Good Morning Grand Rapids!

Hope you’re staying cool! My wife and I had to take the kids to Millennium Park last weekend to make it through. Hopefully it cools off some before the Fourth!

Let’s get into it! 🔥 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🎆 Where to Celebrate the Fourth of July in West Michigan: Looking for fireworks, parades, and Independence Day festivities? WOOD TV8 has compiled a comprehensive guide to Fourth of July celebrations happening across West Michigan, including events throughout the holiday weekend.

🥵 Extreme Heat Settles Over West Michigan: A prolonged stretch of dangerous heat will continue through Thursday, with officials urging residents to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and make use of local cooling centers if they don't have access to air conditioning.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 "It Takes a Village" Returns for Summer: The Urban League of West Michigan and Cure Violence have relaunched It Takes a Village, offering teens a safe place to gather on summer evenings with music, sports, art, free meals, and mentoring through the returning youth violence prevention program.

🎨 ArtPrize Expands with Longer Preview Week: Organizers have announced that ArtPrize 2026 will once again feature an expanded Preview Week, giving visitors additional time to experience installations across downtown before voting begins in the 16th edition of the international art competition.

⚽ Professional Soccer Is Coming to Downtown Grand Rapids: As construction continues on the city's new downtown soccer stadium, AC Grand Rapids is preparing to launch as West Michigan's newest professional men's club. Learn more about the team, its vision, and the stadium in this preview of pro soccer's arrival in Grand Rapids.

🤩 Tonight in Grand Rapids!

Music lovers get top pick, between classic rock legends the Guess Who at Acrisure Ampitheater and St. Paul & The Broken Bones at Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater.

Which one will you choose?

📆 This Weekend’s Grand Events

Wednesday, July 1

St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater - Soul powerhouse St. Paul & The Broken Bones headline the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series with special guest Nathan Graham. 7:00 PM / $55 members, $60 non-members

The Guess Who - Acrisure Amphitheater - Classic rock legends Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings reunite for the Takin' It Back Tour. 7:30 PM / Prices vary

The Hunger Games - Wealthy Theatre - Community-requested screening of the blockbuster dystopian adventure based on Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel. Doors 6:30 PM / Movie 7:30 PM / $8–$10

Wednesday Country Night - H.O.M.E. at The B.O.B. - Weekly country dance night featuring a free beginner line dancing lesson followed by open dancing until midnight. 7:00 PM–12:00 AM / Free

The Highlands Walk & Talk - Blandford Nature Center - Guided hike exploring the transformation of a former golf course into wetlands and prairie habitat. 6:30–8:00 PM / $8–$10

Thursday, July 2

Matteo Bocelli – Falling In Love Tour - Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater - Matteo Bocelli performs with special guest Stephan Moccio as part of his Falling In Love Tour, blending classical crossover with contemporary pop. 7:00 PM / $58 members, $63 public (+ fees)

JAWS - Wealthy Theatre - Steven Spielberg's classic thriller returns to the big screen as a great white shark terrorizes the town of Amity. Doors 6:30 PM / Movie 7:30 PM / $9

Relax at Rosa: Mar In Color - Rosa Parks Circle - Free lunchtime concert featuring Mar In Color, plus a rotating lineup of local food trucks including Crepes by the Lakes, 616 Kabob, Slingin' Weenies, Sweet Racks & Smokin' Butts BBQ, Baeritto, Dune Buggy, and Travelin' Tom's Coffee. 12:00–1:30 PM / Free

Sable Candle Co. Summer Workshops - Sable Candle Co. - Hands-on candle-making workshop where participants create and customize their own handcrafted candles. 11:00 AM / Prices vary

Townsend Park Hike with a Naturalist - Townsend Park - Guided beginner-friendly nature hike led by Blandford Nature Center educators focusing on local plants, animals, and field guide techniques. Time varies / $5 adults, $5 children (under 2 free)

Friday, July 3

"Weird Al" Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour - Acrisure Amphitheater - Comedy music icon "Weird Al" Yankovic brings his expanded multimedia parody spectacular to Grand Rapids. 8:00 PM / $43+

