I know it is not nice to complain when the event is free but I really do miss the days of indie acts on the rise playing on the banks of the Grand River in Grand Rapids (and I am not the first to voice these concerns). In any case, the acts playing along the riverbank are The Holland American Legion Band, Upstage Blues Band, Tyler Howe Band, and Pop Cult.
And just so we are clear, the real money is on the fireworks -- and that is where it should be, since this annual tradition of gathering on the riverbank is what we really want to see as our headliner each year.
This year's fireworks display is underwritten by Amway, which is, again, a good thing, since if it was left to G-sync's budget it would probably mean we would have to entertain you with what we picked up at the local corner station on the way to the event. Sure, we can dazzle you with our smoky snakes and pop-pop tricks as we play Bjork on our iPod but that will not fill up the time Amway has blocked to make sure 2015's celebration is one for the record books.
Immediately after the fireworks the Blue Bridge will return to its new colors for the week of July 3 – July 10 as it becomes bathed in a sea of rainbow colors brought to us by the Mayor of Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. We at Rapid Growth think this tribute to our city's LGBT on the heels of the historic SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality is the most picture-perfect place to pop the big question, "Will you take my picture on this bridge for my Facebook?"
Ok, so some things still have not changed (yet). Go Team America! … yeah!
Admission: Freedom is Free. (Equality is Shared.)
More Info