This year brings a new entry to Bay City’s Fall calendar, with the inaugural MI Made Marketplace Festival.  This outdoor event is scheduled to be held September 30 thru October 1, on Washington Avenue & Fifth Street in Downtown Bay City.  The event will run from 10 AM to 5 PM each day.

The Marketplace will have a number of great features, including dozens of Michigan-based vendors selling handcrafted goods, and an assortment of food trucks.  MI Marketplace has also teamed with Studio 23 to sponsor a downtown-wide art walk during the event with over 50 businesses signed up to display the works of local artists.

As Tara Welch, Executive Director at Studio 23 and a member of the organizing committee of MI Made Marketplace, described, “We were motivated to start this event because we wanted to bring something new to our area.  Michigan made products are popular and we all love our state, so the theme was easy to agree on.  The vendors are all different and unique.  We will have soaps, food, clothing, home decor, books and more! There will be something for everyone.  The momentum of young entrepreneurs in Downtown Bay City is what is growing our area.  Shop owners have unique items that you can't get at a big box store. “

Organizing committee member Jessica McQuarter, who is the co-owner of the Electric Kitsch Record Shop, agreed, “I personally have been overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of Michigan artisans we've gathered for the event. We really have a great mix from all over the state. My favorite part about the planning has been checking out the things the talented vendors make. We're still getting late vendor entries and it makes it more exciting as the number of interested festival goers keeps rising.”

McQuarter continued, “The underlying goal (of the event) is to be able to give proceeds to Hell’s Half Mile for 2018 as well as give to at least one other non-profit, such as Studio 23.”

More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page or by e-mailing, mimademarketplace@gmail.com.