GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The City of Grand Rapids will celebrate its 175th birthday on Saturday, June 7, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle.
The free event will feature live entertainment and historical exhibits. There will be carnival games, balloon artists, stilt walkers, buskers, a “Touch a Truck” exhibit and a giant birthday card.
Free hotdogs, popcorn, cake and ice cream will be available throughout the event.
A special “We Serve You” moment will feature Grand Rapids city commissioners and other elected officials distributing cupcakes in appreciation of the community.
Here are more details from a City of Grand Rapids news release:
The free, family-friendly 175th Birthday Party marks the city’s dodransbicentennial (doh-drans-bih-sen-TEN-ee-al) with live entertainment, historical exhibits, games and sweet treats for all.
Festivities will begin with an opening prayer by members of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, honoring the original Indigenous peoples of Grand Rapids. A full lineup of local talent will then take the stage, including Cabildo, Nathan Walton and the Remedy, and DJ Venus Flyytrap (Asia Horne).
Visitors can enjoy a wide array of activities including carnival games, balloon artists, stilt walkers, buskers, a “Touch a Truck” exhibit and a giant birthday card. Free hotdogs, popcorn, cake and ice cream will be available throughout the event. A special “We Serve You” moment will feature Grand Rapids City Commissioners and other elected officials distributing cupcakes in appreciation of the community.
Attendees will also experience “175 Moments in History,” an exhibit showcasing 175 significant images from the city’s past. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) will host a scavenger hunt, and Chief Ambassador Caroline Cook will lead a guided historical walking tour at 5:30 p.m. following the main event.
The celebration will extend across Rosa Parks Circle, Monroe Center and Louis Street, with space to accommodate thousands of attendees. Guests are encouraged share the fun and use hashtag #175GR when posting pictures and video of the day’s anniversary events – or any posting that shows community pride. Also, they are invited to dine at local downtown restaurants before or after the event.
The celebration is made possible through the support of community partners including Consumers Energy, Meijer, Vicinity Energy, Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority Community Inclusion Group, Independent Bank, Celebration Cinema, Country Fresh, AHC Hospitality, Berger Chevrolet, 98.7 The Grand and WOOD TV8.
For more information, visit 175GR.com.
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