What are some of the best spring festivals & events in Michigan?

There are plenty of fun spring festivals in Michigan to experience when you Go Great Lakes Bay, including: the World Expo of Beer, Frankenmuth Dog Bowl, and Balloons Over Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth; Michigan's largest antique festival, the Midland Antique Festival; Freeland Walleye Festival; and Butterflies in Bloom at Dow Gardens in Midland.

Butterflies in Bloom

Top Festivals & Events in the Great Lakes Bay in March:

Bringin' Back the 80s Fest

Top Festivals & Events in the Great Lakes Bay in April:

  • Excellency Music Festival (Apr 4) Listen to live (emo, indie rock, punk) bands perform inside the Historic Masonic Temple of Bay City.
  • Zehnder’s Ragtime & Jazz Festival (Apr 15 - 16) Enjoy Ragtime & Jazz music at multiple shows, with delicious menus served alongside your entertainment.
  • Bringin’ Back the 80s Fest (Apr 17 - 18) Dance your way through reliving the 80s with live cover “hair bands,” best-dressed contests, and more.
  • Freeland Walleye Festival (Apr 23 - 26) With carnival rides, a casino, parade, and fishing tournament — celebrate with citywide rummage sales, a fish fry, and fireworks.
  • Shipshewana on the Road (Apr 25 - 26) Shop this traveling show to find some of the most unique trinkets & treasures under the sun!
World Expo of Beer | @dena_dmj

Top Festivals & Events in the Great Lakes Bay in May:

  • Cinco de Mayo Annual Parade & Festival (May) Celebrate the largest Hispanic parade in Michigan, taste authentic fare, and experience live music & Hispanic dancing.
  • Funtown Chowdown Food Truck Festival (May 14 - Sep 10) Taste your way through a lineup of 20+ Michigan-based food trucks — and enjoy tap takeovers & live music.
  • World Expo of Beer (May 15 - 16) Experience one of Michigan’s biggest beer sampling events, featuring over 350 brews from around the globe!
  • The Great Lakes Market at From Buds to Blooms (May 16) Discover local food trucks & live musicians as you shop jewelry, art, crafts, and clothing.
  • Friday Fun Nights (May 22 - Sep 4) Take part every Friday as Frankenmuth comes alive with musicians & street performers!
Balloons Over Bavarian Inn | @edisal_azar
  • Balloons Over Bavarian Inn (May 22 - 25) Witness surreal sunrise flights as hot air balloons take to the sky, and bask in magical evening Balloon Glows.
  • Frankenmuth Dog Bowl (May 23 - 24) Attend a festival the whole family will love — four-legged family members, too! Experience DockDogs® & Disc Dog Competitions, a pet parade, and more.
  • Midland Antique Festival (May 30 - 31) Browse Michigan’s biggest antique & vintage market — on 80 acres with over 1,000 dealers — and join in the massive car show & automotive swap meet.
  • Summer Art Fair (May 30 - 31) Rain or shine in Downtown Midland, enjoy local musicians, artist booths, art activities, and fabulous food.
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Jen W. O'Deay + Go Great Lakes Bay

By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com