Karaoke Marathon 2026

7 Days - 23 Karaoke Stops - 1 Crazy Idea

GRkaraoke.com Grand Rapids Karaoke Marathon 2026 cover featuring a Grand Rapids map, karaoke venue stops and photos from a 7-day, 23-stop karaoke tour of West Michigan bars and venues.

Recently, GRkaraoke.com turned 2 years old on September 14. With the final day of summer exactly one week later, there was only one reasonable way to celebrate… doing as much karaoke as possible in seven straight days.

Welcome to the 2026 Grand Rapids Karaoke Marathon!

The rules were simple: no singing the same song twice, no venue twice (with one exception), and buy something everywhere we go. Let’s not forget why karaoke is free: the venues pay the hosts to get us to come in, sing, and spend money in return. Most important rule: zero buzzed or drunk driving.

The routine became pretty simple too. Walk in, sign up immediately, order and pay, sing, and then keep it moving. The route was planned the best we could, grouping south side venues one night, northwest and downtown another, etc… less time in the car meant more time singing (and cheaper Uber rides).

Below is the full seven-day Grand Rapids Karaoke Marathon: every venue, song, host, ride, cost, photo, stage setup and whatever happened along the way. Everyone pictured has been blurred except myself and the karaoke hosts.

More than anything, this was a fun excuse to explore karaoke bars and venues around Grand Rapids and West Michigan, while thanking the hosts who give us somewhere to sing every week. From downtown Grand Rapids to neighborhood bars and a few stops outside the city, every karaoke night had its own personality. We wouldn’t have much of a local karaoke scene without the venues and hosts who keep it going!

 

Monday

September 14, 2026

 


UBER #1: Kyle (4.5 miles for $13)


Karaoke Stop #1

Chicago Beef Joint

822 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Mikey K.

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #1: Cracklin’ Rosie - Neil Diamond (2:58)

Song #2: Mary Jane’s Last Dance - Tom Petty (4:33)

Drink/Food: $9.36 (after $3 tip)

Chicago Beef Joint logo, a Grand Rapids restaurant and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026.

Directly across Ottawa from Garage Bar, Chicago Beef Joint has its own parking lot and more of a restaurant-style layout, with high ceilings, an open feel and a smaller bar inside.

The Chicago theme is hard to miss, with neon signs representing the Cubs, Bears and other Chicago teams throughout the room. The menu keeps that theme going with Chicago-inspired food, and Bears games bring their own watch-party crowd.

It was a comfortable, casual first stop and officially got the marathon underway.

Karaoke night inside Chicago Beef Joint in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with dining tables, colorful stage lighting and karaoke lyric screens during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Chicago sports neon signs inside Chicago Beef Joint in Grand Rapids, Michigan, featuring the Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox and Chicago Cubs during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Karaoke host Mikey K. with Absolute Entertainment hosting karaoke at Chicago Beef Joint in Grand Rapids, Michigan during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #2: Tony (1.2 miles for $7)


Karaoke Stop #2

Apartment Lounge

33 Sheldon Ave NE, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Chris R.

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #3: Take On Me - a-ha (3:45)

Drink/Food: $19 (after $4 tip)

The Apartment Lounge logo, a downtown Grand Rapids bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Apartment Lounge 🏳‍🌈 has a long, narrow layout with lots of wood paneling, a long seated bar and a few booths along the opposite side. It has that cozy, classic neighborhood-bar feel, with everything stretching back from the entrance.

One thing that really stood out was the karaoke visibility. TVs throughout the whole bar showed the lyrics along with who was coming up next, making it probably the easiest place of the week to keep track of the rotation. They also had free freshly made popcorn, which was a nice little bonus.

Hung out with the guys from Chicago Beef Joint that heard about my mission and decided to tag along for another song after that place closed.

