Autumn and the holidays are a lively time downtown. Between theatre, ghost tours, planetarium shows, a tree lighting and free carriage rides, there is something on almost every weekend. This guide lists the dates we have confirmed from the organizers' own calendars, grouped by weekend so you can plan a trip.
As of October 11, 2026. Dates and times can change. Each event on our events calendar links to its source and can be added to Google Calendar in one click.
Picks at a glance: Family: Santa's Arrival (Nov 27), free carriage rides (Dec 6, 13, 20), free holiday movies. Date night: Sinatra Spectacular (Dec 6), The Crucible (Oct 16-25), a downtown dinner. Spooky season: ghost tours (Oct 16, 17, 31) and Rocky Horror (Oct 23, 24, 31).
October
October 15-18
- Thursday, Oct 15: Hell's Half Mile Film Series screens Kings of Kubb at the State Theatre, 7 pm. A New Blue, an exoplanet planetarium show, plays at Delta College Planetarium at 2 pm.
- Friday, Oct 16: The Crucible opens at Bay City Players (also Oct 17, 18). Downtown Ghost Walking Tours (21+) start at 6 pm from the DryDock Beer Garden. Dark Universe plays at the planetarium at 2 pm, and the Bay County Girl Scouts hold a Glow Party at 6 pm.
- Saturday, Oct 17: a second ghost walking tour at 6 pm, the Monster Light Show at the planetarium (2 pm and 7 pm), Dream to Fly at 3:30 pm, and a Saginaw River Marine Historical Society talk on salvaging collections at 6:30 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church.
- Sunday, Oct 18: Young Hearts, a Rod Stewart tribute, at the State Theatre, 7 pm.
October 21-25
- Wednesday, Oct 21: City Hall History Tour at the Bay County Historical Museum, 11 am. The Historic Masonic Temple also hosts a Writers' Roundtable.
- Friday, Oct 23: The Friction Halloween Concert at the Court Street Theatre, 7:30 pm, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Historic Masonic Temple, with a midnight showing for ages 18 and up.
- Saturday, Oct 24: Treats & Treasures downtown, 11:30 am, Lee Hardin Comedy Night at the State Theatre, 7 pm, and Rocky Horror again at the Masonic Temple.
- Through Sunday, Oct 25: The Crucible continues at Bay City Players.
October 27-31: Halloween week
- Free movies: Hocus Pocus at the Court Street Theatre (Oct 27, 6 pm), Monster House at the State Theatre (Oct 28, 6 pm) and at Court Street (Oct 30, 6 pm), and Hocus Pocus at the State Theatre on Oct 31 at 1 pm.
- Halloween night, Oct 31: Downtown Ghost Tours on a Trolley (21+) run at 6 pm and 8:30 pm, and the Masonic Temple hosts the Rocky Horror Halloween Spooktacular.
For fall color, head to Bay City State Park. Peak color usually arrives around mid-October, and the park's marsh trails are a good place to see it.
November
- Nov 1: Carla Gill as Dolly & Others at the State Theatre, 7 pm.
- Nov 6: Grefe Gaus Grefe: Listen to the Music, Court Street Theatre, 7 pm.
- Nov 7: Masonic Boom Benefit Concert at the Historic Masonic Temple.
- Nov 13: Observe Saturn Family Night at Delta College Planetarium, 6 pm.
- Nov 14: The Chairmen, a tribute to country music, at the State Theatre, 7 pm.
- Nov 19: Hell's Half Mile Film Series: Made-in-Michigan Shorts, State Theatre, 7 pm.
- Nov 21-22: Free screenings of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Nov 21 at Court Street, Nov 22 at the State Theatre, both 1 pm), a Marine Historical Society talk on Saginaw's houseboats (Nov 21, 6:30 pm) and Maximum Overdrive at the Masonic Temple that night, part of its Midnight Monster Movies series.
- Friday, Nov 27: Santa's Arrival and Tree Lighting in Wenonah Park, 7 pm. Santa arrives for a performance and the tree lighting, then meets the children.
- Saturday, Nov 28: Nate & Mary Ida Doan Santa House at Veterans Memorial Park, from 6 pm.
- Sunday, Nov 29: Sundays in the City begins, with holiday shopping downtown and a chance to win the Sleigh of Gifts grand prize at participating businesses.
December
December 4-6
- Friday, Dec 4: The Great Lakes Market holiday market, 5 pm to 8 pm, inside a greenhouse full of Christmas trees with food trucks, handmade goods and live music. The Land of Forgotten Toys opens at Bay City Players at 7:30 pm, and the Masonic Temple screens Heavy Metal as part of its Midnight Monster Movies series.
- Saturday, Dec 5: Krampus Walk in Wenonah Park (RSVP on the Masonic Temple website), Krampusnacht at the Masonic Temple, Warren Miller's Days Off at the State Theatre at 7 pm and a Land of Forgotten Toys matinee at 3 pm.
- Sunday, Dec 6: Free carriage rides downtown from noon to 3 pm near the State Theatre, Holidays at the Trombley House at 1 pm and the Sinatra Spectacular Holiday Show at the State Theatre at 7 pm.
December 10-20
- Dec 10-13: The Land of Forgotten Toys continues at Bay City Players, including a relaxed performance on Dec 10 at 6:30 pm.
- Dec 11: Elvis Tribute Concert at the Court Street Theatre, 7 pm.
- Dec 12: Cole in Your Stocking, a holiday piano show, at the State Theatre, 3 pm.
- Dec 13 and Dec 20: more free carriage rides downtown, noon to 3 pm.
- Dec 17: Hell's Half Mile Film Series: Honeyjoon, State Theatre, 7 pm.
- Dec 19-20: Free screenings of The Grinch (Dec 19 at the State Theatre, Dec 20 at Court Street, both 1 pm).
Christmas week
- Dec 23: Free screening of Elf at the State Theatre, 6 pm.
- Dec 24: Free screening of Elf at the Court Street Theatre, 1 pm.
Best bets by type of trip
With kids
Santa's Arrival on Nov 27, the Santa House on Nov 28, the free carriage rides and the free holiday movies are the easy family picks. The planetarium also offers family nights.
Date night
Book dinner downtown, then catch The Crucible, a State Theatre concert such as the Sinatra Spectacular, or a film. Our Eat page lists restaurants, and the craft beer guide has a drink for afterward.
On a budget
Several of the best events are free: the carriage rides, Santa's Arrival and the free movie screenings. Check each listing for details.
Planning your trip
- Stay downtown. Riverfront hotels put you within walking distance of the park and the theatres. See the Stay page.
- Dress for the weather. Bay City is on the water and can be cold and windy. Check the forecast in the bar at the top of every page.
- Eat before the show. Downtown restaurants fill up on event nights. Browse the Eat page and book ahead.
- Save the dates. Open the events calendar, click an event, and choose "Add to Google Calendar," or download the whole list as a calendar file.
Sources
Dates come from the State Theatre and Court Street Theatre listings, the Historic Masonic Temple, Bay City Players, the Go Great Lakes Bay events listing and the City of Bay City calendar. Always confirm with the organizer.