Good Morning Grand Rapids!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Right now, we’ve got the best of both worlds, it’s still warm but the apples are coming in, too. It’s the perfect time to get out and explore.

Let’s get into it! ☀️ 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

✨ ENLIGHTEN Returning to Frederik Meijer Gardens: ENLIGHTEN, which was voted one of the country’s best holiday light displays last year, is returning to Frederik Meijer Gardens.

🌳 Blandford Offering Free Admission in September: Blandford Nature Center is offering visitors one last chance to enjoy the green leaves with a month of free admission.

🌭 Taste of Chicago Opens at Former O & E Location: Chef Steve has opened Taste of Chicago at the former O & E location, offering Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style dogs, Polish sausages, and other Chicago-inspired favorites.

🍕 Licari’s Announces Third Location: Knapp’s Corner staple Licari’s Pizza Kitchen has announced a third location, with hints that the new space will come with a new name and menu.

🎅 Registration Opens for 2026 Santa Parade: Think you have what it takes to be Ol’ Saint Nick? Registration is now open for the 2026 Gentex Santa Parade.

📆 This Week’s Grand Events

Wednesday, September 2

Create Your Own Farm Flower Bouquet - Blandford Nature Center - Harvest and arrange your own flower bouquet directly from Blandford Farm with guidance from a flower farming expert, using provided tools and a mason jar to create a centerpiece to take home. 6:00–7:00 PM / $30 non-members, $24 members

From Iceland to the Grand River - Wealthy Theatre - A special screening of Time and Water, an award-winning documentary exploring water, climate, memory, stewardship, and what each generation leaves for the next, with connections to West Michigan and the Great Lakes. 5:30–8:00 PM / Free

Rebels At Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution - Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum - Historian and author Eric Jay Dolin explores the role of privateers during the American Revolution and how these privately owned vessels contributed to America's fight at sea. 6:30 PM / Free

Thursday, September 3

TLC and Salt-N-Pepa - Acrisure Amphitheater - TLC and Salt-N-Pepa bring their It's Iconic co-headlining tour to Grand Rapids with special guest En Vogue for a night celebrating decades of R&B and hip-hop hits. 7:30 PM / Prices vary

Time and Water: A Community Conversation on Water, Stewardship & Legacy - Wealthy Theatre - A special evening featuring the documentary Time and Water, a live virtual Q&A with Andri Snær Magnason and filmmaker Sara Dosa, and an after-hours discussion about water, climate, legacy, and responsibility. Doors 4:30 PM / Starts 5:30 PM / Ends 8:00 PM / Free

TLC & Salt-N-Pepa - Acrisure Amphitheater - TLC and Salt-N-Pepa bring their first-ever co-headlining It's Iconic tour to Grand Rapids with special guest En Vogue, celebrating decades of iconic R&B and hip-hop hits. 7:30 PM / $40–$198+

Zine Crawl - Vault of Midnight - A one-of-a-kind zine workshop that crawls between three Monroe Center businesses: Oh, Hello Co. Paper & Gifts, Rebel Nell, and Vault of Midnight. 6:00–8:30 PM / $32

Business Exchange Breakfast - Grand Rapids Chamber - A networking event for West Michigan business professionals featuring three 20-minute speed-dating-style rounds where participants pitch their businesses, products, services, or needs, with breakfast and coffee included. 8:00 AM / $40 chamber members

Hip Hop Showcase - Rosa Parks Circle - A free outdoor lunchtime performance featuring a hip-hop showcase in downtown Grand Rapids. 12:00–1:30 PM / Free

Tails & Trivia with Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry - Speciation Cellars - An interactive trivia night hosted by Matt from Here's Your Host, featuring audio and video clues, puzzles, and interactive surprises. 6:00–8:00 PM / $25

Friday, September 4

petal party: dance to music from ariana grande - The Stache at The Intersection - An 18+ dance party featuring Ariana Grande's new album petal in its entirety along with her best music throughout the night. Doors 8:00 PM / Show 9:00 PM / $18.40–$22.15

FREE SPIRIT GHOST IMAGE - Opening Night - Cocoon Art Space - Curt Prudden's new mixed-media exhibition explores memories created during emotionally powerful experiences, physical and spiritual boundaries, existence in nature, and the language and meaning of symbols. 6:00–9:00 PM / Free

Artist Talk for CONNECT: An Immersive Experience by Carolyn Ferrari - 106 Gallery - An artist talk accompanying an immersive exhibition inspired by Carolyn Ferrari's spoken word album Connect, combining poetry, music, visual art, and explorations of memory, identity, vulnerability, and healing. 7:00–8:00 PM / Free

Free Show: Quilter & August (Indie) - Speciation Cellars - Grand Rapids indie rock band Quilter and local soul-pop duo August perform a free 21+ show. Music starts at 9:00 PM / Free

First Strokes (A Prelude to 'Unspoken') w/Ruimin Ge - ArtRat Gallery - Artist Ruimin Ge presents an interactive First Friday experience offering visitors a chance to explore the emotional and visual language of her upcoming ArtPrize piece through Chinese words, personal reflection, bookmarks, and anonymous brush strokes. 5:00–9:00 PM / Free

