Tag Archives: Festival

Public Museum celebrates diversity through its Ethnic Heritage Festival

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Food, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, West Michigan, , , , ,
Area residents will have the opportunity to explore a variety of different cultures during the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Ethnic Heritage Festival. (Supplied)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

On All Saints Day, which is Nov. 1, it is a tradition in Poland to visit the cemetery and decorate your loved one’s grave with flowers and candles.

“From what I understand, you can see it for miles and it is very beautiful,” said Marilyn Lignell, who is a member of the Polish Heritage Society. It also sounds very similar to another tradition that is hosted halfway around the world in Mexico when on the same day, Mexicans celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a time when family and friends honor and remember those who have died.

“I think it is very interesting how the different ethnicities overlap in costumes, food and traditions,” Lignell said.

The similarities and differences of the various cultures that make up the Greater Grand Rapids area is something that residents will be able to explore this weekend as the Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts is annual Fall Cultural Celebration which includes the school-focused Anishinabe Culture Days on Friday and the public event, the Ethnic Heritage Festival, on Saturday.

 

Many of the local ethnic organizations will have items and other displays to help get conversations started. (Supplied)

“The Museum takes pride in valuing, honoring and celebrating the unique cultures, characteristics and perspectives of our community and beyond through engaging, community-oriented programming, and we are excited for the return of the Fall Cultural Celebration,” said Dr. Stephanie Ogren, the GRPM’s Vice President of Science & Education. “The Museum proudly serves as a central hub, bringing culture to life within our spaces through community members who are deeply connected to their own culture and are eager to share their history, experiences and traditions.”

 

Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the day-long activities will feature music, art, food, visual presentations, and performances from an array of different organizations such as the Polish Heritage Society, the Grand Rapids Scottish Society, Shimmy USA, Gaelic League/Irish-American Club of West Michigan, Picardo Colours which features Carribean art, Mystic Spirits Art, Les Clay, the Korean Connection, and the Motherland Cultural Connections, which focuses on the history and cultures of the continent of Africa.

“We participate because we want people to know that Africa is here and that we are very much a part of the diverse community that makes up West Michigan,” said Myra Maimoh, founder of the Motherland Cultural Connections.

Maimoh said people tend to not realize that Africa is a continent made up of many different cultures all with their own traditions

 

“Through the Festival, we have an opportunity to showcase the different cuisines and music,” Maimoh said. “It is so cool because people come asking questions and you see the cultural immersion that happens right there. To be able to explain and share and make a connection and build new friendships is very humbling and fulfilling.”

Costumes will be just some of the items on display during the Ethnic Heritage Festival at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)

Even though Polish people have been interwoven into the history of Grand Rapids since about 1870 when many were trying to escape German rule, Lignell admits that like Maimoh, residents don’t fully understand the history and culture of the county and its people.

 

“People come up to the tables and it opens up discussions, giving us an opportunity to talk about the country, the history and the culture,” Lignall said, adding that this year she plans to focus on Wigilia or Poland’s Christmas Eve traditions, which will include a take-and-make ornament activity. “The result is you discover a lot about the different cultures and gain a greater appreciation of the people who make up our community.”

For more information about the Ethnic Heritage Festival visit grpm.org/EHF and for more information on other events and activities taking place at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, visit grpm.org. 

Fallasburg Arts Festival scheduled to return in September

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,
The Fallasburg Arts Festival returns Sept. 18 and 19. (Courtesy)

WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Now in it’s 53rd year, the annual Fallasburg Arts Festival is presented by LowellArts and will be held on Sept. 18 and 19. The 2-day, outdoor festival includes 100 fine art and fine crafts booths, live music on a central stage, food booths supporting local non-profit organizations, a children’s craft area, and traditional craft demonstrations in the pavilion. Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm. Admission is free. Parking is $5 per car. Location: Fallasburg Park, 1124 Fallasburg Park Drive, Lowell, MI, 49331. For more information, visit lowellartsmi.org/fallasburg-arts-festival.

Artist booths are juried and a broad range of different mediums are represented including: jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, glass, fiber, mixed media, wood, painting, drawing, photography, floral, basketry, and more. Demonstrators of traditional crafts are located in the pavilion. Visitors of all ages are invited to watch the artisans at work. Demonstrations include: mosaic, fly tying, quilting, weaving, embroidery, needlefelting, and more.

Musical entertainment is held on an outdoor stage both days of the event, featuring a variety of music styles. Saturday music line-up: 10:15 Eli Roe Music, 11:30 Hawks and Owls, 1:00 The Weatherheads, 2:30 Paddy’s Cure, 4:00 Bruce Matthews Band. Sunday music line-up: 10:15 Easy idle String Band, 11:30 Blue Water Ramblers, 1:00 B-Side Growlers, 2:30 The Adams Family, 4:00 The Wild Honey Collective.

An enclosed Children’s Area provides children the opportunity to decorate and take home a pumpkin. Food booths offer an array of fall-inspired and festival foods, offered by local community organizations. Visitors are invited to purchase raffle tickets to win one of over 75 artist-made items donated by festival artists, or the grand prize quilt, created by Mary Kidwell Tobin for the event. Annual attendance estimates are 25,000. Event sponsors are Fifth Third Bank, Meijer, and All-Weather Seal.

