Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, known as FMG to locals, is one of the most popular things to do in Grand Rapids.
It’s more than just a stunning botanical garden or well-heeled sculpture park. Changing with every season, Frederik Meijer Gardens is a delight any time of year.
This worth-the-drive destination contains over 150 acres of fun for every family member.
Every Visit Reveals Something New
With breathtaking landscaping, thoughtful sculpture art, and hands-on children’s activities indoors and out, it’s easy to spend an entire day at this West Michigan magnet for family entertainment.
Plan to visit several times so you can take in the beauty of the Christmas trees, the wonder of the butterflies in spring, the delightful summertime concerts, and the giant pumpkins and chrysanthemum displays of fall.
Grab your walking shoes and read on for the best tips for visiting Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI.
Admission Rates & Hours
When is Frederik Meijer Gardens open?
The Gardens are open from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, except for Sundays (open at 11:00 AM) and Tuesdays (open until 9:00 PM)
Get in Free with a Local Library Card
Kent District Library
KDL patrons (ages 18 and above) can use their library card “Perk Pass” to reserve up to 6 free passes for Frederick Meijer Gardens.
Cardholders can reserve passes online, print their passes, and visit their attraction on the date they reserved. For Meijer Gardens, Library cardholders may reserve 1 pass per calendar year.
Grand Rapids Public Library
GRPL Cardholders can access free tickets via their “check it out” program. The pass entitles up to 6 people to visit the organization 1 time for free. You must check out a pass or ticket in person at any of the 8 Grand Rapids Public Library locations. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meijer Gardens Christmas & Holiday Traditions with NEW Lightshow
November 22, 2022 – January 8, 2023
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
The Annual Meijer Gardes Christmas Trees Exhibit Returns
Every year, just before Thanksgiving, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Parks kicks off the holiday season with their University of Michigan Health-West Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibit.
Making a trek to see the trees and visit Santa is a favorite tradition for many West Michigan families.
Let Meijer Gardens Sweep You Away This Christmas Season
This holiday season treat yourself to all the festivities a Frederik Meijer Gardens Christmas can bring.
Take in the lights and trees, indulge in a Christmas carol or two, enjoy the dazzling light show, cross items off your shopping list, and return to childhood wonder as you follow miniature trains, pet the reindeer, and visit Santa.
With these activities and events sure to please the whole family, a Meijer Gardens Christmas is a perfect way to get that extra dose of holiday cheer!
Meijer Gardens Christmas Season
Christmas & Holiday Traditions at Frederik Meijer Gardens runs from Thanksgiving week through New Year’s weekend, November 22, 2022 – January 8, 2023.
In addition to the regular Tuesday late hours, they will be open until 9 pm December 19-23 & 26-30.
Meijer Gardens is closed for the day on Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1.
All activities listed below are included with admission.
Lena Meijer Children’s Garden
TIME NEEDED: 2+ hours
Every visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park should include a stroll through the Children’s Garden, with or without kids. It’s just that inviting.
Bonus: The Children’s Garden is open year-round.
This incredible outdoor space is a must for kids. The children’s garden is not far from the exit near the tropical conservatory.
(And I love that this expansive play area is completely fenced in, with only one way in or out. This ensures that even the wiliest children are kept within the confines of the space, which is a great relief to this mom.)
We’ve spent many hours enjoying the Children’s Garden. Here are our favorite things to do here, plus a few tips.
Enter through the Mouse Hole
Children’s Garden STOP 1
Let the kids enter through the Mouse Hole gate at the entrance (to the right of the giant bear sculpture).
Once inside, it’ll feel natural to want to go clockwise, but try experiencing the gardens in the opposite direction. This way you save the Great Lakes Garden for last and avoid getting wet until the end.
Head to the Butterfly Maze
Children’s Garden STOP 2
Tucked away in a corner of the garden sometimes missed is the hedge maze.
Kids wind their way through, seeing if they can find their way out, all while being entertained with drums and other features hidden in the maze.
