Downtown Grand Rapids Lights Up Holiday Style

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Hundreds of people gathered at Rosa Parks Circle on Friday night to kick off the holiday season with the tree-lighting ceremony, “Light Up Downtown” organized by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

88.1 WYCE station manager Quinn Matthews and radio personality Gabriela de la Vega hosted the event that provided holiday themed music. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss was featured counting down the clock to flipping the switch, turning on the holiday lights just after 5:30 p.m.

The Western Michigan University Synchronized Ice Skating Team was on hand, entertaining the crowd with their skills at Rosa Parks Circle ice rink. Adults as well as kids enjoyed the free ice skating at the rink too. Randy Finch of Ice Sculptures Ltd carved and sculpted a Rudolph-like reindeer with a flashing red nose. Many lined up to visit with Santa and Mrs Claus, while hungry festival goers purchased food from several food trucks lined near the event.

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Author: johnrothwellblog

John Rothwell currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he is a freelance photojournalist and reporter. In December of 2017, he finished his Communications Degree at Grand Valley State University and is currently working on adding a second degree in Multimedia Journalism. In addition to his academic work, he contributes photos, photo essays and local news coverage to The Rapidian, a hyperlocal citizen journalism platform, powered by the people of Grand Rapids. John believes that everyone has a story to tell and that story needs to be told in a medium that best suits the situation, either in photos, video, audio, word or a mixture of all. People must be informed on events happening in and around their lives and have their voices heard.

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