Heartside residents wrap up pop-up performance series

Local talent has been showcased throughout September as musicians from the Heartside Ministries community have been holding pop-up performances throughout the city. The first pop-up performance of the series was held during the opening of the Pillowcase Project in Ah-Nab-Awen Park on Sept. 10. The rest of the pop-up series took place on Monroe Center through the month of Bridge GR. The final performances were on Sept. 25 during lunch and dinner in one of the city’s designated Social Zones.

The purpose of these pop-up performances is to not only give Heartside residents an opportunity to use their talents to earn a wage, but it is intended to send the message that everyone in the community has something valuable to contribute. 

Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival seeks to entertain, educate

For years, the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival has been a lively opportunity for the Grand Rapids Asian community to celebrate their culture. For this year’s GRAPF Mid-Autumn Festival, the community is invited to learn and rally together to fill the community with kindness and respect. The event will take place on the Blue Bridge with a max capacity of one-hundred masked attendees at a time. 

In Chinese culture, the full moon is a symbol of reunion. Therefore, The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place Oct. 3, the day which the moon is said to be the fullest of the year. All ages are welcome 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but after 8 p.m. attendees must be 18 and up. Admission to the event is free, however, Humane Society of West Michigan donations will be accepted. 

Community Unity Festival encourages community reflection

Music, spoken word and visual art will be showcased at The Community Unity Festival in Grand Rapids. The Bridge GR event will take place Oct. 2 from 6-8 p.m. in Rosa Parks Circle. George Davis III will lead the event and musical performances will be featured by Avalon Cutts-Jones, Tom Cutts and more. This cross-cultural experience is free and food will be sold at food trucks. 

In addition to the musical performances, spoken word will be featured at the event. One of the performers will be Grammy-nominated spoken-word artist Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin. The GR community to welcome to learn, listen and enjoy the art and music at The Community Music Festival.