Band of Locals

The Band of Locals operates out of 118 N. Michigan Avenue in downtown Big Rapids, sharing space with the Old Pioneer Store and Emporium, and runs a Blue Band discount program covering businesses across Mecosta, Osceola, and Montcalm Counties. A Blue Band costs $10, carries no expiration date, and typically pays for itself after a few stops. Discounts from current members range from a reduced-price oil change to savings on a vehicle purchase, and shoppers can pick up a band at the Old Pioneer Store or the Mecosta County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 127 S. State Street. Local business owners join the program for a one-time $50 fee that includes five Blue Bands to give away or resell. Membership also comes with a spot on the weekly Spotlight on the Band of Locals radio segment, which airs Friday mornings on Sunny 97.3 and streams on Facebook Live. Regulars return for the group's seasonal downtown festivals, which have brought in live entertainment and vendor booths, plus family activities like face painting. Visitors exploring downtown Big Rapids shops and restaurants can stretch their trip further by picking up a Blue Band early in their visit, then using it at stops throughout the county for the rest of their stay.