View from the karaoke stage at The Apartment Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a singer performing for the crowd during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris with two local Grand Rapids karaoke regulars who tagged along for the Karaoke Marathon 2026 at The Apartment Lounge
Inside The Apartment Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the crowd, bar and colorful lighting during a busy karaoke night for the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
33 Sheldon Ave NE wall sign and colorful mural outside The Apartment Lounge, a downtown Grand Rapids bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #3: Layne (3.1 miles for $15)


Karaoke Stop #3

Log Cabin

2401 S Division Ave, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Alec E.

Stage: Raised ~6 inches. Area: Large

Song #4: Take It Easy - Eagles (3:31)

Drink/Food: $8.49 (after $3 tip)

Log Cabin logo, a Grand Rapids bar and longtime karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

If anywhere earns the title of karaokemaxxing, it’s Log Cabin. They host karaoke five nights a week, more than any other place on the list, and rotate hosts depending on the night. That means the same room can have a slightly different vibe depending on when you go.

The karaoke area has plenty of stage lighting, with high tops and regular tables facing the action. On the other side is a horseshoe-style bar with seating around it and booths along the outside. Low ceilings and wood paneling give the whole place that classic neighborhood dive-bar atmosphere, and there’s a dedicated parking lot out back.

Karaoke night inside Log Cabin in Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the crowd, stage area, lyric screen and colorful lighting during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #4: Kyle, AGAIN (8.7 miles for $21)

 

Tuesday

September 15, 2026

 


NO UBERS TONIGHT - I Was Wifey’s Designated Driver


Karaoke Stop #4

Main St. Pub

11240 University Pkwy, Allendale

Karaoke Host: Mikey K.

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #5: It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me - Billy Joel (2:57)

Drink/Food: $16.53 (after $4 tip)

Main St. Pub Allendale logo, a West Michigan bar and karaoke venue near Grand Valley State University featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Main St. Pub was one of the larger restaurant-style setups of the week, with high ceilings and a quieter dining area that essentially wraps around the more active bar area in the middle.

That inner area is where karaoke happens, surrounded in part by glass and filled with high tops, a few booths and a wide U-shaped bar. The farther you get into the surrounding dining area, the quieter the karaoke becomes, so the two areas almost have their own separate atmospheres.

Being this close to Grand Valley, there was also a strong college presence and energy in the room. Seating around the bar can fill quickly, but we lucked out and got last two seats with no wait.

Singer performing karaoke at Main St. Pub in Allendale, Michigan, with karaoke lyrics displayed on screen during the GRkaraoke.com Grand Rapids Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing karaoke at Main St. Pub in Allendale, Michigan, with Absolute Entertainment karaoke host Mikey K. during the Grand Rapids Karaoke Marathon 2026

Karaoke Stop #5

Log Cabin

2401 S Division Ave, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Jeff S.

Stage: Raised ~6 inches. Area: Large

Song #6: Smooth - Santana (4:54)

Song #7: Kokomo - Beach Boys (3:37)

Drink/Food: $15.25 (after $4 tip)

Log Cabin logo, a Grand Rapids bar and longtime karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Yep, I went back! With Log Cabin hosting karaoke five nights every week, I figured the venue doing it most often deserved two stops on this quest. The second visit also meant a different host, which was part of why I wanted to experience it twice.

We bumped into some familiar faces, grabbed seats on the stage side and caught a particularly talented batch of singers that night. Same room, different host, different crowd, but familiar experience from the night before.

Karaoke host Jeff S. hosting karaoke at Log Cabin in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a singer performing under stage lights during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Karaoke Stop #6

Twisted Bull

3230 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Georgia

Stage: Floor OR Raised ~1 foot (host dependent) Area: Giant

Song #8: When It Rains It Pours - Luke Combs (4:02)

Drink/Food: $7.50 (after $3 tip)

Twisted Bull Saloon logo, a Grand Rapids country bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Twisted Bull fully embraces its country-bar identity, with a huge dance floor, pool tables, a long bar and even a mechanical bull. The bull comes out on weekends rather than karaoke night, so unfortunately I did not get launched into an inflatable pit during this particular stop.

For karaoke half the week, singers move onto the dance floor closer to the crowd, putting the action right in the middle of where everyone is hanging out while still leaving plenty of open space around the singer. Then for the other nights, when the host using their own equipment instead of the bar’s sound, the singer’s area is a bit further back and up on the stage.

