Grand Rapids 175th Birthday celebration

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (APN) — The city of Grand Rapids is planning something fun to celebrate its 175th birthday on Saturday, June 7th, 2025.

The 175th birthday celebration will take place at Rosa Parks Circle from 2 to 5 p.m. Attendees will be treated to live music, free food, carnival games and get a chance to explore historical exhibits, including 175 pictures of 175 years of Grand Rapids.

"We've got live music with a bunch of different artists. We've got carnival games, balloon artists, stilt walkers, buskers, a giant community birthday card, free cake, ice cream and popcorn. Museum exhibits are going to be there, we got "touch a truck"", said JD Waldvogel, City of Grand Rapids Strategic Marketing Communications Specialist. 

Waldvogel added that with the "touch a truck," kids will get a chance to go inside and climb fire trucks. There will also be a dunk tank where select city officials will be dropped into a tube of water. For those who like games, the event will also be featuring a section for esports.

"So there's going to be a video game section there as well for people to go participate in and play some games with the community," said Waldvogel.

Grand Rapids city officials will be in attendance. City departments will have their own tables with lots of swag.

"There's going to be a lot of city leadership there. We're kind of keeping it under wraps because we want to make sure that people who are planning to go are able to go. And there might be some surprise names that are kind of, you know, on the maybe list right now," said Waldvogel.

The event will begin with an opening prayer and traditional welcome from members of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, the original Indigenous peoples of Grand Rapids.

"There's an opening prayer and welcome for members of the Grand Rapids band of Ottawa Indians. They were the people who were here first. And we want to make sure that we very specifically and very proudly honor (them). You know, Grand Rapids has been around for 175 years, but this land that we live on, people have been here far longer than that." said Waldvogel.

The city is inviting people to come early and stay late to support downtown businesses for lunch or dinner.