Saturday, September 5

DJ Turk Lo – Live at Rapid River Stillhouse - Rapid River Stillhouse - DJ Turk brings more than 20 years of experience to the Stillhouse for a night of nonstop energy and a mix designed to keep the dance floor moving. 10:00 PM / $5 cover

Minus the Bear - The Intersection - Minus the Bear brings its Menos El Oso 20th Anniversary Tour to Grand Rapids with special guests KEEP in an all-ages performance. Doors 6:30 PM / Show 8:00 PM / Prices vary

Jay Webb - The Stache at The Intersection - Jay Webb brings The HOMESICK Tour to Grand Rapids with support from Caitlynne Curtis in an all-ages performance. Doors 6:30 PM / Show 7:30 PM / $28.40

GRAND OPENING: The Glasshouse - The Glasshouse - The team behind The Elevated Market celebrates the opening of The Glasshouse with treats, games, discounts, and block-party fun for the whole family. 10:00 AM–6:00 PM / Free

Leathercraft for Therapists: A Hands-On Therapeutic Tool with 018 - Tandy Leather - A hands-on workshop introducing therapists to fundamental leathercraft skills and exploring how the craft can be incorporated into clinical practice. No prior experience is required. 11:00 AM–5:00 PM / $25

Summer Slowdown Reiki Sound Bath - Matty Sunshine Sound Healing - A hybrid healing experience combining the sounds, vibrations, and frequencies of a sound bath with Reiki energy healing to help participants relax and ease into the fall season. 1:30–3:00 PM / $35

Beaded Jewelry Set Workshop - Three Blue Brushes - Create a necklace, bracelet, and matching earrings while learning basic stringing, simple wirework, and professional finishing techniques. No experience is needed. 12:00–2:30 PM / $42

Sunday, September 6

Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer - Wealthy Theatre - A candlelight concert featuring music by Hans Zimmer in an intimate, multi-sensory setting at Wealthy Theatre. 6:30 PM / $17–$48.50

Candlelight: Queen vs. The Beatles - Wealthy Theatre - A candlelight concert featuring music from Queen and The Beatles at Wealthy Theatre. Doors 8:00 PM / $22–$55

Petting Zoo – Meet Friendly Farm Animals - Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery - Families can meet and interact with friendly farm animals at Robinette's. 12:00–4:00 PM / Free

🍁 Celebrating The Fall

Did you know that 80% of Michigan’s apples are grown in the Grand Rapids’ area?

📅 Add to Your Calendar

TLC & Salt-N-Pepa: It's Iconic The Tour – Acrisure Amphitheater – Two of the biggest groups in hip-hop and R&B history join forces for their first co-headlining tour, with special guest En Vogue. – September 3, 2026 / 7:30 PM / Prices vary

Pitbull: I'm Back Tour – Acrisure Amphitheater – Global superstar Pitbull brings his high-energy I'm Back Tour to Grand Rapids with special guest Lil Jon. – September 10, 2026 / 8:00 PM / Prices vary

Billy Idol: It's a Nice Day To... Tour Again – Acrisure Amphitheater – Rock icon Billy Idol brings his signature hits and energetic live show to Grand Rapids with special guest Susanna Hoffs. – September 11, 2026 / 7:30 PM / Prices vary

John Mulaney – Acrisure Amphitheater – Acclaimed comedian John Mulaney brings his live stand-up show to Grand Rapids with Fred Armisen, Mike Birbiglia, and Nick Kroll. – September 12, 2026 / 7:30 PM / Prices vary

The B-52s & Devo: Cosmic De-Evolution Tour – Acrisure Amphitheater – Two hugely influential new-wave bands join forces for a major co-headlining tour, with DJ Cummerbund. – September 19, 2026 / 7:00 PM / Prices vary

Mumford & Sons: PRIZEFIGHTER Tour – Acrisure Amphitheater – Grammy-winning British folk-rock band Mumford & Sons brings its PRIZEFIGHTER Tour to Grand Rapids with special guest The Marcus King Band. – September 22, 2026 / 7:30 PM / Prices vary

Brooks & Dunn: Neon Moon Tour – Acrisure Amphitheater – Country Music Hall of Famers Brooks & Dunn bring their Neon Moon Tour to Grand Rapids with David Lee Murphy and Willow Avalon. – September 25, 2026 / 7:00 PM / Prices vary

Dan + Shay: The Young Tour – Acrisure Amphitheater – Grammy-winning country duo Dan + Shay bring The Young Tour to Grand Rapids with Tyler Hubbard and Josh Ross. – October 2, 2026 / 7:00 PM / Prices vary

Neil deGrasse Tyson: An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies Part II – DeVos Performance Hall – Astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the science that movies got right and wrong, from The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins to Harry Potter and A Bug's Life. – October 5, 2026 / 7:30 PM / Prices vary

Gabriel Iglesias: The 1976 Tour – Van Andel Arena – One of America's most popular stand-up comedians brings his large-scale touring show to Grand Rapids. – November 13, 2026 / 8:00 PM / Prices vary

ArtPrize 2026 – Grand Rapids – International art competition and citywide cultural festival transforming Grand Rapids into a massive exhibition featuring thousands of artists and works throughout the city. – September 17–October 3, 2026 / Free to view

🏃 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.

Last Chance BQ.2 - Grand Rapids on September 13.

Healthy Kids Running Series Fall 2026 - Grand Rapids, MI on September 13–October 11.