Fallasburg Park is located off Lincoln Lake Road north of downtown Lowell at 1124 Fallasburg Park Drive, Lowell, MI. Lowell is located 14 miles east of Grand Rapids and 1-hour from Lake Michigan and Lansing. For more information, contact LowellArts at (616) 897-8545, e-mail info@lowellartsmi.org.

More information at: lowellartsmi.org/fallasburg-arts-festival

Tulip Time puts a call out for artists

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Tulip Time Festival is pleased to announce the 2022 First Bloem Festival Artwork Competition through which a work of art is selected for the official Tulip Time poster. Each year, the Festival invites a juror to select the Top 20 pieces for First Bloem. Mary Sundstrom, Visual artist and Exhibitions Director of the Holland Area Arts Council, will be the 2022 juror.

Through 2010, posters were commissioned work from selected artists. Beginning in 2011, the Festival Artwork Competition began. Nine local artists have been awarded this honor:

  • 2011 Beth Charles – “Drama Queens”
  • 2012 Brittany Strabbing – “Beautiful Dream”
  • 2013 Maggie Schultz – “Clothed in Splendor”
  • 2014 Karin Nelson – “Resilience”
  • 2015 Carolyn Stich – “Joy of Spring”
  • 2016 Alla Dickson – “Spectacle”
  • 2017 Michele Gort – “Playful Time”
  • 2018 Cindy Awrey – “Together”
  • 2019 Carolyn Stich – “Enduring Delft”
  • 2020 Aron Lowe – “Dutch Dance”

In 2020, due to the pandemic restrictions, a competition was not possible. The Festival commissioned a piece from Aron Lowe, the 2020 winning artist, and Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Spring is Here became the 2021 Festival Artwork. Now, for 2022, we are pleased to be able to reintroduce the competition to all local West Michigan artists.

Artists in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit artwork. Submissions for the 2022 Festival Artwork Competition will be accepted Sept. 27 – 30. The artwork theme should represent Tulip Time’s mission to celebrate Holland’s tulips, Dutch heritage and community. The winner of the 2022 competition will be announced at the First Bloem Reveal, a special unveiling reception held in February.

To view the Prospectus, full entry requirements, and download a submission form, visit www.tuliptime.com/first-bloem-2022.

For additional details, artists are encouraged to contact Lorma Freestone at TTartwork@tuliptime.com.

Great Lakes Surf Festival returns to Muskegon this Saturday

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,
The Great Lake Surf Festival will be returning this year to Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach. (GLSF)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Come catch a wave next Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Great Lakes Surf Festival, taking place on Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon.

The event weather forecast is sunny and warm and Tommy’s Boats of Grand Rapids will be making artificial waves ensuring that surfers and paddle boarders will have plenty of waves to enjoy.

Fourteen surfboards and paddleboards will be given away to event goers, including a surf trip to Cost Rica. Enjoy yoga, music, food, and the best of the Great Lakes surf culture has to offer.

 

“We encourage anyone interested in a fun and family friendly beach day to come out and join us. Imagine a late summer day on an amazing beach, doing what you love and surrounded by so many people from all over the Great Lakes, who share the same passion. That is our goal,” said Event Co-Founder Tammy Bidawid.

More information can be found at www.GreatLakesSurfFestival.com, or by contacting the Great Lakes Surf Festival at info@greatlakessurffestival.com.

Mike Yore Memorial Car Show part of Love Local Weekend

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , ,

Amy Zapal
St. Joseph Today

St. Joe Today invites the community to celebrate all things Southwest Michigan during the Love Local Weekend July 16-18. The Mike Yore Memorial Car Show kicks off the weekend on Friday, July 16, from 4- 8 p.m. in downtown St. Joe. View classic cars from days gone by as they line up along Lake Boulevard. Attendees will “cruise” along the bluff and enjoy classic hits spun by local DJ Mark Durocher, as they take in more than 150 eye-catching vehicles in this charming lakeside town.

Cars can start parking in the event zone along Lake Boulevard at 1 p.m. on Friday. Cars need to be in place no later than 4 p.m., please enter at Lake Boulevard and Park Street. All participants must register day of between 4 – 6 p.m. at the Honor Credit Union tent located on the corner of Lake Boulevard and Broad Street. For more information or to sign up for participant reminders, visit stjoetoday.com/mikeyore. The Mike Yore Memorial Car Show is sponsored by Honor Credit Union, Edward J. Todd, JVIS USA, Wojtowicz Law PLC and SWMI Brew Tours.

“Love Local Weekends are jam packed with summer fun,” said Amy Zapal, executive director, St. Joe Today. “Area residents and visitors are sure to enjoy extended shopping hours, free gift wrapping, new products, featured menu items, specials and a wide variety of area events.” Visit stjoetoday.com/lovelocal for a complete list.

As part of the Love Local Weekend, the Friday Night Concert Series showcases area talent. This free, hour-long concert, which starts at 7 p.m., will be held at the John E.N. Howard Bandshell and will feature Lake Effect Jazz Big Band.