Find your way to the bell and ring it to let everyone know you beat the maze.
Take the Labyrinth Trail to the Dinos
Children’s Garden STOP 3
Follow the Labyrinth to the dinos – don’t get dizzy! – and then take the sneaky backway trail to the Treehouse Village.
Stop 3: Treehouse Village
The gigantic wooden treehouse is a destination in itself.
With two levels, kids of all ages will have a blast hiding, exploring, and using their imaginations.
There is a nature quiz set up on the boardwalk and quite a few animals if you look closely.
Explore the upper and lower levels of the Treehouse and play among the trees.
Look all around you at the thoughtful details like animal footprints in the cement and manmade spider webs and spiders hiding up above. This is a great place for noticing!
Stop 4: Log Cabin
A short walk takes you to the log cabin, ready with old-fashioned fun.
There are many old-time games inside worth investigating.
Stop 5: Rock Quarry
Further down the path is the Rock Quarry. Here kids can dig for fossils with shovels and hand-operated diggers.
Warning: kids will want to play here a while!
Stop 6: Wooded Wetlands
As you travel towards the Great Lakes Garden, stop at the Wooded Wetlands and visit the (puppet) beavers in the Beaver Cave.
Stop 7: Kid-Sense Garden
Near the Great Lakes Garden (the large pool in the shape of the Great Lakes) is the Kid-Sense Garden.
Travel through the senses by finding leaves that feel like a lamb’s ear, flowers that look like eyeballs, and plants that smell like popcorn.
Stop 8: Great Lakes Garden
Build a bridge or launch a boat on the mini replica of the Great Lakes in the Great Lakes Garden.
My kids always get soaked playing at this mega water table, so I bring a change of clothes or even their bathing suit. Shoes are required.
Good to know: restrooms are nearby in the information building, making a clothes change easy.
Stop 9: Children of the World Fountain
Between the Great Lakes Garden and the Children’s Garden Entrace is the Children of the World Fountain.
This little spray area is perfect for little kids that want to splash.
Highlights in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden include:
- Great Lakes Garden (water play)
- Treehouse Village
- Storytelling Garden
- Kid-Sense Garden
- Rock Quarry
- Log Cabin
- Butterfly Maze
- Seasonal Activities
Michigan’s Farm Garden
TIME NEEDED: 30 minutes
The Frederik Meijer Gardens Farm Garden is an 1880s replica farmhouse where you can ring the bell, pump water, and rock on the porch in a rocking chair. There’s a barn to explore and play I Spy for old farm tools and lots of super cute sculptures of farm animals.
In the summertime, the farm garden often hosts activities and old-fashioned games for kids on special days.
While you’re there, be sure to:
1) Try Your Hand at This Old Pump
This water pump is just begging you to give it a try.
Kids and adults pump the handle and watch as the water splashes into the big collection basin.
2) Ding Dong, Time for Dinner
Kids can tug the rope of this working bell – and they love doing it.
Don’t be shy!
3) Say Hello to the Animal Sculptures Down on the Farm
Michigan’s Farm Garden, showing what life was like on a farm in Michigan in the 1930s, is home to animals as well.
Take a few minutes to find all of the animal sculptures dotting the area, as they would have been long ago.
The Japanese Garden
Time Needed: 45-60 minutes
The Japanese Garden is a contemplative space.
A quiet place for reflection and wandering, there is an immense amount of natural beauty and thoughtful sculptures placed throughout.
Be sure to climb to the top of the hill, where you get sweeping views of the whole garden.
Numerous bridges and pathways lead you past waterfalls, over ponds, and up and down hills.
Additionally, a bonsai collection is displayed in the Meijer Gardens Japanese Garden, near the Zen Garden.
The Sculpture Park: Top Things to Do
Time Needed: 60-90 minutes
We love walking the sculpture park, making sure to stop at The Waterfalls & Koi Pond.
1) Experience the American Horse Up Close
The American Horse, inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci stands majestically on the grounds of Meijer Gardens.
