Grand Rapids, MI – Join the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Saturday, February 6 for the annual Ethnic Heritage Festival. The Festival is a day-long celebration of music, dance, crafts and food representing the various ethnic groups that call West Michigan home.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. and features a variety of organizations, performances, beer tastings and presentations. The Museum Café will feature ethnic food selections and there will be a special International Beer Tasting from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m in the Museum. Event activities are included with general admission to the Museum. The International Beer Tasting is an additional $5.00 and open to those 21 and over. Tickets for the International Beer Tasting will be available for purchase at the Museum’s front desk on the day of the event.
The city of Grand Rapids and the surrounding region have a long standing history of diversity and various cultural traditions dating back from early explorers and fur traders, to modern day cultural rituals from new residents of the region.
Organizations participating in this year’s festival include: Swedish American Heritage Society of West Michigan, The Gaelic League, Polish Heritage Society, Anishinabec, Anishinabe Meejim, West Michigan Jewels of Africa, Grand Rapids Sister Cities, Le Clay, Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Grand Rapids Scottish Society, Korean Connection in West MI, Bethany Christian Services, Edelweiss Club of Grand Rapids, End of the Trail Jewelry and Mystic Spirits Art. Each booth will have various activities and displays for visitors to see and touch, learning more about each culture.
Colorful performances will take place throughout the day in the Meijer Theater and Galleria, starting at 10 a.m. Performances will include: MI Hiryu Daiko Flying Dragon Drummers, Le Clay with Le Zu, Ni Bhraonain Irish Dancers, Native American Drum and Dance Group, Greek Dance Group of Holy Trinity Church, Blue Water Ramblers and Imani Singers.
Visitors will be able to view the Museum’s exhibitions, with two specific exhibitions having a primary focus on diversity and culture: Newcomers: The People of This Place which highlights the ethnic groups that have settled the Grand Rapids area, and Anishinabek: The People of this Place which focuses on the Native American culture in the region.
