Michigan’s best spring & summer festivals preview

Mark your calendars for these 19 can’t-miss spring and summer 2026 festivals in Michigan. 

After the holiday season comes our other favorite time of year—festival season. Once the weather starts to warm up and the spring season begins, festivals of all sorts start taking over cities and towns throughout Michigan. From whiskey and beer to electronic music and flowers, there’s a Michigan festival that celebrates whatever you’re passionate about.

Keep reading to learn more about the most exciting spring and summer festivals in Michigan.

1. Grand Rapids Whiskey Festival

Sip whiskey and whiskey cocktails from almost 40 distilleries and beverage companies at the Grand Rapids Whiskey Festival. There will be plenty of traditional options, such as straight, double barrel, and rye whiskey, as well as some more unique offerings for adventurous drinkers, including a cookie dough whiskey and a rootbeer whiskey.

Date: March 21

Location: Devos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids

Cost: General admission early bird tickets start at $32 plus fees.

2. Grand Rapids Tequila Fest

If you prefer tequila over whiskey, add Grand Rapids Tequila Fest to your calendar. At the event, you can taste more than 100 tequilas, mezcals, and cocktails. From premium and flavored tequilas to tequila liqueurs, crèmes, and infusions, there is something for everyone to try.

Date: May 9

Location: Devos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids

Cost: At the time of writing, tickets for the 2026 festival weren’t on sale yet. However, in 2025, general admission tickets started at $49.

3. Tulip Time

Every May, downtown Holland transforms into a festive, flower-covered area during Tulip Time. For this annual festival, tulips are spread throughout the downtown area, lining streets and filling parks for all to enjoy. There are also a variety of events scheduled throughout the festival, such as a 5K and 10K, a quilt show, a floral arranging class, and multiple musical performances.

Date: May 1-10

Location: Downtown Holland

Cost: Each Tulip Time event is ticketed separately.

4. Beerfest at the Ballpark

Beer lovers won’t want to miss Beerfest at the Ballpark. Held at Lansing’s Lugnuts Stadium, this event features more than 300 different beers, ciders, hard seltzers, meads, spirits, and wines. There will also be live music, plenty of food to pair with your drinks, and a 5K—a new addition to the festival lineup for 2026.

Date: May 9

Location: Lugnuts Stadium, 505 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

Cost: General admission tickets start at $35 and include 10 sampling tickets.

5. World Expo of Beer

If you can’t make it to Beerfest at the Ballpark, head to Frankenmuth in mid-May for the World Expo of Beer. This annual event features more than 350 beers from across the globe. Tickets get you a sample mug and six beer samples. Additional beer tickets can be purchased if you want to sample more than six brews.

Date: May 15-16

Location: Heritage Park, 601 Weiss St., Frankenmuth

Cost: Early bird tickets start at $24.

6. Movement Music Festival

Movement Music Festival is the ultimate festival for Michiganders who love electronic music. Over the course of three days, music is performed on six stages—each with its own personality. For example, the Movement Stage is where the headliners and big acts perform, while the Underground Stage provides a warehouse party-type experience.

Festivalgoers can also indulge in a variety of food options and check out immersive art installations and large-scale murals scattered throughout the festival space.

Date: May 23-25

Location: Hart Plaza, 1 Hart Plaza, Detroit

Cost: Single day early bird tickets start at $169 plus fees.

7. National Morel Mushroom Festival

Morel mushroom hunting is a popular springtime activity for many Michiganders—so much so that the mushroom has its own annual festival. The National Morel Mushroom Festival features morel tastings and seminars, a national competitive hunt, an arts and crafts show, concerts, a carnival, paint and sip sessions, and more.

The official event schedule for the 2026 festival hasn’t been released yet, but you can view last year’s schedule to get a better idea of what activities you’ll be able to participate in.

Date: May 14-17

Location: Multiple locations throughout Boyne City

Cost: Many activities are free, but some events, such as the wine dinner and paint and sip sessions, are ticketed.

8. St. Ignace Native American Festival

The St. Ignace Native American Festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Anishinaabe people. Attendees can listen to traditional music, taste traditional foods, watch expressive dances, and view handcrafted artwork.

Date: May 23

Location: Museum of Ojibwa Culture, 500 N. State St., St. Ignace

Cost: Free

9. Bark on Biddle

Treat your dog to three days of fun at Bark on Biddle. This dog-friendly festival features tons of entertainment for your four-legged friend, including dock jumping contests, a lure course, and a puppy foam party. Vendors will be on site selling a wide variety of pet products, such as clothing, treats, and toys. Human attendees can enjoy a cocktail or brew in the Bark Beer Garden.

