GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOTV) Now that summer is in full swing, here is a list of fun things to do that are free or low-cost! Check out these activities for the week of August 11-17 in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Spring Lake, Muskegon and more!
Monday, August 11
Maranda’s Pick: Cruiserfest at Craig’s Cruisers
Bring the Kids to Cruiserfest tonight from 5-8 p.m. at Craig’s Cruisers in Grand Rapids! The first 400 will get a free Cruiser Activity. Plus, everyone will enjoy free games, activities, cake and ice cream!
Recycling Crafts and Movies (Grand Rapids)
On Mondays during the summer, come to the Kent County Recycling and Education Center for a free family activity! Join us during our open hours from 1 to 3:30 p.m. each week to make crafts out of recycled goods or to watch a family-friendly movie. Drop in for the crafts at any time between 1 to 3:30 p.m. Movies will start around 1:15 p.m. Please wear closed-toe shoes to protect feet while on the observation deck. No registration required. (Today’s activity is a craft; Water bottle octopus and twisted water bottle fish)
Kent County Recycling and Education Center
977 Wealthy SW
Tuesday, August 12
Maranda’s Pick:
All this week families can enjoy Despicable Me 2 on the big screen at any Goodrich Theatre for just $1! Show time is 10 a.m. now through Friday.
Culver’s Car Cruise (Comstock Park)
Get out and enjoy the summer on Monday evenings by stopping by the Culver’s restaurant located at 4280 Aline Ave. in Comstock Park. Every Monday we host a Classic Car Cruise where anyone is able to bring their classic car or hot rod to show off. Enjoy talking to the owners and learn their history. While at the restaurant enjoy a delicious one scoop dish or cone of Culver’s Frozen Custard for only $1.00. See you Monday nights between 5 and 9 pm.
Meijer Gardens: Weaving Tales at Meijer Gardens (Mondays at 10am until Aug. 30)
Join a professional weaver and our own story time volunteers for this unique opportunity to help create a children’s garden tapestry!
ArtQuest – South Haven
Bring the kids by this summer for some art fun! June 17 through August 22 Tuesdays – Fridays
10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Ages: Kindergarten – 6th Grade
Cost: $20 per kid or 5 session punch card for $80
All kids will make a project that they get to take home at the end of the day! While they’re here creating, treat yourself to coffee, lunch, a good book … The options are endless for both you and your kids!
Schedule
10:30 am – drop off begins
11:00 am – kids will start the project
12:00 pm – Break for lunch! (Please pack or drop off a lunch)
1:30 pm – Pick up and see what they made
South Haven Center for the Arts
600 Phoenix St.
South Haven
Wednesday, August 13
Maranda’s Pick:
Tonight cheer on the West Michigan Whitecaps! It’s all the family fun we’ve love plus, enjoy the high flying talents of jugglers and stilt walkers before the game in front of the ballpark and stick around after the game for a fantastic Fireworks Display!
Michigan Wildlife – Holland Farmers Market
(with DeGraaf Nature Center) Free – 9:30am-12pm
DeGraaf Nature Center will bring live animals and animal specimens to the Holland Farmers Market to teach children about the different characteristics of animal groups that live right here in Michigan.
Kalamazoo Nature Center Farmyard Wednesdays: Dairy Dreams
When: Wed, August 13, 10:00am – 11:30am
Where: Market Barn, 357 W. E Ave.
Description: Enjoy farmyard programs on Wednesday mornings this summer! Farmyard Wednesdays: Dairy Dreams Milk does a body good. Learn about and meet the many animals that give us milk and the products we make from it. Fee: $2/participating child (in addition to regular admission). No registration is required, just drop in! For children 2- 8 years, accompanied by an adult. Meet at DeLano Farms Market Barn, 357 West E Avenue
Wildlife Encounters – Blandford Nature Center – Grand Rapids
Ready to take a wild adventure through learning?! Join their wildlife staff for an up close look at the wildlife that call Blandford home. Use this Q & A session to ask all of your most curious questions about your favorite Blandford residents. Program is FREE with admission ($3.00/person). Because Blandford Nature Center is non-profit organization, suggested program cash donation is $2.00. Wildlife Encounters will take place every Monday from 12:30-1:30pm and every Wednesday from 10:00-11:00am.
$1.50 golf at Maple Hill – Grandville
Stay active this summer, Monday-Friday from Noon- 3pm junior golfers 12 and under get $1.50 junior buckets (25 balls). Maple Hill Golf Course located on the border of Grandville/ Wyoming cordially invite you to enjoy the summer with us. Don’t have clubs? We have tons of clubs to use at absolutely no cost to you. Just ask an associate and we can get your junior clubs to hit.
12:00 PM – 03:00 PM
Thursday, August 14
Maranda’s Pick:
Bring the family to Michigan’s Oldest Fair-the Calhoun Country Fair! Farm animals, grandstand shows and the midway rides make it a great family fun destination!
Street Performers Series (in Holland)
Head Downtown to experience every kind of performance art imaginable! Jugglers, musicians, mimes, clowns, acrobats and more!
6:30pm-8:30pm FREE
John Ball Zoo Sting Ray Lagoon
($1 for public, $0.75 for members) A 5,000 gallon outdoor touch pool that provides visitors with the opportunity to not only see, but touch, feel, and experience the sting rays and sharks as they traverse the water
Full Blast (Battle Creek)
Full Blast Recreation Center, located in downtown Battle Creek across from McCamly Plaza Hotel, is an 88,000 square foot, multi-purpose recreation facility featuring a full service fitness center, locker rooms, indoor walking track, three large gymnasiums, batting cages, and multi-purpose space.
