GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Military personnel and their families can now visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park free of charge this summer through Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2026, as part of the national Blue Star Museums program.
The program began Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, and runs through Labor Day, offering free admission to currently serving U.S. military members, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members, and U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA Commissioned Corps personnel. Eligible guests may bring up to five family members with a valid military ID.
Frederik Meijer Gardens President & CEO Charles Burke said the institution is honored to participate, calling it an opportunity to thank service members and their families while sharing art, culture, and nature.
The Blue Star Museums program is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the U.S. Department of Defense, along with museums nationwide.
Visitors this season can also view CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens Presented by Macatawa Bank, featuring glass works by artist Dale Chihuly across indoor galleries and outdoor gardens. The exhibition runs through November and requires a timed ticket for certain indoor areas. Select evenings will offer extended hours into dusk, along with tram tours and guided experiences for an additional fee.
More participating museums nationwide can be found through the Blue Star Museums program website.
About Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, was named the Best Sculpture Park in the United States in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and is regularly listed in the 100-most-visited museums in the world and 15-most-visited museums in the United States by The Art Newspaper, the leading global art news publication. The permanent collection highlights hundreds of sculptures from internationally acclaimed artists Magdalena Abakanowicz, El Anatsui, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Nick Cave, Mark di Suvero, Marshall Fredericks, Henry Moore, Beverly Pepper, Jaume Plensa, Auguste Rodin, Richard Serra, Yinka Shonibare CBE, and Ai Weiwei, among others. Indoor galleries with changing sculpture exhibitions have presented numerous solo shows, including artists Jonathan Borofsky, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine, Richard Hunt, Cristina Iglesias, Michele Oka Donor, George Segal, David Smith, and others. The 158-acre main campus features Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; one of the country’s largest interactive children’s gardens; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens, including a replica 1930s-era farm garden; an 8-acre Japanese garden featuring contemporary sculpture; and a 1,900-seat outdoor amphitheater garden, showcasing an eclectic mix of world-renowned touring musicians each summer. Learning Engagement programs welcome 80,000 students and guests each year. Culinary Arts & Events offerings include weddings, corporate meetings, and award-winning catering.
About Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of War, and museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer. The program begins on Armed Forces Day in mid-May and ends on Labor Day at the beginning of September. For more information, visit arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
#MeijerGardens
Comments