Then on Saturday, July 17, the Love Local Weekend continues with the Race for YMCA 5K/10K presented by TCF Bank held at the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum at 8:30 a.m. Money raised will benefit the Y’s Annual Campaign which provides financial assistance for memberships and programs to local children and families in need. That same morning, head over to Lake Bluff Park for two events – the St. Joe Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (extended hours) and the Lake Bluff Artisan Fair from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free tote bags will be handed out to the first 250 attendees at the St. Joe Farmers Market. For more information, visit stjoetoday.com/farmersmarketand stjoetoday.com/artisanfair.

Saturday evening, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra hosts Belting Out Broadway at Silver Beach Shadowland Pavilion at 6:30 p.m., gates open at 5:30 p.m. Ticket information and details can be found at smso.org. That same night, visitors and residents will enjoy the Summer Movie Series, hosted by the City of St. Joseph. Saturday’s movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), will begin at 7 p.m. at the St. Joseph High School (Drive-In). Visit stjoetoday.com/movies for a complete summer movie schedule.

On Sunday, July 18 the Love Local Weekend wraps up with a free Municipal Band – Jazz Band Concert held at the John E.N. Howard Bandshell at 7 p.m. Zapal said this weekend is a wonderful way to celebrate the summer season, “Whether you enjoy the beaches, our beautiful downtown shops and restaurants, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, area events, or local wineries and breweries there is something for everyone!”

Silver Lake Sand Dunes Apple and BBQ Festival returns for 2021

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, ,

By Andrea Wiggins
Silver Lake Sand Dunes

The Apple & BBQ Festival will make a comeback as the largest festival to return to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes area after a forced cancelation in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  Located at the Golden Township Park at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes on Silver Lake Road, this exciting two-day festival will take place outdoors on Sept. 10 and 11 with a culmination of live entertainment, events, and delicious food!

The festival will do the right thing about health and safety protocols to make sure people feel comfortable.  Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the festival.  Guests, volunteers, and vendors are encouraged to wash and sanitize their hands frequently.  Mask will not be required but are welcomed.

Families and festival goers can expect an expanded Arts & Crafts Fair and an increased number of Food Vendors.  Other popular features returning are the Classic Auto & Buggy Show, Kids’ Activities, Apple Pie Contest, Apple A Day 5K, Live Entertainment, Amateur BBQ Contest, Beer Tent, and more.  The KCBS Professional & Amateur BBQ Cooking Contests are still being worked on, information regarding these events to follow soon.

  

Proceeds from the festival benefit organizations and programs that serve the Silver Lake Sand Dunes area.  The festival gives back to various community events such as Silver Lake Fireworks, beautification projects including the flags and flowers at the Silver Lake roundabout, and funding projects that further the growth of the Golden Township Park at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes.

“We hope everybody comes and has a great time”, says Scott Beal, Executive Director of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes- Hart Visitors Bureau.  “We are excited for the events return and the positive economic impact it has for the area”.  If you would like to attend, volunteer, sponsor, or be a vendor at the event, please call 231-873-2247 or visit www.applebbqfestival.com.  

South Haven HarborFest 2021 has been cancelled

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The South Haven HarborFest has made the announcement that the 2021 event has been cancelled.

According to a press release, after an enormous amount of thought, including discussions with community leaders, the decision was made to cancel this year’s event.

“While trends in terms of the COVID infection rates are encouraging and regional vaccination programs are ramping up, we feel there are still too many unknowns and uncertainties with the ever changing restrictions and guidelines to allow us to proceed forward in safety hosting our wonderful event,” according to a press release from the committee.

The South Haven HarborFest usually takes place in June. The committee said it is working on the 2022 event.

Benton Harbor’s The Livery presents the 6th Annual “Funk Fest”

Entertainment, ,

By Brandon DeJaynes
The Livery

The Livery presents its 6th Annual Funk Fest – a celebration of wild & sour ales – on Oct. 20 to 25. The week will have specialty beer tappings, specialty firkins, a bottle release, and some funky food.

The Livery will be taking the entire week to celebrate their wild/funky/sours brews in lieu of the typical weekend blowout. There is something special lined up for each day starting Tuesday, Oct 20, and ending on Sunday, Oct. 25.

So make plans to stop by and get your funk on!

Tuesday: “Verchuosity 2020” tapping (Sour/Oak Aged Belgian Amber with Cherries) (+ “Mueuze”, “Maillot Noir”, “Black Lily” hit the beer board)

Wednesday: “Sour Sop Spontaneous Combustion” tapping (Sour/Oak Aged Dark Wheat with Sour Sop addition)

Thursday: “Golden Caruba” tapping (Sour/Oak Aged Golden Ale with Caruba addition)

Friday: Firkin #1: “Blackberry Rhubarb Spontaneous Combustion” (1pm), Firkin #2: “McGilligans with Passionfruit, Orange, Guava” (5:15pm)

Saturday: Firkin: “Mango Verchuosity” (Sat 1pm), Bottle Release: “Mueuze” (3-year blend of Maillot Jaune (Biere de Garde))

Sunday: Buy Any 16-inch Pizza and receive $1 off 5oz, $2 off 10oz, and $3 off prowler fills of any “Funk Fest ‘ specialty sour pour.

