Lighting Up Grand Rapids: How Darci Mitchell Turns John Ball Zoo Into a Must-See Year-Round Experience

From glowing lanterns to animatronic bees—discover how one woman is making West Michigan wildly unforgettable.

In a city full of hidden gems, Darci Mitchell is one of Grand Rapids’ brightest. As the Promotions and Events Manager at John Ball Zoo, she’s not just organizing events—she’s designing experiences that spark wonder, celebrate nature, and bring people together to create memories that last a lifetime.

✨ Enter the Lantern Festival.
Running now through June 15, this evening event transforms the zoo into a glowing, immersive walk-through of handcrafted lanterns—1,000+ of them. It's wheelchair accessible, visually stunning, and filled with interactive moments that make it perfect for a dreamy date night or a memory-making family outing. (Pro tip: Visit on a weekday or Sunday for the best value and fewer crowds.)

🐝 Coming next: Power of Pollinators.
Launching in July, this new exhibit features 25 larger-than-life animatronic creatures—each one native to Michigan and designed to show just how powerful the smallest species can be. Think butterflies, bees, and the tiniest workers that keep our ecosystems alive. It’s included with zoo admission, and yes—your kids will love it (but so will you).

What makes Darcy’s work so powerful? It’s not just the scale of the events—it’s her belief in what’s possible. Whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall, she’s constantly finding new ways to make West Michigan feel alive, inspired, and worth celebrating.

So if you're looking for something fresh to do this week—or you’ve forgotten how magical our city really is—this Coffee with Steve & Margaux episode will absolutely rekindle the spark.

Keywords:
West Michigan, Grand Rapids Events, John Ball Zoo, Lantern Festival, Darcy Mitchell, Power of Pollinators, Conservation, Family-Friendly Things to Do in Grand Rapids, Local Attractions, Cultural Experiences