Saginaw MI is a true melting pot with dozens of fun things to do. You can, for example, visit the Castle Museum. This stunning historical structure houses a sports, archeology, and lumber era hall of fame, as well as an automotive museum.
You can also visit the Saginaw Art Museum. It has a collection of sculptures and watercolor artwork by European and American artists. The museum is located in a Georgian Revival mansion with Italianate gardens.
The Great Mural Project
Located in downtown Saginaw, the Great Mural Project is a collection of local artists that paint murals around town. These pieces honor a variety of historical figures and cultural events as well as local history.
The project was started in 2017 to bring even more public art to the city. Along with Alayna Wesener, a Communications Specialist at McLaren Bay Region and owner of Sushi Remix, Cassi Miller, a Business Development Specialist at Saginaw Future Inc, and Dawn Goodrow, the owner of Dawn of a New Day coffee house, they’ve painted several murals.
The largest mural, which stands at the Commerce Center in downtown Saginaw, honors civil rights activist Jim Letherer. The mural features an image of him with one leg walking on crutches. It’s a symbol of his larger than life legacy. A mural will be painted on an entire STARS Bus to honor Theodore Roethke. The group is proud of their efforts in creating such large-scale paintings.
The Great Lakes Bay Trail
Tucked along Saginaw Bay, this unique area offers a variety of ways to explore its natural beauty. Wander secluded woodland trails to spot warblers in spring, take a hike up the 1400 foot Whiting Forest canopy walk (the largest of its kind in the United States) during fall or snowshoe across fresh powdery peaks during winter.
The region also has a number of parks that feature walking trails. Wenonah Park features scenic views of bridges and lush foliage in the summer, while Bay City State Park’s beach, Tobico Marsh, and Anderson Nature Trail provide a range of options.
During our recent visit we took advantage of the 3.3 mile Bay City Tobico Marsh Trail which offers a variety of scenic wetlands and 2 observation towers to climb up. We also had the opportunity to explore the 2.5 mile Bay City Anderson Nature Trail as well as the 1.35 mile Tobico Lagoon Trail. All of these trails are part of the Greater Lakes Bay Regional Trail System, which will, once fully constructed, connect Midland and Bay counties to their existing paths.
Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra
The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) was first created in 1935 as a project of the City’s Parks Department and has held annual concert series ever since. It was founded in 1953 as a nonprofit corporation, and one of 50 charter members of American Symphony Orchestra League. Today, it is a fully-professional ensemble which gives classical, chamber, ballet, historical and modern dance, opera and pops concerts throughout the year.
In this performance, world famous pianist Alessio Bax, winner of the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and featured in NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, joins your SBSO, conducted by Maestro Fouad Fakhouri, in a tribute to the masterpieces of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Journey through the cosmos from the historic Temple Theatre as Maestro Fouad Fakhouri leads your Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra in a space-themed concert that includes John Williams’ Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Rouse’s Phaethon and Holst’s beloved The Planets, complete with synchronized overhead projection including footage from NASA.
Ojibway Island
Ojibway Island is Saginaw’s own island park, located in the heart of downtown. It offers relaxing picnics, riverside walks, and leisure bike rides. This is also where many locals go to watch the annual 4th of July fireworks and for ice fishing during winter.
Every year, the park hosts a wide range of concerts, from rock to country music and jazz. To keep track of upcoming performances, check out Songkick.
The island is a scenic and calming oasis in the middle of busy downtown Saginaw. The island is conveniently located near popular local attractions like the Japanese Tea Gardens and Anderson Enrichment Center. There are also unique, locally-owned restaurants that serve a wide variety of cuisines in Old Town and downtown Saginaw. You can find some of the best food and drink in the area at the SVRC Marketplace, located in downtown Saginaw. The SVRC Marketplace features a diverse selection of locally-owned business, including small restaurants and boutiques.