The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., is rolling full speed ahead creating one of the most unique and beautiful train garden experiences in the nation with the Gardens' Polar Express through Jan. 16. This is just one of the many outstanding exhibits being shown in Grand Rapids throughout the holiday season.
Popular children's author/illustrator and Grand Rapids native, Chris Van Allsburg, wrote and illustrated the award-winning story, "The Polar Express," with scenes from his boyhood home in Grand Rapids. The new movie, based on his book, has just been released and the Gardens have re-created his images with a magical miniature railway winding its way through gardens, forests and towns all the way to the North Pole.
Included in the exhibit are authentic historical Grand Rapids buildings, bridges and popular landmarks from Van Allsburg's childhood. Nearby is Celebration! Cinema now showing both the feature film and "The Polar Express: An IMAXÆ 3D Experience" on its eight-story movie screen to complete the magical experience. Running simultaneously at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is Christmas Around the World and Holiday Traditions with 40 trees and displays from around the world. Christmas entertainment includes evening and weekend activities through Dec. 30 featuring carriage rides, art activities, carolers and live reindeer.
Grand Rapids1 offers other exhibits during the holidays. They include:
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition through Jan. 2 at Van Andel Museum Center. It showcases one of the greatest tales of survival in expedition history with a 1914 account of heroism and adventure.
An Impressionist Eye: Painting and Sculpture from the Philip & Janice Levin Foundation at the Grand Rapids Art Museum though Jan. 30. This exhibit, organized by the American Federation of Arts, presents thirty paintings and sculptures by well-known Impressionist artists such as Monet, Renoir, Cassatt and Degas.
Opening an Empire: U.S. Relations with China through Mar. 13 at the Gerald R. Ford Museum. It explores China's rich artistic legacy and the opening of trade with the West.
The arts community is offering performances from music to dance to live theatre. Holiday entertainment includes:
"Scrooge: The Musical," Nov. 18 to Dec. 18, at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, one of the largest community theatres in the U.S.
"The Nutcracker," Dec. 10 to 12, with the Grand Rapids Ballet.
"Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas," Dec. 10, in a multi-media theatrical event at Van Andel Arena.
"Home for the Holidays," Dec. 16 to 19, a Grand Rapids Symphony Holiday Pops concert.
"The Producers," Nov. 23 to 28, a Tony Award-Winning Broadway production at DeVos Performance Hall presented by Broadway Theatre Guild.
Information on visiting Michigan's second largest city is available on the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau website at VisitGrandRapids.org.
Back to top of page | Journal Home
