Flint/Genesee County 4^th of July celebrations

• Clio: “Family Fun Day” starting with a flag raising at Clio City Park at 12:00 p.m. Fireworks will take place at dusk. www.cliochamber.com
• Corunna: 7:00 a.m. Pancake breakfast at the Community Center’s McCurdy Park followed by fireworks at dusk. www.corunna4th.org
• Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, Flint:  On July 4, enjoy this mid-week holiday by joining in the Village’s traditional parade and ice cream social. Take part in the first stilt-walking competition and help crown a king and queen stilt walker!  Operating hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (800) 648-PARK or visit www.geneseecountyparks.org
• Davison: “Festival of Flags and 4^th of July Celebration” runs July 4-8. Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m., on the 4th, with a children’s parade on Main Street followed by their annual big parade starting at 11:00 a.m. The day ends with a fireworks display at Jack Abernathy Regional Park beginning at dusk. Events will run through Sunday featuring a carnival, an entertainment tent, Farmers’ Market, a strong man competition and much more.  www.davisonchamberofcommerce.com
• Fenton: “Freedom Festival” begins with a 7:00 a.m. Pancake breakfast and ends with a 10:00 p.m. fireworks display over Silver Lake Park. www.fentonchamber.com
• Flint: July 4^th Festival is happening in downtown Flint. Fireworks and family fun start at dusk.  (810) 767-2297
• Lapeer: Fireworks at the Lapeer West High School starting at dusk. 
• Montrose: 4^th of July community event at 6:00 p.m. with music and complimentary hot dogs, popcorn and beverages at the MediLodge campus on Vienna Road. Fireworks start at dusk.

*July 2-7: Fenton Winery & Brewery offers handcrafted wines and Micro-brewed beers, delicious food and beer and wine samplings. Enjoy a variety of live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night. Open Monday-Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Friday from 3:00 p.m. to midnight and on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to midnight. (810) 373-4194 or visit www.fentonwinery.com

*July 2-8: US-23 Drive-In Theater, located on Fenton Road, is open for the summer season featuring double first run films. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and movies begin at dusk. (810) 238-0751 or visit www.us23driveintheater.com

 *July 2-8: IMAX Trillium Theatre in Grand Blanc (NCG Cinemas): For IMAX show times and information on other movies call (810) 695-5000 or visit www.ncgmovies.com/grand-blanc.    

• “Prometheus An IMAX Experience” – (Rated R) Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With Prometheus he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.  

*July 2-8: FLINT CULTURAL CENTER CAMPUS: (The Cultural Center Campus is closed July 4)

SLOAN MUSEUM:  (810) 237-3450 (Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Enjoy regional history, historic automobiles and hands-on science activities in the Science Discovery Center where children and adults can explore principles of chemistry and physics through exhibits and staff presentations. Stroll through Sloan’s Automotive Gallery and view major automotive exhibits featuring vehicles from the Sloan fleet of over 80 Flint-built automobiles.         

• “Muscle Cars: The Hustle Behind the Muscle” – From a 1964 Pontiac GTO to a 1987 Buick GNX, this exhibit is sure to appeal to visitors of all ages. Since they cruised on the scene in the mid-sixties, these high-powered machines changed the face of the automotive industry forever. The engineering technologies and marketing techniques developed during their heyday still influence manufacturing today. Learn the stories that shaped each one of these American icons. Follow the inception and evolution of this modern phenomenon.
• “100 Years of Girl Scouting” – What was started by Juliette Gordon Low and 18 young girls on March 12, 1912 has grown into an American institution with over 3.2 million active members. In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together and how to develop their full individual potential. Take a colorful journey through 100 years of Girl Scouting in America.  
• “Flint and The American Dream” – Relive Flint’s dramatic history, as the birthplace of General Motors comes to life with over 600 artifacts and photographs, including rare antique automobiles, colorful neon signs, period clothing, household furnishings, commercial goods and much more. Encounter the ups and downs of General Motors, the birth of the UAW and what life was like in Flint during the 50s, 60s and 70s.

BUICK GALLERY & RESEARCH CENTER: (810) 237-3440 (Admission included with Sloan with same operating hours) The Gallery displays over 25 classical and concept locally built automobiles featuring five one-of-a-kind concept Cars – a 1954 Wildcat II, Centurion, Arrow, Phantom and an XP. Also on display is the Buick Bug, which has undergone an extensive renovation.