Miles Balley - Rapid River Stillhouse - Grand Rapids singer-songwriter performs an evening of heartfelt original Americana and folk-inspired music. 9:00 PM / $5 cover

XVI Latvian Song and Dance Festival: Bermudu Divstūris & Apvedceļš - GLC Live at 20 Monroe - Festival concert featuring Latvian hip-hop stars Bermudu Divstūris and country favorites Apvedceļš. 8:00 PM / $106

Free Show Friday: DJ Sommelier - Speciation Cellars - Grand Rapids DJ Jeremy "DJ Sommelier" Evans-Smith spins deep house and Detroit-inspired dance music. 8:00–10:00 PM / Free

Saturday, July 4

Fireworks on the Jdek 2026 - Jdek at Margaux - Rooftop Independence Day celebration with skyline views, food, drinks, and front-row seats for the city's fireworks. 5:00–11:30 PM / Prices vary

Happy Birthday America 4th of July Celebration - Grand Rapids 250 - Community Independence Day celebration featuring live entertainment, family activities, food vendors, and patriotic festivities. Times vary / Free

Grand Rapids Fireworks - Ah-Nab-Awen Park & Downtown Grand Rapids - Annual Independence Day celebration with live entertainment, food vendors, family activities, and a downtown fireworks spectacular. 6:00–11:00 PM / Free

Grand Rapids Foodie Fest 2026 - Riverside Park - Three-day celebration of local food, drinks, shopping, and live entertainment. Times vary / Admission varies

Sunset Cinema - Downtown Grand Rapids - Free outdoor movie night in downtown Grand Rapids as part of the annual Sunset Cinema series. 8:00–11:00 PM / Free

Red, White, and Boozy Party at IDC - IDC - Independence Day party featuring drinks, music, and holiday celebrations. 8:00 PM / Admission varies

Hike with Goats! - Dreamgoats - Guided hiking adventure alongside friendly pack goats through scenic trails. Times vary / Prices vary

Sunday, July 5

Jack Johnson – SURFILMUSIC Tour - Acrisure Amphitheater - Jack Johnson performs with special guests Hermanos Gutiérrez on his SURFILMUSIC Tour. 7:00 PM / Prices vary

The Deslondes with Chris Acker & The Bootstrap Boys - Founders Brewing Company - Free Americana showcase featuring New Orleans' The Deslondes with Chris Acker and Grand Rapids' own The Bootstrap Boys. 7:00 PM / Free

🎆 Happy Fourth of July!

Did you know that Grand Rapids was hosting Fourth of July parades as far back as1876?

📅 Add to Your Calendar

Latvian Song & Dance Festival 2026 – July 1–5 @ Downtown Grand Rapids Venues – Grand Rapids hosts the Latvian Song & Dance Festival for the first time, featuring massive choral and dance performances, cultural exhibitions, and community events across multiple downtown venues, including a 500-voice choir and 750-member dance ensemble. – July 1–5 / Schedule varies / Free–ticketed events

The Guess Who – Acrisure Amphitheater – Legendary rock band The Guess Who performs live as part of their 2026 tour, bringing classic hits and high-energy live performance to downtown Grand Rapids. – Date & time vary / Prices vary

Upheaval Festival 2026 – Belknap Park – Multi-day rock and metal festival featuring national touring acts, local performers, and immersive festival experiences in one of Grand Rapids’ largest summer music events. – July dates vary / Multi-day / Ticketed

Breakaway Music Festival Michigan 2026 – Grand Rapids Area – Touring EDM and hip-hop festival bringing nationally known DJs and live acts, large-scale stage production, and nightlife-oriented programming to West Michigan. – Summer 2026 / Dates & pricing vary

🏃 Upcoming Runs & Walks!

Last 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.

KeyBank Gran Fondo on June 27, 2026

myTEAM TRIUMPH West MI – GR Gran Fondo on June 27, 2026