Things to do this summer in Michigan: Festivals, concerts, family

Sep 16, 2023

by: Morgan Poole, Nicholas Nacci

Posted: Jun 8, 2023 / 11:30 AM EDT

Updated: Jun 8, 2023 / 12:12 PM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (ABC 4)- There's no doubt summer in West Michigan is filled with fun activities and events for families to enjoy and explore! And, to help us make the most of this exciting season, Maranda's sharing her 2023 Guide to Summer Fun. Take a look at today's top picks and fun activities and events to take on throughout the season!

Stay tuned for Maranda's top picks of the day!

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Frederik Meijer Gardens has fun all summer with children's activities every day of the week including music, art and science! Learn more here.

Frederick Meijer Gardens: Fridays at the Farm

Get ready to enjoy some farm time fun at this Frederick Meijer Gardens series. Children of all ages are welcome and have the opportunity to participate in exciting games. Learn more here.

John Ball Zoo

John Ball Zoo has so many animals to see and lots to learn. Check out all the fun the zoo offers here.

Binder Park Zoo

Open seven days a week and kids 2 and under get in for free. Check out their website for daily hours and current exhibits here.

Blandford Nature Center

Blandford Nature Center has all kinds of outdoor fun for your family to enjoy. Check out their Summer Adventure Series, Nature Buds or the other fun programming here.

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

The Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park in Alto offers many memorable and wild animal experiences. You can check out all the fun here.

Calvin University Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens

The Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens is a fantastic place to be out and about in nature as a family. Learn more about it here.

Critter Barn

Spend a day learning about farming, agriculture and nature all while interacting with adorable animals! Learn more here.

Dow Gardens-Midland

Dow Gardens is 110 acres of annuals and perennials featuring distinctive bridges, towering pines and water features.  Admission is affordable and you can learn more information here. 

Fort Custer State Recreation Area

Fort Custer State Recreation Area is a great spot to have a fun family outing. They offer camping, hiking and biking trails. Learn more here.

Frugthaven Farm

Check out Frugthaven Farm this summer! They have great outdoor spaces to soak up the summer weather. Learn more here.

Howard Christensen Nature Center

The nature center offers a variety of trails for family hikers. They also have several different fun events taking place. Learn more here.

Howell Nature Center

The Howell Nature Center offers loads of fun this summer! Make new memories experiencing wildlife, zip lining and more here. 

Hudsonville Nature Center

Take on this 76-acre nature preserve of woodlands, prairies and wetlands featuring hiking trails, lookouts, wildflowers and picnic areas. Learn more here.

Kalamazoo Nature Center

Learn a thing or two at the Kalamazoo Nature Center! Explore 15+ miles of trails and unique interactive exhibits. Find additional details here.

Karin's Horse Connection and Legacy Stable

If you want to horse around this summer, visit Legacy Stables. Register for riding lessons or even a one-time ride here.

Leila Arboretum Society Battle Creek

The Leila Arboretum in Battle Creek is a free and wonderful place to take the kids to explore! Find more information and learn more about what the Leila Arboretum offers here. 

Michigan Legacy Art Park

Explore trails, art in nature, birdwatching and seeing beautiful wildflowers. Find additional information here.

Ott Biological Preserve Battle Creek

The Ott Biological Preserve in Battle Creek offers hiking and biking with great views of two spring lakes. It is 298 acres free to the public, and more details can be found here.

Outdoor Discovery

Outdoor Discovery provides tons of opportunities to explore nature. They have trails, programs and camps. Find more information here.

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

Experience the beauty of 850 acres of wetlands, forests, marshes, streams lakes and more. Learn more here.

Thanks to Meijer, Tuesdays at the Museum are free as well as Thursday nights. Learn more here.

Create your own signature candle scent at the Kalamazoo Candle Company! See more here.

Partnering with several different institutions across the nation, there is always something fun and interesting to explore. View additional details here.

Click the map markers to discover a unique Michigan location:

Celebration Cinema has you covered when it comes to beating the heat this summer. See details for showings, admission, concessions and more!

This summer, head out the Getty Drive-In for some summer movie magic. Check out show times and movies currently playing!

The Capri Drive-In is located in Coldwater and is open seven days a week.

Goodrich Quality Theaters is hosting Summer Family Flicks 2023. Enjoy free family movies Wednesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Mark your calendars for some free fun and outdoor entertainment happening in downtown Battle Creek. You can learn more information about the Kellogg Arena Summer Series as well as the Battle Creek Farmers Market here.

The Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts are taking place every Thursday night from June 15 until Aug. 24. Find more details about the concerts here.

The Allendale Community Park Band Shell is hosting a Kids Music Fest from 6-8 p.m., on June 27. Learn more information here.

Rollin’ On the River is a free, weekly concert series held on Friday nights at the Allegan Riverfront Stage. The series features talented musicians of various genres. See more details here.

The West Michigan Community Bank is bringing back its annual free summer concert series every Thursday night from June 1 to June 22. Each night will feature kid's activities, great live music, food trucks and giveaways. Learn more here.

The Summer Concert Series at Roger's Park in Sparta takes place every Wednesday between June 7 and Aug. 9. View additional information here.

Join the City of Wyoming for their Concerts in the Park Series from June 13 to Aug. 8 at Lamar Park. Learn more here.

The Walker Standale Summer Concert is taking place from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. on June 8. Find more details and additional concert dates here.

Kentwood is hosting a Summer Concert Series from June 15 to Aug. 10. See more details here.

The 2023 Summer Music Series at Frugthaven Farm kicks off on June 15 and ends Aug. 24! You can learn more information here.

