Grand Rapids Spring Getaway 2026: Festivals, Art Exhibits, Pride & Outdoor Adventures in Michigan

Dream Grand and Go to Grand Rapids for a memorable spring getaway. Start with the city’s vibrant art scene: Experience color, form and luminosity in an entirely new way at CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens (May 2-Nov 1), the nation’s only 2026 exhibition of the master glass artist’s work. See breathtaking handcrafted Asian lanterns illuminate John Ball Zoo during the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival (Apr 8-Jun 14). Embrace the spirit of liberation at Decadent Spirit: French Art of the 20^th Century (May 29-Sep 6), a Grand Rapids Art Museum exhibition exploring the visionary artists, muses and socialites who shaped a world defined by upheaval, beauty and reinvention.

Enjoy big-city energy and excitement: Explore 300+ restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and nightlife spots within a 10-minute walk of 13 excellent hotels in downtown Grand Rapids. Get tickets to 40+ big-name music and comedy shows at the new Acrisure Amphitheater, an outdoor riverfront venue opening May 15. Attend the Grand Rapids Pride Festival (June 20-21), one of the city’s oldest and largest community festivals. Savor a nightcap at The Apartment Lounge, Michigan’s longest gay bar, and dance the night away at Rumors, a high-energy LGBTQ+ nightclub.

Spend your days on the trail and your nights on the town: You can hike, bike, golf, paddle and swim just minutes from the city center. Millennium Park, one of the nation’s largest urban greenspaces, features 18 miles of trails, a six-acre sand beach, boat rentals and more just five minutes from the city center.

USA Today hails Grand Rapids as America’s Best Beer City, the nation’s Craft Beverage Capital and a Top 10 City Where You Can See Amazing Art. LinkedIn calls it the #1 U.S. City on the Rise. Come experience all the grandness for yourself!