Adult & Child Activities
Get Creative!
No matter your age, at Festival you’re surrounded by amazing opportunities to express yourself. Explore all our activities, conveniently placed around the Festival footprint, and let that inspiration shine! We can’t wait to see your creativity.
Check the activities below to find the outlet for your creative passion. Check our kiosks located throughout Festival or the Festival program for locations.
Fun with Printmaking
Kids or grown-ups alike can wear their Festival experience. Chose you design and create your own Festival t-shirt using classic silk-screening techniques!
Typewriter 101
One of our newest and most popular activities.
Experience history. Express yourself. Write your story. Create a poem. Send a love letter. Paper included! All ages.
Swingin’ Art
Visit the patio area on the North side of Calder Plaza, just behind the Calder sculpture, La Grande Vitesse. Create your own one-of-a-kind suspended table art-work. Must be at least 13 and 54″ tall – children welcome with a parent.
Paint-In
Put a brush in a kid’s hand and their creativity comes to life. Washable, water-based paints and an adult-free painting zone mean a fun creative environment for ages 3-12.
And there is a special area for adults to create their own masterpiece as well!
Rubber Stamping
Create a variety of projects, from bookmarks to greeting cards. There will be hundreds of rubber stamps, and a variety of colors to choose from.
Relief Printing
Learn the basics of relief, or block, printing. Choose from one of our many blocks, choose your color and we will guide you through making a one-of-a-kind festival print.
Artist Demonstration Tent
Learn the basics of a variety of different art forms from one of the area’s premier artists. There will be artists from painters to glassblowers. Come learn from the best West Michigan has to offer.
Digital Scavenger Hunt
Using your smart device, hunt the festival ground for clues, and learn about Grand Rapids and Festival of the Arts. Prizes will be given for those that complete the hunt.
Chalk the Walk
Stop by the sidewalk between Federal Building and Calder Plaza, grab some chalk, and create some art! Come and leave your mark on the sidewalks of downtown Grand Rapids.
Glue-in
Just for kids ages 4-12. Add glue and watch their imagination come alive. See what a little glue, wood and your child can do.
Mad Hatter
For Kids ages 4-12. Kid’s can design their own headgear. Visit the south side of Federal Building to create fanciful hats! Parental help welcome.
Toy Puppet Lab
Learn the craft of puppet making and performance at Fountain & Ottawa.
