You can have a full day in Bay City without spending anything on admission. The riverfront, miles of trails, historic downtown streets and a handful of free community events make it an easy city to enjoy on a budget. Here are the best free things to do, with a few notes on what is not quite free.
Not quite free: a Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to Bay City State Park, and some events charge for parking or food. Always check the organizer's details.
The riverfront
- Wenonah Park on Center Avenue, home of the World Friendship Shell, is open around the clock.
- Riverwalk Pier is a riverside boardwalk with viewing points, also open all day and night.
- Third Street Waterfall Park is a river overlook at the end of Third Street with benches.
- Veterans Memorial Park has open space along the river, picnic areas and the accessible Play City playground.
- Kantzler Memorial Arboretum is a 12-acre landscaped plaza beside the Davidson Dry Dock, a former shipbuilding inlet.
Trails and nature
- The Riverwalk and Rail Trail total roughly 10 miles, with benches, a gazebo and a walking track.
- Ted Putz Nature Area has a boardwalk through wetlands and is open all day and night.
- Bigelow Park on Middleground Island offers skyline views, picnic areas and fishing.
- Carroll Park is a shady park with a pavilion and a duck pond.
Watch the river work
The Saginaw River is a working waterway. Bridges here open for freighters, and watching a big ship pass through downtown is a fun, free show. Photographers love the moment a bridge lifts. Our riverfront guide has the best spots.
Look at the architecture
Bay City's lumber and shipbuilding past left behind handsome buildings. Walk Midland Street's historic storefronts, admire the Romanesque-style City Hall, the former Carnegie Library and the Historic Masonic Temple from the outside, and see the towers of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, a registered Michigan Historic Site. The history page has the stories, and photos of many of these buildings.
Free events
- Santa's Arrival and tree lighting, Wenonah Park, Friday, November 27, 2026 at 7 pm.
- Free carriage rides downtown on December 6, 13 and 20, noon to 3 pm near the State Theatre.
- Free holiday movies at the State Theatre and Court Street Theatre, including Hocus Pocus, Monster House, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, The Grinch and Elf. See the calendar for dates.
- Sundays in the City downtown on the holiday weekends, with shop windows and seasonal fun.
Markets and window-shopping
The Bay Area Farmers Market in the Pere Marquette parking plaza on 5th Street ran on Thursdays from 2 to 7 pm in 2026, and browsing is free. Downtown's antique shops and the Bay City Antiques Center are also fun to wander through.
Read, learn and listen
Check the calendar for free talks and community events, such as the lecture series at Bay City State Park and presentations at local venues. Many are free or low cost, but confirm the details with the organizer.
A free day plan
- Morning: walk the Riverwalk from Wenonah Park to Veterans Memorial Park.
- Midday: picnic at Bigelow Park or Veterans Memorial Park. Pick up a sandwich on the way from our Eat page.
- Afternoon: admire the downtown architecture and browse the shop windows.
- Evening: catch a free event if one is scheduled, or watch the sunset from Riverwalk Pier.
Want more? The Weekend Planner can build a day for you, and you can save favorites to My List.
Sources
Park and trail details come from the City of Bay City's parks page. Event details come from Downtown Bay City, the State Theatre and the Bay Area Farmers Market.