If We Want Grand Rapids’ Best Festivals to Survive, We Have to Show Up

Grand Rapids just lost one of its longest-running and most beloved events, Festival of the Arts.

After 55 years, the festival announced its end, citing financial struggles and volunteer burnout. It’s a huge loss for the city and a wake-up call for anyone who loves the events that make Grand Rapids so special.

Check Out: 25 Things Michigan is known and loved for ⬇️

If you enjoy LaughFest, World of Winter, or any of the countless street fairs and cultural festivals we take for granted that happen every year in Grand Rapids, then it’s time for you to ask yourself: Who’s actually making these happen? Spoiler alert—it’s not magic. These events rely on community support, and without people stepping up to volunteer or donate, they won’t last.

The truth is, festivals aren’t free to run, even if they’re free to attend. They need funding, people behind the scenes to plan it all, and a whole army of volunteers to pull those festivals off. Festival of the Arts didn’t disappear because people stopped loving it. It disappeared because too few people were willing or able to help keep it alive. And that’s just heartbreaking to hear.

So, if you have a favorite event in Grand Rapids, consider getting involved. Maybe that means volunteering a few hours at LaughFest, chipping in a donation to help fund ArtPrize, or even just spreading the word when organizers are looking for help. A little effort from all of us where we are able to help, could make all the difference to keep our festivals going for years and generations to come.

We’ve seen what happens when we assume someone else will do the work: events like Festival of the Arts disappear. If we want Grand Rapids to stay a city full of incredible, creative, and community-driven events that are worthy of visiting to enjoy, we have to be the ones to keep them going.