Affordable & Free Spring Activities around Grand Rapids
There’s nothing like warmer weather and a little sunshine to inspire us to get out and explore these free spring activities!
West Michigan has everything we need to relieve our cabin fever after a long winter. I love that we can find inexpensive indoor and outdoor spring things to do with kids in Grand Rapids.
From movies to museums, to music, and more, there are a variety of affordable adventures to be had.
in this article
47th Annual Rock & Mineral Show
Thursday, April 4 & Friday, April 5: 9:30 am-9 pm
Saturday, April 6: 9:30 am-7 pm
Rogers Plaza Town Center – 972 28th Street Southwest, Wyoming, MI 49509
Brought to you by the Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral Club, the popular Rock & Mineral Show is back for the 46th year!
Learn more about all things ROCKS at the many displays, demonstrations and hands-on stations.
With treasures for everyone – beginners, kids and seasoned collectors, too, expect to find hands-on kid fun, grab bags, minerals, fossils, crystals, gems, jewelry, beads, stone carvings, equipment, books, and MORE.
FREE ADMISSION & FREE PARKING
Admission Free April at Blandford Nature Center
1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, United States, Michigan
Free Admission includes access to 264 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands, 8 miles of trails including 1 mile of ADA accessible trails, 2 outdoor playscapes, the Blandford Farm and Children’s Garden, and our Wildlife Education Center with over 40 rehabilitated wildlife ambassadors.
As part of Admission Free April, they are also offering a variety of free programs and activities throughout the month! More information: blandfordnaturecenter.org
Lowe’s Build & Grow Workshops
Various Lowe’s Locations – West Michigan
This monthly event is free for families – it just requires registration. Sign up for your local Lowe’s store, show up, build something cool, spend quality time with your kids – all for free! Workshops hosted by one of their experts are held from 10:00am – 1:00pm.
The next free Lowe’s Build and Grow event, Flower Bird Feeder, is slated for March 16, 2024. April 20, 2024 is build a Playful Garden Cart. Finally, May 4, 2024 kiddos can build a Butterfly Boime.
There is still some availability at several West Michigan locations.
Home Depot Kids Workshops
Various Home Depot Locations – West Michigan
Home Depot also hosts a monthly workshop event on the first Saturday of each month. It is free for kids but registration required.
Upcoming free Home Depot workshop events include:
Lattice Planter – April 6, 2024
Blooming Picture Frame – May 4, 2024
Find an Easter Egg Hunt
Various locations around West MI
Hop over to an Easter Egg Hunt. They’re a favorite of the free spring activities offered in Grand Rapids. Most egg hunts this year are on March 23 or March 30.
Easter is a touch earlier this year and lands on March 31, 2024.
April Storybook Walk: And the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle Begins
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 West Cloverdale Road, Hastings, MI 49058
April Storybook Walk: And the Bullfrogs Sings: A Life Cycle Begins
by David L. Harrison
Rumm…rumm…rumm. A male bullfrog sings. A female bullfrog likes his song. And a life cycle begins.Eggs hatch and become tadpoles. The tadpoles nibble plants. They grow legs and start to breathe. Now they are little bullfrogs.
This storybook walk is thanks to the generosity of Joel and Barbara VanDyken.
Free (self-guided on the trails)
MORE INFO
Herrick District Library and Ottawa County Parks Story Walks
Various Ottawa County Park
Ottawa County Parks in collaboration with Herrick District Library are also providing Story Walks this Spring and Summer at various locations throughout Ottawa County.
MORE INFO
Recycling Center Activities & Tours – Monday Open Hours
Kent County MI Dept. Public Works, Wealthy St SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mondays from 9 am – noon. Learn the ins and outs of recycling, watch our workers and machines sort right in front of you, and have fun playing games and creating upcycled crafts as we reimagine waste together.
All ages are welcome. Closed-toed shoes are required.
Details
Open Play at Holland Playland
Central Wesleyan Church Playland, 446 W 40th St, Holland, MI 49423
For children ages 6 months to 11 years old. While the kids play, you are welcome to check out the Gathering Grounds coffee shop and hang-out place. M-W • 9am–1pm; F • 5–8pm; Sat • 9am–1pm; Sun noon-3pm; closed Th. Details
Watch Airplanes at the Viewing Park
4820 Kraft Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Visit one of our favorites: Pack a lunch and watch the planes land at Ford Airport Viewing Park.
GRAM Free Tuesdays & Thursday Nights
101 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Free general admission to the Grand Rapids Art Museum on Tuesdays from 12 – 5 pm each and Thursday Nights from noon – 8 pm.
Details
Free Thursdays at Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon
296 W. Webster Avenue Muskegon, Michigan 49440
Free general admission Thursdays, 11am – 8pm.
Details
Flick’s Family Film Fest
Celebration Cinema Locations
Kids ages 12 and under watch movies for free while big kids and grown-ups are just $5.
FREE Family Movie Days in Muskegon
Frauenthal Center, 425 W Western Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
The Frauenthal Center invites everyone to attend our family-friendly entertainment series featuring 9 FREE family movies inside the Frauenthal Theater, once a month beginning in September 2023 through May 2024.
The series aims to open doors for families in the community to experience the Frauenthal Center together or for those who are simply looking for a free and fun afternoon.
