Good Day
Grand Rapids
Friday, December 19th, 2025
Good morning, Grand Rapids. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 19th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Grand Rapids neighbors will host a free holiday event tomorrow at the Gerald R Ford Academic Center (851 Madison Ave) offering toys, food, games, and music for families in need. Darren Baker and Will McFadden lead efforts to bring extra cheer this season. FOX 17
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Downtown will see more visitors when the new 8,500-seat soccer stadium and riverfront amphitheater open, boosting local business and activities. City officials say there are over 49,000 parking spots, but many may park a few blocks away & take a shuttle on busy nights. MLive
- ➤ Dispensaries in Grand Rapids brace for a coming 24% wholesale marijuana tax set to begin January 1 (record-low prices have squeezed margins as falling costs attract customers) while tax revenue helps fund road improvements in other cities. ABC 13
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ West Michigan man Peter Michelsen shares his troubled experience growing up in a strict church in the new documentary Losing Faith, explaining how he left the community to heal and write his book (The Boy Who Walked Himself Home). ABC 13
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Forest Hills Public Schools broke ground on a new aquatic center at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center on Dec. 17 using funds from a $340 million bond passed in Nov. 2023, and the center is set to open in July 2028 as school officials and students celebrated the milestone. MLive
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Gaines Township planning commission will vote tonight at 7 p.m. on rezoning about 40 acres along Patterson Ave. SE to allow Microsoft to build a data center & residents are invited to offer input during the meeting. FOX 17
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ CJ Dixon in Holland celebrated nearly three years of sobriety with help from the SoBar Recovery Community Center and now teaches recovery art classes twice a week to help others build confidence (she uses art to bring people together). FOX 17
- ➤ The MDHHS chief issued a standing recommendation for children’s vaccines advising parents and health care providers to follow AAP and AAFP schedules instead of federal guidelines—hospitals still offer hepatitis B shots for newborns to help keep vaccine access high. ABC 13
- ➤ Ferris Eldred, a Hudsonville teen who survived leukemia and excelled in sports, will start college in January at Jackson Community College. The AYA program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital supported him with focused care to help meet life goals and recover, showing that a setback can spark a comeback. ABC 13
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Mega 80's - The Ultimate 80's Retro Party
8-11 p.m. — The Intersection — Ticket info not provided — Experience the vibrant sounds and styles of the 80’s with live music and retro flair.
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Tuba Christmas 2025
3-4 p.m. — Grand Rapids Public Museum — Free entry — Celebrate the holiday spirit with a festive concert featuring a charming ensemble of tubas and brass instruments.
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Chris Casello Trio with The Venturis
6-10 p.m. — Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill — 21+ — Enjoy live rockabilly and surf rock tunes from the talented Chris Casello Trio and The Venturis.
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Great Lakes Invitational
3:30-5 p.m. — Van Andel Arena — Ticket prices vary — Watch top college hockey teams clash for the MacInnes Cup in this exciting tournament.
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AFTERGLOW: New Year's Eve Celebration
7-10:30 p.m. — The Intersection — Ticket prices vary — Experience Big Gigantic's genre-blending sound of electronic dance music and live instruments this New Year's Eve.
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Grand Rapids Camper, Travel & RV Show
12:00 – 1:30 PM — DeVos Place — Ticket prices vary — Explore the latest RVs, travel trailers, and camping gear at this local favorite event.
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Concert Night with King Ink and Friends
7-10:30 p.m. — The Pyramid Scheme — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night of energetic performances with King Ink and supporting acts Zudocks, Moravian, and Feeding Grizzlies.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Good Day Grand Rapids
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