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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.

You don’t have to be a kid to take advantage of our Spring Break hotel special – stay at least two nights at a participating hotel between March 20 and April 12, 2026, and you’ll get two Attraction Pass GR vouchers good for FREE admission to seven local attractions!

Looking for a Deal? Book a Spring Break Hotel Package and Save!

Spring Festivals & Events

Grand Rapids pulls out all the stops to celebrate spring. Join us as we kick off the season with five days of stand-up comedy and fun interactive events at LaughFest (March 11-15). Get your green on at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, including the massive Irish Off Ionia outdoor festival. Wander through a tropical conservatory filled with hundreds of colorful winged wonders during Butterflies are Blooming at Meijer Gardens (March 1 - April 30). Explore the intersecting stories of wildlife and Asian culture at John Ball Zoo’s Grand Rapids Lantern Festival. See millions of tulips in bloom at the Holland Tulip Time Festival, just 30 minutes from downtown GR. 

Chihuly glass sculpture at Meijer Gardens
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park's Butterflies are Blooming exhibit

Meijer Gardens 2026 Exhibitions: Butterflies are Blooming (Mar 1-Apr 30) and CHIHULY (May 2-Nov 1)

Photo by Courtesy of Meijer Gardens

Art & Culture

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 one of GR’s most cherished spring traditions!

CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens invites you to experience the magic of glass art like never before, with breathtaking Dale Chihuly works placed throughout outdoor gardens and in an immersive indoor gallery. May 2 - Nov 1.

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

The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives is welcoming visitors to its newly opened downtown space – 15 times the size of its previous location – to discover the vast and vibrant history of the local Black community.

Take advantage of fine spring weather to take a self-guided walking tour of downtown GR murals, painted ticket booths and electrical boxes, and sculptures east and west of the Grand River.

2024 Grand Rapids Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo
Lighted art display at Grand Rapids Lantern Festival at nighttime.

Grand Rapids Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo

Photo by Bryan Esler for Experience GR

Cultural Celebrations

Join in GR’s celebration of Women’s History Month with events and activities throughout March.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations include our traditional downtown parade and Irish Off Ionia, a huge outdoor festival, both on March 14.

The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival returns to John Ball Zoo with all-new handcrafted lantern displays that illuminate a one-mile path and tell the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian culture. April 8 - June 14.

Dutch culture takes the spotlight at the Holland Tulip Time Festival from May 1-10. 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 Sunday, May 10 – it’s never too early to secure brunch or dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant.

Funny Business

LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, returns with 30+ free and ticketed events – including performances by Adam Ray, Tommy Cook, Tim Convy, Maggie Hughes DePalo and more – from March 11-15.

Several of the nation’s hottest comedy talents are coming to Grand Rapids this spring, including:

  • Comedians Sherri Shepherd (March 13), Stavros Halkias (April 11), Vir Das (April 16) and Kathleen Madigan (April 17) at GLC Live at 20 Monroe.
  • Comedian, host, writer and producer Daniel Tosh at DeVos Performance Hall. April 4.
  • Mike Epps, DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and more for the We Them Ones Comedy Tour at Van Andel Arena. April 18.

See local and regional comedians perform live at downtown GR’s Chicago Beef Joint during the no-cover-charge Sunday Night Funnies every week. Check the performance schedules for The Comedy Project , Dr. Grins, Don’t Tell Comedy and Wealthy Theatre for even more funny business.

Performing Arts

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

  • & Juliet, the hilarious musical that asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? March 10-15.
  • Disney’s The Lion King, the spectacular musical based on the beloved movie. April 8-26.

Actors’ Theatre, the Grand Rapids equivalent of New York’s Off Broadway, presents two Michigan premieres:

  • Dance Nation, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist about a cutthroat pre-teen dance team (played by adult actors), March 5-14.
  • cullud wattah, exploring the Flint water crisis and the generational power of Black women in the face of environmental and systemic injustice. May 7-16.

