Grand Rapids, the Return to the River Festival is back for its fourth year with a full weekend of music, art, and riverfront fun.

The free event runs Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23, 2026, starting at 1 PM each day across connected spots along the riverwalk at 555 Monroe, Sixth Street Park, and the Sixth Street Bridge.

Visitors can enjoy live bands, DJ sets, immersive art installations, an artisan market with dozens of vendors, food trucks, and family activities including face painting and a puppy petting zone.

Costumes are encouraged and no tickets are required, so just show up and enjoy the festivities.

Grand Rapids is launching a two-year, up to $26 million project on July 1 to remove four aging low-head dams and restore historic rapids along the downtown Grand River.

The effort aims to improve fish passage, habitat, and safety while recreating natural river flow, yet it must address a key challenge: keeping invasive sea lamprey from moving upstream.

The Sixth Street Dam will remain in place as a temporary barrier until a permanent replacement is designed, with construction eyed for around 2028. Residents, tribal members, and city leaders view the river as a vital recreational and cultural resource, and the work reflects a broader shift toward reconnecting with the waterway.

The city of Grand Rapids will host its annual Clean Slate GR Expungement Fair on Saturday to help eligible residents clear past criminal records at no cost.

Attorneys and volunteers at the MLK Community Center will guide applicants through filing for expungement under Michigan’s Clean Slate laws, a process that is often lengthy and expensive when handled alone.

In the past five years the city has assisted more than 1,000 people at similar events, improving access to jobs, housing and community involvement. Walk-ins are welcome, and organizers continue to seek attorney volunteers.

Autumn in Grand Rapids is about to get even sweeter with the return of Dogs and Donuts Fest.

This pup-friendly celebration at Ed Dunneback and Girls Fruit Farm invites dog owners and their four-legged friends for a weekend of treats, cider, live music, and fall activities like wagon rides and a corn maze.

Mark your calendars for October 9 through 11, 2026, with general admission tickets available now and a portion of proceeds supporting local animal charities.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is rolling into West Michigan for three appearances over one weekend this August. The iconic hot-dog-shaped vehicle is scheduled to stop at Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm, the 28th Street Metro Cruise, and Bark in the Park in Holland — all between August 20 and 23.

If you miss it on the road, Michigan has a permanent fix: the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn houses a 1952 Wienermobile on display year-round, donated as one of the five original models. Either way, there's no shortage of ways to get your Wienermobile moment before summer ends.

Grand Rapids, Michigan has long worn its Beer City USA crown proudly, and navigating its sprawling craft brewery scene — from downtown to the West Side to Eastown — takes more planning than many groups expect.

Grand Rapids Car Service is spotlighting pre-arranged private transportation as a practical solution for multi-stop brewery outings, removing the need for a designated driver, parking headaches, or last-minute ride coordination.

The company encourages groups to lock in their destinations, route, and timing before the first pint is poured — keeping the evening organized, the group together, and the itinerary on track.

🗓️ West Michigan Events | August 18–25, 2026

1. Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers at Meijer Gardens (Grand Rapids Township)
📅 Sunday, August 16 (check — this may be tonight or yesterday; confirm date)
📅 Sunday, August 16
🕒 7:00 PM
📍 Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, 1000 E. Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids
🎟️ $62 members | $67 public
🔗 www.axs.com/MeijerGardens
📄 Performances will feature material from throughout Hornsby's storied career, including new music from his 2026 album, Indigo Park. Grammy-winning pianist and songwriter Bruce Hornsby — known for collaborating with everyone from Bob Dylan to Bon Iver, and as a part-time member of the Grateful Dead — brings his Noisemakers band to the ivy-covered Meijer Gardens stage for one of the summer's most intimate and musically rich evenings. Don't miss it. 

2. Music on Main Street — Downtown Zeeland (Zeeland)
📅 Thursday, August 20
🕒 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Main Street between Elm and Church Streets, Downtown Zeeland
🎟️ Free
🔗 www.zeeland.org
📄 Grab your family and friends and enjoy music, food trucks, and yard games at the Downtown Zeeland Social District. A relaxed Thursday evening in one of West Michigan's most charming small downtown districts — the perfect laid-back summer outing for the whole family. 

