Grand Rapids Spring Activities
Flowers aren’t the only things blooming in Grand Rapids this spring – some of our favorite attractions and activities return along with the warmer weather. It’s also a season of personal renewal, and there are all sorts of opportunities to learn, explore and grow. Plus, you’ll find entertainment for all ages, including special kid-friendly things to do for spring break … and beyond. Scroll down for some great ideas!
Art & Culture
Back to Top of ListThe 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!
March brings a cavalcade of lifestyle expos to DeVos Place – learn, shop and get inspired:
- West Michigan Home & Garden Show, Feb. 28 - March 31.
- Ultimate Sport Show, March 7-10.
- Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, March 22-24.
Meijer Gardens unveils two new exhibits in the midst of Butterflies are Blooming, both running March 29-Aug. 18:
- Paul Villinski: Flight Patterns explores various notions of flight through sculpture – including a scaled down WWII B25 bomber airplane that will be suspended from the ceiling.
- Jennifer Angus: Flying Jewels and Other Lofty Insects composes small, jewel-like bugs into kaleidoscopic room installations.
A Heartbeat Away: The American Vice-Presidency honors the 50th anniversary of Gerald R. Ford’s Vice-Presidency by highlighting the stories and experiences of specific Vice Presidents. At the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum through June 9.
Mandela: The Official Exhibition takes visitors on an immersive and interactive journey through the life of the world’s most iconic freedom fighter. At the Grand Rapids Public Museum starting March 9.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum invites guests to consider new perspectives on everyday subjects:
- Uncharted Ways Through: Maps, Land and the Image contextualizes maps as a genre of art with a distinct point of view. Through April 7.
- The Decisive Moment: Sports Photography from GRAM’s Collection shows how photographers tell stories by capturing “the heat of the moment.” Through April 7.
- Border Cantos | Sonic Border reveals the often unseen reality of the Mexican American borderlands. Through April 28.
- Sky Hopinka: Mnemonics of Shape and Reason is a cinematic landscape of landscape, poetry and sound. Through April 28.
Mario Moore: Revolutionary Times opens at the Grand Rapids Art Museum April 27. It showcases a Detroit artist whose works illuminate stories buried or ignored in Americans’ collective understanding of history.
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.
Grand Rapids Murals
- photo by Lions & Rabbits Mural
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Grand Rapids art doesn't just live in the museums, it's also part of the…
Painted Ticket Booths Tour
- photo by Nick Irwin for Experience GR
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Grand Rapids is a city awash in murals. But our murals don’t only appear on…
Community Legends Sculptures Tour
- photo by Experience Grand Rapids
- 13 min
Two of Grand Rapids’ favorite things – art and history – come…
Cultural Celebrations
Back to Top of ListWorld of Winter, America’s largest winter festival, continues through March 10 with amazing art installations, walking tours, a Circus Wonderland (March 2), Soundbath (March 3), Hip Opera Pop Up (March 8), and Noodle Fest (March 9). It all wraps up with a dazzling Luminary Light Night Parade on March 10.
March is Women’s History Month, and Grand Rapids has all sorts of ways to celebrate and uplift local women – including the West Michigan Women’s Expo at DeVos Place (March 17-19).
Irish on Ionia (March 16) is Michigan’s largest St. Patrick’s Day street festival – and it’s just one of many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year.
Easter is March 31 and we’ll be filling our Easter Calendar with events and activities to commemorate the occasion, as soon as they’re announced.
The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival illuminates John Ball Zoo with breathtaking Asian lantern displays that tell the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian culture. April 10-June 16.
The Celebrating All Walks of Life Pow Wow at Grand Valley State University honors Native American culture through ceremony, song, dance, feasting, and socializing. April 13-14
Festival del Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s independence with culturally immersive music, food trucks, and arts and crafts. May 4 at Rosa Parks Circle.
Dutch culture takes the spotlight at the Holland Tulip Time Festival from May 4-12. Parades, dances, walking tours, a carnival, quilt show, artisan market, and millions of tulips in bloom – come see why it’s been named America’s Best Small Town Festival.
Mother’s Day is May 14 – it’s never too early to secure brunch or dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant.
Funny Business
Back to Top of ListLaughFest, the nation’s first community-wide festival of laughter, is back for a 14th year with such comedy powerhouses as Tammy Pescatelli (March 7-8), Josh Johnson (March 8-9) and Demetri Martin (March 9). The March 6-10 festival also features local improv troupes, family events, clean and dirty comedy shows, and more – browse all 40+ events.
