The Acrisure Amphitheater hosted an open house on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The free event ran from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., drawing thousands of fans.
Backstory on the Acrisure Amphitheater
The Acrisure Amphitheater took two years to build. After breaking ground in May 2024, the $184 million, 12,000-capacity venue officially opened on May 15, 2026. The first performance at the venue was by Lionel Richie.
The extensive construction of the Acrisure Amphitheater involved more than 350,000 work hours and over 1,000 construction workers. The venue is expected to be a major boost for Grand Rapids’ live music scene, attracting a wider range of touring artists while also giving local residents and road-trippers more opportunities to see their favorite performers in a larger, modern setting.
The Acrisure Amphitheater opened its doors to residents for a free public event featuring local performers, along with opportunities to explore the venue and enjoy offerings from area food trucks and beverage vendors.
Acrisure Amphitheater Open House Leaves Fans Excited
Walking up to the Acrisure Amphitheater, guests encountered security lines, metal detectors, and other standard screening measures, but just beside the main entrance was a pleasant surprise, a stage set up for students from a local School of Rock, who delivered a lively set showcasing their musical talent across a variety of styles.
Several local food trucks were on-site, offering food and drinks to visitors attending the open house at the Acrisure Amphitheater. Once inside the venue, guests who were 21 and older were also able to purchase and enjoy alcoholic beverages.
One of the features of getting seats in the pavilion is they are roomy and so are the rows. Often venues will try to put as many people in as possible, making seating very tight but the Acrisure Amphitheater left fans plenty of room.
The venue features a state-of-the-art in-house audio and video system with its modern design. Large LED screens positioned on the main stage and to both stage left and right provide clear views of the performance, allowing guests seated on the hillside to see close-up details without needing binoculars.
Vistors in the last row on top of the hill, you also get a great view of the city of Grand Rapids while enjoying a great show.
It was nice to be able to walk around the venue and experience where everything is located before actually seeing a show there when it is full of people…