GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Confluence Festival, a celebration of arts, music, science and technology, is returning to downtown Grand Rapids for its fourth year.
The free festival will take place September 20-21 at Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center St. Thousands of people flock to the downtown area every year for a diverse program that includes esports, robotics, makers and more.
The event will kick off with an AI-powered Opening Night Party featuring art, music, technology, fashion and culinary experiences. The festival is also the capstone experience of Tech Week Grand Rapids, a collection of technology and innovation events designed to showcase the region's vibrant tech community.
“We've designed this event to be truly fun for all ages, with all programs happening outdoors at the same time. It's a journey of discovery,” said Brian Cohen, the festival's executive director.
The new party, an interactive tour of the region's tech ecosystem, will take place on Friday, September 20, from 6pm to 10pm. Saturday, from 10am to 6pm, will be packed with events, including a robotics expo and an innovation showcase with a Super Smash Bros. esports tournament.
Friday night will be primarily focused on arts and culture, and although organizers are still finalizing the lineup, it will feature musicians such as Huff the Goat, School of Rock and DJ AB.
Kikcit, one of the event's sponsors, a social guide that offers personalization, recommendations and rewards tailored to users' moods, will also go live on the first day, Friday, with the launch of Tribe Hunt, an outdoor mystery-solving quest game with cash prizes.
On Saturday, there will be a variety of activities, including a Super Smash Bros. esports tournament and a robotics expo where middle and high school students will test their robots on an obstacle course. There will also be a robot parade starting at 1 p.m.
Organizers are expecting thousands of people to attend the two-day event, which they say will likely draw a larger crowd than usual.
“It highlights innovation across the region and we're a platform to showcase that innovation to the public and give the public a better understanding of what it's all about,” Cohen said.
Two food trucks will be at the event: Tamales Mary will be at the event both days, and Semifreddo will be at the event on Friday. There will also be a bar serving Titos Vodka.
In addition to Kickit, event partners include Xfinity, Meijer, the City of Grand Rapids and Tito's Handmade Vodka. For more information, visit the event website here.
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