34 Things That Make Ionia,Michigan Unique

Ionia is a great small town. We seem to take for granted the things Ionia has to offer. In this article I will be talking about the things that make Ionia so unique and why I love living in this town.

1.

Danny Boy's Drive-in. There are only 8 drive-in movie theaters in Michigan and we're lucky to have one in our town.

2.

We get to have a Meijer and a Walmart.

3.

Ionia's most famous event, the Ionia Free fair, what's free about it? Going to see the shows on the E! stage, the circus, getting to see the animals, Ionia Idol, Kids Day, the motorcycle show, the High Flying Pages, the exhibits in the Merchant's Building, the Antique Village, seeing the 4-H displays, the art and photography, and so much more!

4.

We still have the Red Brick Road downtown.

5.

Many beautiful historical buildings, some of them made from sandstone like the Blanchard house, the Library, and the Court house.

6.

Getting to have a Catholic school, so you have the opportunity to send your child to public or private school.

7.

Many chuches throughout Ionia with a wide range of denominations.

8.

Bertha Brock Park all four seasons.

9.

The historic downtown theater.

10.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show every year.

11.

Sessions Lake, where you can camp, fish, hike, and ride horses.

12.

There are city, county, and state parks all in Ionia.

13.

Safe and fun activities for kids such as the skate park, the go-kart track, Skateland,and a bowling alley.

14.

At least 4 parades a year (Memorial, Ionia Free Fair, Homecoming, and Christmas).

15.

Live theater like Young People's Theater, Ionia Community Theater, and the high school productions.

16.

A strong turn out for community events such as Relay for Life, Community Dinner, Music on the Green, Ionia Expo, the Chilli Dawg Challenge, Community Awareness Week (a.k.a Purple week), the Advent walk, and the Fall Festival.

17.

Ionia takes care of their Seniors by Heartlands Health Care, Green Acres Retirement, Valley View Seniors, Ionia Area Hospice, Commission on Aging, and Meals on Wheels delivery.

18.

Recreational lessons for kids in dance, music, karate, flying, and tumbling.

19.

Four Subways (including 1 that is open 24/hours).

20.

If you don't feel like cooking, pizza delivered to your house or for pick-up from Little Caesars, Pizza Hut, Palermo's Pizza, Rennuci's, Red Tomato, and Olivera's.

21.

A farmer's market twice a week in season.

22.

If you're feeling broke we have low cost solutions such as places to rent furniture and appliances, dollar stores, pawn shops, and thrift and consignment stores.

23.

Not all towns have a Christmas tree in the middle of Main Street in the Christmas season.

24.

In Ionia we help each other turn trash into cash through online selling groups like Ionia County Online Yard Sale, Ionia County Buy-Sell-and-Trade, and Ionia County Bargainers.

25.

No matter what side of town you are on you can always get good coffee with the best coffee chain, Biggby and locally roasted coffee from Sozo.

26.

Ionia is the county seat.

27.

It's a safe community with correction's officer's living every other door, city police, and Sheriff's Department.

28.

If your activities don't keep you active we have Snap Fitness, the armory, and other work out facilities to keep you in shape.

29.

Ionia's a community that helps each other out through public services like the animal shelter, the food pantry, soup kitchen, Alcoholics Anonymous, Pregnancy Services, Planned Parenthood, and Straight Street.

30.

Why buy new when you can fix it up? Ionia believes in repair with vacuum cleaner repair, bicycle repair, home repair, auto body repair, sewing, and tire repair.

31.

No need to travel to a big city to have your choppers taken care of, having at least 7 practicing dentists, we also have a orthodontist and oral surgeon.

32.

Hometown cooking is at it's best in Ionia where we have Aunt Stephie's, Lamplight Grill, Renucci's, El Mariachi, Blue Water Cafe, and Sherry's.

33.

There are 3 operational one-room (rural) school houses, in Ionia.

34.

It's a very family oriented town with bumping into friends and family on a trip to the grocery store, and quiet nights.

Written by Ionia High school Freshman Heidi Simon

With help from her family