Where to stay for the Grand Rapids wine, beer and food weekend 2026

Now in its 19th year, the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival fills DeVos Place on November 20–21, 2026 for two days of tasting built around more than 1,000 wines, beers, ciders and spirits from producers worldwide. Each exhibitor picks the labels they want poured, so the floor mixes everyday favorites with reserve bottlings. Guests drift between themed areas — the Bourbon Bar, the Tiki Lounge, Beer City Brewers Grove, the Elite Collection and the Meijer Tailgate Zone — scanning a wristband loaded with tasting tickets at each booth. Food carries equal weight. Chefs from the area's best-known restaurants run small-plate stations around the hall, and the schedule rounds out with classroom-style tasting sessions, craft & cask workshops and one-hour Pairing Dinners served at bar-top tables with a multi-course menu matched to the beverage lineup. Entry is strictly 21+ with photo ID, and all tickets are sold online in advance. Single-day general admission covers Friday or Saturday, comes with a complimentary sampling glass and stays valid all weekend for the tasting tickets. A separate Thursday night, November 19, 2026, hosts Cheers for Charity — a $150 VIP evening benefiting Hospice of Michigan that includes 150 tasting tickets. Downtown Grand Rapids hotels sit within a short walk or skywalk of DeVos Place, and DASH Lot 9 offers $3 shuttle parking with a free trolley loop. Booking close to the venue pays off on Saturday especially, when the Gentex Santa Parade shuts nearby streets from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.