January

Winter Blast Weekend

2020 TBA; Detroit; winterblast.com

Originally devised as a backdrop to help populate downtown Detroit during Super Bowl XL in 2005, the Winter Blast has now grown into a strong annual tradition featuring live music, a snow slide, and all the s'mores you can shake a stick at. Last year, the Winter Blast was made free and expanded to four weekends of wintry fun.

Ann Arbor Folk Festival

Jan. 31-Feb. 1; Ann Arbor; theark.com

Folk yeah! For 43 years the Ann Arbor Folk Festival has showcased some of the most influential folk acts of our time, while at the same time shining a spotlight on up-and-coming strummers. In 2019, festival was headlined by baroque folk royalty Rufus Wainwright and recent Grammy winner Brandi Carlile.

February

The Dirty Show

2020 TBA; Detroit; dirtydetroit.com

The Dirty Show is celebrating its 21st iteration in 2020. Art impresario Jerry Vile's international erotic art show features burlesque performances, the Cinerotic Film Festival, and a bevy of titillating paintings, photos, sculptures, and other odes to erotica.

Cupid's Undie Run

2020 TBA; Detroit; cupids.org

The only time of year that running around in your underwear won't get you arrested. The Cupid Undie Run is both a charitable event and a cheeky one.

March

Hamtramck Music Fest

2020 TBA; Hamtramck; hamtramckmusicfest.com

Dozens of Detroit-area bands, DJs, and solo artists take over Hamtramck's bars and nightclubs for a three-day showcase that's likely the largest local music festival in Michigan.

Motor City Tattoo Expo

2020 TBA; Detroit; themotorcitytattooexpo.com

Got ink? The Motor City Tattoo Expo is not your typical gun show. This event draws tattoo aficionados from all over, featuring seminars, vendors, live music, and, yeah — tattoos.

Autorama

2020 TBA; Detroit; autorama.com

Since 1952, the grit, grease, and muscle of Autorama has been known as America's greatest hot rod show. The event offers a glimpse at custom rides, celebrity guests, car tips, demonstrations, rockbilly, and pinup girls.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

2020 TBA; Detroit; detroitstpatricksparade.com

We're seeing green! Corktown's long-standing annual celebration of its Irish heritage continues with a parade, traditional music, beer, and shamrocks galore.

Marche du Nain Rouge

March 24 from noon to 3 p.m.; Detroit; marchedunainrouge.com

It's only fitting that a city as unique as Detroit would host such a devilish event. Though a relatively new tradition, the Marche du Nain Rouge is a Mardis Gras-style fête where the city rallies together to banish the dreaded "Red Dwarf" of local lore. (If you want to defend the misunderstood imp, you're welcome too.)

Ann Arbor Film Festival

March 26-31; Ann Arbor; aafilmfest.org

Calling all cinephiles! Now in its 57th year, the Ann Arbor Film Fest is the must-see event for lovers of independent and experimental film.

April

Detroit Tigers Opening Day

April 4; Downtown Detroit; mlb.com/tigers/ballpark

If you've never been to Detroit during the Tigers' first home game of the season, you probably don't understand what the big deal is. Head to the city and you'll encounter swarms of metro Detroiters drunkenly partying in bars, under tents, or in the streets. Oh, and there's baseball.

Ann Arbor Hash Bash

April 6 at high noon; Ann Arbor; hashbash.com

Celebrate weed's newfound legality in Michigan with the 48th Ann Arbor Hash Bash. Held each year on the first Saturday of April, the Ann Arbor Hash Bash is a toking good time. The herbal celebration preempts 4/20 festivities with this annual blowout of all things marijuana-related.

FoolMoon and FestiFools

April 5 and 7; Ann Arbor; wonderfoolproductions.org

On FoolMoon, the streets of Ann Arbor are invaded with illuminated costumes and contraptions. On the sister event FestiFools, a "flash mob" army of papier-mache puppets takes to the streets for one kooky celebration.

Stratford Festival

April–December; Ontario, Canada; stratfordfestival.ca

OK, so it's not in Michigan but thanks to our neighbors to the North-ish for putting on dozens of plays each year with an emphasis on Shakespeare. The Stratford Festival is North America's largest repertory theater company.

May

Cinetopia International Film Festival

May 10-19; Ann Arbor, Detroit; cinetopiafestival.org

Cinetopia honors the rich heritage of cinematic culture and Michigan's proud legacy of outstanding cinema artists through special film events, panels, and presentations.

Motor City Comic Con

May 17-19; Novi; motorcitycomiccon.com

Comic geeks unite — metro Detroit's largest comic book and pop culture event returns. The event boasts celebrity guests, and offers attendees an opportunity to participate in several nerdy events, including showing off their costume skills in a cosplay contest, or finding their "player 2" through Geek Speed Dating.

East Lansing Art Festival

May 18-19; East Lansing; elartfest.com

It's an art thing, baby. Since its inception in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival has morphed into a community undertaking that offers hundreds of artists, performers, and craftspeople the chance to show off their work to thousands of art-hungry visitors.

Movement Music Festival

May 25-27; Detroit; movement.us

It's all the rave! Lovingly referred to by electronic music fans as "Techno Christmas," the annual Movement Electronic Music Festival draws fans and DJs from all over the world. Considering that Detroit is the undisputed capital of techno, there's only one place you should be Memorial Day weekend. Previous years' headliners include Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson, Claude VonStroke, the Wu-Tang Clan, and deadmau5's techno alter ego, Testpilot.

Detroit Music Awards

2019 TBA; Detroit; detroitmusicawards.net

Celebrating the finest acts and artists from metro Detroit — of which there are plenty — is the annual Detroit Music Awards. From blues and jazz to garage rock and folk, the Detroit Music Awards recognizes local trailblazers and music makers with a soiree worth dressing up for.

June

Ferndale Pride

June 1; Ferndale; ferndalepride.com

Hoist up those rainbow flags, Ferndale Pride is taking over. The event is the annual celebration of our local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex communities.

Hoedown

2019 TBA; Clarkston; wycd.cbslocal.com

Hey, y'all. Brush off your cowboy boots and brush up on your two-step; the annual Hoedown returns. Full of country-fied entertainment and vendors galore, the Hoedown ropes in thousands of country music fans.

Motor City Pride

June 8-9; Detroit; motorcitypride.org

Let your pride flag fly! As Michigan's largest pride event, Motor City Pride turns up with an average of 40,000 participants to celebrate the LGBTQ community with a blowout like no other.

The Art of Fire Festival

June 8-9; Royal Oak; artoffirero.com

Are you ready to kick some serious glass?! What's a more metal way to celebrate the many artistic creations forged from fire than a fire festival? The annual Art of Fire Festival features over 100 artists working in clay, glass, and metal, and hosts live glass blowing, metal working, and workshops.

Ann Arbor Summer Festival

2019 TBA; Ann Arbor; a2sf.org

Ann Arbor's massive festival practically takes up all summer with 22 nights and more than 175 events, featuring music, art, film, and more.

Electric Forest

June 27-30; Rothbury; electricforestfestival.com

Once again, a psychedelic neon hippie commune is erected in rural Michigan featuring electronic music, jam bands, and a literal electrified forest for all of your tripping needs.

Summer Solstice Jazz Fest

June 21-22; East Lansing; eljazzfest.com

Returning for its 23rd year, the Summer Solstice Jazz fest features hours of top-notch jazz performances and includes youth and community education programming.

GM River Days

2019 TBA; Detroit; riverdays.com

The Detroit riverfront comes alive with music, special events, food, and plenty of activities for the kids. It's also a great way to see how the city's RiverWalk has transformed the waterfront over the last 15 years.

Ford Fireworks

June 24; Detroit; theparade.org/ford-fireworks

Each year, the Fourth of July gets an early introduction with a bang — lots of them. The big blowout takes place just ahead of the holiday along Detroit's scenic riverfront. Leading up the showdown in the sky, a festival takes up the boardwalk with a carnival, music, and other special events.

July

Michigan Elvisfest

July 19-20; Ypsilanti; mielvisfest.org

If you can't help falling in love with "The King," Elvisfest is for you. Celebrate the hunk of burnin' love with some of the country's best Elvis impersonators.

Wyandotte Street Art Fair

July 10-13; Wyandotte; wyandotte.net

It's all going down — Downriver that is. The 58th annual walkable art-filled event annually enlivens the heart of Wyandotte, offering live music, greasy street fair-style food, and, of course, unique hand-crafted artwork from local vendors.

Pig and Whiskey

July 19-21; Ferndale; pigandwhiskeyferndale.com

Name a more iconic duo. Go ahead, we'll wait. Pig and Whiskey offers up some of the area's best barbecue joints paired with whiskey, beer, and a music lineup that is sure to keep you roasted.

Motor City Steam Con

2019 TBA; Romulus; motorcitysteamcon.com

Put a clock on it. This con serves up the ultimate steampunk experience.

Concert of Colors

2019 TBA; Detroit; concertofcolors.com

A cultural kaleidoscope, Detroit's annual diversity festival enters its 26th year and features world music, ethnic cuisine, and more.

Ann Arbor Art Fair

July 18-21; Ann Arbor; theannartfair.org

Stroll the streets of downtown Ann Arbor to browse a dizzying display of contemporary fine arts and crafts in one of the country's top-ranked art fairs.

Michigan Summer Beer Festival

July 26-27; Ypsilanti; mibeer.com

Crack a cold one. (In fact, grab us one.) Escape the summer heat with a celebration Michigan's best local brews.

Mo Pop Festival

July 27-28; Detroit; mopopfestival.com

Started in 2013 and hosted at West Riverfront Park, Mo Pop spoils Detroiters with a little bit of everything. Last year's eclectic lineup included hip-hop artist Vince Staples, Grammy winning indie rock star St. Vincent, rising pop star Billie Eilish, and punk musician Jeff Rosenstock. Though still relatively new, Mo Pop has cemented its place as a must-attend local event.

August

Renaissance Festival

2019 TBA; Holly; michrenfest.com

Huzzah! Rejoice as medieval worlds once again clash with fantasy realms for the ultimate throwback reverie. Costumes, jousting, and turkey drumsticks shall be plentiful.

The Woodward Dream Cruise

2019 TBA; various; woodwarddreamcruise.com

The best damn traffic jam, the Woodward Dream Cruise combines classic cars and the cruisers that love them at this annual parade down metro Detroit's main drag.

Hydrofest

Aug. 22-25; Detroit; detroitboatraces.com

More than 100 years strong, the APBA Gold Cup is the oldest active motorsports trophy, featuring high-speed hydroplanes on the Detroit River.

Michigan State Fair

Aug. 29-Sept. 2; Novi; michiganstatefairllc.com

Nothing can stop the 160-year-old family-friendly state tradition. The Michigan State Fair may have been canceled in 2012, but it immediately rose from the dead with all the family-friendly fun you've come to expect.

Detroit International Jazz Festival

Aug. 30-Sept. 2; Detroit; detroitjazzfest.org

Spanning several city blocks downtown, Detroit's International Jazz Festival honors the art form with an incredible lineup, fireworks, jam sessions, and more.

Arts, Beats & Eats

Aug. 30-Sept. 2; Royal Oak; artsbeatseats.com

Good things come in threes. Such is true of the Arts, Beats & Eats festival. Local artists, acclaimed national music acts from past and present, and some of metro Detroit's best restaurants come together for a tasty experience.

September

Dally in the Alley

Sept. 7; Detroit; dallyinthealley.com

Celebrate the spirit of the Cass Corridor as a historic block is cordoned off to make way for multiple stages, vendors, artists, and libations. The event is a Detroit staple, running strong for more than 40 years.

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival

Aug. 31-Sept. 2; Hamtramck; hamtownfest.com

For four decades, Hamtramck has put on a weekend-long Labor Day festival boasting local acts across all genres.

Art & Apples Festival

Sept. 6-8; Rochester; pccart.org

The city of Rochester transforms the 30-acre Rochester Park into one of the nation's top fine-art fairs with over 290 exhibiting artists from across the country.

Murals in the Market

2019 TBA; Eastern Market, Detroit; muralsinthemarket.com

Each year, Detroit's Eastern Market district gets redecorated with a fresh coat of paint thanks to muralists from Detroit and beyond, who are tasked with creating new artwork during the annual Murals in the Market festival held in September. You can drive or walk through the streets of Eastern Market to take in the sights yourself — making the market a feast for the eyes as well.

DIY Street Fair

Sept. 20-22; Ferndale; ferndalediy.com

You can do it yourself without doing it alone thanks to the DIY Street Fair in Ferndale with live music, food, and vendor booths hawking all manner of art.

Funky Ferndale Art Fair

Sept. 20-22; Ferndale; funkyferndaleartfair.com

Keep it funky and head to everyone's favorite Ferndale stretch of fun when Nine Mile Road becomes center stage for metro Detroit's eclectic art scene.

October

Theatre Bizarre

2019 TBA; Detroit; theatrebizarre.com

The freaks come out at night — well, technically they come out for two weekends every October as the Masonic Temple is transformed into a wicked wonderland, and the "Greatest Masquerade on Earth" commences just in time for All Hallows' Eve.

Detroit Fall Beer Festival

Oct. 25-26; Detroit; mibeer.com/detroit-fall-festival

Head over to Eastern Market to sample the finest craft brews the Great Lakes State has to offer. The event boasts more than 800 craft beers from nearly 120 Michigan-based breweries, tasty food from several Detroit area restaurants, and live music from local musicians.

November

Youmacon

Oct. 31-Nov. 4; Detroit; youmacon.com

Metro Detroit's annual anime convention seems to grow every year, featuring guest speakers, cosplay costume contests, concerts, live gaming, live art, dealers, vendors, and even such "live-action gaming" versions of Mario Party and Donkey Kong.

America's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Nov. 28; Detroit; theparade.org

Detroit is home to one of the country's largest and most spectacular parades, America's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which lures hundreds of thousands of spectators along historic Woodward Avenue to take in the larger-than-life sights.

December

Detroit Urban Craft Fair

2019 TBA; Detroit; detroiturbancraftfair.com

This well-established craft fair is absolutely enormous and, arguably, the best of the bunch based on its sheer size. It usually takes place at Detroit's Masonic Temple for two days in early December.

Noel Night

2019 TBA; Detroit; noelnight.org

All is calm, all is bright. Welcome to Midtown Detroit's beloved Noel Night, a cherished tradition of more than 40 years. You can catch carolers, ice sculptors, horse-drawn carriages, and more, all while making your list (and checking it twice) because, yes, the shopping is out of this world.

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