Lakeshore Art Festival theme honored through PADNOS Public Art Project

Entertainment, ,

By Cindy Larson
Lakeshore Art Festival

The Lakeshore Art Festival in partnership with the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce will honor the festival’s 2020 theme “The Art of Recycling” through the PADNOS Public Art Project. Lakeshore Art Festival 2020 was slated to take place July 3 and 4 in downtown Muskegon but
was cancelled due to health concerns over COVID-19.

Lakeshore Art Festival and PADNOS, a regional recycler of metals, plastics, paper and electronics, have partnered to create an exhibition of four public sculptures in downtown Muskegon. A celebration to unveil the sculptures will take place at Olthoff Stage in downtown Muskegon on Wednesday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m. The sculptures will be prominently placed outdoors along Western Avenue until Fall 2020. All of the sculptures created for this unique exhibit have been constructed from at least 90% recycled materials donated by PADNOS.

“PADNOS is thrilled to be a partner on this project and help bring awareness of the power of recycling to the Muskegon community,” said Ben Irwin, President of PADNOS Muskegon Recycling. “This project supports our mission of community outreach and seeing possibility in expendability.”

Four artists were selected through a jurying process. The selected artists are Larry Sybesma, Chip Vander Wier, Sherri Balaskovitz and EA-Craftworks, which is comprised of four artists: Mark Schentzel, Alex Kallio, Tom Hutchins and Jack Cantu. Artists will receive a stipend to produce the public art piece and if chosen to be a permanent art display in downtown Muskegon, additional funds will be paid as the purchase price of the sculpture. Artists will also have the opportunity to sell their work.

Cindy Larsen, President of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce commented, “We are excited to still have a portion of Lakeshore Art Festival live on this year. This project will bring additional public art to the Muskegon Lakeshore community that both residents and visitors can enjoy this summer.”

The PADNOS Public Art Project is funded in conjunction with PADNOS, Quality Tool & Stamping, Clifford Buck Construction Company and through a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

About Lakeshore Art Festival


Lakeshore Art Festival is a project of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and features a unique blend of 350+ fine art and craft exhibitors, street performers, specialty food booths, interactive art stations, children’s activities and so much more in beautiful Downtown Muskegon, Michigan. Local businesses interested in supporting this locally and nationally recognized festival through sponsorship can contact Lakeshore Art Festival at artfest@muskegon.org. For more information visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.

GR Ballet’s SoFranko, Del Vecchio named Festival of the Arts’ first honorary co-chairs

3-bottom, , , , ,

Grand Rapids Ballet Executive Director Glenn Del Vechicco, Festival of the Arts Executive Director David Abbott, and Grand Rapids Ballet Artist Director James SoFranko (Photo courtesy of Festival of the Arts)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanen@wktv.org

 

Fifty years ago, the Grand Rapids Ballet made its professional debut at the Festival of the Arts. In 2019, the state’s only professional ballet company will be helping to celebrate the event’s 50th anniversary with the company’s Artistic Director James SoFranko and Executive Director Glenn Del Vecchio serving as honorary co-chairs.

 

“I don’t know if everyone understands it but this was one of the first performances we ever did as a professional company, dancing at Festival,” said Del Vecchio during a recent news conference early announcing the honorary co-chairs. “So to to bring it full circle 50 years later and be a part of Festival 2019 is so exciting to us.”

 

Festival Executive Director David Abbot said having honorary co-chairs is a big change for the organization which has have community individuals represent the leadership of Festival over its 49-year history. 

 

“This year what we wanted to do in taking us into our next 50 years is always chose a pairing from a leading arts institution so that we can show the community that we are about collaboration in the arts and we are about partnering,” Abbot said.

 

Abbott said representatives from the Grand Rapids Ballet serving as honorary co-chairs seemed a natural fit given the organization’s history with Festival.

 

The 2019 Festival of the Arts will take place June 7, 8 and 9.

“They are leaders in the community for the arts and in the State of Michigan, this is the only professional ballet company,” Abbott said.

 

Festival of the Arts is a regional celebration of the arts that traditionally takes place the very first weekend in June. Next year it will be June 7, 8 and 9

 

“We are expanding back our Festival so it is on the full footprint of downtown Grand Rapids running from Calder Plaza all the way to Rosa Parks Circle,” Abbott said. “We will have six main stages as well as our five pop up stages that we had last year. So you are going to see performance and music in every corner of our Festival.”

 

And one of course, the Grand Rapids Ballet is already planning its performance for the 2019 Festival of the Arts.

 

“One of the things that we have always wanted to do is to bring a really high quality performance to Festival and so we are going to have our professional dancers dance at Festival, free to the public. It is going to be an unbelievable evening,” Del Vechicco said. 

 

Abbott said Festival of the Arts recently has revamped is website, festivalgr.org, with application process for performance, art sales, the regional arts exhibition, and food sales expected to begin in November. 

Get your “Quack On” at Bellaire’s annual Rubber Ducky Festival Aug. 13-19

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Holidays, Kids Activities, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , , ,

Photo supplied

By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

The 31st Annual Rubber Ducky festival kicks off on Monday, Aug. 13 in Downtown Bellaire and runs through Sunday, Aug. 19. The festival features several week-long events, including Bay Area Big Band, Community Paddle Event, Commission on Aging Picnic and Car Show, Duck and Glow 5k Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kiddie Dash, Corn Hole Tournament, Kids Activities, and Rubber Ducky Parade and Race. Finish the week with the return of the Short’s Glacial Hills Challenge XC on Sunday.

