Grand Rapids Spring Activities

The Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition at Frederik Meijer Gardens Sculpture Park helps us kick off the season on March 1 and it runs through April 30. It’s the largest temporary butterfly exhibition in the country – and it’s one of GR’s most cherished spring traditions!

Also at Meijer Gardens: Paul Villinski: Flight Patterns explores the dynamic aerial realm and various notions of “flight”—literal and metaphorical, and Jennifer Angus: Flying Jewels & Other Lofty Insects showcases the jewel-like quality of insects in kaleidoscopic room installations and shimmering bell jar tableaux. Both run through August 18.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum hosts A Heartbeat Away: The American Vice-Presidency in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Ford’s ascension to the VP slot. Historic artifacts tell the tales of Ford and other Vice Presidents who unexpectedly rose to the Presidency. Through June 9.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum invites guests to consider new perspectives on a variety of subjects:

• Sky Hopinka: Mnemonics of Shape and Reason is a cinematic assemblage of landscape, poetry and sound, running through April 28.
• Border Cantos | Sonic Border reveals the often unseen reality of the Mexican American borderlands, also through April 28.
• Warrington Colescott: Attack Artist is a collection showcasing the print-maker’s satirical approach to societal ills, opening April 11.
• Mario Moore: Revolutionary Times brings together works by the Detroit artist that explore America’s past and present through the experiences of Black Americans, opens April 27.

Mandela: The Official Exhibition at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is an immersive and interactive experience taking visitors thorough the life of the world’s most iconic freedom fighter and political leader.

Buy, sell, and trade the latest footwear – and enjoy music, food, games, raffles, a fashion show, and more – at the Sneaker Nutz Shoe Convention at DeVos Place, May 18.

Take advantage of fine spring weather to take a self-guided walking tour of downtown GR murals, painted ticket booths, and Community Legends sculptures.

Broadway Grand Rapids continues to bring amazing theatrical experiences to DeVos Performance Hall:

• To Kill a Mockingbird, a Tony Award-winning adaption of the classic Harper Lee novel, April 23-28.
• Wicked, the musical tale of Oz before Dorothy dropped in, May 15-June 2.
• MJ: The Musical, centered around the making of Michael Jackson’s 1993 Dangerous Tour, doesn’t open until July 19 – but tickets are selling fast, so get yours now.

La Bohéme inspired “Rent” and “Love Story” – and now you can see the original tale of star-crossed lovers performed by Opera Grand Rapids. At DeVos Performance Hall April 19 & 20.

Master Arts Theatre, a community theater 15 minutes south of Grand Rapids, presents See Rock City, a tender and funny tale following a young American couple around the time of WWII. April 25-May 4.

Spamilton: An American Parody is a convulsively funny musical parody of the Broadway sensation Hamilton. At Forest Hills Fine Arts Center April 21.

Grand Rapids Ballet stages Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, called “one of the greatest ballets of all time,” on the same program as the 1934 neo-classic masterpiece Serenade. April 26-28 & May 3-5 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre.

The West Michigan Youth Ballet transforms the Wizard of Oz into a mesmerizing dance production. At Forest Hills Fine Arts Center April 27 & 28.

Paradise Lost at Actors’ Theatre Grand Rapids is a new drama inspired by John Milton’s epic poem of the cosmic battle between good and evil. May 2-5 & 9-11.

The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre hosts Ten For All, its annual playwrighting festival, which presents original world-premiere 10-minute plays written by local playwrights. May 17-18.

Circle Theatre kicks off its 2024 theatrical schedule with Tick, Tick … Boom!, the first musical from Rent composer Jonathan Larson. May 16-18 & 22-26 and May 29-June 1.

See some of music’s biggest names in concert at Van Andel Arena this spring:

• Indie pop band AJR, April 14.
• Christian music’s Brandon Lake, May 2.
• Nu metal band Staind, May 9.
• Hard rockers Greta Van Fleet, May 19.
• “Take Me to Church” singer Hozier, May 29.

St. Cecelia Music Center welcomes Grammy Award-winning folk singer Marc Cohn on April 11 and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center “String Magic,” April 18.

The Grand Rapids Symphony performs spring concert schedule includes A Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus Celebration (April 12-13), May the Fourth Be With You: Star Wars and More! (May 3-4) and Mendellsohn’s Violin Concerto (May 10 & 11). . Check out the full Symphony schedule.

Relax at Rosa, our annual summertime lunchtime series with live music, yard games and food trucks, starts May 2 – and continues every Thursday through September 12.

Candlelight Concerts features the Kalhaven String Quartet performing much-loved music at unique locations:

• Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More, April 25.
• A Tribute to Adele, May 22.
• The Best of Hans Zimmer, May 23.

Circle Theatre gets the jump on warm weather with its Summer Concert Series saluting musical icons and genres:, performed by local talent:

• Dynamic Duos: The Best of Pop and Rock Musical Duos, May 24.
• Dance Sensations: The Best Dance Hits of All Time, May 28.

