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People watching fireworks outside the Grand Rapids Public Museum /Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Public Museum
Fireworks above the Grand Rapids Public Museum /Courtesy of the Grand Rapids Public Museum
It’s almost time for the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s (GRPM) annual Independence Day fundraising event, Front Row for the Fireworks, which offers visitors an evening of entertainment, discovery and fun. Front Row for the Fireworks will take place on Saturday, July 2 to coincide with the Amway Family Fireworks display in downtown Grand Rapids.
The festivities at the museum will begin at 6:30 p.m. In addition to front row seating for the fireworks, the night will include patriotic themed Mighty Wurlitzer Organ concerts in the Meijer Theater, exciting new shows in the Chaffee Planetarium, rides on our famous 1928 Spillman Carousel, as well as a unique museum-wide scavenger hunt for the family. These activities are included with admission into the event. Attendees will be able to purchase tickets to The Robot Zoo traveling exhibit that evening as well.
The Museum Café will serve a Meal Deal for $5.00, featuring various summer menu items. Ice cream and other treats will also be available for purchase. At dusk, visitors can head outside to the carousel walkway or the enclosed lawn seating area, or stay inside the museum in air-conditioned comfort to have an amazing view of the fireworks as they burst over the Grand River.
Each year, the Grand Rapids Public Museum works with Samaritas (formerly Lutheran Social Services), West Michigan Ronald McDonald House and D.A. Blodgett-St. John's to bring foster children, who might otherwise not be able to attend, downtown to the museum to enjoy the festivities.
“This is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Kate Moore, vice president of marketing and public relations for the GRPM. “We love opening the museum to the community and the opportunity to give back by bringing local foster children to this event.”
Tickets are on sale now, and are going fast. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children. Museum members receive discounted tickets, $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.grpm.org, call 616-456-3977 or stop by the museum’s front desk. Ticket purchasers may sponsor a child with a $10 event/meal ticket donation. Proceeds from this event support exhibits and programs of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Please note, the museum will close at 5 p.m. July 2 and re-open at 6:30 p.m.
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