 

Rubber Ducky Festival’s biggest day is on Saturday, Aug. 18, with a quarter-mile race as 2000 yellow ducks are dumped into the Intermediate River, after Bellaire’s largest parade of the year, with the finish line at RIVERSIDE MARINA. Visitors can buy a $5 race ticket that corresponds to the number on a Rubber Duck. Ducks finishing the “Top 27” win a cash prize. Prizes: 1st – $500; 2nd – $300; 3rd – $100; 4th-7th place – $50; 8th-27th place – $10. Participants do not have to be present to win.

 

Saturday also features a Fine Arts & Craft Show at the Antrim County Courthouse, Kid’s “Ducking Park” including games for all ages, bounce houses & slides, face painting, and a FREE kid’s movie. Downtown Bellaire will be alive with sidewalk and library book sales. Bellaire’s biggest parade of the season kicks off at 3pm, followed by the dropping of 2,000 ducks at the North Bridge Street Bridge. End the night with the 2nd Annual Community BBQ, Music by Frank Sinatra (aka Billy McAllister) and Jukebox Saturday Night.

 

This year’s festival is part of Bellaire’s 12 Days of Summer Celebration, Aug. 8-19, kicking off with the 3-day Antrim County Fair, with a restaurant cook-off, dog show, family movie night and horse pulls Aug. 9-11.

 

For a full schedule of events or to be a vendor, visit the Bellaire Chamber of Commerce website at bellairechamber.org or call Bellaire Chamber of Commerce at 231-533-6023.

ArtPrize winning artist creates poster for Festival of the Arts

3-bottom, , , ,

Artist Chris LaPorte at the unveiling of the 2018 Festival of the Arts poster.

Festival of the Arts co-chairs Melissa Bush and Jessi Nix Gould are excited to announce well-known artist Chris LaPorte as the 2018 Festival of the Arts poster artist.  In its 49th year in 2018, Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the state of Michigan and will be held June 1, 2 and 3 in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

“This year’s theme for Festival is celebrating the community through art, and Chris has really captured this in his work,” said Melissa Bush, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair. “Chris has been involved in the Regional Arts Exhibition for years, participates in Art on the Spot drawing caricatures and hosted an art class in his studio to help fundraise for Festival of the Arts.  He was an obvious choice for a poster artist.”

 

Chris LaPorte loves to draw and says drawing is always cool, no matter what your age or background. He has pursued drawing as a vocation his entire adult life, and has earned art degrees from Aquinas College, La Coste Ecole de Beaux Arts and the New York Academy of Art. He has taught drawing at GVSU, GRCC, Kendall College of Art and Design, and Aquinas College as well as educational institutions in New York and Michigan. He is also a past winner of ArtPrize, with his work “Calvary, American Officers, 1921” winning first-place in 2010.

 

Bush said she and her co-chair Jessi Nix Gould were looking for someone who represents the West Michigan community who had also been involved in Festival over the years.

 

“We are honored that Chris has created the artwork for this year’s poster,” said Jessi Nix Gould, 2018 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair. “His work perfectly embodies the event’s theme by representing the beautiful Grand Rapids city skyline, the movement of dancers in front of La Grande Vitesse and fun, playful colors indicating the spirit of festival.”

 

La Grande Vitesse was formally dedicated on June 14, 1969 and has since become the civic symbol that represents the City of Grand Rapids. The installation of the Calder inspired the first Festival of the Arts – a three-day community arts celebration to be held annually each year in June.  It began in 1970 and was originally sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids.

 

Festival started with two stages, some artwork and a few food booths.  Today, Festival of the Arts covers much of downtown Grand Rapids with three performance stages, dozens of food booths, and endless art and activities for all ages.  In its 49th year, Festival of the Arts is one of the longest running festivals in the State of Michigan.

Saugatuck Center for the Arts offers an evening of family films

Entertainment, , , , , ,

“Afterglow”

Grab a bag of popcorn and join us for a very special evening of award-winning family cinema at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, on Friday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.  The SCA is proud to host the Telluride Film Festival’s Moutainfilm on Tour, featuring engaging films for all ages (run time 135 minutes).

 

The SCA’s Family Film Night features 14 films ranging from two-minute shorts to a 25-minute feature film. Mountainfilm staff member Cara Bunch will emcee the evening, introducing five of the selections. The playlist includes a variety of “adrenaline” films, thoughtful environmental films, and titles with a splash of humor, including:

 