Flash Flood Indoor/Outdoor Water Park is open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
The Sports Forum at Full Blast hosts a variety of recreation programming including basketball, baseball / softball, volleyball, floor hockey, lacrosse, flag football, rugby, roller derby and indoor soccer. The Sports Forum is available for birthday parties, lock-in’s, corporate outings, fundraisers, court rental, school groups and group outings.
The fitness center at Full Blast features a low-key, friendly environment with professional staff that will help you set wellness goals and encourage you as you make progress
Friday, August 15
Maranda’s Pick:
50TH Anniversary of the Danish Festival in Greenville! One of the hottest places for children to be is at Hans Christian Andersen (HCA) Park today from noon – 7 p.m. for Danish-related arts and crafts, Lego contest, storytelling, inflatable fun, face painting and a visit from Miss Danish Festival and her court will be just a few of the highlights of the event. Admission to the event is free
Movies in the Park (East Grand Rapids)
Join us for FREE family-friendly entertainment on the shores of Reed’s Lake. Movies will be shown on an inflatable screen at dusk. Come early for the best seat and bring your lawn chair or blanket. Snacks will be available for purchase from the MacSnack Wagon and KDL Teen Group, with proceeds to EGR Parks & Recreation and Teen Library Programs. Movies in the Park are sponsored by Macatawa Bank, KDL Friends of the Library and EGR Parks & Recreation Department.
7pm
Beyblades at the KDL
Test your skills and have fun competing in KDL’s Beyblade Battles!
2pm FREE
Story Time at Barnes and Noble (in SE GR)
Join us in our Children’s Department for a themed Story time and take-home craft each week. Any kid (or adult) who likes stories is welcome to attend. 10:30am
Saturday, August 16
Train Rides (in Coopersville)
This 14 mile excursion, back to a simpler time of transportation, lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes. During the trip, the Conductor describes points of interest while train music from the 1800’s plays throughout the cars. Wildlife such as deer, wild turkeys, hawks and eagles may be seen along the way, as well as farm animals.
1:30 pm
Adults – $11.50
Seniors (60+) – $10.50
Kids (2-12) – $9.50
Kids under 2 – Free
*Themed trains have an additional cost
The conductor begins boarding procedure 20 minutes prior to departure. Passengers should purchase tickets prior. Ticket station opens at 9:30am on days of departure.
Zeeland’s 8th Annual Dogarama
When: Saturday, August 17, 2013
Where: Downtown Zeeland from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM
8:30 AM to 1:00 PM: Registration
8:30 AM Group Dog Walk
9:00 AM: Blessing of the Dogs (group blessing followed by individual blessings)
9:15 AM: Zeelminster Best in Show
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Dog Contests
11:00 – 1:00 PM: Pet Photo Contest
11:30 – 2:00 PM: Agility Course
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM: Cat Contests
Art on the Riverfront (Grand Haven)
Art on the Riverfront is an outdoor, juried art show held along Grand Haven’s beautiful Boardwalk at the municipal marina.
The popular one-day art exhibit showcases the works of accomplished regional artists in a wide variety of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, glass, wood and metal.
This show is sponsored by the Gallery Uptown of Grand Haven and is free to the public. Show hours are 10am to 5pm.
GRandJazzFest
Rosa Parks Circle
Grand Rapids
Phone: (616) 617-7720
GRandJazzFest, presented by DTE Energy Foundation, is a free, family-friendly, two-day event the third weekend in August (Aug. 16-17, 2014) in downtown Grand Rapids that brings together international, national and Michigan-local jazz performers and up-and-coming artists.
Summer Luge (in Muskegon)
Wheel luge is done on a specially designed track with the same sleds we use on the winter, but with wheels attached. The design of the track, adaptive equipment and surrounding common areas also accommodates persons with disabilities. Despite being shorter and slower than our ice track, it still delivers a lot of fun with the average run taking approximately 9 seconds while covering 300 feet of track!
Open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am until 1pm.
Our summer luge track is only open Weather Permitting. The luge can not run in the rain or soon after a rain if the luge track is wet.
Cost to wheel luge is $10.00 per person for UNLIMITED RUNS! Hours and prices are subject to change. Includes instruction and all equipment!
Proof of health insurance and signed waiver required.
You must be at least 5 years old to luge on the summer luge track.
Tennis shoes, long sleeve shirts and long pants are highly recommended.
Maranatha Free Summer Concerts (in Muskegon)
Great summer concert line up at Maranatha! First concert of the summer is Saturday, June 21. Doors open at 6:30pm. Location is 4759 Lake Harbor Rd., Norton Shores. This and all the summer concerts at Maranatha are FREE! You can bring your lawn chair and listen from outside also!
August 16: Lenny LeBlanc
Sunday, August 17
Fulton Street Artisans Market
All items are handmade by local Michigan artists. We offer goods that are unique, eclectic, sophisticated, and rustic, all embraced in an atmosphere that is both warm and welcoming. The Fulton Street Artisans Market is a great place to spend your Sunday afternoons this summer. So come down and enjoy the Magic of the Market. (weather permitting) Every SUNDAY ~ June – September 11AM – 3PM.
Science Sundays at Meijer Gardens
Become a science sleuth on Sundays! Learn facts about frogs, investigate interesting insects, find out about fossils, or explore terrific trees by participating in family-friendly activities. Check at the information center for which program will be offered that day. 1pm – free with admission
Tour the SS Milwaukee Clipper
On Saturdays and Sundays between May 24 and September 1, you can tour the historic Milwaukee Clipper! This former cross-lake ferry and national landmark is well underway to being restored to its former glory and you can tour her from 1:00-5:00pm for only $7 for adults and $5 for students.