3. NORA Kids' Night — Back to School STEM Night (Grand Haven)
📅 Tuesday, August 18 (today!)
🕒 6:00 PM
📍 Downtown Grand Haven
🎟️ Free
🔗 visitgrandhaven.com/events
📄 NORA Kids' Night brings a Back to School STEM Night to Downtown Grand Haven for a free, family-friendly evening of hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math fun. A great way to get the kids excited about heading back to school — in a beautiful waterfront setting. 

4. GHFF Park Concert Series — Nathan Walton (Grand Haven)
📅 Thursday, August 20
🕒 6:00 PM
📍 East Grand River City Park, Grand Haven
🎟️ Free
🔗 www.grandhavenfreefridays.com
📄 Grand Haven Free Fridays is on a mission to spread "music everywhere, for everyone" by highlighting Michigan-rooted talent through its Park Concert Series all summer long. This Thursday features Nathan Walton performing live at East Grand River City Park — a beautiful and breezy spot along the water. No cover, no tickets, just great local music. 

5. Muskegon Parties in the Park — Rockstar (Muskegon)
📅 Friday, August 21
🕒 5:00 PM
📍 Hackley Park, Downtown Muskegon
🎟️ Free
🔗 www.visitmuskegon.org
📄 Muskegon's Parties in the Park free Friday concert series takes place at Hackley Park in Downtown Muskegon. This week Rockstar takes the stage for a high-energy evening of rock in one of the most gorgeous park settings in West Michigan. Bring a lawn chair, grab food from nearby vendors, and enjoy the last summer vibes of the season. 

6. Muskegon McGraft Park Concerts — Seamus Kennedy (Muskegon)
📅 Tuesday, August 18 (today!)
🕒 7:00 PM
📍 McGraft Park, 2204 Glen Ave., Muskegon
🎟️ Free
🔗 www.visitmuskegon.org
📄 The McGraft Park Tuesday night concert series features a rotating lineup of local and regional artists all summer long. This week the spotlight is on Seamus Kennedy bringing traditional Irish music to the park stage. A delightful and distinctive set from one of the genre's most entertaining performers — pack a picnic and enjoy the evening. 

7. Grand Haven Free Fridays — Full Cord (Grand Haven)
📅 Friday, August 21
🕒 6:15 PM
📍 Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, 1 N. Harbor Dr., Grand Haven
🎟️ Free
🔗 www.grandhavenfreefridays.com
📄 The Grand Haven Free Fridays concert series showcases Michigan-rooted music and partners with local nonprofits, with all donations dispersed to local organizations at the end of the season. This week Full Cord closes out the 2026 Free Fridays season on the waterfront — the perfect sendoff to a summer of incredible free music on the Grand River. Bring lawn chairs and arrive early for a good spot. 

8. Bark in the Park at Windmill Island Gardens (Holland)
📅 Saturday, August 22
🕒 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Windmill Island Gardens, 1 Lincoln Ave., Holland
🎟️ Free with park admission ($13 adults | $6 ages 3–15 | under 3 free)
🔗 www.holland.org/event/bark-in-the-park
📄 Bark in the Park is a celebration ahead of National Dog Day (August 26), featuring groomers, trainers, treats, accessories, and more from local organizations, with something for pet parents from local creators too. One of Holland's most beloved summer events — bring your four-legged family members for a morning at one of Michigan's most picturesque gardens. 

9. Wings Over Muskegon Air Show (Muskegon)
📅 Friday–Saturday, August 21–22
📍 Muskegon County Airport, 99 Sinclair Drive, Muskegon
🎟️ Check website for ticketing
🔗 www.wingsovermuskegon.com
📄 Wings Over Muskegon brings an exciting air show to Muskegon County Airport for a thrilling weekend of aerial performances, military aircraft displays, and family-friendly fun. One of the most spectacular free spectator events of the late summer season along the lakeshore — and the views from the tarmac are absolutely unforgettable. 

10. Jazz in the Park — West Michigan Jazz Society (Walker)
📅 Monday, August 18 (tonight!)
🕒 6:30 PM
📍 Millennium Park Meadows, 1415 Maynard Ave. SW, Walker
🎟️ Free (donations welcome)
🔗 www.wmichjazz.org
📄 The West Michigan Jazz Society's beloved free Monday night jazz series at Millennium Park Meadows wraps up its final weeks of summer. Food trucks on site, blankets and low chairs encouraged. A perfect way to ease into the week with live jazz under the open sky.