Grand Rapids Meijer Gardens Christmas is Ready to Begin on November 22

It's hard to believe, but it's been 28-years that the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has celebrated the holidays with their Christmas & Holiday Traditions exhibition of Christmas Trees from around the world. And, they're back this year!

The exhibition, begins Tuesday, November 22, 2022, through January 8, 2023. Literally people travel from around the world to visit the Meijer Gardens to take in all 46 trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe.

You can't forget the Railway Garden—and the holiday wonderland encompassing it—once again that loops through three lush indoor garden spaces, among them the Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse and the Earl & Donnalee Holton Victorian Garden Parlor. Every "kid," little and big, looks forward to that every year.

It really is a holiday celebration at the gardens with the Hanukkah menorah to the bright flash of Diwali fireworks to the starry sparkle of Filipino Christmas lanterns, light is truly  at the center of the celebration in holiday festivities around the world.

The Meijer Gardens couldn't without their volunteers who donate hundreds of hours to decorate trees and set up displays. Indoors and out, because the grounds sparkle with 350,000 lights.

There's something new this year. The Seasonal Light Experience. It's an immersive audio and visual lightshow that happens in the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater every half hour from 6–8 pm, December 19–23 and 26-30. Nope, not like the fabulous summer concerts, so you'll have to bundle up. It will be a party, though, as you'll be able to warm up with adult cocktails—or hot cocoa, for the kids—along with hot handhelds, sweet treats, blazing fire pits, and fun glowing goods from the DeVos–Keeler Gift Shop pop-up, located nearby in the Peter C. & Emajean Cook Transportation Center.

But wait, that's not all. The Meijer Gardens will be showing the original film joy, which celebrates our local communities. This film will be shown continuously in the Hoffman Family Auditorium and is also available on the Meijer Gardens YouTube channel.

The Meijer Gardens hours are:

Monday, Wednesday thru Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Tuesday, 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, 11am to 5 pm.

• Extended Holiday Hours: Open until 9 pm December 19–23 and 26-30.