1/ Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Special exhibitions: From Sept. 20 to Oct. 27, the annual “Chrysanthemums and More!” exhibit celebrates autumn with expansive displays, fall foliage and family-friendly activities. Sept. 20-March 1, “Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb.” Sept. 20-Jan. 5, Sculpture Exhibition. Special events: Through Sept. 1, National Dahlia Show. Sept. 7-8, Kent Garden Club’s Standard Flower Show. Sept. 14, Japanese Tea Ceremony in the Teahouse. Sept. 15, Inside the Japanese Teahouse. Sept. 21-22, Herb & Gourd Fest and Harvest Time. See Meijer Gardens Summer Concerts in Music and Wege Environmental Lecture in Lectures & Workshops. Permanent attractions: Modern and contemporary 30-acre sculpture collection, Japanese garden, tropical conservatory, children’s garden, nature trails and boardwalk, café, gift shop. Open daily. $14.50 adults, $11 seniors and students, $7 kids 5-13, $4 kids 3-4. 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, 957-1580, meijergardens.org. 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, 957-1580, meijergardens.org.
2/ Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: Special exhibitions: Opening on Sept. 14, “Black Refractions: Highlights from the Studio Museum in Harlem” highlights black artists from the past 150 years. Two companion exhibits will also be on display: “Resilience: Black Artists as Agents of Change” and “Where We Stand: Black Artists in Southwest Michigan.” The exhibits run through Dec. 8. Through Sept. 22, “Moments of Peace: Watercolors by Sunghyun Moon.” Closed Mon. $5 adults, $2 students with ID; members and kids 12 and under free. 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, (269) 349-7775, kiarts.org.
3/ John Ball Zoo: More than 2,000 animals representing 230 species, plus aquarium, petting zoo and gift shop. Special events: This month, the zoo hosts two Wizarding Weekends, Sept. 7-8 and 14-15, with interactive exhibits, activities, crafts, games, entertainment and specialty foods. Costumes are encouraged and activities are included with admission. Sept. 21, International Red Panda Day. See Rock, Roar and Pour in Special Events. Open daily. $13 adults, $10 seniors and kids 2-12, kids under 2 free. 1300 W. Fulton St., 336-4300, jbzoo.org.
Blandford Nature Center: Special events: Sept. 6, Bands at Blandford: How to Live Together. Sept. 13, Bands at Blandford: Hollywood Makeout. Sept. 21, Intro to Foraging. Permanent attractions: 143 acres of trails, heritage buildings, farm. Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center open Mon.-Sat. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. $3. 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, 735-6240, blandfordnaturecenter.org.
Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park: Eighty-acre park with giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, alligators, kangaroos, lemurs, prairie dogs, ostriches and antelopes. Plus, safari rides and opportunities to feed animals. Special events: Sept. 14, Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt. Open daily. $14 age 12 and up, $12 seniors, $10 kids 3-11, kids under 2 free. 8313 Pratt Lake Ave. SE, Alto, 868-6711, boulderridgewap.com.
Coopersville & Marne Railway: Restored 1920s-era railway with EnterTRAINment Excursions 1:30 p.m. Sept. 7, 14 and 21. $14 adults, $13 seniors, $12 kids 2-12. The Famous Pumpkin Train runs Sept. 28-Oct. 27 (see website for times). $20 adults, $19 seniors, $18 kids 2-12. 311 Danforth St., Coopersville, 997-7000, coopersvilleandmarne.org.
Coopersville Farm Museum: Museum honoring farming and rural life. Special exhibits: Through Sept. 28, “Quilts and Their Stories.” Special events: Sept. 7, Family Day. Sept. 3 and 17, Acoustic Jam Night. Sept. 14, Quilts, Crafts & Vendors. Sept. 27-29, Bluegrass Jamming Camp. Sept. 28, Kids, Crafts & Critters. Permanent attractions: Tractors and other farming equipment; also Eclipse windmill. Open Tue., Thu., Sat. $4 adults, $2 kids 4-12, kids 3 and under free. 375 Main St., Coopersville, 997-8555, coopersvillefarmmuseum.org.
DeGraaf Nature Center: Eighteen-acre preserve with Interpretive Center, indoor pond, animals, SkyWatch. Knee-High Naturalist classes for kids 3-5. Center open Tue.-Sat. Trails open daily dawn to dusk. Free. 600 Graafschap Road, Holland, 355-1057, degraaf.org.
Deer Tracks Junction: One hundred-acre farm with elk, whitetail deer, Tibetan yaks and reindeer; evening wildlife safari tours; hands-on farm with goats, pigs, donkeys, rabbits, yaks, parakeets; bottle-feeding stations; play area; and ice cream shop. Open daily. General admission: $10, kids 2 and under free; safari tours and bottle feedings extra. 7850 14 Mile Road, Cedar Springs, 863-3337, deertracksjunction.com.
Downtown Market: Open daily with culinary-related products at more than 20 local businesses and restaurants, plus cooking classes (see Lectures and Workshops) and private rentals. Special events: Sept. 10, Culinary Medicine for the Sports Enthusiast. Sept. 19, 3rd Thursdays. Sept. 27, Made in MI Pop-Up Marketplace: Night Market. See Antiques on Ionia in Special Events. 435 Ionia Ave. SW, 805-5308, downtownmarketgr.com.