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre presents Dial M for Murder, a new version of the celebrated murder mystery that inspired Hitchcock’s masterpiece, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, from April 17-May 3.

Dancing with the Stars LIVE comes to DeVos Performance Hall with special guest co-host Andy Richter, March 8.

The Screwtape Letters, a faithful, provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic novel, is at DeVos Performance Hall March 29.

Circle Theatre kicks off its 2026 theatrical season with the musical comedy Forever Plaid, featuring great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950s. May 14-30.

Acrisure Amphitheater rendering
Experience smaller and larger shows at one of the Intersection's four venues.

Live music in Grand Rapids at the new Acrisure Amphitheater (opening May 15) or smaller venues like the Intersection.

Photo by Courtesy of Acrisure Amphitheater

Live Music

Join in the excitement of the new Acrisure Amphitheater, a 12,000+ outdoor performance venue opening May 15 with Lionel Richie, War and Treaty and Grand Rapids’ own Brian Vander Ark in concert. Kid Cudi takes the stage May 27 and Russell Dickerson rolls in May 30, kicking off a summer full of superstar concerts.

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

See a concert under the (indoor) stars at Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium inside the Grand Rapids Public Museum: Clawfoot and visual artist Will Mosqueda perform March 12-13 and Sunken Melody appear with visual artist Joe Zook April 9-10.

St. Cecilia Music Center hosts four folk legends – Shawn Colvin (March 8), Sam Bush (March 26), Joan Osborne (April 30) and Leo Kottke (May 12) –  plus the Branford Marsalis Quartet (March 19 and two Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performances: Quintet Revelations (April 16) and Schubertiade (May 14).

The Grand Rapids Symphony’s spring concert schedule includes Mahler’s Six (March 6-7), Coffee Concert with Conductor Duo Shen (March 13), Evening Concert with Duo (March 13), Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony (March 20-21), Seductive Ravel (March 27-28), Coffee Concert with Conductor Bob Bernhardt (April 24), Evening Concert with Bob (April 24), Sounds of Laurel Canyon: 60s & 70s Rock Legends (May 1-2) and Orchestral Fireworks (May 8-9).  

DeVos Performance Hall welcomes Los Tigres Del Norte (March 22), Bob Dylan (April 2) and Brit Floyd (May 19).

Relax at Rosa is a lunchtime entertainment series bringing local musical talent, a variety of food trucks and oversized outdoor games to downtown GR’s Rosa Parks Circle every Thursday from May 7-September 3.

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

  • Déjà Vu: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, May 18.
  • Turn It On Again: The Music of Genesis, May 26.

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

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

Spring Things to Do

There are lots of Grand Rapids, Michigan attractions worth a trip to the area. Family favorite John Ball Zoo opens for the season March 20, with 2,000 different animals and more animal-touching exhibits than any other zoo in Michigan, all five minutes from downtown GR. Blandford Nature Center offers its own wildlife experiences along with a series of popular events organized around the spring tapping of its maple trees for syrup.

Four downtown museums offer a cavalcade of new spring exhibits just steps away from hotels and restaurants. Downtown’s Van Andel Arena hosts up to 12,000 spectators for Grand Rapids Griffins hockey, Grand Rapids Gold basketball and Grand Rapids Rise female volleyball games throughout the spring, plus big-name concerts and family shows. The Acrisure Amphitheater is new-in-2026 with a 12,000+ seating capacity outdoor performance venue for diverse touring acts alongside downtown GR’s Grand River. Travel by skywalk from Van Andel Arena to DeVos Performance Hall to attend touring Broadway productions, plus symphony concerts and more. Check venue schedules to see what’s on stage during your visit. 

Just 15 minutes from downtown, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park offers what Travel+Leisure Magazine calls one of the best spring cherry blossom displays in the U.S. Check out other popular Grand Rapids, Michigan attractions along with local things to do with kids, things to do with teens and things to do inside when spring weather is less than ideal – all full of great suggestions for Spring Break.

