Grand Rapids Public Museum announces heritage festival

The Grand Rapids Public Museum has announced that their Ethnic Heritage Festival will return in late fall. 

On Saturday, Nov. 13 guests of all ages are welcome to come and enjoy live dancing, musical performances, engaging presentations, and interactive table displays. 

There will also be two new exhibitions to highlight the diversity and culture of the Native population in West Michigan. They will be called, “Anishinabek: The People of this Place” and “Newcomers: The People of this Place.”

The museum cafe will also have a variety of foods from various cultures available for purchase. 

Festival events will be included with general admission to the museum. 

John Ball Zoo hosts spooky weekends

The John Ball Zoo will be hosting one more weekend full of their “Zoo Goes Boo” children events presented by Meijer. 

On Oct. 22-24 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the zoo will once again be transformed with Halloween decorations, costumes and candy. 

This year their spooky treat stations have returned and will serve as trick-or-treating locations throughout the zoo. 

According to the zoo’s website, strolling entertainment will be present, and some villains will be stopping in from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays.

As the events are for children, the zoo asks that no masks cover faces and adults in costumes dress appropriately. 

In an attempt to be more environmentally conscious, the zoo asks guests to bring a reusable treat bag, or purchase one from their gift shop. 

They also recommend that families make mindful choices when shopping for Halloween candy. Those interested in how to do so can find a quick reference to certified Halloween candy on the zoo’s website. 

The zoo suggests buying from companies that are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil or chocolate products that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance. 

GV Music, Theatre, Dance Department hosts second performer from Grand Rapids Symphony 

The Grand Valley State University Music, Theatre and Dance Department is hosting their second performer from the Grand Rapids Symphony, Alexander Miller, for Oboe Master Classes. 

On Oct. 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Miller will host classes in the Sherman van Solkema Recital Hall in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. 

Miller joined the Grand Rapids Symphony as its Assistant Principal Oboe in 1992. 

Beforehand, he completed his Master’s degree at The Juilliard School while he was a substitute and stage band oboist with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. 

Miller is currently a member of Ensemble Montage, a chamber group that dedicates themselves to performing unusual works from the past century. Over the summer he plays with the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, California.