Things To Do In Michigan Spring 2022 – Our A to Z Guide

We’ve made it through another Michigan winter, and now our attention turns to warmer weather and the renewal of spring. It’s time to get back outdoors and enjoy some sunshine, green grass, blooming flowers, and a full slate of unique Michigan events. It was great to see the positive response to our Things to Do in Michigan Winter A to Z Guide, and now we have returned with 26 unique, fun, and fantastic Michigan events for the months of March, April and May. This is our Things to Do in Michigan Spring 2022 – Our A to Z Guide:

Antrim County Petoskey Stone Festival (May 28) – Barnes Park on Lake Michigan is the setting for this festival that celebrates our state stone as well as everything Antrim County has to offer. Last year’s event featured a stone skipping contest, Coast Guard demonstrations, a Petoskey stone hunt, vendors, activities for the kids, and more. Stay tuned for details on this year’s event at http://petoskeystonefestival.com/.

Blessing of the Bikes in Baldwin (May 13-15) – The 5oth annual Blessing of the Bikes will take place in Baldwin this spring, as people come from all over the country to see the bikes, visit the vendor booths, enjoy great food, and more. Keep updated as more details are posted at https://blessingofthebikes.net/.

Charlevoix Easter Egg Hunt (April 16) – “Charlevoix State Bank and the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce team up to host the Annual Easter Egg Hunt downtown Charlevoix in East Park on Saturday at 2:00pm sharp.  As always, the event is free for children up to 10 years old. Age groups are 2 years old and under, 3-4 years, 5-6 years and 7-10 years. The hunt will include 4500 prize filled eggs. So bring your Easter basket and be ready at 2:00pm sharp so you don’t miss out!”

Durand Railroad Days (May 12-15) – Celebrate all things railroad at the 47th annual Durand Railroad Days festival. Events include a car show, great food, a Queen/Prince/Princess competition, carnival rides, a parade, and more. Head over to https://www.durandrailroaddays.com/ for more information.

Eastern Market Flower Days in Detroit (May) – See hundreds of colorful flowers and take home enough to make your home and garden beautiful in 2022 at Detroit’s Eastern Market’s 2022 Flower Days. Sales are held on Tuesdays (smaller crowds, less selection) and Saturdays (more flowers, more people) as long as COVID-19 protocols allow. This used to be a one-day event that drew close to 100,000 people but it has now been spread out to cover the entire month. Find out more at https://www.flowerdayeasternmarket.com/.

Frankenmuth Balloons over Bavarian Inn (May 27-30) – “Witness beautiful morning and evening flights by more than 25 hot air balloons over Frankenmuth during Balloons Over Bavarian Inn! Nightly balloon glows take place during Frankenmuth Dog Bowl in the grassy field near River Place Shops.” More information is available at https://www.frankenmuth.org/events/balloons-over-bavarian-inn/.

Gilda’s Laugh Fest in Grand Rapids (March 16-20) – Laugh Fest returns to in-person shows for 2022, with a full slate of hilarious events on tap throughout downtown Grand Rapids. Top shows include Maria Bamford, Tone Bell, Fortune Feimster, Charlie Berens, and Brent Morin. Events like the Clean Comedy Showcase ensure that there’s something for everyone. Find a full schedule and ticket information at https://www.laughfestgr.org/.

Highland Festival and Games in Alma (May 28 & 29) – Celebrate Alma’s rich Scottish history as the Highland Festival returns in 2022! Events include live music, a road race, the Queen of Scots pageant, dancing, a parade, vendor booths, and of course the always popular Heavyweight Athletics competition. Find out more at http://www.almahighlandfestival.com/.

Irish Jig 5K Returns (Grand Rapids, March 19) – The Irish Jig returns in 2022 so don your green gear and get ready to start the year off right with a festive road race. “Now in its 38th year, the Irish Jig has grown to become one of Michigan’s premier 5K (3.1 mile) road races. The USA Track & Field certified course is mostly flat with a few gentle hills through the downtown area of East Grand Rapids.” More information is available at https://www.spectrumhealth.org/irish-jig.

Journeyman Distillery Tours (weekends) – Find out how some of Michigan’s award winning spirits are made in Three Oaks while on a Journeyman Distillery tour. You can choose from two options: the regular tour runs $13 per person and includes a tour of the historic Featherbone Factory and 11 tastings, the Distiller’s Tour includes all of that plus three barrel samplings. It is strongly recommended that you book tours online in advance. Head over to https://journeyman.com/tours for more information.

Kalkaska National Trout Festival (April 20-24) – This year’s schedule is still being finalized, but this massive celebration in Northern Michigan typically includes a parade, concerts, kids’ fishing contests, a classic car show, carnival rides, and great food. Stay up to date as more details are revealed at https://nationaltroutfestival.com/.

Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo Opening Day (May 13) – What started as a much smaller operation and has now grown to a 700 acre farm, petting zoo, corn maze, and more, Lewis Farms is a can’t-miss stop for families headed to the Lake Michigan shoreline. There’s a barrel train, carousel, playgrounds, and plenty more to help the kids burn off energy. Animals include kangaroos, lemurs, camels, sloths, prairie dogs, and plenty of farm animals. Enhanced “zookeeper experiences” offer behind the scenes access and photo opportunities. Find out more about this family fun experience at visitlewisfarms.com.

Mackinac Historic State Parks opening week (May 3-6) – Mackinac Historic State Parks manages several amazing sites in the Mackinaw City area and on Mackinac Island. Visitors can start enjoying these iconic attractions in May as they open for the 2022 season. Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island opens on May 3rd, Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City opens on May 4th, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Museum opens on May 5th, and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park opens on May 6th. Find out more about hours and admission at https://www.mackinacparks.com/historic-sites-and-state-parks/.

