Category Archives: Music

Kentwood Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series kicks off June 5

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Kentwood Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)



By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org


The City of Kentwood’s Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series will return for the 2025 season on Thursday, June 5.

The Farmers Market will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays from June 5 through Aug. 21 behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. The Summer Concert Series will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays on the lawn behind City Hall. There will be no Farmers Market and concert Thursday, July 3.

“Our Farmers Markets and Summer Concert Series have become community favorites for neighbors, friends and families to come together for food, fun and festivities,” Kentwood Parks and Recreation Director Val Romeo said. “From local vendors and themed farmers markets to live music and delicious food trucks, there’s something for everyone at our Farmers Markets and Summer Concert Series.”

The Farmers Market will offer a variety of local goods for sale, including fresh produce, baked goods, crafts and more. It will feature 20-plus local vendors and include special activities throughout the summer. The market accepts food assistance benefits, including SNAP, EBT and Double Up Food Bucks. The market’s season harvest sponsor is Renewal by Anderson, the artisan sponsor is Corewell Health and the friend of the market is Arie Nol Auto Center.

A new addition to this year’s June Farmers Markets is a free Zumba class from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. at the concert stage.

The Summer Concert Series will feature a local music group on Thursdays June 5 through Aug. 14, except July 3. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair and are welcome to bring their own food, beer and wine to enjoy during the show. Food trucks also will be on-site each week with food and drinks available for purchase.


Kentwood Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)



Here’s the full lineup of the free activities, food trucks and concerts:

  • June 5 – Opening day and 11th anniversary celebration of the Kentwood Farmers Market. Tony Thompson and Friends playing soul, funk, Motown and dance music. Food trucks include El Jalapeno, PizzaMI, Desi’s Tropical Sno Shack, Patty Matters and Eastown Cereal Café.
  • June 12 – Art at the Market at the Farmers Market, featuring an opportunity to create a work of art using produce to create a painting. That Beatles Thing performing Beatles covers. Food trucks include El Globo Restaurant Mobile, Scott’s Pig Roast, Kool Breze, Media Famous Street Foods and Luna Bella’s.
  • June 19 – Celebrate Kentwood Culture at the Farmers Market with colorful textiles, savory spices and more. Motherland House Concerts bringing the vibrant sounds of Africa. Food trucks include Pilar’s Empanadas Argentinas, YoChef’s Catering Company, Cheezy Duz-It and Dune Buggy.
  • June 26 – Produce Bingo at the Farmers Market. Hark Up Horns performing jazz, swing, pop and rock. Food trucks include Baerrito, La Rotisserie, Sanse Filpino Cuisine and Freddy Franks.
  • July 10 – Bike Night at the Farmers Market featuring local bike organizations. On the Lash performing traditional Celtic music. Food trucks include Freddy Franks, Los Pinches Tacos and Dakiddd Bar-B-Que and Catering.
  • July 17 – Backyard Barbeque and farm-fresh goodies at the Farmers Market. Sunchaser Band, a five-piece band playing rock, country, blues, R&B and more. Food trucks include Taquero Mucho, Falafel Truck, Boujee Bowls and Taste of Toya’s World.
  • July 24 – Christmas in July at the Farmers Market, featuring holiday-themed goods. Fierro, performing energetic norteño and tejano music. Food trucks include Kory’s Antojitos, Around Baking Company, Frostbite Shaved Ice and Patty Matters.
  • July 31 – Fitness Fun at the Farmers Market featuring a quick HIITER demonstration. Roosevelt Diggs performing a blend of folk, country, bluegrass, blues and more. Food trucks include Freddy Franks, Tamales Mary, Sweet Racks and Smokin’ Butts BBQ and Dolce Mini Cakes.
  • Aug. 7 – Throwback Thursday at the Farmers Market with a chance to win a prize for best dressed. RocknSoul performing covers of songs from the 1970s and ’80s. Food trucks include Dune Buggy, Taqueria Mi Pueblo MI, 616 Kabob Stop and Desi’s Tropical Sno Shack.
  • Aug. 14 – Back-to-School Bash at the Farmers Market, featuring a foam party, school supplies giveaway and more. Innuendo playing rock and roll covers. Food trucks include Tacos la Familia, Cheezy Duz-It, Motor Mouth MI, Kool Breze and PAC Brazilian Food.
  • Aug. 21 – Dog Days of Summer at the Farmers Market featuring more vendors and services for your furry friends. No live music, but food trucks Tacos Mexico, Taste of Toya’s World and PizzaMI will be on-site.

