Festival of the Arts is now 44 years old. You would be right to ask what is new under the big Calder sun at Festival, but you would be so wrong if you thought this festival was taking the easy way into middle age.
Festival 2013 kicks off on Friday at 11:45 a.m. on the stage that begin it all in front
La Grande Vitesse. The popular drumming group WaZoBia and special guests Knotty Bits will launch the event with a writhing, energetic bang that forces the rest of the weekend to keep time just to keep pace.
Festival 2013 co-chairs Lori Harrison Smith and Carlos Aguilar will welcome the audience and introduce singer/songwriter Glen Danles who will debut "Tribute," a song he created in honor of longtime Festival of the Arts supporter and volunteer Rikk David, who passed away suddenly in September 2012. (
Rapid Growth profiled Rikk David in the Fall of 2012)
"Also, six stages will be overflowing with performers, with everything from the Grand Rapids Ballet, to Polynesian belly dancers, to the West Michigan Gay Men's Chorus," says Festival's Eileen Schwarz-Duty. "Festival really is an all-inclusive representation of West Michigan itself, and we try to present a huge variety of different local and regional acts. We have almost 300 performers scheduled to entertain the city!"
There will be plenty of opportunities to experience local music and street meat on a stick, all reflecting the diversity of the many cultures that have relocated here to our region over Festival's 44 years.
This year, the annual Regional Arts Exhibition moves to UICA with four floors representing more than 250 artists. Rumor on the street is that this was one of the toughest competitions in years and promises a delight for the senses -- just like Festival. This exhibition runs through August 18, 2014, but Festival is only for three days. Don't linger at home -- come on downtown!
Admission: Free