The 30+ spring concerts at Midtown in downtown GR include include Raul Midón (April 23), The Accidentals Cover Art Album Release Show (April 24), The Arcadian Wild (April 28) and Dixon’s Violin (May 4). See the full schedule here.

You can catch a concert most every night in Grand Rapids. Check the concert slates at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, GRNoir Wine & Jazz, The Intersection, The Pyramid Scheme, Skelletones and Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, and visit our Live Music page for concerts on specific dates. 

Visit our Free Music Events page concerts you don’t have to pay for and our Live Music page for concerts on specific dates. 

John Ball Zoo is open for the season! New animals include Zuhura the chimpanzee and Titan, an Amur tiger, plus four male Chaocan peccaries (a pig-like endangered species) and three San Clemente Island goats, which call the petting zoo home.  

The West Michigan Whitecaps open at home (LMCU Ballpark) on April 9 – and play 21 additional home games through May. Come cheer on the boys (and enjoy some great food, drink & promotions).

Amaze & Amuse: A Modern Day Magic Show features an all-star lineup of top magicians from around the country – including 12-year-old America’s Got Talent magician and ventriloquist Brynn Cummings. At Wealthy Theatre April 19.

Wealthy Theatre hosts the Pro-Kids Show with Tim Hannig, a blend of fun, magic and inspiration on April 20.

Attend Party for the Planet at John Ball Zoo on April 20 for entertainment, animal programs and plant giveaways. MI Wildlife Day on May 25 at John Ball Zoo is a celebration of Michigan’s native turtles and songbirds, featuring animal activities, interactive wildlife stations and entertainment.

Grand Rapids Griffins hockey through April 21, and Grand Rapids Rise volleyball through May 12, both at Van Andel Arena. Here’s hoping the teams make the playoff and extend their seasons!

Berlin Raceway opens its 2024 season on April 20 – and continues every Saturday through Sep. 7. Cheer on super late models, limited late models, sportsman, 4-cylinder autos and more as they race around the track.

Bring the whole family to Joe Taylor Park on May 18 for a Neighborhood Cookout, part of the Baxter Summer Series. Entertainment, food and beverages provided.

Brick By Brick: The Creative Art of LEGO® is an interactive display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum through May 19.

Building Buddies! at the Grand Rapids Public Museum invites families to help a family “construct” their neighborhood. Through Sep. 1.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit is an interactive journey through the world of the PBS Kids character. At the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum through May 12.

Blandford Nature Center offers a host of kid-friendly events and activities, including Earth Day Birthdays with Wildlife Ambassadors on April  20 and a Spring Migration Bird Bonanza May 18. Check out the full Blandford Community Calendar.

Curious George and the Golden Meatball is a brand-new musical taking the audience through a fun-filled adventure on stage at Circle Theatre. May 2-5.

Check out our suggestions for Things to Do With Kids and Things to Do with Teens for more family fun ideas.

Choose a beautiful spring day to tour local breweries by foot, pedal or van – and don’t miss these great craft beverage events:

• Weird Beer Weekend at Brewery Vivant, April 19-21.
• Biergarten Seasonal Opening at Archival Brewing, April 20.
• Bridge Street Makers Market & Bar Hop, April 20.
• Spring Sip N’ Shop Makers Market at Archival Brewing, April 21.
• 3^rd Annual Birds and Brews at Creston Taproom, April 25.
• Enjoy Lunch, Wine & a Fashion Show at Robinette’s, April 27.
• Tots & Taps Fest at LMCU Ballpark, May 4.
• Barley, BBQ & Beats at Van Andel Arena, May 18.

Cider Week GR (May 10-18) returns to Grand Rapids for the first time since 2020. Celebrate with tap takeovers, cider brunches and cool activities around town, all culminating in a Cider Festival at Rosa Parks Circle on May 18.

The Roll’N Out Food Truck Fest is the official kick-off event of food truck season. Rosa Parks Circle is the setting for some of the area’s best local food trucks, a beer tent, local merchant village and live music. May 19.

Food Truck Fridays at Riverside Park begin May 17 and run through August 2, with local food trucks, a community beer tent and music.

Visit the Grand Rapids Downtown Market 7 days a week to shop and dine at 20+ artisan food stores and restaurants under one roof.

Browse our list of outdoor dining spaces when you get the urge for an al fresco experience.

Founders Brewing Company is back open after a month of renovations – stop in to check out their new and expanded menu (and enjoy some delectable beers, of course).

Check in to eight local breweries to become a Beer City Brewsader® and earn a free t-shirt. Make sure you have the NEW Brewsader app – launched Feb. 13 – on your mobile device.

Check out some of the area’s best French restaurants, themed bars and restaurants, pizza places, sweet treat destinations, wine bars and must-try spots for non-alcoholic beverages.

Search our restaurant listings by cuisine and location to find exactly what you’re craving for every meal.