The Children's Holiday Shopping Tour, organized and operated by the Grand Rapids Jaycees since 1957, provides approximately 150 underprivileged children each December with the opportunity to shop for Christmas presents for their families.
Jaycees members, community and state leaders, members of the media, and other volunteers are among the more than 100 helpers at the event. After shopping, the children enjoy refreshments and receive a gift of their own from Santa Claus while their gifts are being wrapped by the volunteer “elves.”
Held on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving in downtown Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Jaycees Santa Parade is a West Michigan tradition of more than 100 years. The parade serves as the kickoff to the holiday season in the region.
The parade hosts a crowd of approximately 10,000 patrons annually. Nearly 100 entries make up the parade every year. The parade dates back to the late 1800s. In 1969, the Grand Rapids Jaycees took control of all aspects of the parade.
The parade will begin at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Avenue, traveling south on Monroe, turning left onto Monroe Center, right onto Division Avenue, right onto Fulton Avenue and left onto Market Avenue.
For information, visit www.santaparadegr.com
Every spring for more than 25 years, the Grand Rapids Jaycees host a one-day Easter themed event. For the last several years, the event has been held indoors at the Centerpointe Mall. All children are welcome and can participate in activities such as: an Easter egg scramble, carnival games, face painting, a coloring station, photos with the Easter Bunny, and an inflatable moonwalk!
Since 1982, the Grand Rapids Jaycees have organized and operated the Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) State Basketball Tournament. More than 850 athletes from across the state participate in the tournament and skills competition each year. The multi-day event is held every year in March on the southwest side of metro Grand Rapids at Grandville Public Schools and Calvin Christian Schools.
