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Family Events

Family Hope Foundation offers a variety of accessible outings where your family can have fun without worry and stress. Join us and connect with other families in our community.

In addition to our ongoing Sensory Showtimes with Celebration Cinema, we offer up to four unique events each year!

See our upcoming events below current events.

Current Events

Celebration Cinema Sensory Showings

Where “Shhhhh!” isn’t allowed!

Family Hope Foundation and Celebration Cinema present a unique movie experience for individuals with special needs and their families. Enjoy a friendly environment where everyone is welcome. Brighter lights, lower sound, limited previews, open captions, and a group of guests and staff who understand your family’s needs will make this outing enjoyable for everyone.

All movies in 2D and Open Caption. Seating questions can be directed to the box office.

Regular matinee pricing applies. Friends of Family Hope Foundation, click the button below to print a barcode for $2 off the ticket price!

Barcode for $2 discount

Sensory Showtimes movie lineup:

Movies begin at 11:00 am (except where noted below)

January 4 – Mufasa: The Lion King
February 8 – DogMan
February 22 – Paddington in Peru
March 29 – Snow White
April 12 – A Minecraft Movie
May 31 – Lilo & Stitch
June 21 – How to Train Your Dragon
June 28 – Elio

(These dates are subject to change. We will update this page with any new information as we receive it.)

Sensory Showtime movie lineup

Theaters now participating:

Celebration! Cinema North in Grand Rapids
Celebration! Cinema Crossroads in Portage
Celebration! Cinema Lansing

*Please note: Celebration Cinema South is temporarily NOT participating in Sensory Showtimes.

Upcoming Events

Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo

Save the date: June 28th, 2025

Mark your calendars... Family Hope Foundation will be hosting a family fun day at Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo! Located in New Era, Michigan, Lewis Farms is a fifth generation working fruit farm that includes a corn maze, water features, a petting zoo, and a multitude of other activities that make it a wonderful family destination!

Event sponsored by:

Past Events

Family Day at the Whitecaps, 2025!

Family Hope Foundation hosted a family fun event at the West Michigan Whitecaps game on April 5, 2025.

We had SO MUCH FUN this past weekend at the West Michigan Whitecaps game! Thank you to everyone who came and spent the afternoon with us! Not only did we get to have fun, we got to see the Whitecaps win! 😁⚾🤩

Thank you to Lighthouse Title Group and the Walker chapter of AMBUS for sponsoring this event!

Sensory Showing Special Event: The Polar Express and More!

Family Hope Foundation hosted our 2nd PRIVATE sensory showing of The Polar Express. Families watched the classic Christmas movie while enjoying complementary popcorn and soft drinks. This event also included fun special giveaways for your Christmas crew!

There were even some special jolly guests that joined the fun!

Event details:

When: Sunday, December 15, 2024.
Where: Celebration Cinema North, Grand Rapids, MI— 2121 Celebration Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Event was a private, sensory screening of the movie
Included movie, popcorn, soft drinks, and giveaways

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

Family Hope Foundation hosted a family fun event at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park on September 15, 2024.

Families got to see the many things Boulder Ridge has to offer. There were opportunities to feed giraffes, watch penguins splash around, and enjoy other animal sightings like rhinos, hippos, birds, and more! Boulder Ridge has flat, accessible walkways for everyone to experience the park. It’s not too big or too small—you can easily visit each area without feeling rushed or leaving any left out!

Family Hope Foundation had a private pavilion for our families to eat lunch, relax, and connect with other families. However, the park doesn’t close until 6pm—families could stay at the park for as long as they want!

This event was sponsored by Meyering Insurance, partnering with Michigan Insurance. We are very grateful for the relationships we form that allow us to hold events like these. We’ll have a big thank you card at the event that families can sign to show their gratitude!

Family Fun Photos!

Interested in sponsoring one of our family events? Please contact our Executive Director, Jennifer Roudebush, at jennifer.roudebush@thefamilyhopefoundation.org with any inquiries.

My son loved family night. There was so much to do that it was almost hard to take it all in. But to be surrounded by other parents and families who understand the daily struggles and challenges was priceless. And to meet so many wonderful people in one place was great. We can’t wait for the next event.

Thanks for doing this for our kids and their families. It’s nice to be able to come together and celebrate as a community.

We attended the family day at Camp Manitou-Lin. My son, Finn, has special needs, and finding activities and places to go that are comfortable and accepting of him can be a challenge. Family Hope Foundation has been a blessing. Finn’s big brother came to the camp day and really enjoyed himself too!

The Walters Family

My daughter with Down Syndrome, age 25, had a ball. There were so many things for her to do, which isn’t always easy to find at her age. She saw many of her friends from school and camp. On the way home, she said, “I’m lots of happy.”

We love all the events you sponsor! It gives our little ones experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be possible! Thank you.

The Willey Family

We enjoy all the events we attend. Family Night was so much fun. It is a breath of fresh air to go somewhere and not worry. Thank you!

The Oldfield Family