Hey ,

Below is a pic from the wonderful Harvest Fest that happened in Caledonia over the weekend. It was a great turnout!

October just hit, and Grand Rapids is doing that thing where the calendar looks like it ate three weekends at once. You’ve got Star Trek blasting through the symphony, ArtPrize packing in one last spectacular night, country and indie stages stacked back-to-back, and - yes! An actual trail race where you can run with nuns! Here’s your Tune in Grand Rapids shortlist for Friday–Sunday (Oct 2–4).

Family Friendly

Autumn Weekends at Frederik Meijer Gardens Fri–Sun · Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Venue Location: Grand Rapids Harvest relays, Little Farmers stands, lawn games, seasonal bites, and a weekend Harvest Beer Garden with live music. Perfect excuse to wander among thousands of mums before the leaves fully commit.

Blandford Nature Center Harvest Festival 2026 Sat Oct 3, 10 AM–3 PM · Blandford Nature Center Venue Location: Grand Rapids Hayrides, crafts, cider samples, wildlife chats, blacksmith demos, and animal encounters — classic West Michigan fall fundraiser energy.

Downtown Grandville Fall Fest Sat Oct 3, 11 AM–4 PM · Downtown Grandville Venue Location: Grandville Free downtown fall day with live music, Critter Barn, wagon rides, a scarecrow contest, magic shows, vendors, and food trucks.

Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm — Oktoberfest Weekend Fri–Sun Oct 2–4 · Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Market Venue Location: Grand Rapids Corn maze, u-pick apples and pumpkins, touch-a-tractor, and live music for an Oktoberfest-flavored farm weekend on the NW side.

Beer City Brewers Fest 2026 Sat Oct 3, 3–8 PM · Calder Plaza Venue Location: Grand Rapids Free celebration of 14 years of Beer City USA with 20+ local breweries, ProAm samples, food trucks, and people’s-choice voting. (21+ for samples; the plaza vibe is still family-friendly.)

Kids Events

Monster House — Wealthy Theatre Family Film Series Sun Oct 4 · Doors ~1 PM / Film ~2 PM · Wealthy Theatre Venue Location: Grand Rapids Animated supernatural comedy on the big screen — early Halloween season, zero costume pressure.

Fruit Ridge Hayrides — Fall Farm Weekend Fri–Sun Oct 2–4 · Fruit Ridge Hayrides Venue Location: Kent City U-pick pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes, pony rides, and farm-market snacks with no general admission gate (pay per activity).

Franciscan Rhythms Trail 5K — Kids Fun Run Sat Oct 3, 9:00 AM · Franciscan Life Process Center Venue Location: Lowell Little legs get their own Fun Run before the main trail 5K — same woodland course energy, same cinnamon-roll reward energy afterward.

Arts & Culture

Grand Rapids Symphony: The Music of Star Trek Fri & Sat 7:30 PM; Sun 3:00 PM · DeVos Performance Hall Venue Location: Grand Rapids Bob Bernhardt conducts franchise themes with the Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids. Bring the trekkies, the pops fans, and anyone who still gets chills at that opening fanfare.

Dan + Shay: The Young Tour Fri Oct 2, 7:00 PM · Acrisure Amphitheater Venue Location: Grand Rapids Country duo Dan + Shay with Tyler Hubbard and Josh Ross riverside — Pocket Park pre-party kicks off mid-afternoon if you want to linger.

Modest Mouse with Caroline Rose Fri Oct 2, 7:00 PM · GLC Live at 20 Monroe Venue Location: Grand Rapids Indie-rock veterans downtown with Caroline Rose — float-on energy for a Friday night.

El Ten Eleven + Tall Tall Trees Fri Oct 2, 7:00 PM · The Pyramid Scheme Venue Location: Grand Rapids Instrumental post-rock duo El Ten Eleven packs the Scheme with Tall Tall Trees in support — headphones-off, full-body rhythm night.

The Red Clay Strays — Grateful Tour Sat Oct 3, 6:30 PM · Van Andel Arena Venue Location: Grand Rapids Americana/roots-rock at arena scale, with The Revivalists and Hayley Reinhart along for the ride.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Sat Oct 3, 6:30 PM · GLC Live at 20 Monroe Venue Location: Grand Rapids Grateful Dead–steeped improvisational rock — long sets, deep cuts, dancing encouraged.

