GRAND RAPIDS, MI- The Confluence Festival , celebrating art, music, science and technology, is returning to downtown Grand Rapids for its fourth year. The free festival will take place Sept. 20-21 in Rosa Parks Circle, 135 Monroe Center St.
Thousands of people descend on downtown every year for a diverse range of programming that includes esports, robotics and makers. The event kicks off with an AI-powered opening night party that will feature art, music, tech, fashion and culinary experiences. The festival is also the capstone experience for Tech Week Grand Rapids - the collection of technology and innovation events designed to showcase region’s vibrant technology community.
“We’ve designed this event to really be engaging regardless of age, all the programing happens outside and happens at the same time. It becomes this journey of discovery,” said Brian Cohen, the festival’s executive director. The new party offering an interactive journey through the region’s tech ecosystem is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.
m. Friday, Sept. 20.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.
m., the day is packed with events including a robotics expo and the innovation showcase with a Super Smash Bros Esports tournament. Friday night is primarily focused on art and culture, and while organizers are still developing the lineup, will feature musicians such as Huff the Goat, School of Rock and DJ AB.
Kikcit, a social guide that personalizes, recommends, and rewards users for their vibe and one of the event’s sponsors, will also live launch its new social app opening day Friday and kick off Tribe Hunt, an outdoor riddle-based quest game with cash prizes. Saturday will feature a number of different activities, such as the Super Smash Bros esports tournament, and the robot expo where middle schoolers and highschoolers are invited to test their robots in an obstacle course. A robot parade is also being held at 1 p.
m. Organizers are projecting thousands will attend the two-day event, expecting a bigger crowd than in previous years. “It looks at innovation around the region and we are a platform to bring that innovation to the public and gives the public a better sense of what it is,” Cohen said.
There will be two food trucks at the event, Tamales Mary will be at the event both days, and Semifreddo will be at the event Friday. A bar will also be available featuring Titos Vodka. In addition to kickit, some other event partners are Xfinity, Meijer, city of Grand Rapids, Tito’s handmade vodka and more.
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