In case you’re new here, I’m hosting a Creating Really Awesome Free Trips series this summer! The free trip posts happen every Thursday and some Tuesdays all summer long. Happy road trippin’, friends!
Hi all! I am Ashley from Love From Home and I am super excited to be a part of the Free Trip Series! Today I’m bringing you free (or almost free) fun in Grand Rapids, Michigan! My brother and aunt currently reside there and I LOVE heading across the state to pay them a visit. Grand Rapids has tons of fun things to offer to people of all ages, so I’ve done my best to pick out some great options for everyone (with a little bit of help from my resident experts)!
1. ArtPrize – September 18th – October 6th
Head to downtown Grand Rapids in early fall to see the town taken over by ArtPrize. This massive contest spans a three and a half week period where the public can visit and vote for their favorite art pieces. This year boasts 1,524 entries in 169 downtown venues and spans 3 square miles!
While fun for the whole family, those sixteen and older can participate in voting for their favorite pieces. When wandering the streets of GR, you can vote via text or through the ArtPrize App! Round one takes place from the 18th – 28th of September and voting is open for ANY entry in the ArtPrize competition. Voting in this round is unlimited! The 29th – 3rd, you can cast one additional vote for your favorite of the top ten entries from Round 1! $560,000 is awarded in total prizes for a variety of winners from this competition.
Last year, I attended Artprize for the first time and it was an awesome experience. The sheer amount of art was unbelievable and the quality was mind blowing. When people say “art” I always think Picasso and Van Gogh. While I love a good Van Gogh iPhone case, art is not really my thing. ArtPrize is anything but a still painting. The art at this event comes to life and you will hardly believe that ability of some of these artists. It’s hard to put into words, so here a couple of my favorite examples from last year:
On the top left is a sculpture called “Stick-to-it-a-ness.” Those are horses made completely of STICKS, standing in the Grand River. On the right is the grand prize winner, “Elephants” – life size elephants carved from styrofoam! Amazingggg.
Most amazing of all was the bottom left: a quilt like I’ve ever seen. It’s made of WOOD. Yeah, WOOD. You have to watch this video of the quilt being carved… You will not believe your eyes!
2. Yoga in the Park – Sundays at 7:30pm, through the end of August
With or without kiddos, you can take your family down to Wilcox Park in Eastown and Centennial Park in Holland any Sunday in the summer at 7:30pm for a free Yoga Classes in the Park, presented by The Funky Buddah Yoga HotHouse. It’s a fun way to unwind from a hot summer day!
3. Grand Rapids Art Museum – Tuesdays, Year Round
If you’re in town on a rainy day, hopefully a Tuesday, no worries! The Grand Rapids Art Museum offers Meijer Free Tuesdays where entrance to the museum is, you guessed it! FREE! We went to a Princess Diana exhibit last fall there – it was wonderful! The GRAM is huge and beautiful. We had such an awesome day exploring.
4. Movies in the Park – Summer
I’ve never been able to make it, but if you’re in town on the right dates (see link for schedule), East Grand Rapids Parks & Rec (and many other sponsors) put on Movies in the Park on the shore of Reed Lake. They show an awesome selection of kids movies on an inflatable screen. I think this would be such a fun family activity!
5. Visit the Amway Grand Hotel – Anytime!
We’ve been fortunate enough to have several visits and one over night stay at the Amway Grand, GR’s most famous hotel by far! What I did not know, was that you can stop in to the concierge desk and get a free self-guided tour brochure! This 1913 hotel is amazing – with gorgeous rooms, conference facilities, and more. There are even small shops downstairs! The new glass tower is something to check out as well. So, if you’re in to period architecture or looking for something out of the ordinary to do, I think this would be an awesome option.
6. Jazz at the Zoo – John Ball Zoo, Mondays all Summer long, 6:30pm
This is another event I haven’t been able to make it too, but I think it would be really fun to check out. Mondays all summer long, John Ball Zoo plays host to various Jazz musicians. Vendors come in for food sales, so make a night of it and take the whole family to a unique concert! The link has the full Jazz Schedule. And, speaking of the zoo, they do have a cheap option for those visiting at the right time: they offer two-for-Tuesdays one Tuesday each month. The next two-for-Tuesday is August 20th.
7. Millenium Park – Anytime!
While not FREE, at $2/kid and $4/adult, the price is hard to beat. Millenium Park is home to a beach, splashpad, and almost 20 miles of trails for biking, hiking, and more! I haven’t been myself, but my brother vouches that the splashpad is tons of fun!
There you have it! Some free (or almost free) fun for everyone in Grand Rapids, MI!
Comments & Reviews
You should check out
Grand Rapids Original Swing Society- It holds the world record for largest swing dance organization
In the Summer, it takes place at Rosa Parks Circle right downtown Grand Rapids.
It is family friendly, filled with music, and lots of dancing.
They have a suggested donation, but anyone can come.
It is Tuesday nights from 7-10pm with a short beginner lesson from 7-7:30pm