After barreling through the Great Lakes Bay Region this summer, the curtain on ArtWave began to close—but the warrior cry gave way: Encore! Encore!
Who can resist? The ArtWave extravaganza continues into October, and Saginaw County is the place(s) to be! Experience a musical at one of the oldest community theatres in the U.S., wander about an historic art museum, take the family on a Fall Fun Day (and we triple-dog-dare you to “Get Slimed”). Raging and rocking right in your Go Great back yard, ArtWave Saginaw County this October is your last chance at ArtWave, folks. Don’t miss it!
Encore: ArtWave Saginaw County
“Her smile steps offstage for a moment, then does an encore, all while I'm dealing with my blushing face.”
- Haruki Murakami
Why an ArtWave encore?
"Art Wave is coming back to Saginaw in October to give everyone another chance to see the depth of cultural attractions there," says Moira Branigan, director of internal operations at Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.
Fall Into Art
It may be the last of sun-shining summer right now, but ArtWave Saginaw County will make its final splash in October. With crisp air and crunchy leaves underfoot, we’re talking the season of caramel apples, cozy sweatshirts and autumn-inspired porches (ahh, yes):
- Those Pinterest-worthy pumpkins on your porch? Double the pleasure, and enter the Harvest Month – Pumpkin Contest from October 1 – 31 at Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum. Winner receives a fun prize package! (No worries about your porch, either; the museum will take a picture so that you can take your perfect pumpkin back home!)
- Delve into all-things-fall during ArtWave at Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for Fall Fun Day, or explore the hands-on museum designed specifically for children 12 and younger at Share the Harvest on October 22. Be ready—this place is over 16,000 square feet of fun! (And, psst! Check out the Saginaw River Valley Model Railroad Club Display while you’re there, meant for both the young and young at heart.)
“Nothing beats a live performance. Nothing.”
- Jonathan Demme
Live is Alive
Experience the lure of live entertainment at Legally Blonde the Musical, October 7 – 9 and 14 – 16 (Friday/Saturday, 7:30; Sunday, 3 p.m.) at Pit & Balcony Theatre in Old Town Saginaw, and plan for an evening amidst historic grandeur on October 15 as Saginaw Choral Society presents: “Dancing in the Moonlight” at The Temple Theatre in Downtown Saginaw.
- Pit & Balcony Theatre, founded in 1932 and one of the oldest community theatres in the U.S., is worth a looksee in its own right; the restored prestige of the Temple Theatre, with its elegant chandeliers and historic bannisters, is too—as are the outrageous “Cool 2 Duel” Dueling Pianos, October 16 at Temple Theatre.
- After you catch a play, listen to pianos, or learn to Cha Cha—on October 16 at ArtWave Saginaw County’s Latin Salsa Dance and Lesson with Angela Markle—you’ll find yourself surrounded by restaurants galore. Indulge at Pasong’s Cafe for global fare in Old Town; the Bancroft Wine & Martini Bar is Downtown, and nearly next door the Temple Theatre!)
Good & Gooey
There’s no better time than Halloween-time to go ArtWave-wild and “Get Slimed”, October 8 (Note: think making take-home slime, not taking a bucket overhead, phew) or to make “Creepy, Crawly Things” October 15 at Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum.
- And don’t miss the “mad scientist” mysterious show throughout the Zoo Boo at Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square, complete with a Dr. Slime Show and trick-or-treating, October 15 – 16, 22 – 23, and 29 – 30! Costumes are welcomed!
Curated Discoveries

Kids naturally enjoy discovering, so they’ll love WNEM Museum After Hours: A Night of Fire & Fun from 5 – 7 p.m. on October 13 featuring firing demonstrations by exhibiting artist Jeff Blandford, cider and donuts at Saginaw Art Museum!
- Big kids might also enjoy an educational lecture, A History of Furniture: From Rococo to Mid-Century at 11 a.m. on October 28 at the Saginaw Art Museum.
ArtWave: One Final Bow
Whether your idea of art is time spent ‘getting slimed’ or mind-walking in a Book Club discussion of “Glass & Glamour: Steuben’s Modern Movement, 1930 – 1960” by Donald Albrecht, ArtWave Saginaw County in October has something for you.
And after the encore, when the final curtain has drawn on ArtWave?
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
- Albert Einstein