• “1956 Centurion” – Buick enthusiasts will recognize the “sweep-spear” chrome on the Centurion as being similar to the 1957 Buicks. They might even recognize the rear fins as being like those on the 1959 models. The rest of the car, however, is one-of-a-kind. The Centurion uses a freestanding speedometer with a fixed indicator and rotation dial. A television camera, mounted just above the tail cone, projects images from the rear mirror. Centurion’s “wings”, tail cone and canopy top reflect the influence that aircraft design had on many of GM’s designers. 

LONGWAY PLANETARIUM: (Laser Hotline (810) 237-3409 or (810) 237-3400) (Check show time dates and hours below)

• “Club 90’s Laser Show” – (Show times are Monday-Friday at 2:00 p.m.) Enjoy great ‘90s music set to an entertaining laser light show. Club ‘90s features brilliant laser animation. Check out the awesome sounds of Brittany Spears, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and more. Get “The Party Started” as lasers, digital effects and vibrant colors come alive on the dome above. This laser show is recommended for ages 5 and older.
• “Rusty Rocket’s Last Blast” – (Show times are Monday-Friday at 12:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.) All Rocket Rookies report to class! Lift off with Rusty Rocket and learn rocket basics, relive great moments in space exploration and discover how far it really is to the moon and planets. This sky show is recommended for ages 5 and older.
• “Off the Beaten Orbit” – (Show time is Saturday, July 7 at 2:00 p.m.) Throughout our Solar System are many remarkable, fascinating worlds. Scattered among and beyond the planets are asteroids, comets, moons and dwarf planets. Explore the parts of the Solar System usually ignored and learn about these unusual objects in this original production. This sky show is recommended for ages 10 and up.  

THE FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS (FIA): (810) 234-1695 (Monday-Wednesday and Friday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Visit the FIA and browse through their outstanding collections of American, European, Native American, African and Asian art including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative arts featuring a complete set of 17^th century French tapestries.

• “Designs from the Past: Ancient Chinese Ceramic Vessels” – Enjoy this FIA collection of more than 100 Chinese ceramic vessels from the Neolithic period (6,500 – 1,700 BCE), many which were predecessors to the shapes of early Chinese bronze vessels. These ceramic vessels were frequently decorated with elaborate geometric and stylized patterns, often specific to a certain region of Neolithic China featuring a wide variety of spirals, lozenges, checkered patterns, net patterns, curved bands and saw-toothed bands that emphasized the form of the vessel.
• “The Epic and the Intimate: French Drawings from the Snite Museum” – The works on paper in this exhibition illustrate the history of French drawings from before the foundation on the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1648, through the French Revolution of 1789. This exhibit features over 30 works on loan and offers an opportunity to explore the range of media employed including chalk, ink, crayon and more.
• “The Golden Age of Painting, 1600-1800, from the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY”  Tremendous changes swept Europe during the two-hundred years in which the art in this exhibition was produced. Advances in the sciences transformed long held views on the way the universe worked and the place of humans within that universe. Technical aspects of art making were honed and codified, as art academies grew in number and power. These exciting times resulted in a golden age of European painting.
• “Abstract Expressionism: Then and Now” – This exhibition surveys the American art movement from its origins in the postwar period to the latest developments in the late twentieth century. Third-wave Abstract Expressionist painters, including Roy Lerner, Stanley Boxer and Joseph Drapell, built on the earlier movement, using paints that they invented through working with Golden Paints, developing new techniques and forms of expression.    
• “Viola E. Bray: A Legacy of Giving” – The Year of the Bray (2011-2012) honors the 50^th anniversary of the Mrs. Viola E. Bray’s contribution of Renaissance and Baroque works, along with a unique gallery, to the people of Flint. This exhibit highlights the works that entered the museum’s collections through the generosity of the Bray Charitable Trust. 

*July 2-8: Shop Birch Run Premium Outlets. Find incredible values on all the new season fashions with up to a 65% discount on every day savings. Shop at over 145 well-known brand name stores such as the Pottery Barn Outlet, COACH Factory and the Nike Factory Store. July 4^th Summer Sales through July 8. Visit www.premiumoutlets.com for Outlet hours.