Kids and adults alike will enjoy posing with this enormous 24-foot sculpture and rolling down the grassy hills nearby.
2) Visit the Koi Fish at the Waterfall
Kids love just watching these giant fish swim around and it’s the perfect spot for selfies.
3) Buy Your Tram Ticket & Enjoy the Ride
Trams run seasonally and are not always available. But when they are available, they’re a great way to see the sculpture park.
The tour is narrated, so you’ll get to hear the stories behind the artwork you see along the way.
4) Walk the Loop to See Even More Art
Fall at Frederik Meijer Gardens
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is on the map for the holidays and for the springtime butterfly show, but most people don’t realize that a visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens in the fall is a treat as well.
Their annual Chrysanthemums & More! event brings autumn front and center, as mums, fall foliage, and harvest decorations bring out the best the season has to offer.
If you do everything on this Meijer Gardens Fall Fun list, you’re likely going to want to stay for the whole day.
*Side note: Our family purchases an annual membership – which is an idea all families should consider if you think you might visit more than once in a year.
1) Enter the Children’s Garden through the Little Gate
The little door is a delight. Kids will think it’s pretty funny if you go through it, too.
We love how the garden’s entrance changes with the seasons. It’s magical.
2) Take Selfies with the Scarecrows
Just inside of the entrance you’ll find a few scarecrow friends waiting for photos.
3) Visit the Giant Pumpkins at the Farm Garden
If you’re lucky enought to visit while the gigantic pumpkins are on the property, you’ll find them near the farmhouse in the farm garden.
4) Take Selfies in the Pumpkin Patch
Put little kids in this grassy area filled with oversized pumpkins and they immediately start climbing.
Haybales and cornstalks flank the area, ready for your family selfies and candid shots.
5) Drink in the Quiet Beauty of the Japanese Garden
This garden is more contemplative and does not offer the hands-on experiences found in the Children’s Garden or the Farm Garden.
I’ve dubbed the Japanese Garden the “noticing and thinking garden” with my kids.
Numerous bridges and pathways lead you past waterfalls, over ponds, and up and down hills.
6) Take Photos Against the Autumn Backdrop
Trek through the sculpture park and be on the look out for nature’s interaction with the art.
Vibrany colors from changing folaige may gift you with once-in-a-lifetime displays.
7) Don’t Miss the Mums
If you spent all of your time outdoors, you’d miss the fabulous display of mums in the Victorian Garden Parlor and the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory.
Be sure to keep your camera handy, because the wall of mums is another perfect backdrop for gorgeous fall photos.
8) Attend Hallowee-Ones in Late October
Dress your child as a sculpture, mammal, fish, insect, bird, tree, flower or in any other way that highlights something about the Children’s Garden.
Celebrate Halloween with your wee-ones as you listen to Halloween-themed stories and go on a Halloween-themed hunt. No tricks, no treats, just fun!
Fee: Included with admission
The Tropical Conservatory & Other Indoor Gardens
Time Needed: 30-45 minutes
This is my favorite part. Venturing through the different garden areas and wondering at the different kinds of plants that they’re growing in different environments. I mean, where else can you find the tropics in Michigan in the dead of winter??
There’s the Arid Garden, the Carnivorous Plant House, and the Tropical Conservatory. The tropical conservatory alone is a sight to see. The soaring ceilings (5 stories!) make you feel like you’re truly outdoors as you take in amazing foliage and catch glimpses of the birds that call the conservatory their home.
While you’re here, be sure to look for the bananas in the banana tree.
These places are super popular each spring when the butterflies are blooming in the conservatory. They even make a special caterpillar room in this area during the butterfly event, and kids love looking around the garden for caterpillars hiding on leaves.
Curiousity Courtyard
Time Needed: 30-45 minutes
So Meijer Gardens’ indoor activities for kids have really ramped up. Their newest endeavor: the Curiosity Courtyard, an entire peaceful play area in the lower level.
Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classic The Secret Garden and composed of elements popular in English garden design, this 2,500 square foot space includes ten engaging activity stations.
Honestly. feeling a little jealous that I’m not a kid right now…
I love watching the games kids make up when they’re hanging out in the Curiosity Courtyard.
Bonus: Guests can use the nearby Mother’s Room for nursing.
The Cafe at Frederik Meijer Gardens
And if you’re hungry, don’t miss the James & Shirley Balk Cafe, located behind the gift shop.
Not only are there kid-friendly options on their artisanal menu, but the cafe itself is a beautiful spot for lunch.
Don’t forget to look up to see amazing Chihuly glass sculptures.
The Gift Shop
My kids could spend hours in the gift shop looking at all the clever educational toys and colorful art pieces. I like to tell my kids beforehand that they have X amount of dollars to spend on something special.
They’ll consider their choices forever, giving me lots of time to shop the “grown-up” side of the gift shop. I’ve given and received my fair share of gifts from this place.
Meijer Gardens Map & Overview
It’s helpful to get an overview of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park before your first visit.
The destination has both indoor and outdoor components. The weather during your visit and the current exhibits may impact the gear you bring along.
Outdoor attractions include:
- Sculpture Park
- Japanese Garden
- Children’s Garden
- Farm Garden
- Boardwalk
- Amphitheater
Indoor attractions include:
- Tropical Conservatory
- Arid Garden
- Carnivorous Plant House
- Sculpture Galleries
- Kids Curiousity Corner
- Gift Shop
- Cafe
Meijer Gardens Concerts & Tuesday Evening Music Club
Summer Concert Series
FMG’s summer concert series is a highly anticipated season for live music fans.
Expect amazing performances from acts like Lyle Lovett, The Verve Pipe, Emmylou Harris, the GR Symphony, The Accidentals & more.
Tickets sell out quickly each summer, and members get first dibs.
Tuesday Evening Music Club
Summer Tuesday nights at the amphitheater are reserved for free concerts (with admission) at Meijer Gardens!
Featuring local and regional musicians, you can even find family-friendly performances and a more chill vibe.
Guests are welcome to bring a picnic or grab a bite from the cafe to enjoy at the show.
Get your tickets on the day-of at either the welcome center or the box office.
Meijer Gardens Classes & Camps – 2022 Summer Camps Included
What You Can Expect at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Summer Camps
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Summer Camps last from one to five days and serve children and young teens. Their unique selection of camps is sure to engage and educate.
More than 130 classes for adults, children, and adult/child pairs are offered year-round, and more than 30 engaging camps for children ages 4 to 14 are offered each summer.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to present a summer of fun, with camps for kids of all ages!
WIN Tickets to Frederik Meijer Gardens
There are no giveaways for Frederick Meijer Gardens Tickets at this time. Check back soon!
Here are all current GRKIDS giveaways.
Camps explore themes based on Meijer Gardens’ mission of promoting the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Summer Camps Session Details
Explore your inner artist with art-focused camps like Photo Ops (July 15-18, ages 10-14), where kids will learn about photography with fun art projects, Plenty of Art (August 12, ages 6-9) and Outdoor Watercolor (July 29 – Aug. 1, ages 10-14).
For budding young explorers, we have camps like The Great Lakes Adventure (Aug. 12-13, ages 8-9), where each camper will learn fun facts about the Great Lakes and build and test small model boats, Build a Model Treehouse (July 22-23, ages 10-12), and Movin’ Around the Gardens (July 29-Aug. 1, ages 4-5).
For campers ages 6-8, looking for a whole week of adventure, we have Camp Kaleidoscope: A Wacky Week of Fun (June 24-28 or July 8-12). In this camp, kids will explore The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, Michigan’s Farm Garden and Sculpture Park and participate in fun activities like making butter, designing boats, playing survival games and creating a collection of unique works of art.