  • Reinvention of Normal: Toothbrush maracas, an umbrella with plant pots, a tea cup cooling fan, and the reverse bungee … all are inventions of London artist/inventor/designer Dominic Wilcox. This short film follows Wilcox on his quest to come up with something creative every day. The result is a font of productivity as he transforms the mundane and ordinary into surprises, wonders and, sometimes, just plain absurdities.
  • Afterglow: Hailed as one of the most cinematically profound ski films ever made, Afterglow features bold, uncompromising, creative imagery. Filmed at night in British Columbia and Alaska’s backcountry with powerful lights and ski suits studded with LED lights.
  • Making Waves: Morocco has some terrific surf breaks, but for most local Muslim women these waves are off limits. Not so for Oumaima Erhali, a 17-year old determined to partake in the sport she loves.
  •  Rabbit Island: In the middle of the vast watery stretch that is Lake Superior sits Rabbit Island, 91 acres of rocks, earth, trees and wild habitat. Rabbit Island has never been divided or developed, nor will it ever be. This place offers a new kind of wild experience, where the point is to do nothing to an ecosystem and see what it teaches us. This film is a brief study of an island set on the majestic Lake Superior, and the artists who gather there for inspiration.
  • The Fisherman’s Son: Anyone who’s seen Patagonia photographer Jeff Johnson’s film “180 Degrees South: Conquerors of the Useless” remembers Ramón Navarro, the Chilean surfer who gives the traveler and his crew a humble introduction to his beloved, overfished waters. The Fisherman’s Son is a film that finally explores Navarro’s life in depth, following the trajectory of a boy who came from a fishing family to become one of best big-wave riders in the world and is now an impassioned environmental activist.

 

Making Waves

Established in 1979, Mountainfilm is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and motivating audiences about environments, cultures, issues, and adventures. Working at the nexus of filmmaking and action, its flagship event is the renowned Telluride Mountainfilm festival, in Telluride, Colorado. The festival has attracted leading documentary filmmakers, artists, photographers, conservationists, mountaineers, scientists, journalists and explorers form around the world to engage in the festival’s tag line of “celebrating indomitable spirit.”

 

Through Mountainfilm on Tour, the festival touches the lives of over 50,000 people every year and visits more than 100 locations on six continents. The visit to Saugatuck is their way of extending the reach of the annual festival and helping the filmmakers’ inspiring content be seen by audiences who otherwise might never have the opportunity.

Don’t miss Yassou! Grand Rapids Greek Cultural Festival Aug. 26-28

Beer, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Food, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

yassou

Photo by Tim Motley

Food. Dance. Opa!

The smell of lemon, oregano and garlic fill the air as fresh meats are grilled over open flames and the sight of the pastry table proves to be more than anyone’s willpower could bear. From a great live band and dance demonstrations, to wine tastings and cooking classes, there is something for everyone at Yassou!

 

salad

The food

An assortment of freshly prepared authentic Greek food and pastries will tempt even the most stubborn palate. Great effort has been put into obtaining fresh, local ingredients wherever possible, from the eggplant in the Moussaka, to the tomatoes that go on your Gyros and in your salad.

 

Choose from appetizers, full meals, sandwiches and side items. And do not forget dessert — baklava is only the beginning. Menu items are available as complete meals or a la carte. Prices range from $5 for most a la carte items to $14 for most complete meals.

 

The dance

Besides irresistible Greek food, there will be plenty of Greek dancing, a very old tradition that has been documented by Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. Traditional Greek dancing has a primarily social function, bringing the community together at key points of the year, such as Easter, the grape harvest or patronal festivals; and at key points in the lives of individuals and families, like weddings.

MOTLEY CAT
Photo by Tim Motley

 

Holy Trinity’s youth dancers will don traditional Grecian dress and perform some of these spectacular dances. Then, when the time is right, join hands with members of the dancing circle and join in. Beginners are always welcome.

 

The wine (and beer)

Greece is one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world — evidence of wine production dates back more than 6,500 years. Since that time, wines have been shared and enjoyed not only in households, but in communal celebrations. And what cultural celebration would be complete without access to the local libations?

Here’s what’s happening and when

Friday, August 26, 2016: 3 -10 pm

  • Live music from open to close, The Levendes.

  • 4 pm:  Greek cooking class.

  • 5 pm: Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (12-17 y/o).

  • 6 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (5-12 y/o).

  • 7 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (12-17+).

  • 8:15 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (18+).

  • 8:35 pm:  Dance lessons and open dancing for all!

  • 8:00 pm:  Children’s play area closes.

Saturday, August 27, 2016: 11 am – 10 pm

  • Live music from open to close, The Levendes.

  • 1:00 pm:  Greek cooking class.

  • 2:30 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (12-17 y/o).

  • 4:00 pm:  Wine tasting.

  • 5:00 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (12-17 y/o).

  • 6:00 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (5-12 y/o).

  • 6:00 pm:  Greek cooking class.

  • 7:15 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (12-17+).

  • 8:15 pm:  Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (18+).

  • 8:35 pm:  Dance lessons and open dancing for all!

  • 8:00 pm:  Children’s play area closes.

2016 Yassou Sponsorship - 1(1)

 

Sunday, August 28, 2016: 12-4 pm

  • No live band. DJ playing modern Greek music.

  • 2:00 Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (5-12 y/o).

  • 3:00 pm: Traditional Greek dance demonstrations (12-17 y/o).

 

OK, so you’ve been warned. The Yassou! Grand Rapids Greek Cultural Festival is always a crowd pleaser, and this year it’s happening Friday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Aug. 28 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 330 Lakeside Dr. NE between Fulton and Michigan.