*July 2-8: The Machine Shop Concert Lounge, located on Dort Highway, presents weekly live Rock-N-Roll events. On Friday, Evans Blue “Graveyard of Empires Tour 2012” takes the stage with special guest “State Your Cause.” On Saturday, “Frequent 54” reunite for one night with special guests “Westfall” and “Cone Effect.”  Doors open at 7:00 p.m. (810) 715-2650 or visit www.themachineshop.info

 *July 2-8: Wild Spurs, part of the Jewel Entertainment Complex in Grand Blanc, features Friday entertainment with a DJ, dancing and Karaoke starting at 10:00 p.m. and live country music on Saturday. Also, come out and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Paddy McGee’s the ultimate Irish Pub. Great food and company!  (810) 694-5960

*July 3: The Flint Public Library, in downtown Flint, is hosting a “Lunch on the Lawn” starting at 12:30 p.m. Ms. Brenda will share dreamy stories on the Library Lawn. Feel free to bring a sack lunch and blanket. Rain Location will take place in the Children’s Room at the Library.  (810) 232-7111 or visit www.fpl.info

*July 3: Dixie Speedway’s “Eve of Destruction” night featuring chain gang race rules, flag pole race, Dixie crash cars, figure-8 trailer race, figure-8 bus and spectator drags. Also enjoy an evening fireworks display. First race begins at 7:00 p.m. (989) 624-9778 or visit www.dixiemotorspeedway.com

*July 3, 5 & 7: The Flint Farmers’ Market, in Downtown Flint, is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Shop for fresh fruit, produce, cheese, meats, Michigan wines, gourmet coffees, desserts, baked goods, flowers, vintage wares, unique crafts, fine arts and more. (810) 232-1399

While visiting the Market, be sure to stop by “d’vine Wines” for unique gadgets and a selection of Michigan wines and brews – (810) 235-WINE.

Also, visit the Market’s 2^nd floor for restaurant service, boutique shopping and a chance to stroll through the “Art at the Market Gallery.” The Gallery offers great gifts of art or just the opportunity to view and enjoy art from over 35 local artists. (810) 238-AATM.

*July 3-7: Buckham Gallery is showcasing their new exhibit “Navigational Pull” featuring the work of local artists such as DeMarus Smith, William Stolpin, Jennifer Hatcher, Matthew Muhitch and Marvin Dabideen. Open Tuesday-Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Closed July 4)   (810) 239-6233

*July 3-8: The Flint Children’s Museum celebrates “OH YUCK!” On Friday, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., children can make their very own Rainstick and use it to make music. Then on Saturday, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., visit the Museum’s outside Sproutside and learn how to make homemade ice cream during “National Ice Cream Cone Day.”  The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Recommended for ages 2 to 10)   (Closed July 4)  (810) 767-5437 or www.flintchildrensmuseum.org

*July 4-8: Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad welcomes all to the 19^th Century. There is so much to do in the Village and so many people to talk with. The cider maker is pressing apples while the miller grinds grains into flour at the water-powered grist mill. The blacksmith is hammering hot iron into horseshoes and fireplace tools. Each villager has an important role – from barber to broom maker, doctor to seamstress, homemaker to cleric. Be sure to hop on board the Huckleberry Railroad and enjoy a 40-minute ride through woods, meadows and along the shore of beautiful Mott Lake. Get closer to Mott Lake during a scenic 45-minute cruise on the Genesee Belle, a replica of the paddlewheel riverboats that were popular during Mark Twain’s time.

On July 4, enjoy this mid-week holiday by joining in the Village’s traditional parade and ice cream social. Take part in the first stilt-walking competition and help crown a king and queen stilt walker!  Operating hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (800) 648-PARK or visit www.geneseecountyparks.org

*July 5, 6 & 7: The Whaley Historical House Museum is open for public guided tours. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Whaley House is filled with hundreds of family and period artifacts that tell the story of the Whaley’s and Victorian Era Flint. Open for tours on Thursday and Friday at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Please call ahead for all other tour times. Tours last about an hour and include the 1^st and 2^nd floors of the home. (810) 471-4714 or visit www.whaleyhouse.com

 *July 6 & 7: The Historic Holly Hotel Comedy Club presents professional stand-up comedy every weekend. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.  (248) 634-5208 or visit www.hollyhotel.com

*July 7: Cranberries Café, located in Goodrich, is hosting a “Red, White & Blues BBQ” event, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., featuring red and white wines along with a variety of blues bands. Also enjoy pulled pork and roasted chicken sandwiches. (810) 636-3409