WhoFish - Local Events and Activities

Title:	Grand Rapids Lantern Festival: Realms of Wonder
Date:	4/8/2026 (Wednesday)
Address:	1300 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI, United States, Michigan 49504
Location:	Grand Rapids, MI
Hours:	Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7:30PM 11:30PM EDT
Cost/Cover:	See Details
Contact Info:	See Details

Details:

APRIL 8 JUNE 14
WEDNESDAY SUNDAY | 7:30PM 11:30PM

*Festival will run Wednesday-Sunday, April 8-May 18th, then Tuesday-Sunday starting May 19th.

*Members receive early access to Lantern Festival tickets.
Member ticket access starts March 2. General Admission tickets open March 9.

The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival presented by Meijer returns for its fourth year at John Ball Zoo with Realms of Wonder. Journey through three immersive realms: Fantasy, Underwater, and Cultural, featuring breathtaking new lantern displays and hands-on experiences.

The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival is a breathtaking celebration of Chinese cultural artistry. As Michigans only showcase of its kind, it illuminates the Zoo with handcrafted lanterns that intertwine the beauty of wildlife with profound Chinese traditions- from majestic dragons and phoenixes to the symbolic zodiac- creating an enchanting narrative of heritage and culture.

Timed tickets sold every 30 minutes. Last entry at 10:30pm. Advanced tickets required. Please arrive to the Zoo no more than 15 minutes before ticket entry time. Event will happen rain or shine.

*The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival features twinkling lights, disco balls, and elements that move, spin, and may have strobing effects. We advise caution to those that might be sensitive to these types of light effects.

To learn more about the event and visit our FAQ page, visit:
jbzoo.org\/events\/grlanternfest\/

A big thank you to our sponsors Tianyu, Pioneer Construction, Countryside Greenhouse, Own Ames Kimball, Gun Lake Casino, Rockford Construction, Core Legal, and Wolverine Building Group.