Grand Rapids Summer Getaway: Festivals, LGBTQ Nightlife, ArtPrize & Outdoor Concert

Treat yourself to a Grand Getaway in Grand Rapids, Michigan, located halfway between Chicago and Detroit. See a concert at the new outdoor Acrisure Amphitheater on the banks of downtown’s Grand River – 24 shows from August-October include Brandi Carlile (Aug 23), KESHA (Aug 26), Rufus du Soul (Sep 1) and The B-52s (Sep 19.). The Amphitheater is within a 10-15 minute walk of 300+ restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and entertainment venues, including The Apartment Lounge, Michigan’s oldest gay bar, and Rumors, a high-energy LGBTQ+ nightclub.

Come for a downtown festival: the Breakaway Music Festival (Aug 14-15) features 20+ EDM and pop performers; A Glimpse of Africa (Aug 15) celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of the African continent; Return to the River (Aug 22-23) presents art, music and performances along the Grand River; and the Baila Music Festival (Aug 29) is a full day of live Latin music, dancing food trucks fun. ArtPrize, the world’s most attended public art event, kicks off the final days of summer with more than 1,000 works of art from international artists – see them for free, all over downtown Grand Rapids from Sep 18-Oct 3. Whenever you visit, don’t miss CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens, a 10-minute drive from downtown, which showcases the work of renowned artist Dale Chihuly in outdoor gardens and indoor sculpture galleries through Nov 1.

Treat your taste buds to the city’s acclaimed farm-to-table dining scene and 50+ craft breweries, distilleries, cideries and wine bars. Golf 30+ courses within 30 minutes of downtown, hike and bike hundreds of miles of trails, and visit the Lake Michigan coastal community of Saugatuck/Douglas, a premier LGBTQ+ vacation destination, just 45 minutes away.

Thrillist says Grand Rapids offers “much of the art, food and music trappings you’d find in Chicago and Detroit, only at half the price and one-quarter the commute times.” It’s the perfect place for an easy and affordable end-of-summer getaway!