By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Grand Rapids, Wednesday, June 17, 2026: This summer, Uptown GR, Inc. is inviting residents and visitors to turn local exploration into an adventure and an opportunity to earn prizes, with the launch of the Uptown GR Summer Passport Program beginning Sunday, June 21.
Designed for participants of all ages, the free program encourages people to shop, dine, explore, and support local all throughout Uptown’s four business districts, while discovering new favorite destinations along the way and creating meaningful connections with the area’s nearly 400 independent businesses.
Uptown GR, Inc. will provide participating businesses with custom stamps and promotional materials, while also managing passport production, marketing, and prize fulfillment.
Why this program, now? “Summer is such a special time in Michigan, but it can also be a challenging season as well; for local businesses, whose customers may be traveling and spending weekends elsewhere a bit more than usual, and for community members (such as parents who have kids home from school, staycationers and more) who are looking for something accessible to enjoy right here at home! We’re hoping this program gives our residents and visitors a fun excuse to spend some time in Uptown and discover something exciting and new,” Katie Zylstra, Events Specialist, Uptown GR, Inc.
Participants will visit participating businesses across Eastown, East Hills, East Fulton, and the Wealthy Street Corridor to receive a free physical passport in which to collect unique stamps. As they fill their passports with accrued stamps and reach participation milestones, they will earn exclusive collectible Uptown merchandise. No purchase necessary. The more businesses visited, the more stamps collected. Prizes are awarded beginning at ten stamps collected.
The program will run from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday, September 5, creating a nearly three months-long opportunity for residents and visitors to experience Uptown’s distinctive mix of local restaurants, retailers, entertainment venues, and service-based businesses, and be rewarded for doing so.
“At their core, programs like the Summer Passport are about creating enjoyable, interactive ways to highlight our amazing district while celebrating the local and independent businesses that contribute so much to our community’s economic vitality and character,” Ingrid Miller, President and CEO, Uptown GR, Inc.
More information, including participating locations, passport pickup sites, and prize details, is available at https://uptowngr.com/games/.
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Uptown consists of four business districts: Eastown, East Fulton, Wealthy Street, and East Hills. The district is also home to five residential neighborhoods: Baxter, East Hills, Eastown, Fulton Heights, and Midtown. In all climates, UGRI celebrates its mission: to bring together people, partnerships, and possibilities to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond.
For more information about this and all things Uptown, please contact Ingrid Miller.