Black History Month reminds us to celebrate diversity. West Michigan is home to countless cultures, so use this month to expose the family to assorted cultures. Area art centers offer tons of fun ways to sample West Michigan's melting pot.
DTE Ethnic Heritage Festival
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl St., Grand Rapids
Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Free
grmuseum.org, (616) 456-3977
Grand Rapids Public Museum packed this festival with cultural exposure. Music, dance, foods and crafts from various ethnic groups that call West Michigan home are featured throughout the day in tons of fun activities. Two stages stay active with traditional dancers representing Irish, Pacific Island and American Indian cultures. Get your feet moving to a heart-thumping drum performance by the multicultural group WaZoBia. Settle in for the oral talents of storytellers and handiwork of craft demonstrations. Fashionistas in the family will love the traditional and modern ethnic fashion showcase hosted by local celebrity and newscaster Terri DeBoer. Try the mouth-watering delicacies from various cultures available for purchase. While the kids climb aboard the free carousel rides, mom and dad can drink international beer from foreign lands.The planetarium show, "Everybody's Sky: Start Stories from Around the World" and the museum's permanent exhibit "Newcomers: The People of the Place" complement this (multi) cultured event perfectly.
The Moscow Circus "A Russian Folk Fair"
Van Singel Fine Arts Center
8500 Burlingame Ave. SW, Byron Center
Feb. 8-9, 7 p.m.
Admission: Adults $29.50, Students $18.50
vsfac.com, (616) 878-6800
Van Singel Fine Arts Center offers a happier perspective of Russian culture than the Red Dawn marathon on TNT by hosting the talents of The Moscow Circus. The folk fair starts as soon as your family enters the lobby filled with Russian clowns, costumed performers and dancers and continues as you find your seats for the thrilling theatre-circus production. Narrated by Russian mythical characters, the show weaves cultural history with the exhilaration and silliness of a circus. Your little world travelers will emote "ooohs," "ahhhs," and "OWWWs" while witnessing the strength, grace, balance and flexibility of the famed circus performers before the colorful backdrop of lively Russian music and bright traditional costumes. Audience participation adds a bit of hilarity to the night as you laugh at the poor sap pulled on stage.
African Art Super Saturday
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 West Webster Ave., Muskegon
Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-1p.m.
Admission: Free
muskegonartmuseum.org, (231) 720-2570
In honor of Black History Month, Muskegon Museum of Art is dedicating their monthly Super Saturday to African and African American artists. It's a perfect outing for families seeking culture. Throughout the day, different activities are sure to please everyone in the family. Start with a stirring film about African culture and the creation and use of African masks. Then try your own hand at the art form with the children's Make and Take craft. Your tiny artists will use bold colors, designs and patterns to construct their own African Masks. After the African exposure, join the docent on a tour of contemporary African American artists' work. While you're there, check out another multicultural exhibit, the Edward Curtis exhibit, an American Indian portfolio.
Year of the Tiger Exhibit
Holland Area Arts Council
150 East 8th St, Holland
Feb. 1 - April 26; Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission: Free
hollandarts.org, (616) 396-3278
Holland, a sanctuary city during the Vietnam War, possesses a rich Asian community, so it is fitting that the Holland Area Arts Council hosts "Year of the Tiger." In conjunction with the early spring New Year Celebrations of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian cultures, the free exhibit offers a glimpse into the Asian experience. Asian Hollanders share artifacts including traditional costumes, artwork and sculpture as well as intriguing personal immigration stories. Specific dates to visit the exhibit offer extra family fun. All day on Feb.4, along with the first Fridays of its running months from 6 to 8 p.m., kids learn Asian crafts such as weaving, sapling planting and cooking. A special Kids Can Cook "Asian Delights" class is offered in conjunction with the Year of the Tiger exhibit on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon for $12, in which kids ages 5 to 10 become chefs of spring rolls, white rice and various stir fry sauces.