Diamond sponsor of the event is Macatawa Bank. Gold sponsors of the concert series include Bloom Sluggett, PC, Metronet, Sabo PR, Triangle Associates, MSU Federal Credit Union and DTE Energy Foundation. Silver sponsors of the concert series are Arie Nol Auto Center and Moonlight Graphics Inc., and copper sponsors are the Joint Chiropractic and Renewal by Anderson.

Parking will be limited at both City Hall and the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. Residents can find additional parking at the following locations:

  • Kentwood Justice Center, 4740 Walma Ave. SE
  • Kentwood Fire Station 1, 4775 Walma SE
  • Kentwood Public Works, 5068 Breton Road SE
  • Crestwood Middle School, 2674 44th St. SE

More information about the Farmers Market, including vendor and volunteer details and registration, is available at KentwoodFarmersMarket.com.

Additional information about the Summer Concert Series is available at kentwood.us/SummerConcertSeries.

Community invited to FREE Grand Rapids Symphony season preview concert on Feb. 11

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Grand Rapids Symphony with Music Director Marcelo Lehninger (Courtesy, GR Symphony)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The Grand Rapids Symphony invites the community to its second annual season announcement concert on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in DeVos Performance Hall. The free event will provide a preview of concerts planned for the 2025-2026 season.

“Cultivating an incredible season for our listeners is an honor,” said Marcelo Lehninger, Daniel & Pamella DeVos Music Director Chair. “After much planning, we can now look forward to taking you on an incredible adventure with this upcoming season.

“You’ll travel around the world with us as we celebrate the global community of composers and artists and highlight how those musical influences have shaped us as artists proud to call Grand Rapids home.”


Grand Rapids Symphony concertmaster and violinist James Crawford (Courtesy, GR Symphony)

What to expect

The evening program will feature selections from upcoming Masterworks, Pops, and Specials concerts performed by the symphony and Grand Rapids Symphony chorus. All four artistic leaders will be present to conduct and invite you to learn more about each selection, each concert and each series.

Viewers can participate in person and through a virtual option.

“This free concert is the perfect time to be curious about what this incredible orchestra has to offer,” said President and CEO Keith C. Elder. “It is an invitation to learn more about the orchestra’s work as performers and educators, to try out a new seat in the performance hall, and to listen to something new and exciting. If you are unable to join us in the hall, make plans to join in the fun online.”

Seating is General Admission and unassigned, but an R.S.V.P is requested at www.grsymphony.org. For those traveling or wintering outside of the area, visit www.grsymphony.org for details on how to attend virtually.

Care Resources welcomes Chinese New Year with traditional Chinese costumes and dances

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A solo dancer from the Chinese Association of West Michigan’s Chinese Language School performed to a traditional Chinese song titled “Spring Song” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Traditional Chinese dances and musical performances celebrated the start of the 2025 Chinese New Year at Care Resources on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Welcoming performers from the Chinese Association of West Michigan’s Chinese Language School at its Grand Rapids day center, Care Resources participants ushered in the Year of the Snake by enjoying costumed dancers who performed to traditional Chinese music.

  • A solo dancer wearing a Chinese Tang Dynasty costume performed to a traditional Chinese song titled “Spring Song” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • A solo dancer wearing a Chinese Tang Dynasty costume performed to a traditional Chinese song titled “Spring Song” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • A solo dancer wearing a Chinese Tang Dynasty costume performed to a traditional Chinese song titled “Spring Song” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • A solo dancer wearing a Chinese Tang Dynasty costume performed to a traditional Chinese song titled “Spring Song” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
  • A solo dancer wearing a Chinese Tang Dynasty costume performed to a traditional Chinese song titled “Spring Song” (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Participants were also treated to an informative PowerPoint presentation about the Chinese New Year, were able to take part in a New Year quiz, and taste kumquats.

Care Resources Recreation Therapist Megan Bollo has done previous work with the Chinese Language School and helped coordinate the event.

“I thought it would be really cool to have them share with [Care Resources] participants,” said Bollo. “Some of the participants are from Asian countries, so it might bring back memories for them or just help them feel understood and welcomed. It’s a really good learning opportunity.”


