“Probably about a year ago, we started planning the 175th celebration for all of 2025.”
JD Waldvogel is Strategic Marketing Specialist for the city of Grand Rapids.
“At first, we were kind of thinking, ‘Well, maybe we’ll just do something during Festival of the Arts,’ and then when that kind of was cancelled for this year and they already had the park reserved and we’re like, ‘Well, that’s a perfect weekend for us to throw our birthday party.’”
Festivities include a full lineup of local musical talent, carnival games, balloon artists and a giant birthday card. Free hot dogs, popcorn, cake and ice cream will also be served.
“So, we’re going to have city fire trucks and police cars and water vehicles there for kids to climb in and sit on and honk the horn and stuff like that.”
Waldvogel says the festivities stretch beyond this weekend, with a mobile museum exhibit making the rounds throughout the year that features 175 pictures, one from each year of Grand Rapids’ history.
“It’s been really cool to see what Grand Rapids has transformed into from 30 years ago, 50 years ago, to nearly 200 years ago.”
The celebration takes place at Rosa Parks Circle this Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.