Bert Kreischer – Rolling Stone’s 1997 “Number One Partier in the Nation” and one of today’s top-grossing stand-up comics, brings his Tops Off World Tour to Van Andel Arena March 7.
DeVos Performance Hall hosts well-known comedy names:
- Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy, featuring the stand-up comedian from the hit TV shows “Impractical Jokers” and “The Misery Index.” March 17.
- Stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster Chris D’Elia comes to town April 4.
- The Grand Rapids Comedy Festival features Sommore, Lavelle Crawford and more. April 5.
- Acclaimed author and humorist David Sedaris offers new readings and recollections, a Q&A session and book signing. May 1.
You may know that GLC Live at 20 Monroe is a great music venue, but did you know it’s also a great comedy space? Comedy shows coming to GLC this spring:
- Nikki Glaser: The Good Girl Tour, March 15.
- Ari Shaffer: The Wrong Side of History Tour, April 4.
- Brad Williams: Tour ’24, April 11.
- Free Beer and Hot Wings Live at Night, April 13.
- Jessica Kirson, April 20.
- An Evening with Phil Rosenthal of "Somebody Feed Phil," May 2.
Comedy superstar Katt Williams brings his Dark Matter Tour to Van Andel Arena on May 11.
Check the performance schedules for The Comedy Project, Dr. Grins Comedy Club, Midtown, Golden Age at Creston Brewery and Don’t Tell Comedy for even more funny business.
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Gilda’s LaughFest debuted in 2011 in Grand Rapids as the first-ever community-wide comedy festival in the nation. Every year…
- 8 min
Sometimes the weight of life calls for a healthy dose of the best medicine out there: laughter. If you’re on the prowl for a proper belly…
Performing Arts
Back to Top of ListBroadway Grand Rapids continues to bring amazing theatrical experiences to DeVos Performance Hall:
- Les Misérables, the international musical phenomenon, March 5-10.
- Wicked, the musical tale of Oz before Dorothy dropped in, May 15-June 2.
Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids presents The Hatmaker’s Wife, a modern-day fable in which a young woman discovers the secrets of her past with the help of a talking wall. Feb. 29 and March 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10.
Best Kept Secrets is a suspense drama about four middle-aged friends whose innocent game reveals a dark confession. At LowellArts March 1-3 & 8-10.
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
- Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park is a hilarious and touching romantic comedy about two newlyweds. March 7-9, 14-16 & 21-23.
- See Rock City, a tender and funny tale following a young American couple around the time of WWII. April 25-May 4.
Deos Contemporary Ballet performs four world-premiere works alongside the return of an audience favorite from the company’s 2018 debut. March 15-17.
Grand Rapids Ballet dancers choreograph short world-premiere dance works for Jumpstart, an annual audience favorite. At Peter Martin Wege Theatre March 22-24.
The Agatha Christie mystery classic Murder on the Orient Express comes to the local stage courtesy of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. April 19-May 5.
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.
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.
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.
Live Music
Back to Top of ListSee some of music’s biggest names in concert at Van Andel Arena this spring:
- Winter Jam, Christian music’s biggest tour, March 10.
- Heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, March 11.
- Country superstars Dan + Shay, March 14.
- Pop-rockers Fall Out Boy, March 26.
- 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.
DeVos Performance Hall hosts a trio of international musical acts:
- Grammy Award-winning Mexican American group Intocable, March 3.
- Brit Floyd: P-U-L-S-E, a Pink Floyd tribute band, April 3.
- Celtic Woman, blending traditional & contemporary Irish music, April 9.
St. Cecelia Music Center welcomes these artists to its acoustically superb concert hall:
- Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Society “Instrumental Array,” March 7.
- Singer-songwriter (and Michigan native) Marshall Crenshaw, March 22.
- Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Samara Joy, March 26.
- Grammy Award-winning folk singer Marc Cohn, April 11.
- Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center “String Magic,” April 18.
The Grand Rapids Symphony performs 15 concerts this spring, including Prokofiev Symphony No. 7 (March 1-2), Celtic Landscapes with Eileen Ivers (March 15-16), Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony (March 22-23), A Night of Symphonic Boy Bands (March 29), A Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus Celebration (April 12-13) and May the Fourth Be With You: Star Wars and More! (May 3-4). Check out the full Symphony schedule.
Candlelight Concerts features the Kalhaven String Quartet performing much-loved music at unique locations:
- A Tribute to Adele at John Ball Zoo’s Bissell Tree House, March 21.
- A Tribute to Coldplay at Fountain Street Church, March 30.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is the setting for Concert Under the Stars: Sarena Rae. March 21-22.
