GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The second day of the 46th annual Festival of the Arts downtown Grand Rapids kicked off Saturday.
The celebration is held the first full weekend in June every year, offering three full days of art, food and fun.
"I grew up in Grand Rapids; my family and I have been coming down here since I was a little kid. Some of my fondest memories are growing up and coming down to the festival," said 26-year-old Bren Nelson from Texas.
From Calder Plaza to Rosa Parks Circle, downtown Grand Rapids filled with festival goers like Nelson, who can’t imagine life without the festival of the arts.
"I just had to make it up to the festival this year to see my family and friends, catch the music and got an elephant ear."
He traveled over 12,000 miles for an elephant ear because he lives and works in Texas.
"When I have a wife someday in Texas she’s going to be flying up here with me with the kids and we’re going to be getting our kids face painted and we’ll be building some blocks," Nelson said.
Whether it’s building blocks, or getting your face painted, the Festival of the Arts has something for all ages.
"We went around and saw some performances and then me and my brother went hear to paint," said Sydney Bock
Not only is there art, there’s five stages of music and 27 booths of food.
"We’ve got Egyptian food, we’ve got Asian food, we’ve got vegan food, and we’ve got vegetarian food," said Cristina Buentello, the 2015 Festival of the Arts Co-Chair.
Although the food is good, Richard Bullim say’s it’s a combination of things that keeps him coming back.
"I love seeing people I haven’t seen a long time, I love the food, I love the entertainment, I love a beautiful day like this," Bullim said.
Bullim has been coming to the Festival of the Arts since he was ten, and say’s the biggest change is its size.
But something that’s stayed the same the festival's hometown feel.
"This festival has such a hometown feel it means a lot to me it’s a great time and a great experience," Nelson said.
The Festival of the Arts is now one of the longest-running festivals in the state and is one of the largest all-volunteer art events in the nation.
"Someone said it might rain, we don’t care, like I said, we have two stages inside you can put on some rain boots you can still go out and dance, we’re still going to be here all the way until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow," said Buentello
For more information on the Festival of the Arts Click Here