Recreation
Images of the landscape and wildlife experiences hosted at the Blandford Nature Center, 2023
Recreation

Visiting Blandford Nature Center

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Looking for a fun family adventure in Grand Rapids? Head to Blandford Nature Center! Tucked away off…

Experiences
Grand Rapids Griffins
Experiences

Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey

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Calling all hockey fans! Gear up to cheer for the Grand Rapids Griffins, a development affiliate of…

Experiences
Cooking class at the Local Epicurean
Experiences

Things to Do Inside

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Experiences
People at Rosa Parks Circle
Experiences

Top Things to Do

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Looking for fun things to do on your Grand Rapids getaway (or staycation)? Ask 10 people for…

Experiences
Family experiencing the Butterflies are Blooming Exhibition at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Experiences

Education Experiences

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If your family is homeschooling or loves taking educational vacations, you may want to take…

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X-Golf Grandville X-Golf Grandville
Experiences

Indoor Places Where Adults Can Play Like Kids

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Tired of kids having all the fun? We have solutions for you! There are a growing number of…

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Fall Grand Rapids Skyline
Experiences

Take a Soft Trip to Grand Rapids

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Get more out of your getaway by doing less. That’s the idea behind “soft…

Experiences
Girls Trip at Celeste Salon & Spa
Experiences

Take a Spa & Wellness Trip to Grand Rapids

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Grand Rapids, Michigan is a city known for its vibrant food and drink culture – think Flights…

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Summer Skyline 2024 Downtown Grand Rapids
Experiences

20 Fun and FREE Things to do in Grand Rapids

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Whoever said nothing in life is free hasn't been to Kent County, Michigan. The greater Grand…

Experiences
GR Grand Prix Go Kart Racing
Experiences

Adventure Abounds in Grand Rapids

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Attention thrill seekers: you’ll find plenty of activities to get your adrenaline pumping in…

Shopping
Friends Shopping at the Woodland Mall
Shopping

Shopping Malls and More in Grand Rapids

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Grand Rapids is filled with all sorts of great shopping options – but for convenience…

Family Fun

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, adapted from the best-selling book. Feb. 27 - March 20.

John Ball Zoo opens for the season on March 20! New animals include Hugo the baby hippo and Juniper, a snow leopard cub. Say hello to Phil, a Magellanic penguin who earned the title of  World’s Most Popular Penguin in the 2025 March of the Penguin Madness tournament, and take advantage of more animal-touching exhibits than any other Michigan zoo. Coming this season: a new, much larger river otter exhibit with underwater viewing areas.

Monster Jam brings their Freestyle Mania show to Van Andel Arena, teaming up with Freestyle Motocross to deliver gravity-defying skills and thrills. March 20-22.

The Grand Rapids Gold wind down their basketball season with seven home games at Van Andel Arena in March and the Grand Rapids Rise female volleyball team plays seven home games at Van Andel in March and April. Here’s hoping the teams make the playoffs and extend their seasons!

The be nice. Family Fun Fest at DeVos Place combines high-energy fun with meaningful moments that support mental health and family well-being. Best of all, it’s FREE! March 28.

The West Michigan Whitecaps open their baseball season at home (LMCU Ballpark) on April 7 – and play 23 additional home games through May. Come cheer on the boys (and enjoy some great food, drink & promotions).

The Grand Rapids Public Museum presents Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family (thru April 24), showcasing the most “feared and revered” dinosaurs, and Backyard Adventures (thru Sept. 6), designed for kids aged 5-12 years old.

Berlin Raceway opens its 2026 season on April 25 – and continues every Saturday through ever Saturday through mid-September. Cheer on super late models, limited late models, sportsman, 4-cylinder autos and more as they race around the track.

