The City of Kentwood’s Celebrate Kentwood festival, held Saturday, Aug. 11, featured a return of the popular Kentwood’s Got Talent event — and WKTV’s cameras were there.
Kentwood’s Got Talent will air on WKTV 25 on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 9 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.
This year’s festival was a jam-packed day of events at City Hall and the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch featuring family-friendly activities, local food vendors, community booths, a beer garden and live music.
Also returning to the annual festival was a classic car show and Kentwood’s Got Talent. Modeled after the popular TV show, the talent competition will feature singers, dancers and other performers from the community.
Featured talent from around West Michigan took the stage at noon for Kentwood’s Got Talent, and the winner received a $500 cash prize. Contestants had up to five minutes to wow the judges with their talents.
Kentwood City Hall and the surrounding area will be buzzing with activity on Aug. 11 as the community’s Celebrate Kentwood event returns for a day of fun and celebration.
This year’s festival will be one jam-packed day of events at City Hall and the Kent District Library’s Kentwood (Richard. L. Root) Branch featuring family-friendly activities, local food vendors, community booths, a beer garden and live music.
Also returning to the annual festival will be the classic car show and Kentwood’s Got Talent. Modeled after the popular TV show, the talent competition will feature singers, dancers and other performers from the community.
“The 50th Anniversary Celebrate Kentwood festival was such a great event that the fun, food, and entertainment will return on Aug. 11,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “All of West Michigan is welcome to join as we enjoy the diverse culture and talent that makes Kentwood a desired place to work and raise a family.”
The day will rev up at 9 a.m. with the classic car show, featuring dozens of antique, classic and one-of-a-kind cars. Also kicking off the day will be a myriad of local vendors at the Kentwood Farmers Market, offering fresh produce, popcorn, cheese, honey and more.
A variety of family-friendly attractions will be on-site from noon to 4 p.m. There will be inflatables for kids to climb, and carnival games to enjoy, among other kid-friendly activities.
A previous Kentwood’s Got talent contestant. (WKTV)
Featured talent from around West Michigan will take the stage at noon for Kentwood’s Got Talent. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize. Contestants will have up to five minutes to wow the judges with their talents. The show begins at noon and is free and open to the public.
Food trucks will gather behind City Hall at 11 a.m. to offer a variety of savory and sweet snacks and beverages. Community booths from all over West Michigan will also line the streets. A beer garden will be open to adults 21 and older from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Live music will be featured on the main stage throughout the evening. The lineup includes: 2:30-4 p.m., Allie Garland & Awesome Sauce; 4:30-5:30 p.m., Hannah Rose and the GravesTones; 6-7:30 p.m., Asamu Johnson and The Associates of The Blues; and 8-10 p.m., Avalon Cutts-Jones Music.
Celebrate Kentwood’s presenting sponsor is DTE Energy Foundation. Platinum level sponsors are Macatawa Bank and NN Mobile Solutions. A full list of sponsors is available online.
The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers for Celebrate Kentwood. There are also openings for the car show and for community booths. Sign-up information and a timeline of events can be found online here.
Former Kentwood mayors Richard Clanton, Jerry DeRuiter, and Bill Hardiman; former mayor Richard Root’s wife Karleen, Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kelley, and first mayor Peter Lambert’s son Richard at the Kentwood 50th anniversary kick-off in February.
There will be music, food trucks, and lots of fun behind the Kentwood City Hall as the city hosts its community-wide “Celebrate Kentwood” event in honor of its 50th anniversary.
Since February, the city has been marking its 50th anniversary with a series of events with this weekend, Aug. 11 and 12, being the big two-day celebration.
The 50th anniversary ale, the Golden Beeraucrat brewed by Railtown Brewing, will be available during “Celebrate Kentwood.” (Supplied)
“Everyone is welcome,” said City Treasurer Laurie Sheldon, who has headed up the Kentwood 50th committee which has organized a year-long celebration that includes this weekend’s event. “We have tried to make this as inclusive as possible. We wanted to make it family friendly and affordable, so please come join us and have a great weekend with us.”
Activities will kick off on Friday behind the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, and next to the KDL Kentwood Library Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. From 5 – 8 p.m. will be a classic car show. Starting at 7 p.m. will be the Kentwood’s Got Talent featuring 10 talented local performers who will be singing, dancing and even beatboxing.
