WEST MICHIGAN: The weekend of June 13-15 is packed with events and festivals that the whole family can enjoy for Father’s Day. They include the following:
ALLEGAN COUNTY:
- Waterfront Film Festival: Takes place in South Haven until June 15. This is the festival’s second year in South Haven and 16th year total, and it features dozens of filmmakers from across the nation, and screens more than 70 films. Day trip tickets for Saturday cost $99 and $90 for Sunday.
CALHOUN COUNTY:
- Cereal City Festival: Starts June 13 at 6 p.m. in downtown Battle Creek with the Grand Cereal Parade. June 14 will feature the world’s longest breakfast table from 8 a.m. until noon. It starts on West Van Buren Street from Washington Avenue to Tompkins Street.
KENT COUNTY:
- Rock the Block Street Festival: The fourth annual festival is hosted by LINC Community Revitalization and takes place June 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Madison Square neighborhood at Hall Street in Grand Rapids. Features live entertainment from 2014 American Idol contestant Maurice Townsend as well as the first LINC BBQ Challenge, where eight contestant will compete for the title of 2014 LINC Grill Master and a grand prize of $1,500. This is a community-wide event.
- Crawford Tigers of the Realm Exhibit Opens: At John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids on June 14. Features three tigers: three-year old male Kuza and his brother, three-year-old Yuri, and nine-year-old female Nika. The zoo is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of its RendeZoo XXV Fundraiser on June 13. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. on June 13 and the theme is The Great Catsby. There are several packages available for purchase or individual tickets for $60, $35 of which is tax-deductible.
- Pools Open in Grand Rapids: Starting June 13, city pools and splash pads will be open for the season until Sept. 1. The pools are located at Briggs Park on Lafayette Avenue and Knapp Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Fuller Avenue and Franklin Street, and Richmond Park on Richmond Street and Tamarack Avenue. Open swim for city residents between one and 17 years old costs $1 and adults cost $2. Non-residents will cost $4 each. A pool pass is also available, and is valid all summer for a family of up to six people for $80.
- West Michigan Pride Festival 2014: The 25th Annual Pride Festival will be held at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids from 1pm-10pm Saturday, June 14th.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY:
- Premier Dog Show: The United Kennel Club Premier Dog Show takes place at the Kalamazoo Expo Center and Fairground. The show opens at 8 a.m. each morning on June 13, 14, and 15. Admission costs $5 per car or $10 for a weekend pass. The event features dock jumping, agility trials, obedience trials, and terrier races.
- Kalamazoo Growlers Purple Game: Presented by the Van Andel Institute, fan are encouraged to wear purple to the game against the Rochester Honkers on June 13. Gates open at 6:05 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05 p.m. at Homer Stryker Field on Mills Street. You can get a ticket package for $15 which includes a game day ticket, a hot dog and pop or Growlers hat, and an opportunity to be part of an on-field photo after the game. A portion of every ticket package will go to the Van Andel Institute for biomedical research and science education.
- Vicksburg Old Car Festival: Starts on June 13 at 6 p.m. with the Friday Night Cruise that features old cars and a 1950s drive-in. The main event of the festival is on June 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes live music, a juried craft show, an auto parts/swap meet, and a steam and gas engine show.
MUSKEGON COUNTY:
- Muskegon Powerboat Weekend: Kicks off June 13 and runs until the 15th. The docks at the Muskegon Yacht Club open at 4 p.m. and are first come, first serve. The event features the In Water Boat Show from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and world-class race boats. An overnight stay at the dock will cost non-club members $1.50 per foot and $.75 per foot for club members.
NEWAYGO COUNTY:
- Zip Line Canopy Tour: Official grand opening for the attraction at Camp Newaygo from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. on June 14. Choose from the Dual Zip (405 feet) for $12, the Loop Zip (630 feet) for $15, or the Canopy Tour (1,035 feet) for $22. You can also opt to get a recording from a GoPRO camera for $35. The camp is located on South Centerline Road in Newaygo.
