We’ll be Lighting Up Downtown Tonight

Tonight, Saturday, December 1, is the annual Grand Rapids Tree Lighting Celebration, "Light Up Downtown," from 5 to 7pm at Rosa Parks Circle.

Bring the whole family downtown tonight and join City of Grand Rapids, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, City Manager Mark Washington and myself, Andy Rent, as we celebrate the Christmas season downtown with the annual holiday tree lighting at Rosa Parks Circle. We will officially light the tree and all of the beautiful decorations downtown at 6:30!

There will be so much for the entire family, which, of course, is all free.

It all begins at 5pm tonight as you'll be able to celebrate cultural holiday traditions with African-American (Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives), Italian (Flo’s Collection), Hispanic (Hispanic Center of Western Michigan), German (Edelweiss Club Grand Rapids), Irish, Jewish (Chabad House of Western Michigan), African, Asian-American (West Michigan Asian American Association Inc), Polish (Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids, MI) & Mexican (Mexican Heritage Association)

There will be free donut holes from Dunkin’ Donuts, sweet treats from the Downtown Market Grand Rapids and hot cocoa and cookies from the Salvation Army!

The Grand Rapids Police Department will have their horses there. And, you can climb aboard a City of GR plow as well as a fire truck and get fire safety tips from the Grand Rapids Fire Department

Also, join the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, Grand Rapids Public Library and Home Depot and create some holiday crafts.

Crash from the West Michigan Whitecaps, Griff from the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Salvation Army Brass Band will all be there.

Something really cool will be the Sled Wings adaptive hockey exhibition brought to you by Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation along with a performance by the synchronized ice skating team Lake Effect Flurries Synchro Team.

It really will be a fun, family time in downtown Grand Rapids. See you there!