- Downtown Grand Rapids will be filled with art, music, and food this weekend.
The Festival of the Arts is happening Friday through Sunday, and it’s free to attend.
There will be an art exhibit and competition, and live music at Calder Plaza, Rosa Parks Circle, and other locations throughout downtown.
Plus, the kids will be able to create sidewalk chalk art, paint their own masterpieces, and create lots of other crafts.
The festival goes from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.
2. If you don't have any Friday night plans yet, you can head to Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids for a free outdoor movie.
Movies in the Park kicks off tonight, with “The Wizard of Oz.”
Officials are using subtitles this year to try and accommodate other groups in the community.
Friday’s movie will have Spanish subtitles, and the next flick will have English subtitles for the hearing impaired.
The series lasts six weeks and ends in August with a double feature, “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” and a movie picked via voter's choice.
3. The Grand Rapids Symphony has a new director.
Thursday, they introduced conductor Marcelo Lehninger from Brazil.
He's the 14th director for the symphony, which has been around for almost 90 years.
He told us he’s excited to be part of the symphony and said the warmth of the people in West Michigan reminds him of home.
Leninger has conducted twice in Grand Rapids during the three year search for a new director.
4. Look out Whole Foods, here comes Walmart!
The nation's largest grocer is going upscale in a growing number of stores.
They’re packing the shelves with everything from organic produce to gourmet cheeses. Some are even adding a charcuterie section.
These changes are planned for the nearly 3,500 supercenters and over 600 neighborhood markets.
Walmart generates more than half its domestic revenue from groceries but has seen sales slip in recent years.
5. It’s National Doughnut Day, which means you can get free donuts at some local shops.
Both Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts are giving each customer one free donut.
At Dunkin Donuts you'll need to buy a drink to get a freebie. Doughnuts are only available while supplies last.
National Doughnut Day was established in 1938 when the Salvation Army used donuts to raise money during the Great Depression and to honor the women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I.
