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A Massive Celebration of Art in Beautiful Grand Rapids

Home to a large craft brewing scene, world-class festivals, and a variety of cultural attractions, Grand Rapids is the ideal location for your upcoming Michigan vacation. The city is perfect for families, including attractions such as the Children's Museum, John Ball Zoo, and Lena Meijer Children's Garden. Grand Rapids is also a haven for lovers of the outdoors with an impressive list of activities including everything from golfing to fishing on a variety of rivers and lakes.

 

The Festival of the Arts has been the go-to event in Grand Rapids since it began nearly five decades ago. This year’s event will take place June 2-4, at locations across the downtown area. The event is free to attend, and one of the largest festivals in the state, attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year. The theme of this year’s Festival is “Make it a Family Tradition,” and attendees will encounter a variety of family friendly activities like Chalk the Walk, Youth Art Exhibit, Face Painting, Glue-in, Kids Art Zone, and more. Another favorite activity is the Regional Arts Exhibition, which is a juried art show that takes artists from across the region and awards prizes to the top creators and creations. We got the opportunity to interview Lori Harrison-Smith, Event Board Member, to learn more about this tremendous art experience.  

 

RAL: How long has the event been running?

LHS: The Festival began in 1970, and this will be our 48th year.

   

RAL: How many annual participants do you draw?

LHS: More than 300,000!

   

RAL: What demographic does your event attract? Children? Families? Couples?

LHS: This year’s theme is Make It a Family Tradition, but the festival attracts everyone. Many of the people who work downtown look forward to the noon kick-off on Friday, so they can stop by to sample the culinary options. Some popular bands will be on the main stages on Friday and Saturday evenings, which draws couples and groups of friends.

 

RAL: What makes this event unique?

LHS: Volunteers run the event, and it continues to this day because many people care about this tradition. People from all over the region see it as the kick-off to Summer. The event takes up much of downtown Grand Rapids and allows people to stroll freely through the city while enjoying the food, art, and music.

 

RAL: Take me through the activities of a day at the event.

LHS: There will be activities for kids and adults such as the Kids’ Glue-In and Paint-In, designed to let children experiment with their creativity while parents watch from the sidelines. There’s also Face Painting, Mad Hatter, and Chalk the Walk. The event also features a popular, juried art competition called the Regional Arts Exhibition, where artists submit their work to be in the running for awards from local businesses. The exhibit is held at Kendall College of Art and Design. There will also be five stages running throughout the three-day event, offering a variety of entertainment options. For a full list of activities, follow the link.

 

RAL: Will there be any guest appearances?

LHS: A variety of popular local bands, performers, and artists will take part in the event. The mayor kicks off the festivities each year with a proclamation, and local celebrities regularly enjoy the festivities or take the stage to emcee.

 

RAL: What dining options will attendees encounter?

LHS: We have more than 24 food booths offering plenty of options from hot dogs, elephant ears, and popcorn to chicken tamales, Korean tacos, and souvlaki.

 

RAL: Tell us about the atmosphere?

LHS: The event takes up a wide swath of the city, allowing visitors to walk from Rosa Parks Circle to the Calder Stage area. Food booths and stages line the route, as do local restaurants and shops that people can explore.

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

LHS: The festival takes place in downtown, adjacent to the JW Marriott, Amway Grand Plaza, and City Flats Hotel. It’s super convenient for guests.

   

RAL: Does the event support a particular cause in the community?

LHS: Local non-profits run our food booths (26 in total), and bring the majority of their proceeds back to their organizations.

 

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

LHS: Our event is a West Michigan institution – many people grow up going to the event every year and then carry on that tradition with their children. The Festival is the biggest family-friendly street party of the year!

 

For more information about the Festival of the Arts, please visit the event website.