GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Organizers of the annual Cider Week GR event plan to pour it on again this year.
It will feature all kinds of local ciders, food, live music and much more at various venues not only in Grand Rapids, but in places like Fennville, Hudsonville and Lowell. It is co-hosted by Experience Grand Rapids and the Michigan Cider Association.
Paula Englin is the association's executive director. She said in a phone interview with WOOD Radio that it offers something that should appeal (or apple?) to most everyone.
Cider Week GR celebrates the thriving cider scene in West Michigan and its locally grown apples.
Some local cideries are releasing new products or holding anniversary events this year in conjunction with Cider Week.
Englin said that means there will be more festivities this year.
She listed some of them:
One of them that comes up this weekend is at the Pux Cider Taphouse, 311 Fuller Ave. NE in Grand Rapids. It will hold a fourth-anniversary party on Saturday, May 10.
"That's a great little spot next to The Cheese Lady (gourmet cheeses). I definitely recommend checking that out, as they'll have live deejays and food trucks," Englin said.
She also mentioned Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery, 3142 - 4 Mile Road NE. It is holding an Apple Blossom Festival featuring wagon rides, doughnuts, live music and lawn games.
"And the weather absolutely cooperated this year," Englin said. "It's a beautiful time to go stroll through orchards ... And they'll also be releasing their brand new canned hard cider, which is apple cherry."
Vander Mill Grand Rapids, 505 Ball Ave. NE, has several events scheduled for Cider Week GR, as well.
"They're going to be kicking off the official opening of their lovely patio, which is actually surrounded by apple trees. So, it's extra pretty right now," Englin said.
Vander Mill will have live music on Tuesday, May 13, and hold a special trivia night on Thursday, May 15, focusing on apples and cider.
Thornapple Brewing Co., 6262 - 28th St. SE, recently launched an Industry Night on Mondays, offering restaurant and brewery employees 25 percent off their entire bill, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"So, that's something on Monday, May 12, our industry folks won't want to miss," Englin said.
She noted that Thornapple Brewing serves a ginger cider that has won several awards at the Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition (GLINTCAP), which is part of Cider Week GR activities. Englin is the director of the annual GLINTCAP event, which is the world's largest cider competition. This year, it will be held on May 17 at Rosa Parks Circle - the last day of the 2025 Cider Week GR. It is part of the Michigan Cider Fest, a ticketed event.
In Lowell, the Painted Turtle Hard Cider Tasting Room, 3550 Alden Nash Ave. NE, has a tasting room located in The Orchards at Red Barn. It has a handcrafted hard cider made with locally sourced apples and other ingredients.
"And they just launched their Beyond the Barn experience for this year. And they've got the cutest (mini) Highland cows. So, definitely another family-friendly option for the kids to check out and see all the animals. And for the adults to try to some incredible hard cider," Englin said.
Some other participating venues include the People's Cider Company, 539 Leonard St. NW in Grand Rapids; Farmhaus Cider, 5025 Stanton St., in Hudsonville, which features a cider bar at a 150-year-old family farm.
"You can have a great food-truck experience over the weekend while you try a flight of their delicious ciders. Or, if you head to their farms, again that's a great chance to go look at those gorgeous apple blossoms," Englin said.
In Fennville, Virtue Cider, 2170 - 62nd St., Michigan Wine Company, 6781 - 124th Ave., and Modales Wines, 2128 - 62nd St. are within about eight minutes of each other.
A special cider dinner will be held at the Little Bird restaurant and bistro, 95 Monroe Center, on Tuesday, May 13 in downtown Grand Rapids.
Some other participating venues during Cider Week GR include Stella's Lounge, 7 Monks Taproom, Hopcat in downtown Grand Rapids and Hopcat's East Beltline location at Knapp's Corner.
"(Both Hopcat locations) will be doing some awesome tap takeovers," Englin said.
As for the Glintcap competition on May 17 at Rosa Parks Circle, organizers received more than 1,000 entries from participants around the world.
"This year, we have ciders, perrys, and spirits coming in from Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Japan, Spain and Canada, just to name a few," Englin said.
Judges from around the globe will evaluate the ciders, and every cidery can receive feedback on their product. Some will receive Producer of the Year awards in the various competition categories.
"Which are very coveted and hold significant weight within the cider community around the world," Englin said.
As mentioned, the GLINTCAP competition will be part of the Michigan Cider Fest on Saturday, May 17 at Rosa Parks Circle. All festival attendees must be at least 21 years old. The rain-or-shine event runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will cap off Cider Week GR.
"This is a great opportunity for people to try over 60 hard ciders from all over the State of Michigan," Englin said.
She added, "We have a bunch of producers coming in; you actually get to meet the cider makers and the farmers. We'll have food trucks and live music. It's something that people will not want to miss."
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