Singer performing karaoke at Twisted Bull Saloon in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with colorful stage lighting and karaoke lyrics during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
 

Wednesday

September 16, 2026

 


UBER #5: Daniel (5.3 miles for $16)


Karaoke Stop #7

Glass House

710 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Mikey K.

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #9: Stacy’s Mom - Fountains of Wayne (3:17)

Drink/Food: $6.97 (after $2 tip)

Glass House logo, a Grand Rapids bar and karaoke venue on Michigan Street featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Despite the name, don’t picture some big, bright, window-filled space. Glass House has much more of a basement-bar feel, with high tops clustered around a straight bar and a tighter layout that keeps everyone relatively close together.

Karaoke is tucked into the front-left corner when you walk in, putting arriving guests practically in the front row. A disco ball, plenty of lighting and multiple lyric TVs help turn that corner into its own karaoke area.

The more compact layout is part of its character. When the room fills up, singers and the crowd are all right there together, giving karaoke a lively, close-up feel. The vibe is somewhere between bar and club.

GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing “Stacy’s Mom” at Glass House in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with karaoke host Mikey K., colorful lights, disco ball and lyric screen during the Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #6: Shawn (2 miles for $7)


Karaoke Stop #8

Mulligan’s Pub

1518 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Eric E.

Stage: Floor. Area: Large

Song #10: Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind (3:51)

Drink/Food: $10 (after $3 tip)

Mulligan’s Pub logo, an Eastown Grand Rapids bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Mulligan’s feels like a proper Eastown dive from the second you walk in. You pass a wall of license plates and sticker-covered bathroom doors before reaching the big wraparound bar, with seating all the way around it. There are a few low tables and booths, plus a back room with pool tables.

The karaoke host is tucked into the back-left corner, somewhat hidden behind a big pillar. One of the most memorable details is overhead: dollar bills tacked to the ceiling. It’s one more quirky detail that gives Mulligan’s plenty to look at before you even grab the microphone.

Inside Mulligan’s Pub in Eastown Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the colorful bar, pool table and karaoke area during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing karaoke at Mulligan’s Pub in Eastown Grand Rapids, Michigan, with colorful bar lighting during the Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #7: Edgar (2.4 miles for $11)


Karaoke Stop #9

Z’s Bar

168 Campau Promenade NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Bob

Stage: Raised ~2 feet (2 steps). Area: Medium

Song #11: Who Can It Be Now - Men At Work (3:21)

Drink/Food: $8.41 (after $3 tip)

Z’s Bar & Restaurant logo, a downtown Grand Rapids restaurant, bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Z’s was the most common downtown stop of the week, and the crowd reflected it, with karaoke singers wandering in from nearby hotels, events and whatever else was happening downtown that night.

Karaoke takes over the normally upper seating area, with a classic CRT TV for the singer’s lyrics and a much larger flatscreen nearby for the crowd. Z’s itself is a full restaurant with high ceilings and a long wraparound bar, with most of the karaoke energy concentrated on that side of the room.

Also, the cheesy breadsticks hit the spot after three bars with one still to go. And this stop gets my Most Nostalgic Award: Bob and I go way back, and I hadn’t seen him in a while, so getting to sing with him behind the karaoke booth again made this one a little extra special.

Karaoke host Bob hosting karaoke at Z’s Bar & Restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the karaoke booth and lyric screen during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
View from the karaoke stage at Z’s Bar & Restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the crowd, bar and singer lyric screen during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris with longtime Grand Rapids karaoke host Bob at Z’s Bar & Restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids during the Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #8: Mike (1.5 miles for $10)


Karaoke Stop #10

The Holiday Bar

801 5th St NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: DJ Zerry

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #12: Miss You - The Rolling Stones (4:48)

Drink/Food: $6.21 (after $2 tip)

The Holiday Bar logo, a Grand Rapids West Side bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

The Holiday Bar has a smaller triangle-shaped dedicated parking lot across the street, along with street parking throughout the surrounding blocks.