National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City (May 13-15) – Celebrate everything about Michigan’s prized wild mushrooms at Boyne City’s National Morel Mushroom Festival. Activities include a craft show, carnival, concerts, and the always popular Taste of Morels food event. Find out more and keep up to date on COVID-19 guidelines at https://bcmorelfestival.com/.

Opening Day at the Soo Locks (March 25) – It’s always a festive occasion when the first freighters of the season pass through the Soo Locks. The Visitor Center will have special open hours to mark the occasion before opening for the season later in the spring (May 8). The locks close each year for a few months of winter maintenance, and the opening marks the start of another shipping season that will see thousands of vessel passages and more than 80 million tons of cargo pass through here.

PGA Senior Championship in Benton Harbor (May 26-30) The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship returns to Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor this year. This course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and features amazing views along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Find out more about this excellent that will have some of the best golfers in the world playing in Michigan at https://www.harborshoresresort.com/golf/srpga.

Quiet Adventures Symposium (March 1; online) – The 27th edition of the Quiet Adventure Symposium will not be in person, but will be held as a virtual event. Guests can get access to great programming on March 1st as well as access to more than 20 on-demand presentations. Michigan related content includes presentations on: the North Country Trail in the Manistee National Forest, visiting North Manitou Island, and backpacking Michigan’s High Country Pathway as well as presentations from the Michigan Nature Association and the Michigan Clean Water Corps. Find out more at https://quietwatersociety.org/.

Romeo May Fest (May 21) – The Romeo May Fest helps support two wonderful causes while hosting a car show that features new and classic vehicles. Visitors can also expect food trucks, live music, local vendors and crafts, beer, and even a kids area with face painting. Find tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/romeo-mayfest-2022-registration.

Short’s Brewing releases Pure Michigan Spring IPL – While we are known for being a state that loves IPAs, Short’s is putting a twist on that with an IPL release teamed up with Pure Michigan: “We partnered up with Pure Michigan again to celebrate the long-awaited transition from a dark, cold winter to a bright, hopefully warm spring with Pure Michigan IPL, a lager that we hopped to heck. We hope drinking this beer makes you think of fresh buds on trees, snow melt, trilliums popping up from the just thawed earth, and the joy of knowing a Pure Michigan summer is just around the corner.” Look for this beer on store shelves this spring!

Tulip Time 2022 (May 7-15) – Holland’s beloved celebration of tulips and Dutch culture will once again have in-person events. There is no admission required to stroll through the tulip gardens downtown or to see the Volksparade and dancing demonstrations. Some events like concerts and the Tulip Immersion Garden at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds require tickets, find the full schedule of events at https://tuliptime.com/.

Up North Lake & Cottage Show (April 8-10) Get ready for the upcoming outdoor season by heading to the Grand Traverse County Civic Center for this event. “Over 100 quality exhibitors and a wealth of information for virtually any home improvement need, project, or dream. You really can one stop shop for everything you need for the home or cottage.” Get the details at http://www.tccottageshow.com/.

Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival (April 22-24) – “The annual Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival is the “granddaddy” of them all! It is the original maple syrup festival in Michigan and came about in 1940, when local syrup producers gathered in a barber shop to discuss a way to sell their product. The local syrup producers place themselves throughout the village to sell syrup, candies, crème, and other treats like the ever-popular maple syrup cotton candy. The weekend offers something for everyone — carnival rides, a talent show, arts and crafts, a flea market, two parades, a petting zoo, a princess pageant, various displays, games, free entertainment, a pancake derby, and arm wrestling.” Find out more at https://www.syrupfest.org/.

World Expo of Beer in Frankenmuth (May 20-21) – Head to Frankemuth in late May for a chance to try samples of more than 350 different beers from around the world. Expect plenty of great food and fun at this festival, and see if you agree with the judges about which beers are deserving of awards.

eXplore Abandoned Places and Ruins in Michigan – Spring is a great time to check out some of Michigan’s abandoned places before the trees fill out and it gets harder to see them. Check out our three posts with 30 total sites worth checking out: 10 Michigan Abandoned Places and Ruins Worth Checking Out, 10 More Michigan Abandoned Places and Ruins Worth Checking Out, and 10 Michigan Abandoned Places and Ruins Worth Checking Out, Part 3.

Yankee Air Museum hosts Bombers, Berries, & Brews (May 7) – “Spend an evening at the Yankee Air Museum for the 5th Annual Bombers, Berries & Brews. Sample several types of craft beers and wines from local breweries and wineries, while viewing our historic aircraft. ” Find out more at https://yankeeairmuseum.org/.

Zoo-de-Mackinac (May 20-22) – Enjoy one of the most scenic bike rides in the state as part of this weekend-long event that includes music, food, and more. “The Zoo-de-Mackinac is a collection of outdoor enthusiasts (3,000-4,000) who want to enjoy a little physical exercise together in one of the most beautiful areas in the state of Michigan. The bike ride starts Saturday morning at Boyne Highlands Resort and spans 51 miles along Lake Michigan on a paved road with very little automobile traffic. Riders pedal through rolling countryside and trillium covered forests, along sandy beaches, and are surrounded by breathtaking views of Lake Michigan from 400′ high bluffs. We stop approximately half way, at a unique place called the Legs Inn for a leisurely lunch and to swap stories.” Head over to https://zoo-de-mack.com/zoo-de-mack-info/ to register.