to Take Place on Saturday, November 2
Grand Rapids, MI - The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announces the return of its fall Cultural Heritage Festival, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2024. This celebration will feature music and dance performances, presentations, vendors, food, and more from over 30 organizations and individuals.
The City of Grand Rapids and its surrounding area have a rich history of diversity and cultural traditions, tracing back to the Anishinabek ancestors and continuing through the era of fur traders to the contemporary cultural celebrations of the local residents. To celebrate this heritage, the GRPM hosts the annual Cultural Heritage Festival, bringing in cultural organizations throughout West Michigan to share their culture with the community.
"We're thrilled to welcome visitors back to the 2024 Cultural Heritage Festival!” said Rob Schuitema, Director of Public Programs at the GRPM. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to unite and celebrate the rich offerings of West Michigan. We have an amazing lineup of musicians and performers you won't want to miss, along with vendors showcasing art, delicious cuisine, and much more.”
Participants in this year’s Cultural Heritage Festival include:
- American Arab Intellectual Property Association
- ASSE International High School Exchange Programs
- Banjo Jim
- Bear Tracks
- Beautiful Black and Bold by BettySue
- Burek etc. LLC
- Cafe Boba
- Cammi Adams
- D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s
- Daniel Vallie
- Dolce Mini Cakes LLC
- Edelweiss Club of Grand Rapids
- Edye Evans Hyde
- Golden Tiger Kung Fu Academy
- GR Sister Cities International
- Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation
- Grand Rapids Scottish Society
- Guelaguetza Designs
- Happy Henna
- Henna Crowns of Courage
- Honeybee's Kitchen
- India Link
- Kalamazoo Scottish Country Dancers
- Korean Connection
- Kpop Group Evolution
- Krishna Community Center
- La Furia Del Ritmo
- Le Bon Macaron
- Les Clay
- Mexico Mix Ballet Folklorico
- Motherland Cultural Connections
- Pacific Island Dancers
- Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids
- Relation Coffee
- Stubnmusi
- The Gaelic League/Irish-American Club of West Michigan
- Voice in the Wood
- West Michigan Asian American Association Inc.
- Women at Risk International (WAR)
To view the full list of partners, visit grpm.org/cultural-heritage-festival.
In addition to this vibrant celebration, November 2 is the opening day for The Nature of Color, an exhibit organized by the American Museum of National History of New York (AMNH). The Nature of Color reveals how color carries information in nature— where organisms use it to find food, warn off predators, and conceal or reveal themselves—and across cultures, where different colors can signal a wide range of meanings, from good luck to power to a sense of urgency.
Visitors to the Museum have the opportunity to explore two core exhibitions with a primary focus on diversity and culture: Newcomers: The People of This Place which highlights the cultural groups that have settled in the Grand Rapids area, and Anishinabek: The People of This Place which highlights the Native American culture in the region.
Cultural Heritage Festival is included with general admission to the Museum. Kent County kids enjoy free general admission and Kent County adults receive reduced admission, every day.
Please visit grpm.org/cultural-heritage-festival for additional information about the Cultural Heritage Festival and a full schedule of performances and presentations.
Cultural Heritage Festival is sponsored by: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a 170-year-old, publicly-owned institution home to more than 250,000 unique artifacts that tell the history of Kent County and beyond. Funded in part by Kent County taxpayers through a 10-year millage (2016), the Grand Rapids Public Museum offers three floors of exhibits, the region’s only planetarium, extensive educational offerings, and protection of The Mounds, a National Historic Landmark. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, with its primary location in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees including Kent County discounts, and exhibit/event listings, visit grpm.org.
###
