Calendar

To celebrate its 175th anniversary, Grand Rapids is launching a mobile museum exhibit featuring 175 pictures that highlight key moments in the city's history. This traveling exhibit, a partnership between the city and the Grand Rapids Public Museum, will make stops throughout the city and be featured at several upcoming events.

Did you know, A 175th anniversary is known as a dodransbicentennial.

The City of Grand Rapids was incorporated on April 2, 1850, and then officially established on May 2 of that year. It’s been a long and eventful journey from then to now – and you can explore some of the most significant aspects of the past on our History of Grand Rapids page and the City’s Facts and History page.

This dodransbicentennial year is also a great time to take the self-guided Community Legends Sculpture Tour and “meet” 13 local figures who made significant contributions to the city, the country and the world.

https://www.devosplace.org/events/2025/the-history-of-grand-rapids-in-175-images

Join us for our annual Hollyhock Lane Parade!

• 8:00am: participants line up
• 8:30am: marching begins

For more details, please see the Hollyhock Lane Parade Facebook page here!

https://www.ottawahillsgr.org/hollyhock-lane-parade

Grand Rapids Foodie Fest

July 4th, Friday: 3:00PM-10:00PM
July 5th, Saturday: 11:00AM-10:00PM
July 6th, Sunday: 12:00PM-6:00PM

The 4th Annual Grand Rapids Foodie Fest is a three-day event celebrating a diverse community of food vendors, retail merchants, and live entertainment throughout the weekend.
Event Details

📍 Location: Downtown Grand Rapids – The Calder Plaza
📍 Address: 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI
👥 Estimated Attendance: 20,000+ individuals over the weekend

https://grandrapidsfoodiefest.com/

Boston Square Summer Celebration (B2’ Fair)
FOOD, FUN, MUSIC and GAMES

FREE ICE CREAM 🍦, HOTDOGS 🌭, BOOKS📚 for the kids.
Bring the family and SPREAD THE WORD!! 🎉🎉

https://www.facebook.com/events/1484563092189710/

The annual celebration of Independence Day will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The skies over Grand Rapids will come alive in a dazzling celebration of Independence Day as the 2025 Grand Rapids Fireworks, presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, returns to Ah-Nab-Awen Park on Saturday, July 5, 2025.

This family-friendly, free event brings together music, community, and one of the region’s most spectacular fireworks displays — all in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

Riverbank Events and Media, home of the Amway River Bank Run and Gentex Santa Parade, is coordinating the live entertainment which kicks off at 6 p.m. and includes food vendors and vendor exhibits. The family activities continue through 10:30 p.m. and the start of the fireworks display.

https://4thofjulygr.com/

Come join us for this summer for three
lively concerts, lawn games, and fun out
front at Beacon Hill! The Beacon Hill food
truck Traveling Plate is scheduled to be at
each concert.

Neighbors, please bring lawn chairs and
blankets. In the event of inclement weather,
the concerts will take place in the auditorium.

All concerts will begin at 7:00pm and run
approximately one hour.

Please join us for an evening of art and community.

On Thursday, July 10, we'd like to flood the
neighborhood with chalk art. Then, between 6:30-
7:30pm, come stroll the sidewalks with your neighbors
while enjoying everyone's efforts.

It will be a relaxed evening of colorful fun while
sharing the sidewalks with each other. Please keep
an eye for more details in our Eastgate Facebook
Group.

Join neighbors and the friendly staff from GRPL for a mid-morning storytime designed for families with children 0 - 8 years old.  This event is FREE and open to the public.

All are welcome to join for a fun-filled evening of food and outdoor entertainment!

Join the ECA and community partners to enjoy a relaxing bike ride through the vibrant streets of the Eastown and Martin Luther King Park neighborhoods. These inclusive bike rides cater to individuals of all ages and skill levels.

Discover your inner hero at the library’s annual comic event. Celebrate the comic books you love and geek out about your favorite fandom. Join us for hands-on activities, snacks, free books, a comic & craft station, and other fun events designed for all ages.

Attendees can take home a free 2025 Comic Geek Out poster designed by Cody Coppernoll and enjoy free snacks and refreshments while supplies last.

https://www.grpl.org/comicgeekout/

Pleasant Peninsula 2025
Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM
52 Front Ave, Grand Rapids, MI

Discover environmental art, activism, and education at the Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival!

This is the big one: we’re holding a national mural festival in Grand Rapids on July 26! Join us at 52 Front Avenue for this totally free fest that runs from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. The Blue Bridge and surrounding riverside will be packed to the gills with family-friendly fun and nature education, including:

• 21 new murals from artists across the country, each featuring a different endangered species native to Michigan
• An artist market with 40+ vendors
• An ecologically educational speaker series
• Activities like a kids’ mural tent, animal meet & greets, tree ID walks, and fishing demos
• Food trucks, live music, and more!

Get all the deets:
https://www.pleasantpeninsula.org/events/pleasant-peninsula-2025

See how your City government works and our Commissioners in real life!

The Summer Commission Night Out is July 29 starting at 5:30pm with free food and activities.  City Commission meeting at 7pm.

Gerald R. Ford Middle School
851 Madison Avenue SE, GrandRapids, MI 49507