Grand Rapids News and Events July 11 - July 13
Grand Rapids News and Events for the weekend of July 11 - 13
Good Morning Grand Rapids!
Welcome to weekend, Grand Rapids! We hope you’ve been enjoying the first week of our new bi-weekly newsletter, as we’ve just got too much awesomeness to squeeze into a single email each week. We’ve got some great stuff heading our way this weekend, with a bunch of free music, some delicious eats, and several chances to beat the Summertime Sadness with Lana Del Rey-themed events.
Let’s get into it! ☀️
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📰 This Week’s Grand Stories
⚽ Ampitheater & Soccer Stadium have new managers for their marketing, food and beverages. The same company who manages Van Andel & Devos will be taking the reigns starting next July!
🌆 Grand Rapids Voted Top-Run City: Our wonderful city made #22/25 on the list put out by Wallet Hub for this year!
🍎 More Food Needed! As food pantries’ supplies are diminishing, demand is rising across West Michigan.
🔑 John Ball Escape Room? The John Ball Zoo is turning into an escape room this summer! And, the first event is today!
⚡️ Watch Out For Thunderstorms: Meteorologists are predicting intermittent thunderstorms beginning this Friday, July 11.
🎴 Cards For Community: Devil May Duel, a game shop that opened on Division Street in November 2024 has become a gathering place to play games of all kinds.
🏀 Hoffman-Schwarz Gets Inducted: Carlee Hoffman-Schwarz, a double gold medalist with the U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, is getting inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame.
Hot Event Alert: Jim Gaffigan is coming to Van Andel on July 17th
Hot Event Alert: Hamilton Broadway is coming to DeVos Hall on July 23rd
📆 This Week’s Grand Events
Friday, July 11
Beer City Open: It’s here all weekend, one of the nation’s largest pickleball tournaments is right in your backyard. With food trucks, and pop-up shops - it’s a great way to get outdoors and see the nation’s fastest growing sport in action!
Darci Lynne’s “Up Close & Personal” Tour: Get up close ‘n personal with Darci Lynne AND her puppets at Wealthy Theatre. 7:30 - 9 PM. $31.08 - $127.09.
Free Show Friday: Jordan Hamilton (Jazz/Hip-Hop): The next session of Speciation Cellars’ Free Show Friday will feature jazz/hip-hop vocalist and cellist Jordan Hamilton. 9 - 11 PM. Free.
General Wubz (Wood) Shop: SMR SZN: Things’re about to get even hotten when the summer edition of General Wubz Shop comes to General Wood Shop. 8 PM. $10.
Saturday, July 12
ALFRED BANKS (with CUU Josama): Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist and social media influencer Alfred Bank is coming to Wealthy Theatre as part of the #BLKMUSICMATTERS concert series. 8 - 11 PM. $20/Advance, $25/Door.
Cherry Festival: The only thing better than Michigan cherries is Michigan cherries paired with live music, tasty food and drinks, and a chance to hang out with your favorite people. Ed Dunneback & Girl's Farm Market. 9 AM - 4 PM. $8.95.
Jazz and R&B Festival: Make your summer as smooth as possible when the West Michigan Music Group brings their celebration of jazz and old-school r&b to Rosa Parks Circle. 12 - 9 PM. Free.
Lookout Cookout: Come celebrate the historic Belknap neighorhood with the first-ever annual Lookout Cookout. Lookout Park. 12 - 3 PM. Free.
Lust For Life – Lana Del Rey Dance Party: Say goodbye to Summertime Sadness. It’s time for Lust for Life, a Lana Del Rey-themed dance party at The Stache.
Sunday, July 13
Decorative Suncatcher Class with Wild Daisy Creative: Catch the sunbeams of your inner creativity with this decorative suncatcher class at Speciation Cellars. 1 - 2:30 PM. $25/person.
Dining with the Divas: Lana Del Rey Edition: Didn’t get enough Lana on Saturday night? Come out to General Wood Shop to celebrate all things Lana Del Rey with The Divas. 5:30 - 8 PM. $10.
🏘️ Meet Charles E. Belknap
Did you know that the Belknap Neighborhood was named after Charles E. Belknap, A Republican congressman and one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America.

📅 Add to Your Calendar
🍝 Get Ready For West Michigan Italian Festival: Mark your calendars now. West Michigan Italian Festival is coming to the Tanger Outlets for a weekend of fabulous food, delicious drinks, local artisans, and live music on July 25 - 27.
Grand Rapids FitFest Returns: One $20 ticket gets you access to unlimited classes at 30+ studios and gyms all over the city during FitFest week (July 28th-Aug 2nd) and the official Recovery Day on August 2nd!
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🏃 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.
Spartan Nash 5K: Get ready for a fantastic day of fun and fitness at the SpartanNash YMCA Byron Days 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 26
Lung Legacy 5K: Join us for the Lung Legacy Run and Walk powered by Reel Free, a 5k run/0.5-mile walk with a heartfelt mission on July 30th
Gettin Salty Margarita Run: Lace 'em up on August 23rd and join the party by rewarding yourself for completing the 5k with a nice, cold margarita! Not up for the run? No worries! You can still have all the same fun with no training whatsoever.
👨💼 Highlighting New Businesses
Pages & Peonies, the spicy romance bookstore just opened on Alpine ave, and you likely saw the huge lines for opening day on social media!
Gimmes Par and Grill is new and open to some well-deserved fan fare. With 4.8 Stars and over 100 Reviews on Google… the food is great, the golf simulators are above par and the drinks are always swingin.
Playa Bowls just opened on East Beltline offering acai bowls, juices and smoothies.
🎶 Plan Ahead for Big Concerts & Shows!
Quite a few readers have said they’d like a little more advance notice on upcoming concerts and shows - so here ya go! Whilst this isn’t everything - it’s a lot of the big names coming to town!

Jim Gaffigan is coming to Van Andel on July 17th
Hamilton Broadway Production is coming to DeVos Hall on July 23rd
Dude Perfect is coming to Van Andel on July 30th
Louis CK is coming to DeVos Hall on Aug 26th and 27th
Jason Aldean is coming to Van Andel on Sept 4th
John Crist is coming to DeVos Hall on Sept 19th
The Lumineers are coming to Van Andel on Oct 1st
Brandon Lake is coming to Van Andel on Oct 11th
Matt Rife is coming to Van Andel on Nov 9th
Bert Kreischer is coming to Van Andel on Nov 20th
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