Meijer Gardens’ camps are a great way for kids to engage in learning during the summer while having fun and making new friends. Explore all the great summer camps offered at Meijer Gardens.
>> More West Michigan Summer Camps
Meijer Gardens Memberships
As of February 2022, Family Memberships (one or two adults and children in the household under 18) are $115.
You can add a guest for $38, allowing you to bring one extra non-household guest every time you visit.
Individual tickets are $18 for adults and $8.50 for kids (ages 3-13). Students with an ID are $13.50. So if you had a child in the 3-13 age group, a family visit would run $53. In this case, a Meijer Gardens membership would pay for itself in just about 2 visits.
And I’d say that most families with a membership visit at least 6 times a year, and if you’re my family, it’s more like once a week in the spring and summer and at least once a month the rest of the year.
PERKS of a Meijer Gardens Membership
- Early Hours: The first full weekend of each month on Saturdays from 8 am – 9 am and Sundays from 9 am – 11 am are exclusive to members.
- Unlimited General Admission for Members and Guests Based on Membership Level
- Gift Shop Discount
- Early access to discounted concert tickets
- Invitations to Member-Only Events
- Quarterly Seasons Magazine
- Reciprocal privileges with other botanical gardens
- Discounts on Classes and Workshops for Kids and Adults
Special Events at the Gardens
Families eagerly await these annual events at the gardens, adding a little extra sparkle to their visit.
- Tuesday Evening Music Club: included with FMG admission the Amphitheater hosts a variety of local musicians. Pack a picnic, bring a chair and enjoy the sounds.
- Summer Concert Series: bringing an amazing array of international musicians, you can experience an intimate and beautiful show. Members get first dibs on tickets.
- Butterflies are Blooming (March 1 – April 30): Each spring thousands of butterflies fill the Tropical Conservancy.
- Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World (November 21 – January 7): Transformed into a winter wonderland, Christmas trees from around the world fill the halls and Santa is available to hear all your Christmas wishes. Don’t miss the model train or the pickle in the Germany Tree.
- Chrysanthemums & More: Each fall the Children’s Garden is filled with mums and giant pumpkins.
- Artprize: the only venue outside of GR city limits that hosts a series of artists.
Meijer Gardens Butterflies
Are there butterflies at the Frederik Meijer Gardens?
Yes, if you time it right. The Meijer Gardens butterflies display is open annually during the months of March and April.
How big is the butterfly exhibit?
The Meijer Gardens butterflies exhibit is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit in the country and includes over 7000 butterflies.
How much is the butterfly exhibit at Meijer Gardens?
A visit to the Meijer Gardens butterflies exhibit is included with general admission. Daily entrance rates for nonmembers are $18 for adults (ages 14-64) and $8.50 for children (ages 3-13). Museums for All participants pay $2 and FMG members get in free.
Can I Touch the Butterflies?
Do not reach for the butterflies or touch them. However, if you stand very still, a butterfly may choose to land on you. Wearing bright colors may encourage a butterfly to land and increase your odds!
How long does it take to visit the Meijer Gardens butterflies?
Plan to spend 2-3 hours visiting the Meijer Garden butterflies. This timeframe is dependent on the size of the crowd during your visit. Wait times swell during spring break and diminish on weekdays.
When is the best time to visit the Meijer Gardens butterflies?
Butterflies are most active on sunny days, so if your schedule is flexible, pay attention to the weather. The best bet for small crowds is on a weekday first thing in the morning or during the late afternoon, about an hour before closing. The busiest times are on weekends and over spring break.
Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair into the butterfly exhibit?
Yes, the Meijer Gardens butterflies exhibit is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. However, due to the popularity of the event, it may be preferable to use a baby carrier if that’s an option for you.
What happens to the butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens?
Butterflies are shipped to Meijer Gardens from all around the world for this exhibit. They arrive in their pre-butterfly state as pupae, which are tiny caterpillars. Once at FMG, they eat and grow until they form cocoons. At this point, the cocoons are placed in the conservatory’s see-through Observation Station where you can watch the butterflies emerge. Staff periodically releases the butterflies into the conservatory, where they will live out their natural lifespan of several weeks.
