ECA Events

Dumpster Day

May 9, 2026
8 am-12 pm
Ethel Parking Lot at Wealthy/Ethel

Offload your clutter for free at Eastown's Dumpster Day! We provide the dumpsters, you bring the junk. Drive up and drop off. Must haul your own refuse into the dumpster. Must show proof of Eastown residency, $5 suggested donation.

Eastown’s annual celebration of the best local arts and crafts with family friendly activities, entertainment, food, and a craft beer tent. Also, the Kids’ Bazaar is back! Featuring our young entrepreneurs in Eastown.

Artist Application
Food Vendor Application
Vendor FAQ
The application deadline is 5 pm on Friday, April 10.

Kids Bazaar Application (due Monday, April 13th)
Kids Bazaar Photo Upload

June 20, 2026
10 am-7 pm (Please note new hours)
Ethel Ave between Wealthy/Sigsbee

Eastown Bizarre Bazaar

Eastown Streetfair

September 19, 2026
9 am-9 pm
Wealthy Street between Giddings and Lake

The Eastown Streetfair is a family-friendly celebration of arts, crafts, food, drinks, music, and the Eastown neighborhood; one of Grand Rapids’ most eclectic districts! Artist and food vendor applications will be made available on this page on Monday, June 1. The application deadline is 5 pm on Wednesday, July 1.

October 1-30, 2026
Eastown

Haunt Ur House Decorating Contest

Join the Eastown “Haunt Ur House” decoration contest! This neighborhood decorating contest will have winners in three categories:

  • Best Porch

  • Best Creative/DIY

  • Best Over the Top

Sign up your home between October 1-15.

Voting be open between October 15-28 and the winners will be announced on October 30!

To sign up your house and vote, click here.

Eastown Holiday Craft Event

November 30, 2026
5:00-7:00 pm
ECA Office, 415 Ethel Ave SE

Families of all ages are invited to join us at the ECA office for some holiday crafts! Come make an ornament for the Eastown Tree Lighting and write some letters to Santa! The North Pole Express Mailbox will be set up in front of the ECA office waiting for your letters so Santa can write back to you before Christmas! This event is FREE and open to all!

Eastown Holiday Tree Lighting/Uptown Shop Hop

December 3, 2026
5:00-8:00 pm
Harmony Brewing Company parking lot, 1551 Lake Drive SE

Join us as we light up the Eastown holiday tree in the parking lot at Harmony Brewing Company. We encourage you to bring something to hang on the tree that symbolizes how you and your family celebrate the holiday season. ECA volunteers will be serving FREE hot chocolate while Harmony will be serving beer. The tree lighting will take place at 7:00 pm. This is a free and family friendly event where you can hang out with your neighbors and celebrate the start of the holiday season.

On this special evening, Uptown businesses will also be pulling out all the stops to offer an extra festive holiday shopping experience starting at 3:00 pm and ending at 9:30 pm. Merriment includes FREE trolley rides between the East Fulton, East Hills, Wealthy Street, and Eastown shopping districts, streetside entertainment, and surprise guests and goods all night long. Now in it’s 28th year, Uptown Shop Hop is a great way to knock out that holiday shopping list with unique, memorable gifts that support the livelihoods of local and independent makers and businesses in our neighborhood.

Past Events

Annual Meeting/Pancake Breakfast

February 7, 2026
8:30 am-10:30 am
Calvin CRC, 700 Ethel Ave SE

Join the ECA and enjoy a delicious free breakfast as we find out what’s happening in our community in 2025! Must be an Eastown resident.

Eastown History Trivia Night

October 9, 2025
7:00-9:00 pm
Harmony Brewing Company, 1151 Lake Drive

September 27, 2025
10:00-11:30 am
New Yorker Menswear, 1151 Wealthy St.

Eastown History Walking Tour

September 13, 2025
10:00-11:30 am
Wilcox Park Sign, Robinson Road

Grab your cell phone and join historian Steve Staggs for a FREE guided tour through time and space. Click here to download images for the 1.5-hour tour that will begin at Wilcox Park in 10 BCE and end at the Lowe Estate around 1920.

Community Bike Rides

Join the ECA and community partners to enjoy a relaxing bike ride through the vibrant streets of the Eastown and Martin Luther King Park neighborhoods. The rides last around 45 minutes and covers about 4 miles at a relaxed, social pace. There will be free giveaways at each ride like bike lights, bells, water bottles and, at three rides this year, there will be a raffle for brand-new bikes for both kids and adults! Every ride also includes a chance to win bike shop gift cards, bike bags and other fun giveaways. Stick around after the ride for an optional dinner and community time at Harmony Brewing Company. Bring a friend, meet a neighbor and help us build a stronger, more connected community.

Big thanks to our sponsors!

Meijer Grand Rapids Bicycle Company Johnny D's Bike Bags, LLC Uptown Verhey Carpets