October 2025 Arts Calendar
Photo: Catherine Russell.

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