❄️🥗🎒 Snow Days, Salads & Season Two Begins | What’s Up Big Rapids Ep. 52 (1-7-26)

Season Two is officially underway! 🎉

Chris, Pat, and Dom kick off 2026 with snow days, salads, new goals, and a whole lot happening around Big Rapids. Chris is one week into New Year goals (and surprisingly enjoying salads 🥗), while Pat spends his weekend working on his newest downtown venture, The Banded Raccoon 🦝.

Our first guest of 2026 is Austin Bancroft, Director of Camp Brethren Heights, who shares his journey from the Navy to leading one of the area’s most beloved camps — plus details on sledding days, rentals, and how the camp serves the community year-round.

We’ve also got:
🏀 Rec volleyball & basketball updates
🎭 Comedy, music, and events at The Peaks & Sawmill
🎶 Live music returning to Quinn’s Music
🃏 Euchre for a cause
🧊 Polar Plunge planning
👀 And yes… a Dunkin rumor

Season Two starts exactly how Season One ended — full of stories, laughter, and Big Rapids pride.

0:00 – Intro & welcome to Season 2 🎉
1:25 – Chris is 7 days into New Year goals (salads included) 🥗
5:08 – Back-to-back snow days for the kids ❄️
6:05 – Pat works on The Banded Raccoon downtown 🦝
8:00 – Lions season ends — a sad but peaceful goodbye 🦁
8:48 – Pat coaching basketball & Pistons hopes 🏀
9:35 – Co-ed Rec Volleyball starts this week 🏐
10:05 – Chris reviews Over the Top (very unprepared) 🎬
12:45 – Featured Creature of the Week (E & E Tropical Fish) 🐠
14:30 – Guest intro: Austin Bancroft, Camp Brethren Heights 🎙️
15:45 – Austin’s journey from the Navy to Big Rapids 🇺🇸
22:45 – Camp amenities & rental opportunities 🏕️
25:10 – Free sledding day at Camp Brethren Heights (Jan 31) 🛷
28:45 – “Everybody comes from somewhere” — Big Rapids stories ❤️
30:40 – Bulldog Spirit Day at the Eisler Center (Jan 12) 🐾
31:50 – Rumor of the Week: Dunkin at Walmart? 👀☕
35:00 – 2026 goal: creating iconic Big Rapids artwork 🎨
36:40 – Dom heading to Nicaragua ✈️
38:48 – Live comedy at The Peaks (Jan 16) 😂
39:25 – First event at The Banded Raccoon (Vendor Pop-Up Jan 17) 🛍️
41:18 – Y-102 Bridal Show at The Peaks (Jan 18) 💍
43:20 – High Strung Steel at the Sawmill (Jan 24) 🎸
44:45 – Live music returns to Quinn’s Music (Jan 31) 🎶
46:15 – Euchre tournament at the Elks for Comfort House ♠️
48:00 – Polar Plunge for Special Olympics (Feb 28) 🧊
50:55 – Dom’s corrections (IMDB + volleyball officials needed) 🤓
56:00 – Outro & goodbyes 👋

What’s Up Big Rapids podcast, Big Rapids Michigan events, Camp Brethren Heights, Austin Bancroft interview, Big Rapids snow days, The Banded Raccoon Big Rapids, Bulldog Spirit Day Ferris State, Big Rapids rec volleyball, Quinn’s Music live performances, High Strung Steel Sawmill Saloon, Polar Plunge Big Rapids, Special Olympics Michigan, Big Rapids comedy night, Euchre tournament Elks Club, Big Rapids community podcast

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