Inside, a horseshoe-shaped bar puts seating around the center of the room. Karaoke sets up in front of the glass garage doors separating the main bar area from the backyard patio, creating a natural performance area along that side of the room.

Stage lighting helps define the space, and the lyrics are projected nice and big above the host booth, making them easy to follow from around the bar.

Two singers performing karaoke at The Holiday Bar on the West Side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, with colorful stage lighting and projected lyrics during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing karaoke at The Holiday Bar on the West Side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, with projected lyrics and colorful stage lighting during the Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #9: Rody (2.5 miles for $11)

 

Thursday

September 17, 2026

 


UBER #10: David (2.1 miles for $16)


Karaoke Stop #11

River City

1152 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Nikki H.

Stage: Raised ~1 foot. Area: Large

Song #13: Unwell - Matchbox Twenty (3:48)

Song #14: If I Had $1,000,000 (Duet) - Barenaked Ladies (4:26)

Drink/Food: $12 (after $4 tip)

River City has a classic neighborhood dive-bar feel, taller ceilings and a tiny dedicated parking lot out back, with additional street parking around the building. Apparently, phone signal is notoriously spotty inside, so consider it another reason to put the phone down and talk to the human next to you (but they also have guest WiFi).

Karaoke occupies one end of the center room, with a sizable open dance floor between the singer and the first tables. There’s plenty of space for people to gather around without separating the karaoke from the rest of the bar.

Most of the seating is high tops, while a back room adds two pool tables and some extra space away from the karaoke area.

Singer performing karaoke on stage at River City Saloon in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with colorful stage lighting and the crowd nearby during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Singer performing karaoke on the raised stage at River City Saloon in Grand Rapids, Michigan, under blue stage lighting during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Walked Across the Street ($0)


Karaoke Stop #12

Play Station Pub

1141 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Georgia

Stage: Floor. Area: Small

Song #15: Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me) - Blessid Union of Souls (3:27)

Drink/Food: $5.75 (after $2 tip)

Play Station Pub logo, a Grand Rapids neighborhood bar and karaoke venue on Leonard Street featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Play Station Pub sits directly across Leonard Street from River City, making these two probably the easiest back-to-back karaoke stops of the marathon. Despite the big green glowing sign out front, the building’s former life as a Pizza Hut is still pretty obvious from the roofline and windows, and there’s a large dedicated parking lot outside.

Inside, karaoke takes place in the corner with the “open” signs, with an old-school CRT TV for the singer and a separate flatscreen on the crowd. Their request system mixes new and old school: scan a QR code to browse the song database, but then write your name and the six-digit song ID on a physical request slip.

Karaoke host Georgia hosting karaoke at Play Station Pub on Leonard Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the karaoke booth and lyric screens during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Karaoke Night sign and karaoke host Georgia’s booth at Play Station Pub on Leonard Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing karaoke at Play Station Pub on Leonard Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan, using the venue’s classic CRT lyric monitor during the Karaoke Marathon 2026
Exterior of Play Station Pub on Leonard Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the illuminated bar sign and former Pizza Hut building during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #11: Holly (2.9 miles for $10)


Attempted: Fulton Street Pub

NO KARAOKE due to the Detroit Lions Thursday Night Football


Karaoke Stop #13

The B.O.B.

20 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids (Basement)

Karaoke Host: Dan H.

Stage: Raised ~1 foot. Area: Large

Song #16: Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass (3:09)

Song #17: Losing My Religion - R.E.M. (4:28)

Drink/Food: $10.22 (after $1.50 tip)

The B.O.B. logo, a downtown Grand Rapids entertainment venue and karaoke stop featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

After a short wait outside, an ID scan and a hand stamp, I headed downstairs into The B.O.B.’s basement. The bar is immediately to the left of the stairs, with karaoke taking over the other side.

It was more of a DJ-meets-karaoke setup during my visit, with music mixed in between singers whenever the rotation slowed down. Requests are submitted right from your phone using a QR code, which fits the more nightclub-style atmosphere. Definitely the most club vibe of the karaoke stops this week.