Our family loves visiting the annual Butterflies are Blooming exhibit with cameras in tow.
The exhibit returns to the Meijer Gardens Tropical Conservatory every March and April, letting you walk amidst 7,000 tropical butterflies of 60 different species fluttering overhead.
It’s a unique – and warm – 85-degree experience in 70% humidity. (Dress in layers for your comfort.)
And since I’ve gone to the exhibit every year since before I had kids, I’ve got tips for bringing all ages along to the Meijer Gardens butterflies.
1) Start in the Caterpillar Room
The butterflies you will see started out as caterpillars. In the caterpillar room, you have the chance to find them hiding on green leafy plants all over the room. Since these caterpillars are native to Michigan, they do not have to be contained like the butterflies in the larger exhibit do.
Docents are usually on hand and love to answer questions about the life-cycle of a caterpillar – just ask!
2) Grab a Brochure
Colorful butterfly identification guides are available as a QR code on your mobile phone. This free guide highlights all of the different butterflies. If you’re visiting with kids, consider turning your visit into an I Spy game.
3) Visit the Butterfly Bungalow Observation Station
This large Observation Station positions butterfly chrysalis at eye level for kids and adults. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see moths and butterflies at various stages of emergence.
This is a great place to pull out your brochure. Kids love identifying the different types of butterflies they find in the butterfly bungalow.
You may also see FMG staff collecting butterflies from the Observation Station and releasing them throughout the day. (More on that in the next tip.)
4) Watch a Butterfly Release
If you’re lucky, you’ll get to watch horticulturalists release butterflies into the conservatory.
There is no set time for this, but if you see a uniformed person enter the Butterfly Bungalow, stick around because you might be in for a treat. Chances of seeing a release are greater in the earliest days of the exhibit, as staff work to populate the butterfly room.
5) Seek Out Feeding Stations
Feeding stations are where butterflies love to congregate.
What’s on the menu? Delicious, juicy overripe fruit as well as a honey-water beverage. Cheers!
6) Bring a Flashlight
On Tuesday evenings, Meijer Gardens stays open late, til 9 pm.
If you’re visiting after dark, bring your flashlight and search for butterflies tucked away under the cover of darkness.
Special Spring Break Hours
FMG is open until 9 pm on April 1 and April 4-8 as well.
FMG also offers several member Night With the Butterflies Family Parties that include entertainment, art activities, and a snack. Registration required.
7) Visit the Children’s Garden for Outdoor Butterfly Activities
The Children’s Garden is a fantastic place for kids to blow off steam any time of year – even in snow pants. (Bring outdoor gear for this activity.)
During the Meijer Gardens Butterflies exhibit, the Children’s Garden hosts special, free-with-admission, butterfly-themed activities:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 am
– Kids will enjoy spring-themed stories about butterflies, moths, gardens, and rain
– Participate in Discovery Cart Activities including fun, educational butterfly, and insect-themed games
– Navigate the Butterfly Maze
– Discover butterfly and moth-themed books and a giant butterfly puzzle in the Log Cabin
– Pose for a photo in the people-sized butterfly chair
Pro tip: Pack a bag of winter coats and boots for the Children’s Garden. Leave it in the coatroom while you visit the butterflies and then head outside to play!
And, if outdoor play isn’t your thing, you can always visit the Curiosity Courtyard on the lower level.
The remainder of the children’s garden is open for exploration, too. More on the Children’s Garden.
The treehouse is always a hit!
If you’re visiting and would like a lovely walk, stroll the campus and be sure to stop by the Japanese Garden for waterfalls and other delights.
Of course, there is artwork to appreciate anywhere you turn.
What a great gift for a family, we would love to visit!
Would love to go as a family.
I would love to win tickets to the christmas trees.
I would like to win free tickets to the butterflies🙏💕😊🦋
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