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Destination
Neighborhoods
Downtown
Enjoy a huge range of entertainment, dining, shopping and sightseeing opportunities, all within an easy, eye-catching 10-minute walk.
West Side
From tigers and coffee to meat markets and Mexican restaurants, the West Side is a fascinating mix of old-school and up-and-coming.
Heartside
Grit, growth and creativity characterize this downtown neighborhood, which boasts unique galleries, clever dining spots and many pleasant…
Heritage Hill
One of the nation’s top old-house neighborhoods – with 1,300 buildings dating back to 1844 – is just a five-minute walk from downtown.
Medical Mile
This world-class health-sciences corridor is spurring new retail and residential developments well beyond its namesake mile.
North Quarter
The city’s largest park, tiniest burger joint, oldest sweet shop and newest best-bar winner are just a few of the pleasures that await visitors.…
Southtown
Diversity is the hallmark of Southtown, with numerous ethnic groups contributing to a vibrant mix of restaurants, shops and events.
Uptown
An eclectic mix of specialty shops, galleries, restaurants and entertainment venues reflect this area’s friendly, funky, fabulous character.
Festival of the Arts
Celebrating 50 Years
June 7-9, 2019
In 1969, Alexander Calder’s mammoth La Grande Vitesse sculpture was installed in front of City Hall in downtown Grand Rapids. The city had commissioned Calder to create a piece as part of its urban renewal initiative. The sculpture, built to reflect the “great swiftness” of the Grand River that flows through downtown, quickly became a symbol of the city’s fresh vision and forward movement.
Just as importantly, La Grande Vitesse inspired a vibrant public art movement – starting with the very first Festival of the Arts. It’s Grand Rapids’ biggest street party of the year … and it’s all about bringing people together to celebrate artistic expression.
A June Tradition
The first Festival of the Arts drew about 7,000 people and activities were confined to Vandenberg Plaza, the public square now commonly referred to as Calder Plaza. Today, the event spans multiple city blocks and attracts upwards of 300,000 visitors – always on the first weekend of June each year.
Festival of the Arts has also expanded its scope over the years, encompassing virtually every discipline of the arts – visual art, dance, music, film, literature, design and more. It’s also become one of the city’s favorite food events, as local nonprofit organizations host booths offering a tremendous variety of street foods, including Greek, Polish, Asian, and Latin favorites.
Free, Fun, Fabulous
One thing hasn’t changed in 50 years – admission to the first Festival of Arts was free. And it still is today. Festival remains an all-volunteer operation that invites everyone to attend and experience the region’s rich artistic talent.
ArtPrize and Project 1 by ArtPrize have made Grand Rapids a global arts destination. But we’re local first – and Festival of the Arts is the purest expression of that. Come be a part of the 50th anniversary celebration!
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Official Travel Guide
Our 2019 Visitor's Guide features 84 colorful pages of don't-leave-home-without-it information on attractions, activities, lodging and more. Flip through the online guide or request your FREE copy by mail.
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