Good morning, Grand Rapids.

On Friday evening, the Salvation Army kicked off the Red Kettle season on the Blue Bridge with music, carols, refreshments and red kettles to collect donations for local aid programs.

The fundraiser supports a food pantry, senior care and housing help, and the kettles now include QR codes for cashless donations (82 cents of every dollar stays in Kent County).

Mel Trotter Ministries will hold its 22nd annual turkey drop on November 19 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at venues including Celebration Cinema theaters, a Jenison thrift store, and local shelters (the event offers free Thanksgiving meals for those in need).

The organization aims to collect 5,000 turkeys but is nervous after last year’s drop exceeded the target with over 6,100 birds (inflation and cuts in federal food benefits have made this year more challenging).

Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. is revising plans to transform the alleyway next to Van Andel Arena into a pedestrian plaza—two restaurants that backed the project have closed—and local businesses now prefer to keep the dumpsters for ease of access—the change will adjust the link between the arena and Studio Park.

Camp Lawn Care and Snowplowing, a Grand Rapids firm founded in 2005, was sold to Ole Man RB’s Tree Service—its acquisition announced on November 10 will help the buyer expand outdoor services across West Michigan.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park will launch ENLIGHTEN, an immersive light show, on Nov.

24 with expanded art installations and new food options — it sold 80,000 tickets last season. The show will run on select evenings until Jan. 3 — ticket prices range from $10 to $20.

Grand Rapids Downtown Market will host the Christkindl Markt from November 19 through December 23 with 60 vendors and a new hand-designed forest green mug made in Germany—traveling over 4,000 miles by boat, train and truck to arrive for the event.

Guests can warm up with drinks like Glühwein and hot cocoa and enjoy new features such as curling rentals, and nearly 250,000 people visited the market last year.

An emaciated deer in Allegan County tested positive for chronic wasting disease, making it the 17th county in Michigan with a confirmed case in wild deer.

The Department of Natural Resources said public reports are key and urged hunters to handle carcasses carefully — steps that help curb the disease — as firearms season begins today.

Michigan's regular firearm deer season starts today and drivers are advised to watch for deer on the road as officials work quickly to remove hit animals to reduce collisions—Kent County Road Commission and Grand Valley State University are studying ways to save lives and cut costs by harvesting deer instead of letting them go to landfill. The effort follows two fatal deer-related crashes last season and aims to decrease the roughly 4,000 annual deer removals in the county.

The City of Walker is leading a planning process aimed at revitalizing the area between Kinney and Cummings avenues to better connect parking lots to Community Park — residents have given input at an open house and will have further opportunities to share their ideas as the board reviews recommendations over the next six to nine months.

Kent County will demolish the empty hospital at 750 Fuller Ave. to build a new county office building.

Crews will start demolition in March — the board approved $5 million for the project expected to cost about $92 million and to move 187 staff from the old downtown office.

The CDC said 23 infant botulism cases have been linked to ByHeart baby formula in 13 states — 8 new cases led to hospitalizations with treatment using BabyBIG and Michigan is now affected.

ByHeart recalled all products on November 11 and is urging parents to discard the formula as the investigation continues.

Lowell quarterback Logan Dawson led his team to a 36-34 regional championship win after trailing 22-7 by scoring two key touchdowns and was named MVP of the Year by 13 On Your Sidelines after nearly 34,000 votes put him ahead of Lundon Hampton—he finished the season with 1,502 rushing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns, 790 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns.

Michigan State Police Captain Kevin Sweeney is nearing the end of his challenge to run 50 marathons in 50 states over 50 months with only three races left, including the Grand Rapids Groundhogs Day Marathon on Feb.

7. He has run in 47 states and his journey—sparked by his brother’s own athletic challenge—continues despite a hamstring setback this summer.

Anne Wilson Concert

7:30-9 p.m. — DeVos Performance Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience inspiring music from rising Christian artist Anne Wilson in an intimate venue.

West Michigan Lutheran Science Day

9:30 AM – 1:35 PM — West Michigan Lutheran High School — Registration required — Engage in hands-on water-based science experiments for students in grades 5–8.

QuickBooks Online Training

1-5 p.m. — Grand Rapids Office — Cost not listed — Level up your accounting skills with hands-on training in QuickBooks Online.

Christkindl Markt 2025

8-9 p.m. — Grand Rapids Downtown Market — Free entry — Experience the magic of a traditional European Christmas village with artisan vendors and holiday cheer.

Charlotte Checkers vs Grand Rapids Griffins

7-8:30 p.m. — Van Andel Arena — Watch the action live on FloHockey as two top teams face off on the ice.

Made Market - Grand Rapids Holiday Market

10 AM - 5 PM — Goei Center — Free entry — Explore 60+ local makers and their unique, handmade goods this holiday season.

Postmodern Jukebox: Magic, Moonlight & Mistletoe Tour

8-9:30 p.m. — DeVos Performance Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night of vintage musical magic with genre-twisting covers and holiday classics.

TVBOO Live Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — The Intersection — Ticket prices vary — Experience electrifying bass music and high-energy performances from rising star TVBOO.

GR Turkey Trot 2025

8:10 a.m. — Van Andel Arena — Registration fee required — Celebrate fitness and community spirit with the 33rd Annual Grand Rapids Turkey Trot 5K run/walk.

Straight No Chaser Holiday Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — DeVos Performance Hall — Tickets vary — Enjoy a festive evening filled with holiday cheer from the renowned a cappella group Straight No Chaser.