Our guide to events, goings-on and things to do in Grand Rapids and all around West Michigan for the month of July.
7/4
Grand Rapids Foodie Fest
Calder Plaza
July 4-6
grandrapidsfoodiefest.com
The 4th Annual Grand Rapids Foodie Fest is a three-day event celebrating a diverse community of food vendors, retail merchants, and live entertainment throughout the 4th of July weekend. Admission is free, so you can just stop by and try any of the dozens of booths and food trucks throughout Calder Plaza, while enjoying live music and dance performances.
7/7
Sunset Cinema Series
Celebration Cinema Studio Park
111 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
June 7-28
studioparkgr.com
Every summer, Studio Park in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids makes use of its outdoor piazza for free movie screenings. Movies start at 8 each Saturday—all you need to do is show up early with a blanket or low-rise camping chair to secure a spot. Feel free to bring snacks, and beverages are available for purchase. July’s lineup (as voted by locals) includes Mamma Mia, Grease and Moana 2.
7/12
Made Market
The Goei Center
818 Butterworth St. SW, Grand Rapids
July 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
mademkt.com/grand-rapids
Made Market is Grand Rapids’ premier curated handmade market, featuring over 50 incredible makers from West Michigan and beyond. Come explore a vibrant day filled with creativity, handcrafted goods, tasty bites, and the community spirit that makes this city shine. You’ll find illustrations, jewelry, clothing, skincare, home goods, soap, candles and more.
Archival Brewing 4 Year Anniversary
6266 West River Dr. NE, Belmont
July 12, 5-10 p.m.
facebook.com/archivalbrewing
Just as Archival Brewing honors the history of beer, they’re celebrating their own story with a four-year anniversary party, taking full advantage of their big, beautiful biergarten. You’ll find 22 taps of beer, mead and cider, along with cocktails and mocktails, scratch-made food, yard games, live music from Vespa and more.
7/17
Jim Gaffigan: Everything Is Wonderful!
Van Andel Arena
130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
July 17, 7 p.m.
vanandelarena.com
Jim Gaffigan is a Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, and author known for his clean, self-deprecating humor and sharp observations on food, fatherhood, everyday life, and his own pale complexion. With a lovable everyman persona, Gaffigan has become one of the most recognizable stand-up comics in America..
7/18
Upheaval
Belknap Park
30 Coldbrook St. NE, Grand Rapids
July 18-19
upheavalfest.com
Rob Zombie, Architects, Dead Poet Society, Bodysnatcher—Upheaval is the signature rock festival of Grand Rapids, bringing all kinds of heavy acts to the fields and hills of Belknap Park. You can see everything from visceral metalcore to heavy metal shock rock to rap-rock hybrids. Plus, this two-day fest is affordable and close to downtown, with an aftershow from Attila at The Intersection.
7/19
Oddities & Curiosities Expo
DeVos Place
303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
July 19-20
odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo is a wonderland of hand-selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses with all things weird. You’ll find: taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/halloween inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, skulls/bones, funeral collectibles & much more. Plus: sideshow performers on stage all throughout the day!
Bad Idea Social Club Art Market & Beer Release
City Built Brewing Co.
178 Mason St. NW, Grand Rapids
July 19, 12-4 p.m.
badideasocialclub.com
Now in its fifth season, local podcast Bad Idea Social Club has collected an impressive cadre of talented artists, so it only made sense to host an art market. This collab with City Built Brewing includes an afternoon of original artwork, limited prints, apparel, pod merch, and the return of an exclusive collaborative West Coast IPA!
7/25
T-Rex Fest
The Pyramid Scheme
68 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
July 25-27
pyramidschemebar.com
The Pyramid Scheme’s beloved T-Rex Fest is back! What was previously a one-day, all-day outdoor event has resurrected as an indoor fest with more than 20 bands playing across three days. The lineup features a wide variety of genres, from noise rock to hip-hop, post-hardcore, metal, shoegaze, indie rock and more. Headliners include Greet Death, Show Me the Body and A Place to Bury Strangers. Get a ticket for just one day or save money on a full-fest pass!
Coast Guard Festival
Downtown Grand Haven
July 25-Aug. 3
coastguardfest.org
The Coast Guard Festival unofficially began just over 100 years ago, in 1924, as a personnel-only picnic when the local Coast Guard station held rowing competitions for those service members stationed in Grand Haven. Today, the festival has become a premier event with attendance of more than 350,000 people coming to enjoy the city, carnival rides, a cardboard boat competition, tribute bands, fireworks and more.
7/26
Mystical Market Summer Edition
Factory Coffee
213 E. Frank St., Kalamazoo
July 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
factorycoffee.co
Stop by Factory Coffee in Kalamazoo for this unique shopping experience where you’ll be able to browse antiques, oddities, artisan crafts, jewelry, herbal concoctions, or even get your tarot cards and astrology chart read, all while you enjoy delicious cafe creations.
Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival
GR Public Museum Lawn
52 Front Ave., Grand Rapids
July 26, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
pleasantpeninsula.org
Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, Pleasant Peninsula is bringing 21 local and national artists to Grand Rapids for a week-long mural mania. Join to celebrate our state’s biodiversity, our Grand River ecosystem, and the collective power of art and activism! You’ll find booths and activity stations, speakers, musicians, animal ambassadors, live painting, Tree ID walks, fishing demos, native plant sales, and of course: Beautiful new murals.
Michigan’s Grilled Cheese Festival
Homer Stryker Field
251 Mills St., Kalamazoo
July 26, 3-8 p.m.
thegrilledcheesefest.com
You love grilled cheese. That’s just a fact about humans. So why wouldn’t you love a Grilled Cheese Festival, which of course will feature “the world’s largest bowl of tomato soup.” You’ll have more than 30 unique and local grilled cheese offerings, complemented by 100-plus beer, cider and seltzer selections, along with contests, kids’ activities and live entertainment.
