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  • 📍 It’s festival and fair season | July 23rd, 2025

📍 It’s festival and fair season | July 23rd, 2025

Plus, new emergency manager, $80M toward housing, JBZ gets giraffes

Author

LeQwane Lynch
July 23, 2025

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~LeQwane L.

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The Digest

A briefing of local news that matters

City

New Emergency Manager

Starting August 4, Benjamin Rance will step in as Grand Rapids’ next emergency manager. Rance brings national experience to the city from his time at FEMA. He’s also served with the Peace Corps and as a medical interpreter in Michigan. He was hired as GR has been working on strengthening how the city handles emergencies, from severe weather to public health threats. | Read more

Housing

$80M Approved for Local Housing

Three major housing projects in Kent County just got a big boost. The state approved ~$80 million to expand and preserve affordable housing. About $39 million went toward 200 new units at HoM Flats in Wyoming, $18.5 million to rehab 146 townhomes in Kentwood, and $21.4 million to update 96 apartments at 21 Weston in downtown. The projects are designed to support households making 40% to 70% of the area’s median income, with many of those units set aside as accessible housing. | Learn more

Community

Giraffes Coming to John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo is getting ready to welcome giraffes as part of a new African savannah exhibit. Funded by a $15 million donation, the habitat will include a feeding area, walk-through giraffe barn, and full enclosure viewing. The zoo plans to bring in 6 giraffes, with a focus on conservation and breeding. | Read more

Roadwork

Parts of I-96 To Close

Heads up: On Friday, MDOT is closing eastbound ramps to and from I-96 and Plainfield Ave.(M-44 connector) on the NE side. The ramps will reopen on Tuesday. | View map

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Festivals and Fairs

If you haven’t noticed, the festival and fair season is in the air.

While I’ve covered a handful of art, food, music, cultural, and county festivals/ fairs over the past few weeks.

I wanted to highlight some of the festivals and fairs happening right now in and just outside of town.

Here are the festivals and fairs happening around Grand Rapids:

  • Starting Friday, the 89th annual Byron Days Festival is kicking off it’s parades, fair rides, and music through the weekend at Whistlepark.

  • Friday and Saturday, the West Michigan Italian Festival is bringing a little piece of Italy with food, music, and cultural games to Tanger Outlets.

  • Next week, Saturday (7/26), the Pleasant Peninsula Mural Festival is bringing 21 new murals, art markets, music, and a speaker series to downtown.

Outside of town, but nearby…

Talk Of The Town

📲 Volunteers Needed

Like music and helping the community? Downtown GR Inc. is looking to bring on “Festival Stewards” to help host the upcoming Return to The River music festival in August. For your service, you’ll get a parking pass, t-shirt, meal vouchers, and a special giveaway, etc.

🌭 Good Old Hot Dogs

Yesterdog is celebrating its 49th birthday today. To commemorate the moment, the popular hot dog spot is giving out a free vinyl sticker of its original logo with every order.

Want to have your business featured here? Contact me.

What’s Happening?

Preview: Events —> Live Music

Wednesday, July 23rd

Thursday, July 24th

Friday, July 25th

Live Music

Wednesday, July 23rd

Thursday, July 24th

Friday, July 25th

*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.

That’s All For Today…

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