 

 

 

 

Tulip Time celebrates its 87th year May 7-14 in Holland, Mich

3-bottom, Beer, Entertainment, Food, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

tulip time

 

Holland, Michigan’s Tulip Time 2016 is May 7-14
By Pure Michigan

 

The beautiful beach town of Holland has been celebrating its Dutch heritage and culture since 1929 and the festivities continue this year. May 7-14, 2016 the Tulip Time Festival will feature parades, traditional Dutch Dance performances, concerts, theatre, Dutch attractions, Dutch food and more. More than 500,000 people from 40 countries travel to the Holland Tulip Time Festival each year.

tulip time dutch dance

 

During your visit at the Tulip Time Festival, you’ll see more than four million tulips decorating city parks, public attractions and city streets. Drive the six miles of Tulip Lanes through Holland’s historic neighborhoods. For more of nature’s beauty, explore Windmill Island Gardens, home to manicured gardens with more than 115,000 tulips, a 250 year-old working Dutch windmill and an antique Dutch carousel. For a more adventurous day, take your family to the Midway Carnival, or have a blast at the Nelis’ Dutch Village Family Theme Park, where the history of the Dutch culture comes to life. Continue the Dutch experience at Dutch Marktplaats, a marketplace where you can delight in the tastes, sights, sounds and crafts of 19th century Holland.

tulip time map

 

The Tulip Time Festival features three spectacular parades. See the traditional Volksparade, led by thousands of locals in traditional Dutch costumes. Participants gather at the beginning of the parade for the official Street Scrubbing, which includes an appearance by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. The Johnson Controls Kinderparade, or “children’s parade,” is the largest parade of children in the state. The parade series finishes with GMB Muziekparade “music parade,” one of the most spectacular parades in the state, featuring 4,000 participants including floats, dancers, and bands along Michigan’s longest parade route.

 

For a relaxed way to experience the tulips, book a Tulip City Tour. The tours are offered daily; purchase your same-day tour tickets at the booth at Centennial Park The hop-on, hop-off tour allows easy access through beautiful Tulip Lanes, Holland’s Historic District, city parks and downtown, and includes admission to Windmill Island Gardens and the Holland Museum, Cappon House and Settler’s House.

Top20-all-R

 

While visiting Holland, make sure to take in beautiful Lake Michigan. Visit Holland State Park to view Big Red Lighthouse or Tunnel Park beach to watch a sunset. For a little more adventure, climb the 230 steps to the top of Mt. Pisgah, a 157 foot sand dune. Here, enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.

 

Downtown Holland is a great destinations for unique, first-class shopping and dining. For Holland travel information and suggestions, click here. To purchase tickets and to peruse the entertainment opportunities, go here.

 

Images courtesy of Pure Michigan and Tulip Time

5th Annual GRJazzFest announces line-up April 27

3-bottom, Beer, Entertainment, Food, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local Food, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , ,

grand-jazz-logo

By GRandJazzFest

 

Summer’s still quite a way off, but it’s never too early to get excited about good jazz!

 

GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation returns to Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., this Aug. 20 and 21, for the fifth annual festival. The popular family-friendly festival, which attracted more than 10,000 people last year, is West Michigan’s only free, weekend-long jazz festival. The two-day festival will again be free because of Presenting Sponsor DTE Energy Foundation, the City of Grand Rapids and other sponsoring organizations and individuals.

 

Edye-Evans-Hyde
Edye Evans Hyde performed last year

“Grand Rapids and West Michigan have embraced GRandJazzFest,” founder Audrey Sundstrom said. “We’re proud to say GRandJazzFest is one of the most diverse, community-oriented festivals for people who live here, who travel here, and who want to enjoy two days of great live music in a vibrant downtown setting. THIS is what community is all about.”

 

Each year, GRandJazzFest has been held at Rosa Parks Circle in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids to enable festival-goers to take in all that downtown has to offer: restaurants, clubs, museums, microbreweries and shops. The festival typically occurs during Restaurant Week in Grand Rapids. The festival’s location provides easy access to those who ride the bus, walk or bike, and is also close to parking.

 

The 2016 festival lineup will be announced on April 27 at the House of Entertainment and Music (H.O.M.E.) at The B.O.B. That night at H.O.M.E., the band Evidence led by saxophonist Michael Doyle takes the stage. Evidence performed at the 2014 GRandJazzFest.

 

Like last year’s reveal, festival organizers will coordinate with leaders at International Jazz Day to include GRandJazzFest’s reveal announcement as a sanctioned International Jazz Day event.

 

At the 2016 festival in August, 11 diverse jazz artists and bands will perform, including a student jazz band and two major headline acts.

Walt-Gutowski1
Walt Gutowski performed last year

 

Free face painting by Fancy Faces will be available for kids and, if lines aren’t too long, for “kids at heart.”

 

GR and Jazz (the non-profit, all-volunteer-run producer of GRandJazzFest) is pleased to announce a special collaboration with the Grand Rapids Art Museum: Under an agreement with GRAM, the festival’s VIP area will be located on the GRAM front terrace where refreshments and snacks will be provided. The VIP area is for sponsors of GRandJazzFest. Additionally, GRAM will have an outdoor bar area set up at the base of its front steps adjoining Rosa Parks Circle for attendees who would like to purchase and consume refreshments and enjoy the festival.

