Good Morning Grand Rapids!

We’re reaching the end of the first week of ArtPrize. Has anyone gone yet? What have been some of your favorites so far?

Let’s get into it! 🍂 

📰 This Week’s Grand Stories

🍽️ Azul Agave Comes to Forest Hills: Azul Agave Mexican Cuisine & Bar is bringing fresh Mexican flavor to Forest Hills with the opening of their third location at 884 Forest Hill Ave. SE, where owner Maricela Melend will be serving street corn, seafood dip, salchipapas, and more.

📚 Books & Mortar Reopens: After the former owner closed its doors, independent bookstore Books & Mortar has reopened with a trio of new owners who can’t wait to keep building the community Books & Mortar is known for.

🎨 Meet the Artist: Christina Marth: Artist Christian Marth talked to WoodTV about her piece for ArtPrize, “Untitled Grief.” Christina Marth and “Untitled Grief” are featured in a new Meet the Artist segment exploring the ArtPrize work and the story behind it.

🎖️ ArtPrize Exhibit Honors Veterans: A new ArtPrize exhibit honoring veterans and military groups brings together artwork and stories highlighting the experiences and contributions of those who’ve served.

🌳 Riverside Park Gets Outdoor Classroom: Grand Rapids has cut the ribbon on a new outdoor classroom at Riverside Park, creating a new space for outdoor learning and community programming.

📆 This Week’s Grand Events

Wednesday, September 23

Brain Cafe-50s Diner Theme - Dementia Institute - Enjoy social interaction and brain engagement while traveling back to the ’50s diner scene through music, tasty treats, and activities. 2:00–3:30 PM / Free

Paint Night at The Aroma Labs - The Aroma Labs - Create a hand-painted 50mL fragrance at this creative workshop, with all paint supplies provided and expert guidance throughout the painting and scent-creation process. 7:00 AM–9:00 PM / $100

Rolling Thunder - Wealthy Theatre - Cinema Obscura presents this overlooked Vietnam veteran drama about a returning POW struggling to adjust to life after the war. Doors 6:00 PM / Movie 6:30 PM / $11

Thursday, September 24

World BOLLYWOOD Day – Dance Workshop - Armentality Movement Arts Center - Celebrate Bollywood through classic dance steps, vibrant rhythms, music, cinema, and Indian cultural traditions in a workshop open to all experience levels. 6:00–7:30 PM / $30

Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson - Wealthy Theatre - Experience Michael Jackson’s music during a live, multi-sensory Candlelight concert beneath the glow of candlelight. 8:45–10:00 PM / $18.50+

Create Art In Your Community With Maggie Flynn - Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum - Meet ArtPrize artist Maggie Flynn, hear about how her family history informs her work, and learn more about creating art in your community. 6:00–7:00 PM / Free

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band - Elevation - The Dave Matthews Tribute Band brings the Bring That Beat Back Tour to Grand Rapids for an all-ages performance. 7:00 PM doors / 8:00 PM show / $28.40–$22.15

State of Play Breakfast Fundraiser - The High Five - Hear stories about why play matters, enjoy food and beverages, and take part in the beloved Roshambo tradition at this annual fundraiser supporting play for children across the community. 8:00–9:30 AM / Free

Friday, September 25

Alpha White Coat Gala - DeVos Place Convention Center - Join leaders, professionals, and philanthropic partners for an evening celebrating service, leadership, education, mentorship, and community empowerment. 4:00–11:30 PM / $140

Brooks & Dunn - Acrisure Amphitheater - Brooks & Dunn bring their iconic country hits to Grand Rapids for a night of classic and contemporary country music. 7:00 PM / $49+

Class of ’98 Party - The Stache at The Intersection - SectionLive presents Class of ’98 for an all-ages live show. 7:00 PM doors / 8:00 PM show / $22

Brooks & Dunn: Neon Moon Tour 2026 - Acrisure Amphitheater - Brooks & Dunn bring their Neon Moon Tour 2026 to Grand Rapids with David Lee Murphy and Willow Avalon as special guests. 7:00 PM / Prices vary

Saturday, September 26

Alex Lambert - The Stache at The Intersection - Alex Lambert brings his live show to The Stache with support to be announced. All ages. 6:30 PM doors / 7:30 PM show / $25.90

Dahlia Floral Arrangement Class - Eastern Floral - Create a stunning floral arrangement using locally grown dahlias and other seasonal Michigan-grown blooms, with all supplies provided. 10:00–11:00 AM / $65

