Happy Holidays, Grand Rapids: Discover Cheer with These Activities
By Bailey Bowns, Rockford Property Management Resident
The holidays are here, and Christmas is quickly approaching! We all know what that means – (plenty of) snow is coming. While not everyone loves the cold weather, there are many holiday activities in and around Grand Rapids that are worth braving the snow and ice to experience. Check out these annual holiday activities around the city.
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Rosa Parks Circle. Each year, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony includes plenty of family activities, such as free hot chocolate and smores, live entertainment and giveaways. After the tree lighting, attendees can participate in the Jingle Bell Bridge Run, a 2-mile route taking runners through a festively themed downtown route.
The Christmas Lite Show at LMCU Ballpark: Enjoy nearly 2 miles of Christmas magic containing more than a million lights. Participants can enjoy the lights by train or car. This is a West Michigan staple every year, and one you won’t want to miss.
Shop Hop: Shop Hop season is upon us! This special holiday event in Uptown includes activities like live ice sculpting, window mural installation, the Harmony Brewing Tree lighting and a photo contest. Shop Hop encourages residents to shop and eat local to support the Grand Rapids community and economy.
Christmas & Holiday Traditions at Frederik Meijer Gardens: Explore nearly 300,000 lights and 50 Christmas trees from around the world inside of the Frederik Meijer Gardens’ special exhibit. In addition to the trees featuring a wide variety of cultures and continents, Christmas & Holiday Traditions also includes the companion Railway Garden, a unique horticultural display with miniature replicas of Grand Rapids landmarks.
BYOB Holiday Lights Trolley: Cruise through Grand Rapids on a BYOB trolley to uniquely experience the magic of Christmas. The trolley stops at Rosa Parks Circle to view the city’s Christmas tree, drives through LMCU Ballpark to view the Christmas Lite Show and around surrounding neighborhoods to view residential Christmas lights.
For even more exciting activities around Grand Rapids, check out Experience GR’s comprehensive list.