Shrek
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM | Doors Open at 2:15 PM
In the Heights
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM | Doors Open at 2:15 PM
A Bug’s Life
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM | Doors Open at 2:15 PM
Activate Your Library Perks
Grand Rapids Public Library Patrons: Take advantage of the FREE perks for cardholders through their amazing Check It Out! program.
– This is a great way to access free passes to incredible outings like Frederik Meijer Gardens, John Ball Zoo, the GR Children’s Museum, local sporting events, theatre productions, GR museums, and more.
Kent District Library Patrons: KDL cardholders can get free passes to area attractions through their Perk Pass program. Cardholders can reserve passes online, print their passes and visit their attraction on the date they reserved. Attractions include Meijer Gardens, the GRAM, and occasionally the Children’s Museum.
Library cardholders from all over Michigan can also use their cards to access the Michigan Activity Pass, which allows patrons to print a pass to one of many state parks, historic sites, cultural attractions, campgrounds and recreation areas and other free spring activities throughout the state.
Most libraries have kid’s activities and play areas catered to kiddos of all ages. Herrick District Library’s Main branch has a Lego lab, a room decked floor to ceiling with legos. Kent District Library has 20 different libraries to visit.
The kid’s areas are fun these days – try out these Library Play Places. While you’re there, stick around for storytimes & other fun library events.
Go Out for a Free Meal for the Kids
Plan a family dinner out at one of the many places around West Michigan where kid eat free (or for less.)
Pro Tip: Tuesdays and Wednesdays have the most Kids Eat Free deals.
New Things to Do Outdoors
These are such welcome free spring activities!
Head out on one of West Michigan’s many hiking trails.
It’s also a great time to visit a nature center and go for a hike, as the bugs of summer haven’t woken up yet, but lots of flowers are coming out of their winter slumber.
Try a new-to-you Grand Rapids area playground.
Want an urban adventure? Go on the Grand Rapids Mural Crawl.
Really, there are a ton of outdoor things to do in spring in West MI:
• Disc Golf
• Geocaching
• 2.5-mile City Adventure Walk – be sure to find the giant tire swing!
• Best Family Bike Ride Spots
• Enjoy the great outdoors at the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve – the trails are open for exploration.
Holland Museum
31 W 10th St, Holland, MI 49423
Discover local Holland history and more at Holland Museum for free on the second Monday of the month. The Holland Museum is open the second Monday of every month from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with FREE admission for all visitors!
Check out our current exhibits including Spark!Lab Smithsonian!
Lakeshore Museum Center Free Community Day
430 W. Clay Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440 United States
Lakeshore Museum Center – Muskegon Heritage Museum’s Community Days are FREE for all participants! Offered monthly May – October. See unique machinery in operation, discover Muskegon products and explore our region’s unique industrial heritage. Each Community Day features a different theme.
Saturday, May 13, 2024 – How Steam Engines Powered Muskegon’s Industry
“Join us to celebrate steam power with a display of miniature steam engines and get a behind the scenes tour to see how we power the 130 year old ‘big’ engine!”
Sugar Bush Fun
Maple Trees around West MI
Early spring means the sap is running! See how maple syrup is made at one of the many local sugarbush events and festivals.
Visit a participating farm for Michigan Maple Weekends in Norther Lower Michigan in March 23-24, 2024 . Trees will be tapped and sap will be flowing!
Come see how it’s harvested, and then made into the delicious syrup you enjoy. You may also catch a glimpse of maple candy, maple cream, and maple sugar being made. Meet the sugar makers who work their maple magic at these free spring activities.
Shop Consignment Sales
Various locations around West MI
Spring means garage sales and consignment sale time! See where you can save big on stuff for your rapidly growing kids throughout the season!
Watch a Tulip Time Parade or Dutch Dancing
Downtown Holland, MI
Tulip Time takes over downtown Holland May 4-12, 2024. Dutch dancing, parades, an artisan market, miles and miles of tulips, and more are highlights of this annual flower festival.
Visit Nelis’ Dutch Village
12350 James St, Holland, MI 49424
Nelis’ Dutch Village offers free admission on their opening day when visitors bring dry food goods to donate to Community Action House.
Visitors will receive a day pass to use that day or exchange for a discounted season pass.
Community Day for 2024 is on April 20.
Kids Skate Free
Holland and Grand Rapids
Kids Skate Free is a program similar to the summer Kids Bowl Free program. Children 12 and under get two passes for free admission to participating skating rinks each week. Skate rental is an additional cost.
Parents download the app and add their children’s information and the skating passes are available right on your phone.
Local participating locations: GR Skate and Event Center in Kentwood and Rollxscape in Holland.
Visit a New to You Park
Grand Rapids
Keep it low-key but interesting with a new-to-you park or playground. Check out our guide to local parks all over the Grand Rapids area.
Pack a picnic lunch and make a day out of park hopping.
Paint Rocks and Leave them Around Town
Wherever you are
Leave painted rocks around your area. Make a day out hunting for and painting the rocks. Paint or color them whatever design and then leave them around at the places you visit.
Whether that’s at the playground, around town as you shop, or running errands.
Free Things to Do Event Calendar
A calendar full of free spring activities.
Love all these ideas 🙂
Crystal Lynn White