library, Bay City

July 30 at 6 PM: COPPER TOM - LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE (ages 5-12) @ Pinconning Brach Library, Pinconning

July 31 at 10:30 AM: DIAMONDS AND DONUTS (ages 2-5) @ Auburn Branch Library, Auburn

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