The Frederik Meijer Gardens sparkles and shines with more than 42 beautiful holiday displays. Kids and adults will be taken into a world full of holiday magic and sparkle with over 300,000 lights. There are dozens of trees decorated in traditional fashion from around the world. Visitors can also enjoy carolers, carriage rides, and of course, visits from Santa and his reindeer. Almost every area family has memories of riding the horse-drawn carriage down luminary-lit snow kissed paths. Kids will also enjoy the magical children’s gardens, where playing in the snow and interacting with the exhibits is not only allowed, but expected.

Perhaps the favorite part of every child and adult alike is the beautiful Railway Garden. This remarkable display was designed by the garden’s own horticulturists in conjunction with expert artisans, including Paul Busse. The Railway Garden includes three separate indoor gardens. The highlight of the Railway Garden is the Holiday Express train exhibit. The display will leave visitors in awe with beautiful buildings made from materials collected from nature together with model trolleys and trains sure to capture the imagination of everyone. The 2013 exhibit will include replicas of the Meyer May House, the Voight House, Mangiamo, Fifth Third Ballpark, and the Jersey Junction. These are just some of the more than 30 local landmarks represented in the Railway Gardens display.

One of the newest displays is a Japanese New Year decoration known as a kadomatsu. Gracing the entrance of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, this beautiful display of bamboo, pine, and plum blossoms is not to be missed. This Japanese tradition honors the traditional forces of strength, growth, vitality, longevity, and new beginnings.

The annual display runs from around Thanksgiving until just after the New Year every year. This spectacular exhibit attracts close to 100,000 visitors from around the world each year. For those of us who live or work in the Grand Rapids area, it’s one of the season’s must-see events. For families who are just moving into the area, this event is the perfect introduction to the warmth and culture of Grand Rapids.