What’s the ‘Big Surprise’ For ArtPrize 2024’s Opening Ceremony?

ArtPrize 2024 kicks off on Friday, September 13, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Part of making it bigger and better, according to organizers, is a fireworks show over downtown on Friday night during the opening ceremony. But, there's a twist, organizers are also promising us a big surprise!

But what is the surprise? This is an art festival, so it has to be something artsy, right? However, remember that over the years ArtPrize has taught us one important thing - lots of different things can be considered art.

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Grand Rapidians have taken to Reddit to speculate on what this big surprise may be and while I don't know that it'll be any of these things - some of the guesses are pretty funny.

READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know For ArtPrize 2024

So, what are Redditors predicting this surprise will be? Let's take a look.

User Decimation4x makes a bold prediction.

But that was quickly shut down by another user.

(That's a "Monty Python" reference for those who are unfamiliar.)

This next one is also pretty funny but seems pretty implausible.

I mean, nothing says "Grand Rapids" like Bill Steffen, but it's hard to say if he's even in town. Since his retirement, he's been travelling quite a bit. If he IS there, though, another Redditor had a great suggestion.

Entertaining? Yes. Art? Questionable.

The next guess isn't a guess at all. Just a statement followed by a question about the timing of it all.

Commenters were quick to point out that yes, it will be dark enough. Sunset tonight is set to be at 7:58 PM.

This next one could be a possibility...

But, another user noted that organizers are calling this a "spectacle making its US debut" and drone shows happen all of the time.

This one isn't helpful, but it did make me laugh out loud.

Kind of reminded me of Dwight Schrute...

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If this one turns out to be the surprise, I'm going to be very, very happy.

But I'm guessing there's a lot of legal and insurance red tape that would go into something like that and organizers probably don't want to deal with it.

Perhaps it's a political figure giving us a pep talk, as this Redditor suggested.

But alas, Tim Walz left town this morning to head to a campaign event in Lansing.

Is it a concert? A couple of different folks made suggestions.

Neither of those are likely, sadly, because Creed and Three Doors Down will be in Grand Rapids to play at show at Van Andel Arena in November.

This next guess just made me sad...

I doubt that will be it, but I hope you find your dad, buddy.

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Now this, THIS would be cool...

Bonus: It would be educational, and maybe it would finally teach people how the zipper merge works.

This one is another long-shot concert guess, but it would be awesome if it happened.

One Redditor hopes that it's something that pays homage to the man who kept all of us company when we stayed home from school sick when we were kids.

And this final commenter guessed the one thing that all of West Michigan hopes for.

I fear that's only a pipe dream...

But Really What is the Surprise at ArtPrize 2024's Opening Ceremony?

All joking aside, mixed in with some of the funny guesses were a few comments from people who actually DO know what it's going to be, although it appears that they're sworn to secrecy.

User MrGrandRapids said,

Yes I do. Or at least one of them! Check it out at the Amway Grand Plaza on the tower side aka riverfront viewing. The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck is selling tickets to witness the surprise up close.

Fireworks included.

I will be there (working) happily.

After reading that, I definitely want to make sure that I'm there to see it.

So, I guess we're all just going to have to wait and see what's in store for us. If you'd like to see it for yourself, the ArtPrize Opening Ceremony is taking place tonight (Friday September 13, 2024) from 7 PM until 10 PM on the Pearl Street Bridge. The surprise will be revealed at 8:45 PM and fireworks are set to go off beginning at 9 PM.  All of the details can be found on the event's website.

Want to pregame for this year's ArtPrize? Check out these cool painted cars that were part of the fun a couple of years ago!