Community Calendar

Get ready to be amazed at our newest interactive exhibit! From the smallest bees to fluttering butterflies and beyond, this immersive experience brings you face-to-face with larger-than-life animatronic pollinators that reveal the secrets of nature’s hardest-working heroes. Explore the critical role these creatures play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that plants, flowers, and crops thrive. Join us to celebrate their incredible impact! Over 20 animatronic pollinators will be on display, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and the very important Poweshiek Skipperling, which is the star of one of the Zoo's most successful conservation programs.

Get ready to be amazed at our newest interactive exhibit! From the smallest bees to fluttering butterflies and beyond, this immersive experience brings you face-to-face with larger-than-life animatronic pollinators that reveal the secrets of nature’s hardest-working heroes. Explore the critical role these creatures play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that plants, flowers, and crops thrive. Join us to celebrate their incredible impact! Over 20 animatronic pollinators will be on display, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and the very important Poweshiek Skipperling, which is the star of one of the Zoo's most successful conservation programs.

Get ready to be amazed at our newest interactive exhibit! From the smallest bees to fluttering butterflies and beyond, this immersive experience brings you face-to-face with larger-than-life animatronic pollinators that reveal the secrets of nature’s hardest-working heroes. Explore the critical role these creatures play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that plants, flowers, and crops thrive. Join us to celebrate their incredible impact! Over 20 animatronic pollinators will be on display, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and the very important Poweshiek Skipperling, which is the star of one of the Zoo's most successful conservation programs.

Get ready to be amazed at our newest interactive exhibit! From the smallest bees to fluttering butterflies and beyond, this immersive experience brings you face-to-face with larger-than-life animatronic pollinators that reveal the secrets of nature’s hardest-working heroes. Explore the critical role these creatures play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that plants, flowers, and crops thrive. Join us to celebrate their incredible impact! Over 20 animatronic pollinators will be on display, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and the very important Poweshiek Skipperling, which is the star of one of the Zoo's most successful conservation programs.

MINI on the Mack invites thousands of MINI Cooper owners to the Mackinac Bridge to break the world-record for the largest-ever MINI Cooper parade. It’s a colorful parade, as the bridge and nearby cities are taken over by colorful, exotic, unique, comedic and gorgeous liveries. Best of all, the event raises funds to support biomedical research and science education at Van Andel Institute.

This unique event is turbo-charged through a unique partnership between SHARPE Cars and VAI Purple Community. SHARPE has an extensive history supporting communities — organizing, hosting and sponsoring charity opportunities across Michigan. They led the charge to organize the first Mini on the Mack in 2017, looking to have some fun and break some records while also making an impact. By organizing a Purple Community event, SHARPE engages a grassroots network of passionate volunteers and supporters, all looking to fuel scientific discovery.

The celebration features photo opportunities and exclusive merch, all conveniently scheduled near the rally route. Every dollar raised directly supports Van Andel Institute research.

Help us break a world record! Registration closes July 1, 2025.

Get ready to be amazed at our newest interactive exhibit! From the smallest bees to fluttering butterflies and beyond, this immersive experience brings you face-to-face with larger-than-life animatronic pollinators that reveal the secrets of nature’s hardest-working heroes. Explore the critical role these creatures play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that plants, flowers, and crops thrive. Join us to celebrate their incredible impact! Over 20 animatronic pollinators will be on display, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and the very important Poweshiek Skipperling, which is the star of one of the Zoo's most successful conservation programs.

Alexa Grambush holds an immersive, contemplative experience at 106 Gallery using large-scale, panoramic paintings. The work attempts to approach and explore the absolutely corporeal, binding experience of being alive and the deeply mysterious nature of being so through abstract expressions. Her hope for all who enter is to have the freedom and condition to be moved, to experience revelation, or simply, to enjoy. The opening is on Friday, August 1st from 6-9pm. The closing is on Friday, August 15th from 6-9pm.

MINI on the Mack invites thousands of MINI Cooper owners to the Mackinac Bridge to break the world-record for the largest-ever MINI Cooper parade. It’s a colorful parade, as the bridge and nearby cities are taken over by colorful, exotic, unique, comedic and gorgeous liveries. Best of all, the event raises funds to support biomedical research and science education at Van Andel Institute.

This unique event is turbo-charged through a unique partnership between SHARPE Cars and VAI Purple Community. SHARPE has an extensive history supporting communities — organizing, hosting and sponsoring charity opportunities across Michigan. They led the charge to organize the first Mini on the Mack in 2017, looking to have some fun and break some records while also making an impact. By organizing a Purple Community event, SHARPE engages a grassroots network of passionate volunteers and supporters, all looking to fuel scientific discovery.

The celebration features photo opportunities and exclusive merch, all conveniently scheduled near the rally route. Every dollar raised directly supports Van Andel Institute research.

Help us break a world record! Registration closes July 1, 2025.

Get ready to be amazed at our newest interactive exhibit! From the smallest bees to fluttering butterflies and beyond, this immersive experience brings you face-to-face with larger-than-life animatronic pollinators that reveal the secrets of nature’s hardest-working heroes. Explore the critical role these creatures play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring that plants, flowers, and crops thrive. Join us to celebrate their incredible impact! Over 20 animatronic pollinators will be on display, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and the very important Poweshiek Skipperling, which is the star of one of the Zoo's most successful conservation programs.

This Saturday, take a step back in time. Visit Pears Mill, an 1857 water-powered mill. Located in Buchanan, Michigan’s downtown Historic District. The mill is adjacent to Buchanan Farmers Market. Pears Mill is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through Labor Day. There is no charge.