The seasoned community organizer who brought Grand Rapids everything from Swing Dancing at Rosa Parks Circle to Fantasy Balls in the forested lawns of Byron Center has a new idea to get people off their couches and mingling. This time, it doesn’t require dancing shoes or a fairy costume—it’s simpler, and it’s designed to include a wide range of people. Introducing Hobby Hop.
Think of it as “speed dating for hobbies.” Multimedia professional and local event organizer Steve Zaagman is giving Grand Rapids residents the chance to “test drive” ten hands-on skills in a single three-hour session at The Lit (formerly the Ladies’ Literary Club, formerly the Ladies’ Literary Club) on Sunday, March 22.
The format is fast and fun: ten rotating stations, each led by a local expert. When the bell rings every 10 minutes, participants—affectionately dubbed “Hoppers”—move to the next station to dive into a brand-new mini-lesson.
“I’m thrilled to bring this concept to Grand Rapids,” Zaagman said. “It’s about pure ‘doing.’ You come in curious and leave with ten new experiences, having met a room full of people just as inquisitive as you are.”
The inaugural Hobby Hop lineup spans performance, craft, and games: swing dance, improv, puppetry, sleight-of-hand magic, and interactive tabletop games are just a few of the offerings. Additional skills and “obsessions” will be hosted by local experts, giving participants a taste of hobbies they might never have tried on their own.
Zaagman is no stranger to bringing people together for unique experiences. Over the years, he’s created events ranging from weekly swing dance nights (Read more about that HERE) to immersive fantasy balls (more HERE), always with the same goal: sparking connection, curiosity, and fun.
Registration for Hobby Hop is limited to 80 participants to keep the environment intimate, and no prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to try something new.
And while swing dancing remains on the menu—and probably nobody would blink if you showed up dressed as Glinda the Good Witch—it’s safe to say Hobby Hop will deliver exactly what Zaagman does best: a little magic, a lot of connection, and plenty of fun.