The rest of The B.O.B. may be happening upstairs, but downstairs karaoke has its own completely separate basement-bar feel: no windows, its own crowd and plenty of room around the karaoke area.

Two singers performing karaoke together at The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the lyric screen and crowd during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Illuminated exterior sign for The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, a nightlife and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Walked 1 Minute Down the Street ($0)


Attempted: Social House

NO KARAOKE - closed for a private event 😑


UBER #12: Ashley (4.1 miles for $19)

 

Friday

September 18, 2026

 


UBER #13: David, AGAIN (13 miles for $22)


Karaoke Stop #14

5th Degree Bar

5830 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming

Karaoke Host: Bear

Stage: Floor. Area: Small

Song #18: Steal Away - Robbie Dupree (3:33)

Drink/Food: $7.14 (after $3 tip)

5th Degree Bar logo, a Wyoming, Michigan bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Grand Rapids Karaoke Marathon 2026

5th Degree Bar is tucked into the back of the Knights of Columbus hall and was easily one of the most intimate karaoke setups of the week. For perspective, the entire bar is probably around the size of Twisted Bull’s dance floor and stage.

Inside is a few high tops pushed together in the middle, a pool table, few smaller tables and bar seating. That compact layout puts karaoke booth right at the center of the room near the door, with singers and the crowd sharing the same space.

The Holiday Inn is right across the parking lot, and several people I met were staying there, giving this little neighborhood-sized room an interesting mix of locals and out-of-town visitors.

One tip: the bar entrance is toward the very back of the building. If you’re taking an Uber, don’t get dropped at the first entrance near the road unless you want the same scenic tour through the banquet hall that I got.

Inside 5th Degree Bar in Wyoming, Michigan, showing the intimate bar layout, high-top seating and karaoke setup at this Grand Rapids area karaoke venue

Walked 6 Minutes Down the Street ($0)


Karaoke Stop #15

Lucky Strike GR

5656 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming

Karaoke Host: Deb

Stage: Raised ~1 foot. Area: Large

Song #19: Escape (Pina Colada) - Rupert Holmes (4:36)

Drink/Food: $6.74 (after $2.50 tip)

Lucky Strike Grand Rapids logo, a Wyoming, Michigan entertainment center, bowling alley and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Lucky Strike is easily the largest overall venue on the marathon. Beyond karaoke, it’s a full bowling alley with golf simulators, a restaurant, sports bar and sprawling modern arcade.

The karaoke area faces a large dining space with low tables, booths around the edges and plenty of open floor in front. It also had by far the largest crowd-facing lyric screen I saw all week. The room itself is huge, but acoustic panels help keep all that open space from creating echo.

Outside, a giant dedicated parking lot and a well lit covered entrance.

Karaoke host Deb hosting at Lucky Strike Grand Rapids in Wyoming, Michigan, with the crowd, large lyric screen and colorful stage lighting during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Arcade inside Lucky Strike Grand Rapids in Wyoming, Michigan, featuring basketball, Connect 4 and other games near the karaoke area during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #14: Julien (2.5 miles for $19)


Karaoke Stop #16

PigSkins & Pints

6209 Division Ave. S, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Brandee R.

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #20: Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel (3:28)

Drink/Food: $18.78 (after $5 tip)

PigSkins & Pints Bar & Grill logo, a Grand Rapids area restaurant, sports bar and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

PigSkins & Pints is almost a textbook bar-and-grill layout. About half the room is low-top tables and booths near the entrance, while the other half transitions into high tops and an L-shaped bar. Karaoke sits right between the two against the front windowed wall.

That gives karaoke a fun bar-and-grill atmosphere, with the singing happening right in the middle of everything else going on. The Tigers game was also on the TVs during my visit, and they provided a pretty good bonus show: Detroit came back from an 8–2 deficit against the White Sox, scoring nine unanswered runs to win 11–8.