Date: May 29-31

Location: Downtown Wyandotte

Cost: $5

10. Mackinac Island Lilac Festival

Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is one of Mackinac Island’s most highly anticipated events. The 2026 festival’s theme is “Stop and Smell the Lilacs,” and the event will feature a parade, a 10K, lilac walking tours, lilac planting seminars, a cornhole tournament, and a Lilac Queen coronation.

Date: June 5-14

Location: Multiple locations throughout Mackinac Island

Cost: Free

11. Motor City Pride

Motor City Pride is Michigan’s biggest pride celebration, with more than 65,000 people attending in 2025. Information for the 2026 festival wasn’t available at the time of writing, but the 2025 event featured three stages of live entertainment, a parade, a family area with activities for children, and about 15 food vendors and trucks.

Date: The 2026 festival date hasn’t been announced yet.

Location: Hart Plaza, 1 W. Jefferson, Detroit

Cost: The 2025 festival cover charge was $5.

12. Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival

Grab your dirndl or your lederhosen and get ready for the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival—Michigan’s biggest celebration of Bavarian heritage. The three-day festival will feature a keg tapping, a street party with games, German beer, polka music, dancing, a parade, and a cornhole tournament.

Date: June 11-14

Location: 740 S. Main St., Frankenmuth

Cost: $15

13. Ann Arbor Summer Festival

Ann Arbor Summer Festival is a weeks-long celebration of the arts, with more than 200 free and ticketed events, such as concerts, film screenings, and art exhibitions, taking place in various venues throughout the city.

Date: June 12-28

Location: 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor

Cost: Some events are free, while others are ticketed with varying prices.

14. National Cherry Festival

National Cherry Festival, celebrating its 100th year in 2026, features more than 150 events and activities—most of which are free. Many of the events are cherry-themed, such as the cherry pit spitting contest and the cherry pie eating contest, but others range from an arts and crafts fair to a pet show to a sand sculpture contest.

Date: July 4-11

Location: Multiple locations throughout Traverse City

Cost: Admission is free, but some events, such as concerts, are ticketed.

15. Michigan Brown Trout Festival 

Get out on the water and show off your fishing skills at Michigan Brown Trout Festival. In addition to multiple fishing tournaments, including the Super Tournament and the Ladies Classic, daily prizes are awarded for the largest fish caught. If you’re not a fisher, you can enjoy the live music or beer tent, or simply watch the weigh-ins instead of participating.

Date: July 17-26

Location: Thunder Bay, Alpena

Cost: Admission is free, with some paid activities, such as concerts.

16. National Blueberry Festival 

The National Blueberry Festival is South Haven’s signature event, and it celebrates the economic significance of the berry in Southwest Michigan. The 2026 schedule hasn’t been released yet, but the 2025 festival featured a market where visitors could purchase fresh blueberries, pies, jams, teas, jewelry, and other products, a craft fair, a parade, a pie-eating contest, a 5K, and carnival rides.

Date: Aug. 6-9

Location: Multiple locations in South Haven

Cost: Free

17. Upper Peninsula State Fair

Celebrate the unique culture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at the Upper Peninsula State Fair. At the fair, you’ll find fun for the entire family, from concerts and animal shows to carnival rides and beer tents.

Date: Aug. 17-23

Location: Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds, 2401 12th Ave. N., Escanaba

Cost: In 2025, single-day adult tickets started at $10.

18. Porcupine Mountains Music Festival 

Porcupine Mountains Music Festival brings together performers representing a wide range of genres, from bluegrass to rock to country, in a beautiful setting. The 2026 lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but featured performers at last year’s festival included Celtic rock/Americana band Scythian and zydeco musician Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.

Date: Aug. 28-29

Location: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, 33303 Headquarters Rd., Ontonagon

Cost: Adult single-day tickets start at $75.

19. Michigan Irish Music Festival

Immerse yourself in Irish culture at the Michigan Irish Music Festival. The annual event features live music on six stages, traditional dancing, authentic Irish fare, a pub, and two markets where you can browse Celtic goods. Attendees can also learn about the history and traditions of an Irish wake, Ireland’s native dog breeds, Irish “session” music, and more.

Date: Sept. 17-20

Location: Heritage Landing, 1051 7th St., Muskegon

Cost: In 2025, early bird single-day ticket prices started at $15.