People First Economy

Live Music on the Patio
2025-08-19 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-26 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Detroit)
Your evening plans just got better: scenic views, tasty food, and LIVE tunes at Cork Wine & Grille! Join us on the patio overlooking the beautiful golf course on Tuesdays from 5:30-8:30 pm! View our complete live music lineup at https://corkwineandgrille.com/happening/3984/2024-05-28/
Associated Business: Cork Wine & Grille

Member Nights
2025-08-20 18:00 - 20:00
Enjoy a night of member exclusive activities! Find adventure with your favorite experiences open late. Discover extra animal activities and watch entertainment the whole family will adore.

Wine on Thursdays
2025-08-21 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-28 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-04 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-11 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-18 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-25 16:00 - 20:00
EVERY THURSDAY EVENING FROM 4 – 8PM…
Stop in for wine tasting! We always have 2-3 options open and encourage you to grab a taste and shop around or talk with our staff while you sip!

3rd Thursdays
2025-08-21 17:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-18 17:00 - 21:00
Sip. Shop. Stroll.
Third Thursdays is a multi-venue showcase of locally owned art galleries, retail spaces, restaurants, and cultural institutions along the free DASH shuttle route. It spans the neighborhoods of downtown Grand Rapids including Heartside, the Hotel District, Studio Park, and North Monroe. Each month over 25 participating venues will host special 3rd Thursday-only art exhibitions, special events and sales.

Live Music on the Patio
2025-08-21 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-23 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-24 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-28 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-30 17:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-31 17:30 - 20:30
Your evening plans just got better: scenic views, tasty food, and LIVE tunes at Boatwerks! Join us on the patio overlooking the beautiful Lake Macatawa from 5:30-8:30 pm on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays! View our complete live music lineup at https://boatwerksrestaurant.com/…/live-music/2024-05-30/1/
Associated Business: Boatwerks Restaurant

Acoustic Open Mic Night
2025-08-21 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-08-28 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-04 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-11 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-18 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-25 19:00 - 22:00
Open Mic Night at Switchback. Every Thursday evening 7-10pm. Come play, listen, grab a drink, and have a good time.

Summer Nights
2025-08-28 18:00 - 21:00
Take your family on an after-zoo adventure! Spend your summer nights jamming with live music, strolling with entertainment, exploring late night Zoo experiences including zip line and ropes course, and discovering what animals do after hours.

Locked Zoo: Fab Forest
2025-09-05 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-26 17:00 - 20:00
Get ready to embark on an epic adventure at Locked Zoo! This exhilarating, after hours event transforms John Ball Zoo into a thrilling escape game room. Work against the clock as you and your team unravel nature-related mysteries, solve intricate puzzles, and explore the Zoo like never before. Ages 18+.

First Fridays in East Hills
2025-09-05 18:00 - 20:00
Shop is open late with select books 30% off

Safety Day
2025-09-07 09:00 - 18:00
It takes a real superhero to keep our community safe! Meet local first responders as they host fun hands-on safety activities! Captain America, Spiderman, Black Widow & Captain Marvel will be flying in for the occasion.

Fork Fest
2025-09-12 16:00 - 19:00
We are bringing back Fork Fest as a block party this year! Fork Fest is an exciting community-driven event designed to celebrate the vibrant local business scene in West Michigan. It brings together consumers, entrepreneurs, and food lovers in a one-of-a-kind experience focused on discovery, connection, and culinary exploration. The event offers food sampling from local restaurants, food vendors, and food artisans while spotlighting the diverse range of businesses that make West Michigan unique. Fork Fest aims to create a fun and engaging environment for attendees to learn about new businesses, connect with local entrepreneurs, and support the growth of the local economy.
This year attendees can expect locally made food and beverages from our members as well as a small makers market. Venus Flyytrapp will be spinning jams all night! People First Economy & City Built Brewing partnered together to offer each attendee one free beverage! Additionally, we will be hosting two mini Forkshops that will celebrate food equity. Get your tickets here!
Agenda:

4PM | Event Begins | Fork Fest Opens
4:40PM | PFE Presentation
5PM | Mini Forkshop 1: Wormies Vermicompost
5:30PM | Mini Forkshop 2: Grady’s Garden
5:50PM | Fork Fest | Networking
6:30PM | Paul Lee & Food Industry Acknowledgement
7PM | Event Ends

Fork Fest Food Vendors:

El Granjero
Furniture City Creamery
Olly’s Donuts
Sunroom Suppers
All In Hospitality
Bowermans on 8th
Field & Fire
Madcap Coffee
Citysen Lounge at CityFlatsHotel
Juju Catering
Fika
Rise
Daddy’s Dough

Fork Fest Market Members:

Wormies Vermicompost
Grady’s Garden
Sweet Milk Goods

Forkshops:

Wormies Vermicompost | Building Better Habits: Composting & Waste
Grady’s Garden | Building Better Habits for Kids: Cultivation & Food

Games:

Make sure you grab your Tasting Passport so you can be entered into a drawing to win prizes! Three winners will be selected at the end of the night!
Guess Who? In our food industry! More details coming soon.

Parking:

There’s paid public parking available off of Monroe St, Ottawa St., Ionia Mason Parking,
Mason St & Bond St will be closed for Fork Fest Vendors

Stay tuned for more details!

Monarch Day
2025-09-13 09:00 - 18:00
Experience the exciting fields of science, technology, engineering, art and math as local schools and organizations bring exhilarating experiences that are fun for the whole family. Look for robots, discover a love of instruments, design your own exhibit, and even become a penguineer! Get a glimpse at a whole new world of possibilities.