ArtPrize Awards Celebration and Fashion Show Sat Oct 3, 6:30–10:00 PM · Acrisure Amphitheater Venue Location: Grand Rapids Closing-night awards, RC Caylan Atelier fashion show, live music, and a drone show. Free GA tickets required — grab yours before they vanish.

Preserved! Capturing West Michigan’s Enduring Places Fri Oct 2 (program + afterparty); Sat free gallery hours · LaFontsee Galleries Venue Location: Grand Rapids Land Conservancy of West Michigan’s 50th-anniversary plein-air show with works by 15 local artists — art that looks like the places we keep promising to protect.

Fall Bonsai Show (West Michigan Bonsai Club) Sat 10 AM–5 PM; Sun 11 AM–5 PM · Frederik Meijer Gardens Venue Location: Grand Rapids Club displays, live demos, and a marketplace for trees and tools — included with Gardens admission.

Lucy Darling: You’re Welcome Sun Oct 4, 7:00 PM · DeVos Performance Hall Venue Location: Grand Rapids Carisa Hendrix’s cocktail-enthusiast alter ego brings comedy, magic, and musical mischief with Mark Ettinger. Wit optional; delight required.

Food & Drink

Third Nature Brewing 7th Anniversary Party Sat Oct 3, 11 AM–10 PM · Third Nature Brewing Venue Location: Rockford All-day anniversary bash with live music, drink and food specials, Maß mugs, and stein-holding contests.

Sports & Fitness

Franciscan Rhythms Trail 5K Run & Walk Sat Oct 3 · Kids Fun Run 9:00 AM; 5K 9:15 AM · Franciscan Life Process Center Venue Location: Lowell Yes — “Run with Nuns.” Trail 5K benefiting music therapy and land restoration, with live music stations along a woodland/prairie course and Sisters’ cinnamon rolls after. Peak West Michigan.

19th Annual Bee Brave 5K Run/Walk Sat Oct 3, 8:30 AM–12:00 PM · Shagbark Farms Venue Location: Caledonia Breast-cancer awareness 5K benefiting Van Andel Institute research — timed run, walk, and virtual options.

Community

October First Friday — Uptown Grand Rapids Fri Oct 2 · Uptown districts Venue Location: Grand Rapids Monthly stroll through East Hills, Wealthy, East Fulton, and Eastown — shops, restaurants, pop-ups, music, and that “we live somewhere cool” feeling.

Pulaski Days 2026 Through Sun Oct 4; parade Sat Oct 3, 11:00 AM · West Side / Fulton Street Venue Location: Grand Rapids More than 50 years of Polish heritage celebrations across the clubs, capped by the West Side parade.

ArtPrize 2026 — Final Public Days Through Sat Oct 3 (public voting closes Fri Oct 2, 10 PM) · Venues citywide Venue Location: Grand Rapids Last chance to roam 1,000+ works downtown before the festival wraps — vote early, wander late.

Adult 21+

San Holo presents TRUE LOVE IN A MADE UP WORLD Fri Oct 2 · Doors 7:00 PM · The Intersection Venue Location: Grand Rapids Future-bass / electronic night with San Holo, Ookay, and Saturn Skies — lights up, phones down.

Blisspop presents Hot In Herre: 2000s Dance Party Sat Oct 3 · Doors 8:00 PM / Show 9:00 PM · Elevation at The Intersection Venue Location: Grand Rapids Y2K-era dance floor spanning pop, hip-hop, emo, and R&B. Costume vibes encouraged; irony optional.

Zach John King: Get To Drinkin’ Tour Sat Oct 3 · Doors 6:30 PM / Show 7:30 PM · The Stache at The Intersection Venue Location: Grand Rapids Rising country/party-country with Macy Todd — loud, sing-along, Saturday-night simple.

That’s your map. Grab one big night, one outdoor fall thing, and one “I can’t believe that’s real” moment - the nuns will understand if you show up a little late. 😉 

Until next time, stay connected!