Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Welp, for anyone who can actually get out of the house in this crazy, life-threatening cold, here’s a few things to do this weekend! 🙂 

Let’s get into it! ❄️ 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🌶️Warm up with the Beer City Pepper Fest! With how freaking cold it is, I thought this was an appropriate first story to mention. It’s a celebration of chili culture with vendors, spicy eats, and a great Grand Rapids crowd and most importantly, it’s for a good cause. Proceeds support local mental health and suicide prevention. It’s on Saturday afternoon - more deets here.

🚗 The 100 Car Pileup – More than 100 vehicles were involved in a major I-196 crash near Hudsonville during whiteout lake-effect snow, prompting emergency response efforts and prolonged road closures.

🎶 Winter Wheat Music Festival brings traditional music downtown – The community-driven Winter Wheat Music Festival returned to Grand Rapids with folk, Americana, blues, and open jam sessions celebrating musical collaboration.

🍕 Buddy’s Pizza announces closure of Grand Rapids location – Detroit-style favorite Buddy’s Pizza confirmed it will close its final Grand Rapids location, marking the end of its local presence after years serving the community.

🏫 Local charter academy receives grant for esports lab – Crossroads Charter Academy received a $30,000 educational grant to develop a new esports lab and multimedia classroom, expanding student learning opportunities.

❄️ CranHill Winterfest returns with free family fun – The annual CranHill Winterfest welcomed families with tubing, ice climbing, pony rides, and complimentary meals in a celebration of winter and community.

🎤 John Mellencamp announces upcoming Grand Rapids concert – Rock legend John Mellencamp revealed a future stop in Grand Rapids as part of his upcoming tour, exciting local fans ahead of his concert announcement.

📆 This Weekend’s Grand Events

Friday, January 23

Revel Center 2026 Open House – The Revel Center – Tour the venue, meet vendors, and enjoy complimentary beverages at this annual open house. 5:00 PM–8:00 PM / Free

Home Portraits in Watercolor – Spruced Studio – Paint a meaningful watercolor portrait of a home you love with guided instruction. 6:00 PM–8:30 PM / $78

George Birge – Cowboy Songs Tour – Elevation at The Intersection – Country artist George Birge performs with support from Jake Banfield. 6:30 PM / $28

Ice Piano @ World of Winter – Ah-Nab-Awen Park – Live music performed on a handcrafted ice piano within the Somnius installation. 6:30 PM–8:30 PM / Free

63rd Ann Arbor Film Festival Traveling Tour – Wealthy Theatre – A curated selection of experimental short films from the world’s oldest avant-garde film festival. 7:00 PM–10:30 PM / Free

Avello – The Stache at The Intersection – Electronic-pop performance featuring Avello with regional support acts. 8:30 PM / $25.90–$28.40

United We Dance: The Ultimate Rave Experience – The Intersection – A high-energy, immersive rave experience featuring EDM and visual production. Doors 8:00 PM / Show 9:00 PM / Prices vary

Ravishing Rachmaninoff – Grand Rapids Symphony – Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by Garrick Ohlsson. 7:30 PM / $28–$140

Grand Rapids Home Show – Woodland Mall – A free indoor home show featuring Michigan home improvement vendors. 11:00 AM–8:00 PM / Free

Saturday, January 24

Purposefully Present: A Sound Bath Reflection – 2RST – A guided sound bath focused on mindfulness and intentional presence. 9:00 AM–11:00 AM / $55

Hand-Crocheted Chunky Blanket Workshop – Three Blue Brushes – Learn hand-crocheting techniques and leave with a finished chenille blanket. 1:00 PM–4:00 PM / $75

An Afternoon of Watercolor at Gathered Botanicals – Gathered Botanicals – Explore watercolor techniques while painting simple landscapes in a cozy setting. 1:00 PM–2:30 PM / $30

Winter Sowing Workshop with Kind Hearts Bloom – Speciation Cellars – Learn the winter sowing method for native plants in an open-house format. 1:00 PM–4:00 PM / $5 suggested donation

Home Hydroponics Workshop – Blandford Nature Center – Learn to grow herbs indoors using hydroponic systems and take home planted containers. 1:00 PM–2:00 PM / $16–$20