Enjoy an out-of-this-world experience at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium! Find their full schedule and shows being offered here.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum provides the community with many fun and educational planetarium shows. Check out the schedule here.

The Abrams Planetarium in East Lansing is a fun place to learn about the night sky. Discover the museum and its planetarium showings here.

A lot is happening at local libraries this summer, making for the perfect opportunity to delve into a good book. Get rewarded with cool prizes for reading books by joining Maranda's Summer Reading Club. Learn more here.

The YMCA is hosting fun day camps from June through August! You can check out which camps they offer and how to sign up here.

The Van Andel institute offers a variety of fun and educational camps for kids grades K-12. View additional information here.

The Air Zoo has loads of science-based summer day camps to make learning an out-of-this-world experience! Find out more information about the camps here.

It's summertime, and baseball is in full swing! There are plenty of opportunities to watch your West Michigan Whitecaps this summer here!

First Tee West Michigan teaches youth ages 7 to 17 how to golf. The have programs in Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo and Muskegon. Learn more here.

The Kalamazoo Growlers are back for another fun season of baseball. Learn about tickets and the fun promotions they have at the games here.

This summer, enjoy family paddle nights, guided kayaking and nine passenger canoes! Find more details here.

Cheers to endless summer fun, West Michigan!

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park here Frederick Meijer Gardens: Fridays at the Farm here John Ball Zoo here Binder Park Zoo here Blandford Nature Center here Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park here Calvin University Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens here Critter Barn here Dow Gardens-Midland here Fort Custer State Recreation Area here Frugthaven Farm here Howard Christensen Nature Center here Howell Nature Center here Hudsonville Nature Center here Kalamazoo Nature Center here Karin's Horse Connection and Legacy Stable here Leila Arboretum Society Battle Creek here Michigan Legacy Art Park here Ott Biological Preserve Battle Creek here Outdoor Discovery here Pierce Cedar Creek Institute here here here here Click the map markers to discover a unique Michigan location: Air Zoo here . Grand Rapids Public Museum here Coopersville Farm Museum  here Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum here Gilmore Car Museum here Grand Rapids Children's Museum here Holland Museum here Kalamazoo Valley Museum here Lakeshore Museum Center here Lawton Heritage Museum here The Mitten Children's Museum here Muskegon Museum of Art here Sandcastles Children's Museum here Schmaltz Geology Museum and Dinosaur Park here Griff's Icehouse-  here Patterson Ice Center here Rollerworld here Rollxscape Skating Center here Tarry Hall Roller Rink here Walker Ice and Fitness BAM! Entertainment Center here Hudsonville Lanes here Northland Lanes Bowling here Sherman Bowling Center Battle Creek here Craig's Cruisers- here Great Lakes Crossing Outlets here Action Wake Park- here Allegan Event here Amped Virtual Reality here. Battle GR here Bricks 4 Kids here Gymco Open Gym here Kingdom Sports in Portage- here Launch Grand Rapids here Rebounderz here Revel and Roll Kalamazoo here Summer Family Flicks 2023 here here here here here here here here here here Lake Hudson Recreation Area Negwegon State Park Post Crescent State Park Rockport Recreation Area Thompson's Harbor State Park Dr. T.K. Lawless Park Headlands Dark Sky Park Keweenaw Dark Sky Park here here here Covell Dog Park Fuller Park Grand Ravines Dog Park Hillcrest Dog Park Wahlfield Park Whistlestop Park Brooks Berry patch Crisp Country Acres DeLange's Redberry Farm Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Hanulcik Farm Market & Orchard Krupp Farms Morse Brothers Visser Farms Bird Berry Farm Bisacky Blueberry Farm Blok Orchard Crossroads Blueberry Market Dee's Lakeshore Farm Gary Cranes U-Pick S.Kamphuis Blueberries Blok Orchard Crane Orchards Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Goodfellow Orchards Grange Fruit Farm Klenk Orchards Overhiser Orchards Rasch Chery Apple Market Sandy Bottom Berries Wells Orchards here YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids Cannon Pool East Kentwood Aquatics Center Forest Hills Public Schools Community and Aquatic Center Goldfish Swim School Public Pools Public Splash Pads Northville Park Association Salvation Army Kroc Center Venema Aquatic Center Holland Aquatic Center Bouws Pool Lamar Park Splash Pad Tanglefoot Park Splash Pad Zeeland Splash Park Pad Allegan Aquatic Center Hamilton Community Pool Perrigo Splash Pad Benton Harbor – St. Joseph YMCA Sturgis Community Pool Whirlpool Compass Fountain Florence Street Splash Pad Kalamazoo Parks Water Features LaCrone Park Splash Pad Plainwell Community Pool Beaty Gym & Pool Rams Aquatic Club Battle Creek Family YMCA Hampton Aquatics & Fitness Lakeview Aquatic Club Splash Pad at the Cascades Benton Harbor – St. Joseph YMCA Sturgis Community Pool Whirlpool Compass Fountain The Aqua Pit Dr. Robert W. Browne Aquatic Center Heritage Park Splash Pad Paine Aquatic Center Gold Rush Indoor Waterpark Fremont Community Recreation Center Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lake Shore Neal Fitness Center Meijer Free Tuesdays at the Grand Rapids Art Museum- here Battle Creek Recreation here Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation here . Holland Museum here Kalamazoo Valley Museum here Kent County Recycling Center- here Kzoo Parks here . Muskegon Museum of Art- here Storytime GR and Summer Reading Celebrations- here Storytimes Grand Rapids Public Library- here Storytimes in the park here here here here here here here here

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