Make a Date with the State – April & May

Enjoy the season and the fun, from outdoor celebrations to dramatic and stirring performances indoors.
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People, Places and Events to Explore in Michigan

Surely Spring! Celebrate Earth Day. Plant some trees. Find wildflowers growing at local parks. Get the bike out and ride. Go for a run. Great festivals are scheduled all around the state. Introduce the kids to fishing or take them on a hike. Catch the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour in Midland or Le Cirque Espirit in Manistee.


April 16-18

Way UP Music Festival returns to Marquette for the second year! With two world-class festival stages, Way UP features a wide variety of artists and genres and something for everyone. Head to the U.P. for a weekend of music, including national acts and the region’s best bands and DJs at Lakeview Arena. wayupmusicfestival.com


April 25

Celebrate Arbor Day with a visit to Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton. Join in the 75th anniversary tree planting ceremony 10:30-11:30 a.m. to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Harry Fee donating Hidden Lake Gardens to Michigan State University. Learn about the history of HLG, the benefits of trees, the meaning of Arbor Day and other happenings. Explore the conservatory or the trails and take home a free tree seedling for planting at home. canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens


May 14-17

The 60th annual National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City kicks off with a carnival and craft beer block party, plus morel seminars, a guided morel hunt, a competitive hunt, craft show, tasting events and live music. Reserve early for the May 15 Morel Fest Wine & Dine, as the event usually sells out. Enjoy scenic views as you experience morel-inspired creations paired with wines. Two seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Beach House Restaurant on Deer Lake. Taste of Morels, 12-3 p.m. May 16, showcases a dozen area restaurants and morel-infused delicacies. bcmorelfestival.com


May 15-16

More than 50 volunteer captains welcome Michigan veterans aboard their vessels for the 11th annual Tight Lines for Troops in Manistee. This free fishing tournament includes Lake Michigan, riverboat and pier/shore divisions and gives veterans the chance to experience big lake fishing. Priority is given to WWII and Korean War vets, Purple Heart recipients, disabled veterans and POWs, and then all veterans. Join the public Welcome Back Celebration along the Manistee Riverwalk, as community members wave American flags and cheer on the boats. tightlinesfortroops.com


May 30

Lake sturgeons are a threatened species and most of those still roaming the Great Lakes are found in the St. Clair River. The Blue Water Sturgeon Festival celebrates this ancient fish and their recovery. Festivalgoers can get close to them from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Fort Gratiot Light Station in Port Huron. Visit the free touch tanks with baby sturgeon, exhibits on the Great Lakes, hands-on activities and more. Adopt a sturgeon that scientists have tagged and are tracking in the wild. scriver.org/sturgeon-festival


*Photography courtesy iStock 

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