Blankets & Bellinis – Spruced Studio – A beginner-friendly hand-knit blanket workshop with a complimentary bellini. 1:00 PM–4:00 PM / $85

Hat Burning + Hat Bar – Spruced Studio – Customize your own hat with burned designs and decorative band accents. 5:00 PM–8:00 PM / $69+

Circus Wonderland @ World of Winter – Calder Plaza – A family-friendly outdoor event featuring circus performances, games, fire artists, and interactive installations. 6:00 PM–9:00 PM / Free

PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour – Van Andel Arena – High-energy professional bull riding with music and live competition. 7:00 PM / $37–$204

VLCN – Dark Portal Tour – The Stache at The Intersection – Heavy electronic performance with supporting DJs and producers. Doors 8:00 PM / Prices vary

CHVRCH: Dead of Winter – A Dark Dance Experience – The Pyramid Scheme – A curated goth and darkwave dance night featuring classic and modern selections. Doors 8:00 PM / Price not listed

Orchid Show – Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park – Annual winter orchid exhibition featuring displays from clubs across Michigan. 9:00 AM–5:00 PM / Free

Sunday, January 25

Snowga @ World of Winter – 555 Monroe Skate Park – A community run, walk, and outdoor yoga session designed to energize and connect. 9:00 AM–10:00 AM / Free

There’s Always Room for a Cello – Trinity Lutheran Church – A cello ensemble concert spanning Bach to Led Zeppelin in a resonant sanctuary setting. 3:00 PM–4:30 PM / Free (Suggested $15 donation)

Australia’s Thunder from Down Under – Wealthy Theatre – High-energy, Vegas-style stage show featuring the internationally touring male revue. Doors 6:00 PM / Show 7:00 PM / $60–$200+

Grand Rapids Home Show – Woodland Mall – Final day of the free home improvement expo featuring Michigan vendors. 11:00 AM–8:00 PM / Free

🧊nICE Music

Did you know the World of Winter festival features a piano carved out of ice each year?

📅 Add to Your Calendar

Winter Bridal Show 2026 – January 24 @ DeVos Place – Bridal showcase featuring local wedding vendors, fashion, florals, photography, and planning inspiration. – 11:00 AM–4:00 PM / Prices vary

World of Winter Festival – January 9–March 1 @ Downtown Grand Rapids – Citywide winter festival featuring free public art installations, performances, and interactive events across downtown. – Various times / Free

Winter Bridal Show 2026 – January 24 @ DeVos Place – Bridal showcase featuring local wedding vendors, fashion, florals, photography, and planning inspiration. – 11:00 AM–4:00 PM / Prices vary

Beer City Pepper Fest – January 24 @ The Intersection – Celebration of chili, hot sauce, live music, comedy, food trucks, and local artisans benefiting community mental health advocates. – 11:00 AM–4:00 PM / Prices vary

Grand Rapids Camper, Travel & RV Show – January 29–February 1 @ DeVos Place – A boat, auto, camping, and RV expo with exhibits, gear, and outdoor lifestyle products. – Various times / Prices vary

Michigan International Auto Show – January 29 - February 1 @ DeVos Place – Annual auto show featuring vehicle displays, demos, and automotive exhibitors from across Michigan. – Various times / Prices vary

Winter Beer Festival – February 28 @ LMCU Ballpark – Outdoor beer tasting event with hundreds of Michigan craft beers, local entertainment, ice carvings, and fire pits. – Various times / Prices vary

Great Lakes Snow Snake Competition – February 28 @ Sixth Street Park – Traditional snow snake sport competition with competitors sliding handcrafted “snakes” down icy tracks. – Various times / Free/Prices vary

Noodle Fest – March 1 @ Calder Plaza – Part of the World of Winter festivities featuring noodle dishes from local restaurants where attendees vote for their favorites. – 11:00 AM–6:00 PM / Free (food prices vary)

🏃 Upcoming Runs & Walks!

Earlier this year, one of our readers wrote in asking about running and walking events happening around Grand Rapids. We aim to please! Here are a few running and walking events happening in the next few weeks and months, so you can start warming up now.

Riverside parkrun on January 24

Couple Shuffle on February 1 

Groundhog Day Marathon on February 6–7

Riverside parkrun on February 7

Riverside parkrun on February 14

Grand Rapids Road Mile on March 26