Arts exhibitions and performances have returned in full swing to West Michigan. This season, there’s absolutely no shortage of concerts, symphonies, plays, musicals, ballet, visual arts and beyond. We have big Broadway shows, intimate and progressive plays, live performances with symphonies, dancers taking to the stage, and powerful art exhibitions. Here’s our guide to arts events for the month.
Broadway Grand Rapids
122 Lyon St. NW, Grand Rapids
broadwaygrandrapids.com
Water for Elephants, Oct. 7-12
Fontana Chamber Arts
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 200, Kalamazoo
fontanamusic.org
VOCES8, Oct. 22
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
meijergardens.org
Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism,
Oct. 24-Mar. 15
Mums at Meijer Gardens, Oct. 1-31
Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids
artmuseumgr.org
David Hockney: Perspective Should
Be Reversed, Through Nov. 2
Pablo Picasso: Relentless
Innovation, Through Oct. 26
ArtPrize 2025 ft. Luis Fernandez, Sept. 17-Oct. 5
Grand Rapids Ballet
341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
grballet.com
Sherlock, Oct. 24-Nov. 1
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
grct.org
Rock of Ages, Sept. 12-Oct. 5
Pete the Cat, Oct. 14-19
Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa Ave. NW Ste. 100, Grand Rapids
grsymphony.org
Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Oct. 17-18
Ben Folds with the
Grand Rapids Symphony, Oct. 4
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship
of the Ring in Concert, Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 100, Kalamazoo
kalamazoosymphony.com
Composing Tomorrow, Oct. 9
Mozart & Tchaikovsky, Oct. 18
Oktoberfest, Oct. 22
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon
muskegonartmuseum.org
96th Michigan Contemporary
Art Exhibition, Sept. 18-Nov. 19
Art Nouveau: Age of Elegance, Oct. 2-Jan. 11
Cups, Oct. 16-Nov. 9
Opera Grand Rapids
1320 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
operagr.org
H.M.S. Pinafore, Oct. 10-11
Ox-Bow School of Art
3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck
ox-bow.org
Harvest Dinner, Oct. 4
Bloody Brunch, Oct. 18
Ox-Bow Goes to Heck, Oct. 18
St. Cecilia Music Center
24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
scmc-online.org
Catherine Russell, Oct. 9
Chris Thile, Oct. 23
West Michigan Symphony
360 W. Western Ave. Ste. 200, Muskegon
westmichigansymphony.org
The Music of ABBA with
Direct from Sweden, Oct. 3
BLKBOK, Oct 17
Dmitri Matheny Quintet, Oct 24