It's a weekend-long party in Grand Rapids, and it all starts with the 35th annual Celebration on the Grand on Friday, the Fourth of July!

In February, the City of Grand Rapids announced that Celebration on the Grand and Amway Family Fireworks partnered for two days of events to be held annually the first Friday and Saturday of July. Celebration on the Grand had previously taken place in fall.

“Celebration on the Grand is pleased to be part of this new patriotic weekend,” said Sarah Noble, Celebration on the Grand co-chair.

Celebration on the Grand includes full day of free entertainment, good food, fun activities and local musicians at Ah-Nab-Awen Park on Friday.

The shift, welcomed by both events' organizers, is part of the city’s attempt to create a sustainable model for special events in Grand Rapids.

“Creating a sustainable platform for patriotic events is the first step of the city’s new approach,” Grand Rapids City Manager Greg Sundstrom said in a statement. “This partnership exemplifies the collaborative investment model we are developing to help create a solid financial platform for all special events.”

The line-up of performers for Celebration on the Grand includes:

The city's downtown fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m. Saturday during Amway Family Fireworks. That event has activities, music, entertainment and food starting at 2 p.m. Saturday.

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