GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Festival of the Arts is returning to Grand Rapids for its 55th year of bringing food, music and art downtown for the first full weekend in June.
The festival is taking place on June 7, 8 and 9 and will be on Ottawa Avenue from Michigan Street to Fountain Street.
55 years ago the festival began as a way to celebrate the installation of Alexander Calder's sculpture, "La Grande Vitesse," on Calder Plaza and since then it has only grown.
This year, there will be 46 local artists selling their work, 23 food vendors representing more than 10 different cultures and about 150 local performance groups performing on five different stages throughout the weekend.
A complete map of the festival can be found here.
"I really believe Festival of the Arts brings the whole community together," said Festival of the Arts Executive Director Missy Summers. "In this world sometimes, where people are so against each other and fighting, Festival of the Arts brings everybody together. So you can go down and you can see all types of people. And we all come together and celebrate art and culture here in West Michigan."
The stages where there will be performances are:
- Calder Stage - Calder Plaza
- Clocktower Stage – The clocktower at the County Courthouse
- City Stage – The intersection of Ottawa Ave. and Fountain St.
- di Suvero Stage – Behind the Federal Building
- Indoor Classical – The Atrium at Uccello’s downtown
A schedule of performances can be found here.
Visitors will also be able to view the Regional Arts and Youth Art Exhibitions at DeVos Place.
To ensure the event is family-friendly and enjoyable for all visitors, Festival Executive Director Missy Summers said they partnered with numerous local organizations.
“Family Futures will be setting up a nursing and changing area, Disability Advocates & Carelinc will have wheelchairs on site, Grand Rapids Public Libraries & Kent District Libraries are hosting a relaxation area, and Quota Club of Grand Rapids is providing ear plugs,” Summers said.
New to the festival this year is the create-your-own-comic-book booth, but annual favorites will make a return.
Storytelling will take place in the lobby of the Warner Building, glass-blowing demonstrations will be held in the Demonstration Tent and Urban Sketchers will be on Calder Plaza.
Lost Art Brewhouse created a limited-edition beer for the festival that will only be sold at Uccello's locations. There will also be a Festival After Dark Comedy Show at The Atrium at Uccello's from 9 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 8.
Visitors are also encouraged to bring shoes they'd like to donate to the festival, as event organizers partnered with gotsneakers?, an organization that recycles all shoes and use canvas shoes to create artist canvases. A drop-off location will be available at the Information Booth in Calder Plaza.
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