“The kick off with the Kentwood’s Got Talent, we have some amazing individuals competing for a grand prize, and they are pretty excited to be a part of it as well,” Sheldon said. “We have a panel of local celebrity judges who will actually pick the winner. Some of the judges are Mike Knuble, an East Kentwood graduate who is now with the Griffins and Rachael Ruiz, also a Kentwood graduate, will be our MC.”
The other judges include WZZM reporter Angela Cunningham, dance instructor Deavondre Jones of Dancespire, and Vonda Poll from Unique Models & Talent.
Immediately following Kentwood’s Got Talent, WKTV will be premiering the documentary “Kentwood – A Place Called Home,” which covers the city’s first 50 years.
The music starts at 3 p.m. and goes throughout the night with the Mega 80’s wrapping up the evening.
The activities continue on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the Breton Street Fair and the Kentwood Farmers Market. Throughout the day there will be inflatables, carnival games, cultural events, and community booths along with activities at the KDL Kentwood Library Branch.
For the adults, there will be a beer tent featuring the 50th anniversary ale, the Golden Beeraucrat brewed by Railtown Brewing. Also available will be several food trucks such as B.D. BBQ, Doughnuts, the Maine Dish Munchie Snack, The Nordic Grill, and The Olive Branch, will be on hand as well.
The music will start at 3 p.m. with Tom Cutts & Friends. At 4 p.m. is The Isaac Norris Project, followed by Cabildo at 5:30 p.m. Wrapping up the music is the Michigan-based Mega 80’s at 7 p.m. The night will be capped off with fireworks.
“We’re building a Kentwood-centered tradition that we want all of West Michigan to enjoy,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “The event will be family-friendly giving West Michigan a wonderful opportunity to gather with neighbors and enjoy a weekend of free activities.”
“The entire year, we are celebrating Kentwood’s 50th anniversary with a series of special events. We’ve grown greatly as a city in the past 50 years, and we look forward to our community improving upon its solid foundation.”
The Kentwood 50 celebration will continue until the end of year with the End of Summer Food Truck Festival Sept. 16; the Fall Festival featuring Trunk or Treat Oct. 21, the Ugly Seater 5K Nov. 8, and the Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 8.
The City of Kentwood is hosting a volunteer signup party for its community event “Celebrate Kentwood” Tuesday, July 18, at Railtown Brewing Company, 3555 68th St. SE, Caledonia.
The “Celebrate Kentwood” event takes places on Aug. 11 and 12. Volunteers are needed to help with everything such as set up, manning the information booth, and helping with merchandise sales.
Activities for the two-day event include a classic car show from 5 – 8 p.m. and Kentwood’s Got Talent for 7 – 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11, and on Saturday, Aug 12, there will be a farmers market and Breton Street Fair from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., various cultural acts performing from 1 – 3 p.m., various activities from noon – 7 p.m.; the Mega 80s fro 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Those who attend Tuesday’s event will receive a t-shirt and pizza for signing up on the spot.
If you can make Tuesday’s event, you can still sign up up to help in August. For more information, click here.
The registrations deadline for the Kentwood’s Got Talent is only a week away.
Those interested in singing, dancing, or making people laugh, need to register by March 3. The event is part of the Kentwood 50th Anniversary celebration, which kicks off on Monday, Feb. 27, with a special City Commission meeting that marks when Kentwood’s first City Commission meeting took place 50 years ago. Registration forms can be found at www.yourkprd.org and may be sent in online through the website or mailed to Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE., Kentwood.
The Kentwood’s Got Talent is a talent show with first round auditions set for Thursday, March 9, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton SE.
The contest is open to anyone ages six and up with adults and seniors encouraged to participate. A person may participate in one act, a solo or group. All acts are limited to five minutes. The event is family friendly, so music selection should be appropriate for all audiences. The Talent Committee does reserve the right to refuse materials or acts due to mature content.
First round winners will be notified and will move on to the finals which will take place during the city’s weekend-long celebration in August. The Kentwood’s Got Talent final round is set for Aug. 11 from 7 – 9 p.m. at Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton SE.
