Celebrate the 4th of July in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The 4th of July is a time for celebration, and several great activities are on the schedule for the Fourth this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The festivities begin at 5:00 pm and continue until late into the night. There will be plenty of fun for the whole family, so if you're looking to celebrate the 4th of July in Grand Rapids, head to the downtown area for some terrific events.

The Independence Day Water Balloon Fight is the latest urban experiment from Rob Bliss, who brought Grand Rapids the Zombie Walk, the Massive Pillow Fight, and the Sidewalk Chalk Flood. This new activity is a great way to beat the heat. Two teams, dubbed the Redcoats and the Americans, will engage in a battle using more than 60,000 water balloons. After the main battle, which should last about 20 minutes, the Americans will launch the final attack to win the war. The two teams will be trying to set a new world record; the standing record is 2900 participants and 50,000 water balloons. This free reenactment event starts at 5:00 pm at Rosa Parks Circle, which is located at Monroe Center Street NW and Monroe Avenue NW. Participants should plan to wear a blue or red t-shirt or colonial attire. Volunteers can help make water balloons or clean up afterward.

After the water balloon fight, head to Ah-Nab-Awen Park, located at Pearl Street and Front Avenue NW, for the 4th of July Family Fireworks. Amway Corporation and Spartan Stores are sponsoring this event, which includes free live music and entertainment. This fun-packed event will conclude with the 10:30 pm fireworks display over the Grand River.

The 4th of July can be hot, even in Michigan. If you'd prefer to watch the fireworks from indoors, the Public Museum is the place to be! The Public Museum, located at 272 Pearl Street NW, is sponsoring Front Row for the Fireworks, a fundraising event, from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Ride the antique carousel, take in an organ concert, or catch a show at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium while you wait for the fireworks display. The Cafe will offer $5 meal specials and a cash bar. When the fireworks begin, you can watch from inside or head back out to Ah-Nab-Awen Park. Members of the Public Museum pay $10 for adults and $5 for children; non-member tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children. If you don't want to worry about the parking situation, consider paying $10 more for a guaranteed parking pass.

After the fireworks, you'll have the opportunity to take part in the Patriotic Pub Crawl. Several downtown Grand Rapids bars and restaurants will have patriotic specials on food and drinks for this new event. Pick up a map from Rosa Parks Circle, where DJ Corey Hart will provide Top 40 music from 10:45 pm until 11:45 pm. Maps will also be available from participating businesses.

If you're spending the 4th of July in the Grand Rapids area, be sure to stop by any or all of these activities. Information on all events is available at GRNow. With all these great events, there's sure to be something for everyone interested in celebrating the Fourth in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Source:

http://www.grnow.com