Things to Do This Weekend in Grand Rapids & West Michigan

Your Weekend Events Guide | October 9–11, 2026

Fall is in full swing across West Michigan, and this weekend is packed with hockey, concerts, comedy, Halloween fun, festivals, and plenty of reasons to get out of the house.

The Grand Rapids Griffins are kicking off their home season, Skillet is celebrating 20 years of Comatose, the Grand Rapids Symphony is marking America’s 250th anniversary, and The Haunted Forest at Cannonsburg is officially opening for the Halloween season.

Whether you’re looking for live music, family fun, comedy, fall festivals, or something spooky, here are some of the biggest events happening around Grand Rapids and West Michigan this weekend.

All Weekend Events

Autumn Weekends at Meijer Gardens

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Fall festivities continue at Meijer Gardens with seasonal food and drinks, family activities, harvest-themed fun, and live music throughout the weekend.

Saturday features Whorled with special guest bagpiper Paul Greinke, while Sunday brings Peter & The Wee Beasties to the amphitheater.

Grand Rapids Improv Festival

The Comedy Project

The Grand Rapids Improv Festival returns for its 12th year with performers from around Michigan and across the Midwest. Friday and Saturday feature multiple showcases, workshops, and plenty of unpredictable comedy.

The Haunted Forest at Cannonsburg

Cannonsburg Ski Area

Halloween season officially begins at Cannonsburg this weekend. The Haunted Forest takes guests through a dark outdoor trail filled with creepy characters, unexpected scares, and plenty of Halloween atmosphere.

The attraction is open Friday and Saturday from 6–9 p.m.

Friday

Grand Rapids Griffins Home Opener vs. Manitoba Moose

Van Andel Arena

Hockey is officially back in downtown Grand Rapids as the Griffins open their home schedule against the Manitoba Moose.

Opening night includes player introductions, giveaways, food and drink specials, and plenty of excitement as the Griffins begin another season at Van Andel Arena.

Alana Springsteen – I HOPE THIS HELPS Tour

Elevation

Country singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen brings her I HOPE THIS HELPS Tour to Grand Rapids with Kyle Schuesler joining as support.

America at 250

DeVos Performance Hall

The Grand Rapids Symphony celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States with a special program highlighting American composers and musical traditions.

The concert includes works by Joan Tower, Z. Randall Stroope, and Amy Beach, with another performance scheduled for Saturday night.

An Evening with John Cusack

GLC Live at 20 Monroe

Actor John Cusack comes to downtown Grand Rapids for a special live appearance, giving movie fans another unique Friday-night option.

The Haunted Forest – Opening Night

Cannonsburg Ski Area

Start Halloween season early with opening night at The Haunted Forest. The outdoor experience sends visitors along a dark trail filled with monsters, clowns, demons, and plenty of surprises.

Grand Rapids Improv Festival

The Comedy Project

Friday night brings several improv showcases featuring performers from Grand Rapids, Chicago, Cleveland, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, and beyond.

Saturday

Skillet – Comatose 20 Years, Still Screaming Tour

GLC Live at 20 Monroe

Skillet celebrates the 20th anniversary of Comatose with a special tour stop in Grand Rapids.

Escape the Fate and Autumn Kings join the lineup for one of the weekend’s biggest rock shows.

Jessica Kirson

The Intersection

Comedian Jessica Kirson brings her energetic and unpredictable stand-up to The Intersection with Jordan Garnett.

Dieselboy

The Mint

Electronic music fans can spend Saturday night with drum-and-bass legend Dieselboy, joined by Tocsin, MattB, and Ascella.

EGR Harvest Festival

Gaslight Village

East Grand Rapids celebrates fall with craft beer, food, live music, and community activities throughout Gaslight Village.

More than a dozen breweries are expected to participate, making this one of the weekend’s best options for anyone looking for a laid-back fall afternoon.

International Festival of Holland

Holland Civic Center Place

Celebrate cultures from around the world with live music, dancing, international food, a global marketplace, and family activities.

The event is free and offers an easy Saturday road trip from Grand Rapids.

America at 250

DeVos Performance Hall

The Grand Rapids Symphony returns Saturday night for another performance celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Autumn Weekends: Whorled with Paul Greinke

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Spend Saturday afternoon enjoying live music from Whorled with special guest bagpiper Paul Greinke.

The performance is part of Meijer Gardens’ Autumn Weekends programming, which also includes seasonal food, drinks, and family activities.

Grand Rapids Improv Festival – Final Day

The Comedy Project

Saturday is the final day of the Grand Rapids Improv Festival, with performances continuing throughout the evening.

The Haunted Forest

Cannonsburg Ski Area

Cannonsburg’s Haunted Forest returns Saturday night for another evening of Halloween scares in the woods.

Sunday

Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Chicago Wolves

Van Andel Arena

The Griffins return to the ice Sunday afternoon to take on the Chicago Wolves.

Sunday is also the Jake Engel Memorial Dog Game, allowing fans to bring their dogs to Van Andel Arena for one of the team’s most unique promotional nights.

Scene Queen – METALICIOUS Tour

Elevation

Scene Queen brings the METALICIOUS Tour to Grand Rapids with Wargasm and Bailey Spinn joining the lineup.

Fans of metal, alternative music, and high-energy live shows have a perfect way to close out the weekend.

Autumn Weekends: Peter & The Wee Beasties

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Slow things down Sunday afternoon with live music from Peter & The Wee Beasties at Meijer Gardens.

Visitors can also enjoy seasonal food and beverages, harvest activities, fall scenery, and the gardens throughout the day.

West Michigan Oddfest

Kalamazoo County Expo Center

If you’re willing to make the drive south, West Michigan Oddfest brings together unusual art, taxidermy, bones, insects, cryptids, Halloween creations, books, handmade goods, and plenty of other strange finds.

Make the Most of Your Weekend

This weekend has a little bit of everything.

Sports fans can welcome the Grand Rapids Griffins back to Van Andel Arena, music fans can catch Alana Springsteen, Skillet, Dieselboy, or Scene Queen, and comedy fans have Jessica Kirson and the Grand Rapids Improv Festival.

You can also celebrate fall at the EGR Harvest Festival or Autumn Weekends at Meijer Gardens, explore cultures from around the world at the International Festival of Holland, or get into the Halloween spirit at The Haunted Forest at Cannonsburg.

So grab your friends, pick an event, and make the most of the weekend!