Date Your Sweetie All Year Long: 12 Months of Fun Ideas
As we turn the page to a new year, it’s the perfect time to plan some special nights out with your favorite person. We’ve rounded up our top date night ideas around Grand Rapids to help you make the most of every season.
Join us as we explore the best ways to connect, have fun, and make memories together, one month at a time.
Now all you need to do is call the sitter and grab your significant other. Cheers and Happy Dating!
Interesting Grand Rapids Date Ideas for Every Month of the Year
January – Ice Skate Downtown
Rosa Parks Circle
135 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Celebrate the start of a New Year with a trip consider celebrating anytime this month with the quintessential Grand Rapids experience: Ice Skating at Rosa Parks Circle.
There’s something magical about grabbing the hand of your date and taking a spin around the rink.
Add the ambiance of festively lit trees and an admission price of only $3 per person (skates included) and you have a romantic, but inexpensive night on the town.
Ice skating not your thing? Try sledding or tubing instead.
February – Attend World of Winter
Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
From January 9 – March 1, 2026, the city of Grand Rapid is transforming its downtown into America’s largest winter festival. Bundle up and bring your partner downtown to World of Winter.
This free winter festival has everything from glow-in-the-dark installations and a giant singing tree to a light show and lit inflatables exploring the city.
You’ll need to go more than once in order to see it all.
March – Butterflies are Blooming at Meijer Gardens
1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Escape the cool air and head to The Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory at Frederik Meijer Gardens March 1 – April 30. Think tropical vibes, lush greenery, and butterflies fluttering all around you.
It’s fun, a little whimsical, and surprisingly romantic – perfect for an easy, no-pressure date where you can wander, chat, and enjoy something a little different together.
April – Grand Rapids Lantern Festival
John Ball Zoo: 1300 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Looking for a date night with a little wow factor? The GR Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo runs April 8 – June 14, 2026, and is pure magic day and night.
With 50+ glowing, hand-crafted lanterns and interactive displays and all-new features for 2026, it’s absolutely worth a visit (even if you went last year).
May – Tulip Time in Holland
42 W 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
Tulip Time in Holland feels like the unofficial kickoff to spring – and it’s only about a 40 minute drive from Grand Rapids, making it an easy and fun date idea.
With millions of tulips in full bloom, live entertainment, and all the tulip-themed fun you can imagine, there’s no shortage of things to do.
Between the walking routes, Nelis’ Dutch Village, the carnival, Windmill Island Gardens, and all the great restaurants in downtown Holland, you can easily spend the whole day exploring.
June – Summer Concert Music on the Lawn
Ada: 7430 River St SE, Ada, MI 49301
Summer nights don’t get much better than Music on the Lawn in Ada. This free summer concert series is the perfect low-key date.
Grab dinner or drinks from a nearby spot in the social district, then bring your own chairs or a cozy blanket and settle in for live music under the stars.
July – Hit the Beach
West Michigan
Turn a simple beach day into an easy, thoughtful date. Grab picnic-ready goodies from The Toasted Pickle in GR, then head to the Lake Michigan shoreline and set up wherever the vibe feels right.
Oval Beach is a classic choice – but there are endless beach options along the lake shore like Grand Haven State Park, Tunnel Park, Kouaw Park, Laketown or Kirk Park, just to name a few.
August – Fresh Food & Patio Dining
Fulton Street Farmers Market: 1145 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Downtown Holland Farmers Market: 150 W 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
To market, to market!
Shop together for some delicious local produce at Fulton Street Farmers Market, Holland or Muskegon.
Grab fresh, local ingredients, then turn them into a cozy at-home meal to enjoy al fresco… or keep it simple and take those fresh flavors straight to an outdoor patio for dinner.
September – Escape in 60 Minutes or Less
450 S State St B, Sparta, MI 49345
Take your date for 60 minutes of interactive fun at Abandoned Acres Escape Adventures, just north of Grand Rapids.
Solve puzzles and challenges while racing against the clock.
Work with each other as you try to break free — both an exhilarating and unique night out!
October – Drink Cider by the Fire Pit
Farmhaus Cider: 5025 Stanton St, Hudsonville, MI 49426
Fall and flannel pair perfectly with cider.
Take a road trip south of Grand Rapids to Hudsonville, the home of Farmhaus Ciders.
Unwind with a hard cider flight, play yard games, and cozy up by a fire pit.
Check their event calendar before you go and you may find your favorite food truck on site. Check out this list of 50+ cider mills in Michigan.
November – Enlighten
1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
A Winter Wonderland awaits when you and your sweetie stroll through the Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World and ENLIGHTEN at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
ENLIGHTEN is part art exhibit, part light show, part festive celebration, and all-around “wow” moment. Stroll through dazzling light displays, enjoy interactive exhibits, and soak in the sparkling atmosphere.
See 42 decorated international trees, soak up the warmth in the Conservatory or bundle up and discover the beauty of the outdoor Japanese Gardens in wintertime.
December – Christmas Light Tour
Grand Rapids
Turn a classic holiday tradition into a cozy date night!
Grab some snacks, brew a thermos of hot cocoa, cue up your favorite holiday playlist, and hit the road to explore the best Christmas lights in Grand Rapids.
From sparkling neighborhoods to over-the-top displays, and festive hotspots around Grand Rapids, you’re sure to find something jaw-dropping.
What Are Your Favorites?
We know there’s so much to do in Grand Rapids. What are your Can’t-Miss Events?