View from the karaoke host booth at PigSkins & Pints in Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing a singer performing among the bar and restaurant seating during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing karaoke at PigSkins & Pints in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #15: Dean (9.9 miles for $20)


Ran Out Of Time! HAD TO SKIP: Village Inn Pizza

All three Ubers this night had a 20+ minute wait 😭 A few big events and concerts downtown tonight so driver demand was probably unusually high, and it was also raining pretty hard at this point so that didn’t help.


Karaoke Stop #17

Fulton Street Pub & Grill

801 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Chris G.

Stage: Raised ~6 inches. Area: Large

Song #21: Superman (Scrubs Theme) - Lazlo Bane (3:46)

Drink/Food: $19.39 (after $6 tip)

Fulton Street Pub & Grill logo, a Grand Rapids bar, restaurant and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Fulton Street Pub & Grill has its own dedicated parking lot and a straightforward open-room layout. The bar runs along the back wall, starting on the left and stretching almost halfway across, with booths lining the edges.

Karaoke takes over the right side, with a curtain backdrop and plenty of low-top tables front and center. Because the stage and bar share one big open room, the karaoke stays visible from most of the seating.

It’s one of those layouts where the karaoke feels built into the room rather than tucked into a separate corner.

Karaoke host Chris G. hosting at Fulton Street Pub & Grill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a singer performing on the stage during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #16: Qyshawn (4.3 miles for $18)


Karaoke Stop #18

Cesar’s Pub

4072 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Rosie R.

Stage: Floor. Area: Large

Song #22: Beer Run - Todd Snider (2:42)

Drink/Food: $7.69 (after $3 tip)

Cesar’s Pub logo, a Standale bar and karaoke venue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Cesar’s Pub sits in Standale, about halfway between GVSU’s Allendale campus and downtown Grand Rapids. Not easy to spot, but it’s across from fire department and next to the gas station, with additional parking and another entrance out back.

Inside, a U-shaped bar divides the space, with seats and bar access on both sides. The front third has pool and shuffleboard, while most of the remaining space is dedicated to seating.

Karaoke takes over the back wall, where the setup almost feels in-the-round. A wide horseshoe of tables and high tops surrounds an open area that becomes the dance floor and karaoke space, putting singers right in the middle of the crowd.

They’ve also been on a roll with monthly themed karaoke nights, usually taking over the final Saturday of the month and giving regulars something a little different to come back for.

Karaoke night at Cesar’s Pub in Standale, Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing a singer performing among the tables and bar seating during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Two singers performing a karaoke duet at Cesar’s Pub in Standale, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the bar and dining area in the background during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Illuminated Cesar’s Pub exterior sign above the building in Standale, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a local karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #17: Rody (2.8 miles for $11)

 

Saturday

September 19, 2026

 


UBER #18: Mike (10.8 miles for $22)


Karaoke Stop #19

Bow Tie Tavern & Grill

8388 Alpine Ave NW, Sparta

Karaoke Host: Nikki M.

Stage: Raised ~6 inches. Area: Medium

Song #23: Island In The Sun - Weezer (3:30)

Drink/Food: $6 (after $2 tip)

Tie-Dye Merch: $20

Bow Tie Tavern & Grill logo, a Sparta, Michigan bar, restaurant and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Saturday started with the northernmost stop of the marathon, Bow Tie Tavern in Sparta. At Alpine and 10 Mile, it’s surrounded mostly by homes and isn’t really somewhere you’re walking to from another bar, but there’s a big dedicated parking lot once you arrive.

Inside, a long single-sided bar runs down one side with seating the whole way. Low tables line the opposite side of the aisle, with high tops farther toward the back. An open dance floor fills the karaoke corner, keeping the singer close to the rest of the room while still giving them their own space.

I had Weezer in my head for some reason, so I picked my favorite of theirs, “Island in the Sun.” Turns out the guy next to me at the bar had just submitted “Say It Ain’t So.” He crushed it, and we had a good laugh about somehow picking the same band out of thousands of options.

This was also my only merch purchase of the marathon. They had a tie-dye shirt, and I have a soft spot for tie-dye to say the least. Easy sell.

