Butterflies Are Blooming at Meijer Gardens
- 'Butterflies Are Blooming' is a seasonal exhibit with tropical butterflies and family activities. - The exhibit runs April 20–30, 2026, so it’s open this week. - Held at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids; more info at michigan.org.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids is running its Fred & Dorothy Fichter “Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibition through April 30, with thousands of live tropical butterflies flying inside the conservatory. (meijergardens.org) The 2026 show is the 31st year of the event, and Meijer Gardens says it is the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States. The butterflies fill the five-story Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory. (meijergardens.org) Meijer Gardens says more than 10,000 butterfly chrysalides arrive each season from tropical regions around the world and are raised by the horticulture team before release. Michigan’s tourism site lists the exhibition as open every day through Wednesday, April 30, 2026. (meijergardens.org; michigan.org) The exhibit lands in Grand Rapids during a week when outdoor spring color has been uneven after a cold, snowy winter. Meijer Gardens said this week that the butterfly show continues indoors even as some trees outside are showing “fewer blooms and more leaves.” (aol.com; meijergardens.org) The butterfly display has become one of Meijer Gardens’ signature spring draws in West Michigan, pairing the tropical conservatory with family-focused programming. Grand Rapids Magazine reported before the season opened that the annual return had become a local spring tradition. (grmag.com) This year’s schedule also included sensory-friendly hours on April 6, 8, and 9, with guest capacity limited from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; those sessions sold out. Meijer Gardens said the quieter format was designed for guests with disabilities who need a more supported visit. (meijergardens.org) The butterfly season has also expanded into after-hours programming. Experience Grand Rapids says “Spring Nights: Bourbon & Butterflies” adds two late-night evenings with live music and more than 7,000 butterflies in flight, included with admission. (experiencegr.com) For visitors deciding whether to go this week, the timing is straightforward: the butterflies are in flight now, and the run ends April 30 before Meijer Gardens shifts to its next major spring attraction in May. (michigan.org; meijergardens.org)