Blandford Nature Center offers a host of kid-friendly events and activities, including the annual Sugarbush Festival (March 14), a Frog Call Hike (April 8 & 24), and a Spring Wildflower Walk for ages 13+ (May 19). Check out the full Blandford Community Calendar.

DeVos Performance Hall hosts Dog Man The Musical, based on the worldwide best-selling children’s book series, May 3.

Check out our suggestions for Planning a Family Adventure, Things to Do With Kids and Things to Do with Teens for more family fun ideas.

Food & Drink

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

The annual Roll ‘N Out Food Truck Fest includes some of the area’s best food trucks along with other local vendors, a beer tent and live music. May 2.

The inaugural Pickle Palooza Food & Drink Fest comes to LMCU Ballpark on May 2 with all sorts of pickle-themed food, craft beverages, live music, pickle-eating and brine-chugging contests, and more.

Cider Week GR (May 8-16) celebrates the local hard cider scene with nine days of tap takeovers, cider-pairing dinners and other lip-smacking activities around town, all culminating in a Cider Festival at Rosa Parks Circle on May 16.

GR8 Food Truck Fridays is back for a 10th season at Riverside Park with 20+ food trucks, live music, an artisan village and beer tent every week from May 15-August 14.

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

More and more outdoor dining spaces will open as the weather gets warmer – enjoy a delicious meal on a sunny patio, deck or rooftop.

Check in to eight local breweries to become a Beer City Brewsader® and earn a free t-shirt. Check into 30+ breweries for a free sweatshirt.

Get the Flights of Flavor® app to find the city’s best food and/or drink flights, and earn points toward free merchandise as you delight your taste buds.

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

Shopping

Shop for products and inspirations at three DeVos Place lifestyle shows: West Michigan Women’s Expo (March 6-8), Ultimate Sport Show (March 12-15) and Cottage & Lakefront Living Show (Mach 27-29).

The Big Room at Silva hosts the 4th annual Young Entrepreneurs Merchants and Makers Market, which also includes a Kids Variety Show, live music and food and drinks, March 7.

Boho Bazaar is an indoor pop-up market at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market with vendors offering macrame, beaded artworks, resin creations, clothing, stained glass and other bohemian/alternative-inspired items. March 28-29.

The 2026 Spring Textile Arts Market showcases items handcrafted pottery, clothing, accessories and more handcrafted by members of the West Michigan Potters Guild and Woodland Weavers and Spinners. April 25.

The Spring Market at historic Fulton Street Farmers Market features 120+ talented artisans showcasing their unique products, plus live music and food trucks. May 17.

The 4th annual Merchants and Makers at John Ball Zoo brings together 100+ local makers along with live music and food trucks. May 30.

Head to Woodland Mall  and Rivertown Crossings Mall for famous brand names, Tanger Outlet Mall for big discounts on designer merchandise, and these neighborhood shopping destinations for unique treasures.

Outdoor Spring Activities

If outdoor recreation is your favorite spring thing, you’ll want to explore the endless trails, waterways and parks in and around the city. You’ll get some exercise and an up-close look at spring wildflowers and newly active wildlife. Local golf courses start to open as early as March, depending on the weather, and there are more than 30 courses to play within 30 minutes of Grand Rapids. The West Michigan Whitecaps baseball team opens the 2026 season at home on April 7. The spring steelhead run on downtown GR’s Grand River draws anglers from around the state. Craig’s Cruisers Family Fun Park and Game Time Fun Park open their outdoor attractions, which include go-kart tracks and mini golf courses, as the weather warms up. See what else awaits you in the Grand Outdoors.

Experiences
Autumn at Meijer Gardens
Experiences

FAQ About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

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Michigan's second most popular tourist attraction ... the country's best sculpture park…

Recreation
Angler holding a steelhead in the Grand River
Recreation

Beginner’s Guide to Fishing in Grand Rapids

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Anglers of all experience levels will find excellent fishing opportunities in and around the Grand…

Sports
Couple at a Whitecaps game
Sports

West Michigan Whitecaps: Your Summer Tradition

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With dozens of themed nights, special giveaways, new food/drink choices and a variety of…

Outdoor Recreation

Get 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. The steelhead run starts in downtown’s Grand River in March.