Felt Mansion & Gardens: Summer home of millionaire inventor Dorr E. Felt features 1920s architecture. Through Sept. 2, self-guided tours 1-5 p.m. Sun.-Wed. $15 adults, $12 seniors (free on Mon.) and students, kids 12 and under free. 6597 138th St., Holland, 335-3050, feltmansion.org.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum: Special exhibitions: Through Nov. 3, “Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.” Sept. 23-Nov. 3, “3D Expression.” Permanent exhibitions: Highlights from Mr. and Mrs. Ford’s lives, plus featured online exhibits. Also, DeVos Learning Center. Open daily. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $6 college students, $4 ages 6-18, kids 5 and under free. 303 Pearl St. NW, 254-0400, fordlibrarymuseum.gov.
Grand Rapids Art Museum: Special exhibitions: Through Sept. 1, “Maya Lin: Flow.” Through Sept. 8, “Melanie Daniel: Only Four Degrees.” Through Feb. 2, “Billy Mayer: The Shape of Things.” Special events: See Live Artfully Dinner in Special Events and Creativity Uncorked in Lectures & Workshops. Drop-in Studio: 1-4 p.m. every Sat. Closed Mon. $10 adults, $8 seniors/students, $6 kids 6-17, kids 5 and under free; free admission 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue. and 5-9 p.m. Thu. 101 Monroe Center NW, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: Hands-on permanent and traveling exhibits for kids 2-10. Special exhibit: Through Jan. 20, “Amazing Dinosaurs.” Permanent activities: Think Tank, Kidstruction Zone, Little GR, Bubbles!, Wee Discover, musical instruments and more. Toddler Time 10 a.m.-noon Tue. Family Night 5-8 p.m. Thu. ($1.75). Closed Mon. $9, $8 seniors, kids under 1 free. 11 Sheldon Ave. NE, 235-4726, grcm.org.
Grand Rapids Public Museum: Special exhibitions: Through Sept. 8, “TOYS!” Through Oct. 13, “Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963.” Permanent exhibitions: Streets of Old Grand Rapids; Newcomers: The People of This Place; West Michigan Habitats; Grand Fish, Grand River; and Be Curious. Also, restored 1928 Spillman carousel. Special events: Saturday Curiosity Labs. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 kids 3-17. 272 Pearl St. NW, 929-1700, grpm.org.
Holland Museum: Special events: Sept. 9, Free Admission Monday. Permanent exhibitions: Local history and Dutch galleries with artwork from the Netherlands from the 1600s-1900s. Also, Spark!Lab. Open Wed.-Sun. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 students, kids 5 and under free. 31 W. 10th St., 796-3329, hol landmuseum.org. Also, Cappon House: 228 W. Ninth St.; Settlers House: 190 W. Ninth St.; The Armory: 16 W. Ninth St.
Meyer May House: Restored Frank Lloyd Wright 1909 prairie-style house includes original furnishings. Open for guided tours 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tue. and Thu.; 1-4 p.m. Sun. (last tour one hour before close). Free. 450 Madison Ave. SE, 246-4821, meyermayhouse.steelcase.com.
Muskegon Museum of Art: Special exhibitions: Through Sept. 1, “Lights, Camera, Rock ‘n Roll: The Music Photography of Paul Jendrasiak” and “Guitar with Wings: The Photography of Laurence Juber.” Through Sept. 8, “Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists.” Sept. 5-Nov. 13, 91st Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition. Sept. 12-Jan. 5, “Undying Traditions: Memento Mori.” Sept. 19-Dec. 15, “The Land: The Art of Bill Hosterman and Ed Wong-Ligda.” Closed Mon. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 college students, kids 16 and under free. 296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon, (231) 720-2570, muskegonartmuseum.org.
Nelis’ Dutch Village: Dutch theme park with rides, petting zoo, wooden shoe carving, Delftware-making demonstrations, costumed employees, shops and restaurants. Special events: Sept. 7-8, Oma and Opa Weekend and Diaper Drive. Sept. 14, Superhero Training Camp. Sept. 21, Grant Me Hope Fundraiser. Sept. 28, First Responders – Hometown Heroes. Open daily. $13 adults, $12 seniors, $11 kids 3-15. 12350 James St., Holland, 396-1475, dutchvillage.com.
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium: Shows use Digistar production and surround sound. This month: “SpacePark360: Infinity,” “Secrets of the Sun,” “Subatomic,” “Under Scorching Skies,” “The Little Star that Could,” and “Dark Side: The Light Show.” $5, $4 with admission to the museum, members free. Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl St. NW, 456-3977, grpm.org/planetarium.
TreeRunner Adventure Park: Self-guided high-wire forest adventure includes ziplines, Tarzan swings, rope bridges and swinging logs, plus Junior Park for kids 4-7. Training included with admission. Special events: Sept. 13, Sports Themed Glow Night. Open Fri.-Sun. $39 adults, $35 kids 7-13, $20 kids 4-7. 2121 Celebration Drive NE, 226-3993,
treerunnergrandrapids.com.
Veen Observatory: Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association hosts various events. Special events: Sept. 7 and 21, Public Night from 8:30-11 p.m. All events subject to weather; call 897-7065 for updates. $3 adults, $2 kids 5-17 and under, kids under 5 free. 3308 Kissing Rock Ave. SE, Lowell. graaa.org.
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