Downtown’s Grand Rapids Public Library hosts a series of free Music in the Stacks concerts:
- Genre-blending band PHABIES, March 21.
- GVSU Music Students performing classical pieces, April 4.
- Free Hat, rooted in trip-hop, jazz, punk indie rock and jungle genres, April 18.
Circle Theatre gets the jump on warm weather with its Summer Concert Series saluting musical icons and genres:, performed by local talent:
- The Music of Guardians of the Galaxy: Volumes 1-3, April 5.
- 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 Andrea von Kampen (March 22), The Insiders: A Tribute to Tom Petty (April 12) and Suzanne Vega (April 27). 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.
Grand Rapids has a growing music scene that celebrates live music through over 100 venues running from small coffeehouses to arenas, music festivals, events, outdoor concerts, musical theater and symphonies. Explore our area with the Grand Rapids Music Trail and other great music-themed trip ideas.
Family Fun
Back to Top of ListJohn Ball Zoo opens for the season March 22. Come see the new spring babies!
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).
Grand Rapids Gold basketball continues through March 30, Grand Rapids Griffins hockey through April 21, and Grand Rapids Rise volleyball through May 12, all 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.
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.
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre presents Disney’s Descendants: The Musical, based on the popular Disney Channel movies about the teenaged children of Disney villains. March 1-3, 6-10 & 13-17.
The Grand Ballet School’s Junior Company presents Snow White, a fairytale ballet based on the Brothers Grimm tale. March 8-10 & 16-17.
Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure is an action-filled, music-packed production based on the animated preschool series. At DeVos Performance Hall March 12-13.
Monster Jam 2024 brings the world’s best drivers and their 12,000-pound monster trucks to tear up the dirt in Van Andel Arena. March 22-24.
The 54th Annual Sugarbush Festival at Blandford Nature Center includes maple sugaring demos and techniques, taste tests, wildlife encounters, maple cotton candy, games/crafts and more. March 23.
See life-size models, engage with hands-on attractions, help build a world record-setting mosaic and shop for hard-to-find LEGO merchandise at Brick Fest Live, March 30-31 at DeVos Place.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is hosting a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on downtown’s Blue Bridge April 8.
Celebrate Earth Day Birthdays with Wildlife Ambassadors Archimedes the Long-eared Owl and Quillber, the North American Porcupine at Blandford Nature Center. April 20.
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.
Blandford Nature Center, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Ballet and the Grand Rapids Public Museum are some of the local attractions offering special spring break programming. Check out our suggestions for Things to Do With Kids and Things to Do with Teens for more spring break ideas.
Food & Drink
Back to Top of ListChoose a beautiful spring day to tour local breweries by foot, pedal or van – and don’t miss these great craft beverage events:
- Grand Rapids Bourbon Fest at Studio D2D, March 2.
- Grand Rapids Whiskey Festival at DeVos Place, March 23.
- Bridge Street Makers Market & Bar Hop, April 20.
- Chilly Blues & Brews at The B.O.B., March 23.
Take a guided Walking Food Tour of Downtown Grand Rapids – it includes five stops at local eateries plus interesting tidbits about local history and culture. April 13 & 20.
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.
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.
Outdoor Recreation
Back to Top of ListGet out and get active! April 1 is the unofficial start of the area’s golf and fishing seasons – but there are sure to be some golf courses opening at the first hint of nicer weather and the steelhead run starts in downtown’s Grand River in March.
Did you know Grand Rapids has been ranked 1 of the top 20 disc golf cities in the U.S.? Here are 14 courses that help justify that lofty position.
Bike and hike 60+ local trails to get your legs and heart pumping while enjoying the signs of spring. Pull your mountain bike out of storage and hit our groomed trails (as long as they’re not too wet). Rent or bring your own canoe, kayak or paddleboard to venture out onto warmer waters.
The Amway River Bank Run, which features the largest 25K road race in the country, welcomes 10,000+ people to traverse the route from downtown Grand Rapids to Millennium Park and back again. May 11.
Lace up your shoes for even more spring runs:
- Corewell Health Irish Jig 5K in East Grand Rapids, March 16.
- 2024 Pine Ridge Color Run in Cedar Springs, April 13.
- Rivertown 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Races at Millennium Park, April 20.
- Barry-Roubaix Killer Gravel Road Race, April 20.
- Grand Rapids Road Mile in downtown GR, April 21.
- Hurt the Dirt Trail Races at Luton Park, April 27.
- Hometown Half Marathon, April 28
- Michigan Adventure Race at Cannonsburg Ski Area, May 18.
As always, check our Events Calendar for things to do on specific dates.
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