 

Grand Rapids city commissioners approved GRandJazzFest as one of 24 events that it will co-sponsor in 2016, a distinction only given to events that have proven to be successful and enrich the community. GRandJazzFest 2015 received distinction as a Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Signature Event along with two other festivals, ArtPrize and LaughFest.

 

In addition to DTE Energy Foundation, the City of Grand Rapids, and GRAM, sponsors for the 2016 event to date include GR and Jazz, IntentPR, Gilmore Collection, Comcast, Hilger Hammond, Amway Hotel Corporation, Experience Grand Rapids, ICON Sign, Meijer, Moxie Men Incorporated, Hungerford Nichols, WGVU, Steelcase and Clark Hill. Sponsorship opportunities are here.

Grupo-Aye
Grupo Aye performed last year

 

“We are so grateful to all of our sponsors for their support – we could not do it without them,” Sundstrom said. “We’re seeking additional sponsors to help us bring a full weekend of FREE, family-friendly live jazz performances to West Michigan!”

 

Get a taste of past GRandJazzFests by viewing the “recap” videos here.

 

More information on the 5th annual GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation can be found here and at the festival’s Facebook and Twitter sites.

Agriculture Conference Brings Education and Entertainment to Children and Families

Area Education, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Pets/Animals, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , ,

agricultural fairBy: Mike DeWitt

 

In a world full of iPhones, high-definition televisions, and unlimited forms of entertainment at our fingertips, agricultural fairs and festivals offer an opportunity to go back to our roots; back to a time when everyone knew how to milk a cow and ride a horse. A past life that, to some, seems much further removed than it actually is.

 

Agricultural fairs are a major factor in Michigan Tourism, bringing in over 4.5 million people per year at eighty-six county or local fairs across the state. That’s over half of the state’s population! With that attendance comes capital—over $18.5 million in livestock auctions last year alone—that is used by the youth to advance agriculture education.

 

Next week, January 14-16, the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (MAFE) will host their 131st annual conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. The conference is utilized to bring together festival, fair, and MAFE members to share ideas, attend educational workshops, and connect with fair and festival vendors from around the country!

Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions

 

“The Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions is in the business of fun,” explained Lisas Reiff, MAFE Executive Director in a press release. “We have created a convention that takes the fun to heart, with educational activities and a showcase of the very best in entertainment and festival vendors from around the country.”

 

A free, public Kid’s Showcase is scheduled for Friday, January 15 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the Imperial Ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza. The children can enjoy free entertainment such as clowns, puppet shows, magic acts, and other potential fair entertainment for the upcoming season.

 

Not only are the entertainment acts free, but the audience is encouraged to share feedback on the performances because those performances might become Fair and Exhibition acts throughout Michigan in 2016.

baby lamb

 

“Local fairs are some of the least expensive family oriented entertainment venues in the state of Michigan,” added Reiff. “Families get to spend quality time together, learn where their food comes from, and create lasting memories. Fairs help teach responsibility and good sportsmanship to participants, especially our youth.”

 

The MAFE conference is a way for everyone involved with agricultural fairs, from top to bottom, to get together in one place and share ideas. It’s an invaluable way to further education for everyone involved. Education events and round-table discussion topics this year will include youth development, educating the public on the importance of agriculture to the economy in Michigan, the contributions MAFE makes each year, promotion of agri-tourism throughout the state, and the economic impact of fairground facilities in our community.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Features Festivals

Area Education, Holidays, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Our Cities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , , ,

National HispaniGraphic signc Heritage Month recognizes Hispanic and Latino American heritage and culture. The month long celebration begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) is October 12.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. The month long celebration was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The 2015 theme is “Honoring our Heritage.”

In keeping with the theme, there are several events taking place around the neighborhood, most free to attend. Check out the list below compiled by the Diversity and Inclusion Office for the City of Grand Rapids. For more information call 616‐234‐3390.

Hispanic Festival 2015 – September 11, 12, & 13, 2015  

girlCelebrate the diversity our region  has to offer with the Hispanic Festival benefiting the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. The Festival features an exciting mix of culture, music and food from different Latin American countries with three days of stage performances, traditional and artisan wares, children’s activities and food vendors. Calder Plaza Downtown Grand Rapids. For more information check with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.

Fiesta Mexicana – September 18‐19, 2015 from 11am to 11pm

One of the largest and oldest festivals in the region. Fiesta Mexicana celebrates the Mexican community and has been celebrated for over 45 years. Calder Plaza Downtown Grand Rapids. For more information find details at http://mexican‐heritage.org/

maracasLatino Culture & Identity Lecture – September 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm  

Henry Muñoz III will present a lecture on Latino Culture and Identity as part of the Diversity Lecture Series, intended to give insight and understanding of multicultural issues to the West Michigan community, helping audiences consider perspectives other than their own, encouraging civil debate and promoting cultural understanding. Held at Fountain Street Church on 24 Fountain Street, Grand Rapids.

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce meets every Tuesday from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at 1167 Madison Avenue SE, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 . Walk‐ins welcome or call 616‐452‐3960. Find more information at the  West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce website.