This year's Gaslight Village Tree Lighting will take up more of Wealthy Street than before. On October 26, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the permit for the Friday after Thanksgiving. According to Citizen Portal's report on the meeting, the permit included a larger Wealthy Street closure that runs from Chase Bank to the D&W parking lot, with the goal of improving pedestrian safety.
That change fits how this city spends the holiday stretch. From Thanksgiving morning to New Year's Eve, East Grand Rapids' biggest seasonal events mostly happen on foot. Races start on Lake Drive, crowds walk Wealthy Street, and the year's last race finishes at the lake. This year, the middle event of that run gets a little more room.
The Weekend at a Glance
| Day | Event | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | Kids' Food Basket Gobble Wobble | 8 to 10 a.m. | East Grand Rapids Middle School, 2425 Lake Dr. SE |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | GVBA/EGRCF Tree Lighting | 5 to 9 p.m. | Gaslight Village, Wealthy Street |
| Saturday, Nov. 28 | Small Business Saturday | Shop hours | Gaslight Village storefronts |
Thanksgiving Morning Starts on Lake Drive
The weekend begins before anyone puts a turkey in the oven. The Kids' Food Basket 21st Annual Gobble Wobble takes place on Thanksgiving Day at East Grand Rapids Middle School, 2425 Lake Dr. SE, and the organizer lists the event as running from 8 to 10 a.m.
The schedule has two parts. The Widdle Wobble, a kids' run for ages 12 and under, starts at 8 a.m., and the 5K begins right after it. Kids' Food Basket describes this year's main course as an out-and-back of about 3.2 miles, so runners start and finish in the same place.
What to know before signing up:
- Cost: As of early November 2026, registration on RunSignup lists the 5K at $45 and the Widdle Wobble at no charge.
- Packet pickup, option one: Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the middle school.
- Packet pickup, option two: Race morning, from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m., at the same location.
- Where the money goes: Kids' Food Basket says all proceeds go directly to the nonprofit. Its work includes the Sack Supper program, community-driven farming, food for families and educational programming.
Picking up on Wednesday afternoon means no 6:30 a.m. alarm on a morning when many households already have a long day ahead.
Friday Night Moves Onto the Street
The Tree Lighting has two hosts in 2026. The special event permit application in the October 26 Parks and Recreation Commission agenda packet names the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation and the Gaslight Village Business Association as co-sponsors. The application sets the event for Nov. 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. It describes the evening as the "Annual GVBA Tree lighting event with holiday themed entertainment and other fun additions." The city's event calendar lists the same day and hours at Gaslight Village.
The two hosts matter because of who brings what. The business association represents the shops along the street. The Community Foundation adds a citywide civic partner. Together they asked the city for more pavement, and they got it.
What the Longer Closure Changes
The approved footprint closes Wealthy Street from Chase Bank to the D&W parking lot. Citizen Portal reported that the expansion is meant to improve pedestrian safety. The same report says Santa's arrival will be routed through Regatta Plaza.
For anyone attending, that has practical effects:
- Drive around Wealthy, not through it. The closure covers the business district's main stretch, so Friday evening errands that usually go down Wealthy Street will need a different route.
- Plan for the D&W end of the street. The closure ends at the D&W lot, which sets the edge of the event area on that side.
- Head toward Regatta Plaza for Santa. Families who came mainly for the Santa moment have a place to stand.
- Walk in if you can. A bigger closure means the event spreads out over more of the street, and arriving on foot avoids the closed blocks altogether.
What the Evening Has Looked Like
For the 2024 edition, Grand Rapids Magazine described carriage rides, craft stations, s'mores fire pits and a DJ playing holiday music, and it noted reindeer and student performances in earlier years. The magazine's 2024 preview also described a 5 p.m. start, a greeting from the mayor around 6 p.m., and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus after the tree was lit. In that same story, the 2024 organizer said the activities were free, and the magazine reported that Gaslight Village businesses usually offer holiday specials or shopping events that night.
Shops have stretched their hours for the evening too. For the 2025 Tree Lighting, Snapdragon Boutique stayed open until 7 p.m. and promoted Santa, s'mores and carriage rides.
Saturday Belongs to the Storefronts
When the street reopens, the weekend shifts from the pavement to the shops. Small Business Saturday falls on Nov. 28. Last year, Snapdragon Boutique paired Black Friday and Small Business Saturday with at least 10% off storewide, 50% off clearance and double rewards points. Each shop sets its own offers for 2026, so check a favorite store's own channels before heading out.
Friday's event brings people onto Wealthy Street after dark, right past the same windows that open for Saturday shopping. Our earlier look at how Gaslight Village storefronts keep changing even when fully leased explains why this weekend matters to the merchants who share that block.
The Season Keeps Going Past Thanksgiving
The holiday stretch doesn't end that weekend. The City of East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation catalog lists a Stained Glass Christmas Ornament Workshop led through Sweda Stained Glass at the Community Center. The sessions are Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, from noon to 3 p.m. The Nov. 21 session is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, so an ornament made there could be on a tree by the time Wealthy Street lights up.
The 44th Annual Reeds Lake Resolution Run is on Thursday, Dec. 31, with a kids' race at 1:30 p.m. and the 4-mile race at 2 p.m. The course starts near East Grand Rapids Middle School and finishes at John Collins Park.
That puts the year's last race start near the same school that hosts the Gobble Wobble on Thanksgiving morning. For a closer look at how the city is connecting its lakefront spaces, see our story on Manhattan Park and the Reeds Lake loop.
If you're spending Thanksgiving weekend around Gaslight Village and want to talk about the street, the shops or the neighborhood, I'm always glad to hear from neighbors. You can find more about the community on our East Grand Rapids page. When you're ready, Linda S Pell is happy to connect.