Outdoor Movie: SHREK - Wealthy Street Block Party - Enjoy a free outdoor screening of Shrek with themed drinks, food trucks, a costume contest, face painting, and a giant inflatable screen under the stars. 7:30–9:30 PM / Free

Piff The Magic Dragon - Forest Hills Fine Arts Center - Piff the Magic Dragon brings his blend of stand-up comedy and jaw-dropping magic to Grand Rapids, accompanied by Mr Piffles II. 7:00–8:30 PM / $40–$65, with children’s tickets $10 less than the cheapest seating price

Gathered Botanicals Foraged Botanical Incense Making - Gathered Botanicals - Learn to make botanical incense using foraged herbs, dried lavender stems, resins, botanicals, and makko powder, and leave with 3–6 handmade lavender-stem incense pieces. 10:30–11:30 AM / $30

Conjunto Rienda Real & Pócima Norteña - The Intersection - Enjoy a night of live norteño and regional Mexican music from Conjunto Rienda Real and Pócima Norteña. 8:00 PM doors / 8:45 PM show / $50 ADV1, $60 ADV2/DOS

Midwest vs. Everybody 5: ArtPrize Edition! - ArtRat Gallery - Celebrate Midwest artists, creativity, and community with a lively showcase during ArtPrize. 7:00–9:30 PM / Free

ArtPrize 2026: Halftime Event - John Ball Zoo - Watch 14 artists create plein air paintings throughout the Zoo, explore the animal exhibits, enjoy food and drinks, and see the live painting winner announced at 7:30 PM. 5:30–8:30 PM / $10

Chili Cookoff at The Ballpark - Chicago Beef Joint - Enjoy chili tasting, live music, food, drinks, and community fun at this afternoon chili cook-off. 11:00 AM–5:00 PM / $15 presale, $20 at the door

Simon Trpčeski Plays Prokofiev – Opening Weekend! - Grand Rapids Symphony - Pianist Simon Trpčeski joins the Grand Rapids Symphony for Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, alongside works by John Corigliano and Rachmaninoff. :30 PM–10:00 PM / $22–$110

Sunday, September 27

Fall into Movement at Farmhaus Farms - Farmhaus Farms - Start the morning with a barre3 Signature 45 class in the orchard, followed by donuts, cider, and apple picking. 10:00 AM–12:00 PM / Free

9 to 5 (In memory of Dolly Parton) at Wealthy Theatre - Wealthy Theatre - Enjoy a special screening of 9 to 5 in memory of Dolly Parton, following three working women who team up against their sexist and egotistical boss. Doors 12:00 PM / Movie 1:00 PM / $10 general admission, $8 CMC & Wealthy Theatre members

AMORE E AMICIZIA (Love & Friendship) - Trinity Lutheran Church - Tenor soloist Daniel Okereke performs with college choral friends and a string quartet of local symphony musicians. 3:00 PM / Free, with a $15 free-will offering welcome

Jervis Campbell: Good Grief! Tour - The BIG Room - Nashville-based artist Jervis Campbell brings his Good Grief! Tour to Grand Rapids in support of his good grief! album, with Nathan Colberg also on the lineup. 8:00 PM / $33

Joe Jordan - The Stache at The Intersection - Joe Jordan brings The Heart Sessions Tour to Grand Rapids for an all-ages show. 7:00 PM doors / 8:00 PM show / $28.40–$66.40

Fall Rummage Sale - Fulton Street Market - Browse clothing, furniture, books, vinyl records, kitchenware, collectibles, and other finds from local vendors and vintage retailers, with food trucks and concessions. 11:00 AM–4:00 PM / Free

KC and the Sunshine Band - DeVos Performance Hall - KC and the Sunshine Band bring classic disco, funk, and dance hits including “Get Down Tonight” and “That’s the Way (I Like It)” to Grand Rapids. 7:00 PM / Price varies

Vintage and Handmade Marketplace - Grand Rapids Downtown Market - Shop more than 60 regional vintage and handmade vendors offering clothing, accessories, decor, and more, with a live DJ and food inside the Market Hall. 10:00 AM–5:00 PM / Free

🍁 Celebrating ArtPrize!

Did you know that ArtPrize awards over $400,000 in prizes each year?

📅 Add to Your Calendar

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.

OktoberfestGR Bier Stein 5K and 8K presented by Xfinity on September 26.

SHE RUNS Grand Rapids on September 27