A young woman played “Butterfly Lovers” on the keyboard while screens portrayed the ensemble music accompanying her (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

A time of transition and purpose

The Year of the Dragon, beginning Feb. 10, 2024, ended Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 to usher in the Year of the Wood Snake, also known as the Year of the Green Snake.

An animal is paired with one of the five elements (gold, wood, water, fire, and earth) each year. The ensuing interaction between these elements during the 60-year cycle is believed to promote harmony and balance in the natural world. Those born in the Year of the Wood Snake are often described as charming, intelligent and creative – but also secretive, cunning and sometimes ruthless.

Event participants were given the opportunity to identify which animal and element represented a year of their choosing.

The Chinese New Year 16-day long celebration will last until the traditional Lantern Festival on Feb. 12.


Each day of the 16-day long festival has an assigned purpose or meaning (Provided by South China Morning Post)

Celebrating the future

Three women performed a Chinese ethnic dance from the Tibetan people in China (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Similar to the Western New Year, celebrants of the Chinese New Year view it as a time to release the past and commemorate the future. Homes are often cleaned in preparation of festivities and red decorations, a color associated with good fortune in Chinese culture, are hung.

Families also use this special occasion to spend time together, often paying respects to ancestors, practicing cultural customs and eating feasts.

The Chinese New Year event was more than just an opportunity for participants to get out of the house and experience a different environment, Care Resources Recreation Therapist Nicole Steed told WKTV.

“It’s the cultural immersion and being able to step into somebody else’s shoes and see what life is like for them, their culture and traditions,” said Steed.

This event was an opportunity for participants to experience a different culture and way of life (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Bollo agreed, adding that reminiscing is also an important element in these events.

“If it’s something they’ve experienced before, like the kumquats, it helps them remember, and there is the sensory stimulation with that as well,” said Bollo.

A dignified tradition

Event participants were presented with a red envelope (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

The giving and receiving of red envelopes (called hóngbāo) is also a Chinese New Year tradition. These envelopes often contain money and are symbols of good luck.

This exchange is a dignified and earnest act. Red envelopes, gifts and business cards are presented and received with both hands.

The recipient does not open the envelope in front of the giver or put it in a pocket or bag. Instead, the recipient holds the envelope throughout the conversation with the giver as a way to honor the gift that was given.

Care Resources participants were each presented a red envelope with a special fortune printed on the back as part of the New Year celebration.

The fun never stops at Care Resources

“We have a lot of fun here, but it’s more than just fun,” Bollo said. “There’s a lot of purpose behind what we do, whether that’s exercise or emotional well-being and educational opportunities, cognitive stimulation.”

Steed agreed. “Even when you’re older, you can still learn something new. The learning and the fun never actually stops.”

About Care Resources

An innovative community-based program for ages 55+, Care Resources promotes healthy and independent living. A Care Resources day center and clinic providing medical care and home health services can be found in both Grand Rapids and Lowell.

Learn more about Care Resources and what they offer here.

City of Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series returns Jan. 16

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(Courtesy, City of Kentwood)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


The City of Kentwood’s Winter Concert Series will return Thursday, Jan. 16 with free concerts featuring a range of music from local artists and a variety of food trucks.

The series will feature three musical groups performing 6:30-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month through March at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE. Each concert will feature a food truck outside the library offering food and beverages for purchase.

“We’re looking forward to another great concert series this winter season,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation Director. “These indoor performances offer a great opportunity for community members to enjoy quality time with friends and neighbors while listening to live local music.”

Event details

The lineup of performers and food trucks is as follows:

  • Thursday, Jan. 16 – Big Daddy Fox will perform blues, soul, rock and R&B with a legendary blues guitar and lively percussion. Around Baking Company food truck will offer freshly baked pizzas.
  • Thursday, Feb. 20 – Whorled will bring a mashup of Celtic, world music and classical tunes. Dune Buggy food truck will feature burgers and fries.
  • Thursday, March 20 – Kevin Brewster Trio will perform jazz with an emphasis on hard bop, bebop, contemporary and R&B. Patty Matters food truck will offer burgers and fries.

The concerts will take place in the library’s Community Room. Guests are welcome to bring their own beer, wine or nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy at the show.

Learn more about the Winter Concert Series at Kentwood.us/WinterConcerts.