Basics

Location & Hours

DeVos Place
303 Monroe Ave N.W.
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Parking is available on-site

Registration:

Thursday night from 8:00-9:00
Friday morning from 7:00-8:00

Friday: 8:15-4:30 & 6:30-8:30
Saturday: 8:30-4:30 & 6:30-8:30

What to Bring

You are welcome to bring a personal beverage and snack.

What to Wear

Friday: Comfy casual green. Most families will wear a green t-shirt or outfit but it is not required.

Sometimes convention centers can be chilly so you may want to bring a hoodie or light jacket.

Saturday : Higgy Con t-shirts. These will be given to you Friday morning.

Saturday Night Fashion Show:
Kids: Fancy/fun green
Adults: Higgy Con shirts or fancy/fun green

Walk the runway with fun green accessories! (Tutus, green hats, green glasses, etc.)

Some kids dress up and some wear their Green Higgy Con shirts.

Friday Morning

Please arrive in the ballroom at 8:15. The welcome session will start at 8:30.

There is not a standard check-in line. You will receive your welcome bags during as you walk in through the Welch Lobby.

Please find any open seat in the ballroom and get ready to have fun!

Breaks

Visit our amazing Higgy Con Sponsors and shop the Higgy Con Store in the Exhibit Hall

Snacks will not be provided during breaks but there will be a snack cart outside of the ballroom. Coffee, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. You are welcome to bring in a personal beverage and snack, as well.

The Higgy Con Store & Snack Cart are both credit card only.

Lunch

Lunch will be served in the exhibit hall.

Lunch ticket purchases are closed. For those that purchased lunch tickets, you will receive them at the Higgy Help Desk.

For those eating off-site, please reference the below link with Grand Rapids restaurant options:

https://www.experiencegr.com/gr-attendee/

Free DASH bus service from DeVos Place throughout downtown:

https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/departments/mobile-gr/mobility/downtown-area-shuttle-dash

Friday Night Social

Meet other families in your state at the Higgy Con Social! (Details coming Thursday night).

Some of the Higgy Con Presenters will be joining us for the social, as well. This will be a great time to get to know them better and ask any questions.

Snack cart will be on site with popcorn & ice cream available for purchase.

Important Information

Kid’s Quiet Room

There will be a quiet room on site for kids that may need a moment to themselves. An amazing Higgy Mom, Alison- will be staffing the quiet room and be there to help kids. Parent volunteers will walk kids in rooms 1-3 over to the quiet room and bring them back to their main room. Kids and teens in rooms 4 and 5 are welcome to use the quiet room, as well. Higgy Con is a lot of fun, but sometimes kids need a break from the noise. The room will be a sensory friendly recharge room for kids that need some time to themselves. All kids are welcome to use the room. Parents can be in the room with their child, as well.

Parent Communication

The Higgy Help Desk will have all contact information you provided for your child. If your child needs you, the group leader will contact the help desk. The help desk will then contact you by text first, and then will call if needed. Please be sure to keep your phone on silent in the ballroom, but check for texts regularly.

Kid Pickups

Kids/teens in rooms 1-5 will only be released to their parents/guardians. Parents must come to the room to pick up their child for breaks. There will not be staffing in the kids rooms during breaks. If you are running late and your child’s room is already empty, your child has been moved to the Calm Corner with parent supervisor there.

Please refer to the kids schedule tab to know what room your child is in

Younger Children

All kids under the age of 5 must stay with their parents at all times.

Medical

The kid’s rooms are staffed by parent volunteers. We do not have nurses on site and parent volunteers will not be able to assist with any medical concerns. Any medical or extra assistance needed would need to be provided by the parents. Any emergency medical would of course be handled through emergency medical services.

Higgy Con Help Table

If you have any questions or need assistance during Higgy Con, there will be a table outside of the ballroom with team members that can answer your questions.

Photography

Anyone not wanting their picture taken will wear a black wristband. These will be in your welcome bags. If for any reason they are not- please pick one up at the Higgy Help Desk. These are for families that selected “no” to the photo consent. If you changed your mind on that question and would prefer not to have your picture taken, we have plenty of extra black wristbands. No one is required to be in pictures by any means. Please simply show your wristband if there is a photographer in your area and they will know not to take your picture.

Extra Seating

Parents are by no means required to listen to every talk and participate in every session. If it doesn’t apply to you- please feel free to head over to the Exhibit Hall. There are lots of tables in that room where you can sit and visit with a new friend, make phone calls, or have some time to yourself. Be sure to say hi to our amazing Higgy Con Sponsors and shop the Higgy Con Store, as well!

Security

DeVos Place is under 24/7 video surveillance by their security guards.

A security guard table is stationed right outside of the kid’s rooms. All kid’s will be required to show either a bathroom pass or a pass to go to the Calm Corner to the security guard.

There will also be several security guards roaming the facility at all times.

No weapons or alcohol are allowed.

Questions

If you have any questions prior to Higgy Con- please email higgycon@higgybears.com.

For day-of questions, please visit the Higgy Con Help Desk outside of the ballroom.