Bike and hike 70+ 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.

See spring wildflowers in bloom at many area parks and nature reserves, including Blandford Nature Center, the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens, Wittenbach Agri Science Center and Millennium Park. See one of the nation’s best displays of cherry blossoms at Meijer Gardens – check the Gardens’ Cherry Blossom Tracker to time your visit.

Did you know Grand Rapids has been ranked 1 of the top 20 disc golf cities in the U.S.? Here are 15 courses that help justify that lofty position.

Did you also know Grand Rapids is a Midwest hub for pickleball? Check out dozens of indoor and outdoor courts, including inside Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits and on the roof at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

Hurt the Dirt Trail Races include a quarter, half and full marathon in Rockford’s Luton Park, a moderately hilly course with hard-packed dirt and little to no sand. April 25.

Tuesday Night Swing at Rosa Parks Circle is back for another season of dancing under the stars. No partner? No problem! All ages and skills welcome. Tuesdays from May 5-Oct. 13.

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 9.

Spring Break

Whether you’re on break from elementary school, high school, college or your everyday routine, you’ll find plenty of fun and fascinating things to do this March and April in Grand Rapids. You can also enjoy special Spring Break Savings: book a participating Grand Rapids hotel for at least 2 consecutive nights between March 20 and April 12, 2026, and you’ll also get two Attraction Pass GR vouchers for FREE admission to six local museums and a comedy club, plus discounts at other attractions.

Attraction Pass GR includes FREE admission to these museums and shows during Spring Break:

Also FREE with Attraction Pass GR: admission to a mainstage show at The Comedy Project, a comedy theater and moonshine bar in GR’s West Leonard Street district.

Spring Break means Butterflies are Blooming at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. America’s largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition runs from March 1 - April 30.

The home opener for the West Michigan Whitecaps baseball team at LMCU Ballpark is April 7, with five more home games from April 8-12, before many K-12 students have to return from spring break.

The Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team plays two home games in Van Andel Arena April 10 & 11. The 11th is Fan Appreciation Night!

The Grand Rapids Rise female volleyball team play five home games at Van Andel Arena from March 18 - April 12.

The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo opens during spring break for many elementary and high school students. Experience this breathtaking one-mile tour illuminated by handcrafted Asian lanterns April 8-June 14.

Blandford Nature Center offers a series of Spring Break Day Camps designed for ages 6-12: Camp Classic (April 6), Nature Art (April 7), Wildlife Adventures (April 8) and Mud Madness (April 9).

Spring Break Day Camp at Battle GR includes laser tag, court games, crafts, arcades and more. April 6-8.

Spring Break Camp at John Ball Zoo features games, animal encounters, interactive trips into the zoo and surrounding grounds, and much more. For students currently in kindergarten-5th grade. April 6-9.

Lionardo Art Studio offers day camps for different ages to create and process art: Hop to It for ages 3-6 (April 8-9), Secret Garden for ages 5-12 (April 6-10) and Fairies & Gnomes for ages 7-13 (April 2-5).

Bricks4Kidz invites kids ages 5-11 to design, build, and play with LEGO bricks while making new friends and using their imaginations at Bricks & Minifigs GR and That STEAM Space, April 6-9.

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park opens early for a Special Spring Break Week from April 2-12. Some see the park’s new baby hippo, new Indian rhino and more than 1,300 other animals. (Some animals might not be out if the weather is cold.)

The Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Show at Rogers Plaza Town Center in Wyoming is a free family spring break event for rockhounds and treasure hunters of all ages. April 9-11.

As always, check our Events Calendar for many more things to see and do on the dates you’re visiting!

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