GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will hold its annual Cultural Heritage Festival this Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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 Anishinaabek ancestors and continuing through the era of fur traders to the contemporary cultural celebrations of residents. The GRPM hosts the annual Cultural Heritage Festival to celebrate this heritage, bringing in cultural organizations throughout West Michigan to share their culture with the community.
“We’re thrilled to welcome visitors back to the 2025 Cultural Heritage Festival!” said Rob Schuitema, Director of Public Programs at the GRPM. “Every year, this vibrant festival brings us together and showcases the talents, traditions, and stories we each bring to our community. Some organizations have been celebrating with us for many years, but we also have vendors, performers, and exhibitors joining us for the first time. We hope you will join us too!”
Participants in this year’s Cultural Heritage Festival include:
Performers
Euphoria A Capella
Fashion Show by Arab American Intellectual Property Association
Kalamazoo Scottish Country Dancers
KPop Group Evolution
Opera by Giovanna Rossini
Traditional Mexican Dance by Mexico Mix
Food
Burek Etc LLC
Dolce Mini Cakes
Famz Food Catering Services
The Jamaican Way
Kaley’az Cafe
Tamales Mary
Tarriko Taqueria
Taste of Africa Michigan LLC
Taste of Love LLC
Exhibitors and Vendors
Arab American Intellectual Property Association
ASSE International Student Exchange Program
Brittany Benson Official Artwork
D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s
The Gaelic League/Irish-American Club of West Michigan
A Glimpse of Africa
Grand Rapids Latvian Association
Grand Rapids Scottish Society
Grand Rapids Sister Cities
Guelaguetza Designs
Korean Connection
Lao Community of Michigan
LouAnn Bryant
MooZoo Slime Shop
Polish Heritage Society
Red Sea Beauty
Visitors to the Museum have the opportunity to explore a core exhibition 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. At this time, our other cultural exhibit, Anishinabek: The People of This Place, is undergoing renovations. Anishinaabe stories are still present through the Michigan Map, three massive murals by Anishinaabe artists, and a seasonal display case, which can all be found on the Museum’s third floor.
In addition to the celebration and cultural exhibits, guests can explore the GRPM’s latest traveling exhibit from The Australian Museum, Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family. In this exhibit, visitors can catch up on the latest knowledge about the “most feared and revered” of all dinosaurs. Explore large-scale projections and interactives.
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.
Learn more at grpm.org/cultural-heritage-festival.
Cultural Heritage Festival is sponsored by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
