Featured Events

Upcoming Events and Classes

Collections Behind the Scenes: Members Tour at the Ella Sharp Museum

One Thursday Every Month in 2024

The Ella Sharp Museum currently houses tens of thousands of objects and documents from throughout Jackson’s history. We are excited to offer you, our members, the chance to tour our hidden collections spaces alongside our curatorial team. Join us for a members-only evening behind the scenes, and glimpse what makes our exhibits tick. The tour will be followed by an open discussion with our curators, including a cash bar with one complementary drink.

Spring Break House Tours

March 25 – 30, 2024

Join us for Spring Break 2024 as we open the doors to Ella Sharp’s Hillside Farmhouse for the season to the Jackson Community. Explore the home of Ella Sharp, learn more about the Merriman-Sharp family and how Ella planted the seed for the museum and park we now know today!

Independent Studio for Advanced Ceramics Artists

April 1 – 29, 2024

Join the Ella Sharp Museum for Independent Studio, to utilize our ceramics studios and equipment to work on their own on select days. Independent Studio is currently available from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Beginner Handbuilding Ceramics Class – Surface Treatments

Wednesdays from April 3 – 24, 2024

Join the Ella Sharp Museum and Curiouser Clay as we make beautiful pieces utilizing surface treatments and press molds, perfect for a beginner to try their hand at ceramics for the first time and take home a completed and personalized piece! Classes are held for four consecutive Wednesday nights from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Princess Tea Party

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Join us for a Princess Tea Party at Ella Sharp Museum. We will have 2 princesses and prince charming doing meet and greats, sing alongs, dancing and activities. We will also be providing drinks and hors d’oeuvres along with free gallery admission after the event. Have fun with your little ones, we encourage dressing up for the event as their favorite princess, prince or character!

Food Truck Wednesdays

April 10th – September 11th
Every Other Wednesday

Join us for Food Truck Wednesdays at Ella Sharp Museum. Food trucks will be parked on farm lane, and the granary patio will be open for seating. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Wedding Event Space Open House

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Join Ella Sharp Musuem with an Open House Wedding mockup. We will have our community room set up for a reception, granary for a bridal shower, outdoors for a ceremony, and the farmhouse for a micro ceremony. On top of that we will have 2 caterers doing samples, cakes by k. renee with also have samples and we will be doing a free wine tasting with cherry creek wines!

JCMHS Speaker Series

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Join the Ella Sharp Museum and the Jackson County Michigan Historical Society as we launch a 2023-2024 Speaker Series on Jackson History. This free lecture series is a great way to foster a deeper understanding of Jackson County history! The Jackson County Michigan Historical Society was founded in 2020 as a not-for-profit, private educational organization dedicated to perpetuating Jackson County’s history. This series is best suited for adults and children 12 years and up. Lectures are held at the Ella Sharp Museum from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.

Adult Prom Night

Saturday, May 25, 2024

Join us for a night full of fun, music, drinks and a chance to dress up and enjoy a night out. The night will include 1 drink ticket per person, cash bar, desert, wine pull fundraiser, raffles, and best dressed award!

Ella Sharp Museum 19th Annual Art, Beer & Wine Festival

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Join your friends (and make new ones) at Ella Sharp Museum’s 19th annual Art, Beer & Wine Festival presented by County National Bank. A favorite community tradition, we’ll showcase many of Michigan’s best wineries, breweries, cider mills and artists. Guests also will enjoy a tasty line-up of food vendors and trucks along with live music throughout the grounds and in our historic Hillside Farm Lane courtyard for a perfect summer day.