Singer performing karaoke on stage at Bow Tie Tavern & Grill in Sparta, Michigan, with “Say It Ain’t So” lyrics on screen and colorful stage lighting during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Bow Tie Tavern & Grill tie-dye T-shirt from Sparta, Michigan, the only merchandise purchased during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #19: Matthew (8.7 miles for $23)


Karaoke Stop #20

Cheer’s Good Time Saloon

3994 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Michael W.

Stage: Floor. Area: Large

Song #24: Make It With You - Bread (3:12)

Drink/Food: $7.70 (after $2 tip)

Cheer’s Good Time Saloon logo, a Grand Rapids restaurant, bar and karaoke venue on Plainfield Avenue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Cheers on Plainfield has a big dedicated parking lot and an enclosed entryway before you step into the main room.

Inside, it leans more restaurant than nightclub, with wood paneling, classic stained-glass lights over the booths, low tables and a bar running along the back wall. It’s a full restaurant with a full menu, giving karaoke a different backdrop from some of the later-night bar stops.

The karaoke setup is centrally located, with the host slightly elevated and singers on the main floor in front. A large lyric TV hangs above the host, and wireless microphones give singers room to move around.

GRkaraoke.com founder Chris singing karaoke at Cheer’s Good Time Saloon on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during the Karaoke Marathon 2026
Karaoke night at Cheer’s Good Time Saloon on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing a singer performing with the karaoke host and lyric screen during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #20: Mafooz (8.4 miles for $27)


Karaoke Stop #21

Last Chance Tavern & Grill

1132 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: James E.

Stage: Floor. Area: Medium

Song #25: Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms (3:56)

Song #26: American Girl - Tom Petty (3:34)

Drink/Food: $6 (after $2 tip)

Last Chance Tavern & Grill logo, a Grand Rapids neighborhood bar, restaurant and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Getting to Last Chance was an adventure of its own. Burton Street was under construction, so my Uber had to work around road-closed barriers and piles of dirt creeping into the roadway before we finally made it there.

Inside, the bar stretches across the back wall, with a mix of high tops and booths throughout the room. Karaoke is tucked deeper into the building and around the corner, so the setup reveals itself as you make your way inside.

With a full restaurant, patio and neighborhood bar-and-grill setup, karaoke fits right into everything else Last Chance has going on.

Singer performing karaoke at Last Chance Tavern & Grill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the karaoke area, dining tables and colorful lighting during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Exterior of Last Chance Tavern & Grill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the entrance and illuminated building at night during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #21: Antonio (25 miles for $41)


Karaoke Stop #22

Embassy Bar & Grill

10396 Lake Michigan Dr, West Olive

Karaoke Host: Cole M.

Stage: Floor. Area: Large

Song #27: You May Be Right - Billy Joel (4:16)

Drink/Food: $21.60 (after $6 tip)

Embassy Bar & Grill logo, a West Olive, Michigan bar, restaurant and karaoke venue featured in the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Embassy Bar & Grill in West Olive is about a 10 minute drive West of GVSU’s Allendale campus. That location makes for an interesting mix of college students and local watering-hole regulars.

At night there isn’t much around it, so the building practically glows out of the darkness. I was drawn toward the LED sign flashing KARAOKE like a moth to a flame. There’s a dedicated parking lot outside once you make the drive out.

Inside, booths run along the right wall, low tables fill the middle and a straight bar stretches down the left. Karaoke takes over the back third, with lyric screens positioned for both the singer and the crowd.

And by this point in Saturday’s marathon, a basket of warm chips and salsa was exactly what I needed.

Blurry view from the karaoke stage at Embassy Bar & Grill in West Olive, Michigan, showing the bar, tables and crowd during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
View from the bar at Embassy Bar & Grill in West Olive, Michigan, showing a singer performing karaoke with host Cole M. during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Illuminated Embassy Bar & Grill sign in West Olive, Michigan, advertising Saturday night karaoke from 9 PM to 1 AM during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Exterior of Embassy Bar & Grill in West Olive, Michigan, showing the entrance and Embassy Bar breakfast and lunch sign during the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #22: Justin (17.2 miles for $37)

 

Sunday

September 20, 2026

 

‍ ‍
UBER #23: Scott (3 miles for $10)


Karaoke Stop #23

Firebird Bar

526 Stocking NW, Grand Rapids

Karaoke Host: Brian C.

