This weekend, the East Hills neighborhood, located at the corners of Diamond, Lake and Cherry Streets, is hosting a celebration of products inspired by and made in Michigan.
As part of the event, businesses will feature unique, locally made products and host prize drawings and events in the stores.
A scavenger hunt, lasting all day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will take place through various stores to encourage shoppers to explore all that the East Hills Business District has to offer.
Participants in the scavenger hunt will locate a Michigan-made or -themed item in each of the stores to receive a stamp on their card.
Those who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered into a drawing to win a gift basket with items from participating stores.
An additional prize will be given for the best picture of the day with the hashtag #EastHillsMIM, and many individual stores will host their own gift basket or certificate drawings.
One store drawing is a free six-to-eight-week session of yoga classes from The Yoga Studio Grand Rapids, located in the East Hills Business District.
Special promotions will be featured at many of the shops throughout the day. At Global Infusion, a tea cafe and global gifts shop, visitors will be able to sample tea and coffee from Michigan companies and receive 10 percent off all Michigan-made items in the store.
The Yoga Studio Grand Rapids is providing chair massages at a discounted rate, as well as drawings for a massage or a free session of yoga.
Clothing Matters, a clothing store with locally made and environmentally-conscious products, is celebrating 18 years of business supporting sustainable practices during the weekend and is offering gift certificate drawings to store visitors.
Under the Vines is a store with a large selection of Michigan wines, beer and unique food products. As a part of the Made in Michigan event, they will host a sampling of Michigan-made foods as well as a meet and greet with staff from local vendors, wineries and a brewery.
They will also be selling specialty items available on Saturday only.
Other stores and restaurants are featuring limited time offers, and events are scheduled for the whole day. East Hills restaurants will feature menus with Michigan products.
Raad’s Mediterranean Grill will be providing samples of its Middle Eastern cuisine to business district visitors, and Furniture City Creamery will premiere two of its new ice creams which use Michigan ingredients.
Events span beyond promotional deals and free merchandise. At noon, local folk band Earth Natives will perform at the Peninsula Trading Company.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet and connect with local artists at YT Galleria and watch artists in the midst of painting and jewelry creation at LaFontsee Galleries.
