Judy Wicks who is credited as one of the pioneers of the “shop local” movement wrote, “Not long after I opened the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia in 1983, I hung a sign in my bedroom closet in my home above the business—right where I would see it each morning. ‘Good morning, beautiful business,’ it read, reminding me daily of just how beautiful business can be when we put our creativity, care, and energy into producing a product or service that our community needs.
I was just beginning my journey. I didn't know then what I do now: that when you connect head and heart in business, you can transform not just business as usual, but the economy in general. You can find a way to make economic exchange one of the most satisfying, meaningful, and loving of human interactions."
There is no better way to write a description what so many local businesses are beginning to adopt and experience and it is because of Local First that this message continues to evolve and expand this powerful message in our region of the state.
On Saturday, June 3, the public are invited to celebrate the joys of supporting our local living economies of West Michigan via the 14th Annual Local First Street Party.
This wildly popular street festival is a chance for many of our West Michigan businesses, artists, and organizations to showcase the very best in our local music, local food, local beer, and local entertainment. (See a trend here? This is about celebrating the best of our locals.)
And if you think that the Local First Street Party is resting on their laurels, then consider these fantastic upgrades that include a new bubble and craft table from the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, a photo booth by Smitten Booth, Happy Henna tattoos, and clearly marked access points for people with disabilities. Even Rapid Growth’s Publisher Tommy Allen will be debuting on stage this year at the festival as the event’s MC.
In addition, this year’s festival is bilingual-friendly with new signage for our Spanish-speaking attendees. Local First Street Party will once again showcase how a large festival can be a lot of fun but also create zero-waste for the environment via their partnership with the High Five—an emerging and growing small business committed to making special events greener and sustainable. (Honestly, I wish more festivals in our city took this as serious as Local First does each year.)
Returning to the festival this year will be chalk for creating art on the sidewalks, recycled and up-cycled art from Avenue of the Arts’ Sanctuary Folk Art Gallery, interactive hula hooping with Audacious Hoops, and thrilling breakdancing performances from 61Syx Teknique Street Dance Academy.
For a snapshot of the activities and food/beverage offerings, please see below:
Entertainment Schedule for 2017:
- 3:00 p.m. - Yoga with AM Yoga
- 3:30 p.m. - Molly Bouwsma-Schultz & Friends
- 5:00 p.m. - Wealthy & Diamond
- 6:00 p.m. - Hollywood Makeout
- 7:15 p.m. - JRob and Bedrock: The Foundation
- 8:30 p.m. - Cabildo
- 9:45 p.m. - ConvoTronics
- 11:00 p.m. - The Crane Wives
Food Vendors:
- A Moveable Feast Truck
- The Candied Yam
- Love's Ice Cream
- Daddy Pete's BBQ
- The Maine Dish Food Truck
- Patty Matters Food Truck
- Malamiah Juice Bar
- Mosbyspopcorn
- What The Truck
- Twisted Rooster Grand Rapids
- GRPD (Grand Rapids Pizza and Delivery)
Beverage Vendors:
- Founders Brewing Co.
- Brewery Vivant
- The Mitten Brewing Co.
- Farmhaus Cider Company
- Free water from Gordon Water Systems