Stage: Raised ~6 inches. Area: Large

Song #28: Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray (3:56)

Drink/Food: $11.71 (after $3 tip)

Firebird Bar GR logo, a Grand Rapids West Side bar and karaoke venue featured as the final stop of the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026

Sunday brought me to Firebird Bar GR for stop #23, the final stop of the entire karaoke marathon. After bouncing between multiple bars most nights, there was something nice about having only one place on the agenda.

Firebird has a strong red theme and a big oval bar with seating all the way around. Low tables fill the front, high tops line the back-right wall, two new pool tables sit to the left, and karaoke occupies the back-left corner. There’s also a dedicated parking lot and late-night food, including pizza.

A pull-down lyric screen fills the backdrop, with the singers’ lyric TV sitting on a big wooden barrel in front. Firebird car hoods decorate the wall around the setup, while moving lights across the bar carry the karaoke atmosphere throughout the room.

There was also a memorable moment before my final song. News had broken that day about the death of New Found Glory’s Chad Gilbert, so hearing a duet of “My Friends Over You” before my turn felt like a fitting little tribute.

Two singers performing karaoke at Firebird Bar GR in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with karaoke host Brian C., projected lyrics and colorful stage lighting during the final stop of the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Exterior of Firebird Bar GR on the West Side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, showing the illuminated Firebird sign and entrance at night during the final stop of the GRkaraoke.com Karaoke Marathon 2026
Karaoke host Brian C. at Firebird Bar GR in Grand Rapids, Michigan, behind the booth with a GRkaraoke.com sticker during the final stop of the Karaoke Marathon 2026

UBER #24: Matthew (3 miles for $11)


By The Numbers:

 

THE KARAOKE:

7 consecutive karaoke nights

23 karaoke stops

22 karaoke venues

20 karaoke hosts

28 songs sung

1 hour, 45 min, 21 seconds total time singing

3:46 average song length

GETTING AROUND:

24 Uber rides

22 Uber drivers

148.9 miles traveled by Uber

$417.00 total Uber cost

$17.38 average Uber

6.2 miles average Uber

$2.80 average Uber cost per mile

 

GET 50% OFF your first 2 Uber rides (up to $10 each) referral code: vb76vn4d29pt

 

THE DAMAGE:

Food & drinks before tips: $175.44

Tips: $73.00

Average Tip: $3.17

Food, drinks & tips: $248.44

Tie-Dye Merch: $20.00

Ubers: $417.00

GRAND TOTAL:

$685.44

“Alexa, how much does a DUI cost…”

👍


 

So, was seven straight nights of karaoke a little ridiculous? Absolutely.

But somewhere between the 24 Uber rides, 28 songs and 23 stops, this turned into exactly what I hoped it would be: a tour of just how different karaoke can look around Grand Rapids.

Some places give you a big stage and lights. Others put you right in the middle of the room. There are restaurants, neighborhood dives, country bars, bowling alleys, downtown crowds and tiny rooms where practically everyone becomes part of the show. No two stops felt exactly the same, and that’s the beauty of it.

And I definitely didn’t do this alone. It took 22 Uber drivers, 20 karaoke hosts and dozens of bartenders and servers to make this ridiculous week possible. A whole lot of working people, from all different walks of life, got me where I was going, kept the drinks and food coming, queued up the songs and kept the nights moving.

That human part might be my favorite thing about karaoke. You can stay home, scroll endlessly and sing to yourself anytime. Or you can touch some grass, walk into a bar and sing a song with a bunch of strangers. You meet people you probably never would otherwise, support the people working behind the bar and behind the booth, and maybe even make a couple new friends along the way.

This marathon was my admittedly excessive way of experiencing as much of it as I could and saying thanks to the humans who make Grand Rapids karaoke happen every single week.

Now go sing somewhere! FIND A VENUE

See you out there,

- Chris

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Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids