GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (PRWEB) January 12, 2021
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant sculpture and botanic experiences, presents the 2021 calendar of events. Meijer Gardens incorporates its core mission of exploring the duality of art and nature in the upcoming year’s events. Internationally acclaimed annual exhibitions, exciting horticulture shows, seasonal indoor and outdoor displays, concerts and educational programming are enjoyed by over 650,000 visitors annually.
Please note, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many events are on hold or will be virtual in 2021. Please check MeijerGardens.org/calendar for a full listing of events.
Expansion Update:
The Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love expansion project continues throughout 2021, most notably with ongoing work on expanded interior corridors, sculpture galleries and external gardens.
The Opening Celebration and Dedication for the new 69,000 square foot Welcome Center is planned for August. More information will be sent regarding this event in the upcoming months.
More information and expansion updates are available at MeijerGardens.org/growing
Events & Exhibitions:
Please note, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many events are on hold or will be virtual in 2021. Please check MeijerGardens.org/calendar for a full listing of events.
Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming
March 1—April 30, 2021
Fee: Included with admission
A guest favorite, the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibition features butterflies from around the world flying freely in the 5 story Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. This year we explore an era of exploration and show how Wardian cases make modern conservatories possible. The 85-degree tropical conservatory is filled with thousands of exotic butterflies from tropical regions across the globe. More than 60 different species of butterflies and moths make this an exciting and colorful exhibition. Throughout the exhibition, butterflies can be viewed drinking nectar from the flowering plants and feeding stations, congregating among stream beds and flying freely. Approximately 800 chrysalides are delivered to Meijer Gardens weekly. Visitors watch delicate chrysalides and cocoons being placed in the Observation Station, where the unique creatures transform and take their first flight. The exhibition is made possible by the DTE Energy Foundation, Howard Miller Company, The Meijer Foundation, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation, Botanic and Sculpture Societies of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Media sponsor is Star 105.7.
Master Lecture Series: Secchia Garden Lecture Virtual Series
FEE: Free - donations welcome and appreciated.
Registration is required for each lecture at MeijerGardens.org/calendar.
Log-in information for Zoom Webinar will be sent via email following registration.
Please direct any virtual lecture registration questions to Eve Choi at echoi@meijergardens.org or call 616-975-3145.
Captioning service will be provided for the lectures.
This annual lecture series is made possible by the Secchia Family.
The Less Is More Garden: Big Ideas for Designing Your Small Yard
Tuesday, March 2, 7 pm
Speaker: Susan Morrison
Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces
Tuesday, March 16, 7 pm
Speaker: Susan Morrison
What Do You Mean I’m Not a Perennial?!? Native Shrubs and Small Trees for Perennial Companionship
Tuesday, March 30, 7 pm
Speaker: Bill Cullina
From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave: Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden
Tuesday, April 13, 7 pm
Speaker: Bill Cullina
Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens
June – September
Please note, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, details regarding the 2021 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts are being finalized. Please check MeijerGardens.org/concerts for current information.
The Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens concert series brings the finest national and international musicians to West Michigan, thrilling music lovers across all genres and all generations. Concerts run from June through September and the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater features beautiful terraced lawn seating and food, beverage and merchandise concessions—surrounded by spectacular views of gardens and sculpture. The full lineup is announced in April. The series is generously sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, Harvey Lexus of Grand Rapids and Spectrum Health. Media sponsors are FOX17 and Star 105.7.
Tuesday Evening Music Club
Tuesdays in July & August
Please note, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, details regarding the 2021 Tuesday Evening Music Club are being finalized. Please check MeijerGardens.org/calendar/tuesday-evening-music-club/for current information.
July & August welcomes the Tuesday Evening Music Club to the stage at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, a series featuring the region’s finest performers. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the entire facility in addition to the concerts. Bring a picnic, dance and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. The Tuesday Evening Music Club is sponsored by Meyer Music, WYCE and Corporate Live.
Chrysanthemums & More! Exhibition
September 17 - October 31, 2021
Fee: Included with admission
This annual celebration of the autumn season features an extensive chrysanthemum display with hundreds of flowering plants in both interior and exterior areas. Indoor highlights include varieties on display along the winding BISSELL Corridor and in the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse, while outdoor plantings are featured in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden, Michigan’s Farm Garden and Volunteer Tribute Garden. Tram rides and seasonal children’s activities are available.
Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibition
November 23, 2021 – January 9, 2022
Fee: Included with admission
Experience the most magical time of year as Meijer Gardens transforms into a world of winter magic with the glow of nearly 400,000 lights, 46 captivating international trees and displays, strolling carolers, Santa visits and more surprises than can fit under the tree. The Railway Garden is a holiday favorite and winds its way through three separate indoor gardens. Metro Health Christmas & Holiday Traditions is made possible by Metro Health - University of Michigan Health. The Railway Garden is sponsored by Warner Norcross + Judd. Media sponsor is Star 105.7.
Please Note
All exhibition dates and titles are subject to change. To confirm information, or to obtain additional information and images, contact John VanderHaagen at 616-975-3180, or jvanderhaagen@meijergardens.org.
Exhibitions are included with admission to Meijer Gardens.
Hours are Sunday, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM; Monday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday 9:00 AM–9:00 PM; Wednesday‐Saturday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; unless otherwise noted. Check MeijerGardens.org for extended Spring Break and holiday hours.
Admission rates are Adults (14–64): $14.50, Seniors (65 and older): $11.00, Students (w/ student ID): $11.00, Children (5–13): $7.00, Children (3–4): $4.00, Children (2 and younger): Free.
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
One of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was recently listed in the top 30 most visited museums in the United States by The Art Newspaper, the leading publication in global art news. The 158-acre main campus features Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; one of the largest interactive children’s gardens in the country; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens; and a 1900-seat outdoor amphitheater, featuring an eclectic mix of world-renowned musicians every summer. The internationally acclaimed Sculpture Park features a permanent collection including works by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Ai Weiwei and Jaume Plensa, among others. Indoor galleries host changing sculpture exhibitions with exhibitions by Ai Weiwei, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Mark di Suvero, Jonathan Borofsky, Alexander Calder, Jim Dine and others. In June 2015, the eight–acre Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened. Created by renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, the garden features sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Jenny Holzer, David Nash, George Rickey, Masayuki Koorida, Zhang Huan and Guiseppe Penone.