Public Safety Expo Brings Live Demonstrations and Family Activities Downtown

Residents are invited to attend the 2^nd Annual Public Safety Expo on May 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Center (Main/Broadway) for a free, family-friendly event showcasing the agencies, equipment and partnerships that help keep the Mt. Pleasant community safe every day.

As part of the event setup, an overturned vehicle used for an accident reconstruction demonstration will be placed in the City Hall parking lot prior to the start of the expo, including overnight before the event. The vehicle display is intentional and part of the planned educational programming for the Public Safety Expo. The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is aware of the setup as part of the planned event.

Hosted in partnership with ServPro and Discount Towing, the event will feature live demonstrations, emergency vehicles, educational displays and opportunities to meet first responders and public safety professionals from across the region.

Participating agencies and organizations include:

Michigan State Police
Mt. Pleasant Police Department
Mt. Pleasant Fire Department
Isabella County Central Dispatch
Isabella County Sheriff’s Office
Michigan Independent Search & Rescue
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Fire Department
Mobile Medical Response
Isabella Bank
Green’s Towing

Opening ceremonies will begin at 11:15 a.m. with the National Anthem performed by Brian Eldred and a flag presentation by the Central Michigan University Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Scheduled demonstrations throughout the event include:

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – K-9 demonstration
12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Vehicle extrication (“car cutting”) demonstration
12:30 to 1:00 p.m. – K-9 demonstration
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Accident reconstruction demonstration

A medical helicopter is also expected to visit the event, weather and emergency response conditions permitting.

Several local food vendors and community partners will be providing complimentary and discounted refreshments during the expo, including:

Pisanello’s Pizza featuring $2.50 pizza slices
GreenTree Co-op offering free assorted bakery items
Dunkin’ providing free donuts and coffee
I Scream Ice Cream Truck serving free ice cream, root beer floats and Boston coolers

Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend to learn more about public safety services, emergency response operations and the collaborative partnerships that support the Mt. Pleasant community.

Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market Returns with New Saturday Evening Hours

For more than 50 years, the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market has brought fresh in-season fruits and vegetables while creating a welcoming space to gather, connect, and support local farmers. The 2026 season brings exciting changes, including a new Saturday evening market, while continuing the traditions that residents have counted on for decades.

The Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market kicks off the 2026 season on Thursday, May 7, at Island Park’s South Shelter. The Thursday Market will run from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 29, offering fresh produce, live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, and an unforgettable experience for customers of all ages.

New This Year: Saturday Evening Market

The Saturday Farmers’ Market is moving to evenings in 2026, running from 4 to 8 p.m. at Town Center (Main & Broadway), June 13 through September 26.

This change follows feedback gathered from vendors, shoppers, and community stakeholders. The updated hours reflect that input and are designed to better fit residents’ schedules, while creating a lively downtown atmosphere on Saturday evenings.

2026 Market Hours at a Glance

Thursday Market:
Island Park’s South Shelter
7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 7 – October 29

Saturday Market
Town Center (Main & Broadway)
4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
June 13 – September 26

Making Healthy Food Accessible for All

The Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market is committed to making healthy, locally grown food accessible to residents of all incomes. In 2025, the market processed more than $34,000 in food assistance transactions, and 171 residents used food assistance programs for the first time.

The market accepts a wide range of assistance programs:

SNAP/EBT
Double Up Food Bucks
Prescription for Health
Credit/debit market tokens for vendors unable to process card payments

Community Programming and Partnerships

Cooking demonstrations and nutrition-focused programming will be offered throughout the season, with support from local and regional partners.

In 2025, partnerships with the Chippewa River District Library and McLaren Health Plan helped distribute 840 Cook the Kit meal kits, providing families with fresh ingredients and simple, healthy recipes.

For more information about the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market, visit www.mt-pleasant.org/farmersmarket or follow the market on Facebook.

Parking Lot #3 Saturday Closures – Farmers’ Market

Beginning June 18 – October 8, 2022 parking lot #3, located at the NW corner of Main and Broadway will be closed on Saturday’s for the weekly Farmers’ Market. Overnight permit holders are requested to park in lots #2, #4 or #5 on Friday nights during this time. Cars left in parking lot #3 will be towed, at no cost to the vehicle owner, to parking lot #10, located at the NW corner of Broadway and Mosher.

The Farmers’ Market runs from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

In addition to on-street parking, other free daytime parking options include:

PARKING LOT #1

Located at the NW corner of Michigan and Franklin, behind the Broadway Theatre, Stan’s and Grays Furniture and Boutique.

PARKING LOT #2 (AKA JOCKEY ALLEY)

Located on Mosher, between Main and Court.

PARKING LOT #4

Located on Washington between Michigan and Broadway, behind Curtiss Pro Hardware and the Upper Cut.

PARKING LOT #5

Located at the SE corner of Michigan and Washington, behind the old Ward Theatre.

PARKING LOT #6

Located at the NW corner of University and Illinois, behind Listening Ear and The Bird Bar and Grill.

PARKING LOT #9

Located on Mosher, between Court and Franklin.

PARKING LOT #10

Located at the NW corner of Broadway and Mosher.

PARKING LOT #11

Located on Franklin, between Broadway and Mosher.

PARKING LOT #12

Located at the SW corner of Oak and Broadway.

CITY HALL PARKING LOT (#13)

Located behind City Hall, at 320 West Broadway.