Grand Rapids, Michigan

Culture

Since 1970, Grand Rapids has been host to an annual festival of the arts downtown, known to locals simply as "Festival (insert year here)". During the first weekend in June, several blocks of downtown surrounding the Calder stabile next to City Hall are closed to traffic. Festival features several stages with free live performances, food booths selling a variety of ethnic cuisine, art demonstrations and sales, and other arts-related activities. Organizers bill it as the largest all-volunteer arts festival in the United States. Also in Vandenberg Plaza are various country-specific ethnic festivals that occur throughout the summer season.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In mid-2004, Grand Rapids began construction on a new, larger building for its art museum collection. The new building site is several blocks from the present museum, facing downtown's Rosa Parks Circle. The River City Improv is also located in Grand Rapids.

Related Topics:
2004 - River City Improv

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Media

The Grand Rapids Press is the primary newspaper serving the city.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Grand Rapids area is home to several television stations, and is the second largest television market in Michigan. Stations serving the area include WWMT (CBS), WOOD (NBC), WZZM (ABC), and WXMI (Fox). Other stations include WOTV, an ABC affiliate licensed to Battle Creek, WZPX (Pax/WB), and WTLJ (TBN). WXSP, a UPN affiliate, is a low-powered station while WGVU is the area's PBS member station.

Related Topics:
WWMT - CBS - WOOD - NBC - WZZM - ABC - WXMI - Fox - WOTV - Battle Creek - WZPX - Pax - WB - WTLJ - TBN - WXSP - UPN - WGVU - PBS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sites of interest

Grand Rapids is the home of John Ball Park, Belknap Hill, and the Gerald R. Ford Museum. The DeVos Place Convention Center and Van Andel Arena are also located in the city.

Related Topics:
John Ball Park - Belknap Hill - Gerald R. Ford Museum - DeVos Place Convention Center - Van Andel Arena

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sports

Grand Rapids is the home of four professional sports teams. The Grand Rapids Rampage is an arena football team affiliated with the Arena Football League. The area's ice hockey team is the Grand Rapids Griffins, who is associated with the AHL. The West Michigan Whitecaps minor league baseball team is a member of the Midwest League, while the soccer team, the West Michigan Edge, is part of the Great Lakes Division of the USL Premier Development League.

Related Topics:
Grand Rapids Rampage - Arena football - Arena Football League - Ice hockey - Grand Rapids Griffins - AHL - West Michigan Whitecaps - Minor league baseball - Midwest League - West Michigan Edge - USL Premier Development League

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~