Saginaw MI is a true melting pot with dozens of fun things to do. For example, you can visit the Castle Museum, a stunning historic structure that houses an automotive, lumber era, archeology and sports hall of fame.
Or you can go to the Saginaw Art Museum, which has a permanent collection of watercolor artwork and sculptures from European and American artists. The museum is set in a Georgian-Revival mansion and features Italianate gardens.
The Great Mural Project
The Great Mural project is located in downtown Saginaw and is an association of local artists who paint murals all over the town. These pieces celebrate a range of historical figures, cultural events, and local history.
The project was started in 2017 to bring even more public art to the city. They’ve painted murals with Alayna, a Communications specialist at McLaren Bay Region, owner of Sushi Remix and Cassi Miller, a business development specialist at Saginaw Future Inc., as well Dawn Goodrow, owner of Dawn of a New Day Coffee House.
The mural at the Commerce Center, downtown Saginaw honors civil right activist Jim Letherer. The mural shows him walking with crutches on one leg. It’s a symbol of his larger than life legacy. Another upcoming project features a mural that will cover an entire STARS bus to honor poet Theodore Roethke. Creating such massive paintings is no easy feat, and the group takes pride in their work.
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.
There are also a number parks in the region that have walking trails. Wenonah Park offers scenic bridge views and lush foliage during summer while Bay City State Park’s beach, Tobico Marsh and Anderson Nature Trail offer a variety 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 explored the Bay City Anderson Nature Trail, a 2.5-mile trail in Bay City. The Tobico Lagoon Trail is 1.3 miles long. 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. In 1953, it was incorporated as a separate nonprofit corporation and became one of the 50 charter members of the 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. Locals also flock here to view the 4th of Jul fireworks and ice fish in 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.
It is a beautiful and tranquil oasis right in the heart of Saginaw. It is also conveniently located near other popular local attractions such as Japanese Tea Gardens, Anderson Enrichment Center, and Hoyt Park. There are also unique, locally-owned restaurants that serve a wide variety of cuisines in Old Town and downtown Saginaw. The SVRC Marketplace in downtown Saginaw is a great place to find the best food and drinks in the area. The SVRC Marketplace features a diverse selection of locally-owned business, including small restaurants and boutiques.