Events, Parades And More Throughout Michigan During Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day is a time for reflection, a time for thanksgiving, and the official start of warm weather. Whether you want to donate flowers to soldiers' graves, support veterans' causes, or join a local parade, this road trip from USA Today should give you some ideas.
Detroit: Motion Festival 2023
May 27-29: Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit
The Festival of Movement takes over Hart Plaza on Memorial Day weekend. The festival has been organized under different names since 2000 and is one of the oldest dance music events in the world. It is important that the organizers present authentic music for techno fans.
Holiday hours are Saturday and Sunday May 27 and 28 from 2:00pm to 12:00pm and Monday, May 29 from 2:00pm to 11:00pm. More than 115 artists are expected, including Skrillex, Three 6 Mafia, Cybotron, Bonobo and Kaskade. Visit Movementfestival.com for a list of artists and ticket information. Weekend tickets and day tickets are available.
Frankenmuth dog bowl
May 26-29: Frankenmuth River Place Shops, 925 S. Main St.
The world's largest Olympic-style dog festival takes place Memorial Day weekend in Frankenmuth. The free, family-friendly event features more than 25 dog-related activities, including disc and dock dog races, dachshund races and a pet costume parade.
There are also hot air balloon rides over the Bavarian Inn. The event includes daytime races and nighttime balloons that light up the field near the River Place Shops. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. Parking is free and available around the shopping complex and along Weiss Street.
Grosse Ile: Memorial Day Races
May 29: Grosse Ile High School, 7800 Grays Drive
Organized by Island Road Runners for more than three decades, the Memorial Day Run is a Grosse Ile race consisting of 8km and 5km certified fast and flat courses, including the scenic East River Road and beautiful neighborhoods. All participants will receive medals.
For both events, a first place medal will be awarded to the men's overall and the women's overall. The Little Stars 1 Mile Run starts at 8.30am for under 12 runners. No registration is required and all participants will receive a medal.
The 5k run/walk starts at 9:00am and the 5k run/walk starts at 9:05am. Register by May 27 by mail or in person at Total Runner, 15265 Dix-Toledo Road, Southgate, MI 48195. The cost is $40 if you register between May 21-27 and is $45 on the day of registration at Grosse Ile High School.
Northern Ghost Stories / Ghost Hunting
May 26 and 27: Stagecoach Stop USA 7203 US Highway 12, Onstead (Irish Hills)
Ghost stories will haunt Stagecoach Stop USA in the Irish Hills over Memorial Day weekend. Ghost stories and a public ghost hunt with PSI Parascience Investigators are planned. Northern Ghost Stories starts at 8pm. Tickets are $10 for children 13 and older and $8 for children ages 8 to 12. The Tag-a-Long Ghost Hunt takes place at midnight and costs $20 per person 12 and older. There is a combo ticket option for both events for $25.
Row / run or walk / ride Mount Pisgah - a tribute to our veterans
May 29: 10 a.m. at Holland State Park, 2215 Ottawa Beach Road in Holland
This fun, family-friendly event will encourage participants to exercise while paying tribute to America's veterans. Participants row 1.5 miles, run or walk 1 mile and row 1.5 miles. Participants meet at Holland State Park near the North Channel Break Wall at 10:00 am.
On a group paddle, participants paddle to OBI Beach on Lake Macatawa, hike or run to the top of Mount Pisgah, and then return to Holland State Park. Paddling is operated by the West Michigan Paddling Group. Life jackets and harnesses are required. Each participant is invited to bring their own food to be enjoyed later.
Michigan Adventure Opening Weekend
May 26-29: Michigan's Adventure, 4750 Whitehall Road, Muskegon County
Michigan's largest amusement park welcomes visitors on Memorial Day weekend. The park offers family fun with rides for kids, families, roller coasters and carousels. Michigan's Adventure is known for some of its thrill rides, including Shivering Timbers and Thunderhawk.
Based on the legendary beagle "Peanuts," Camp Snoopy offers five family-friendly rides for younger children. WildWater Adventure Water Park will not open until June 10th. More information about Michigan's Adventure, including tickets, is available online at miadventure.com.
The Great Muskegon Memorial Day Parade and American Salute Concert
May 29 : 9 a.m., downtown Muskegon
A parade and concert in Muskegon honors American veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Downtown Muskegon Memorial Day Parade begins at 9 a.m. at 340 Morris Ave. It runs east on Morris Avenue to Terrace Street, then south on Terrace to Clay Avenue, continues west on Clay and ends at Hackley Park.
The parade starts with a flyover (weather permitting). High school marching bands, musical societies, veterans and local organizations will participate. Following the fashion show, the American Salute Concert will be held at the Frauenthal Center, 425 W. Western Ave., in downtown Muskegon.
Sault Ste Marie Remembrance Day Parade
May 30: 5:00pm-7:00pm on Ashmun Street in Sault Ste
Sault Ste Marie will host the Remembrance Day Parade on Tuesday, May 30th. American Legion Post #3 holds the annual parade and ceremony. The parade will feature marchers, flag bearers, floats and more. The memorial ceremony takes place after the parade.
Memorial Day Commemoration at Fort Mackinac
May 29: 8:30 a.m. at Fort Mackinac
Mackinac Island, home of the Fort Mackinac military base, will celebrate the holiday. Fort Mackinac is a listed building. For many years it was home to American soldiers and their families and today it is the center of a large national park.
One of Michigan's oldest structures, Fort Mackinac was captured by the British during the War of 1812. On Memorial Day, soldiers gather at the fort before marching to the cemetery and holding a memorial service.
Military Museum of UP
1001 North Lincoln Road in Escanaba
A relatively new museum, the UP Military Museum, opened in 2021 to teach the region's military history. The museum is dedicated to collecting stories about the lives of every Upper Peninsula veteran.
The museum is a self-guided tour and tells the story of many American soldiers, including Native American military families. The museum also recounts the military history of the region, including the importance of the Soo Locks in arming American soldiers. The museum does not charge admission, but does accept donations.
- Contact reporters Evan Sasiela, Lisa Vidaurri Bowling and Brendan Wiesner at newsroom@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared in The Holland Sentinel: Many Events, Memorials in Michigan for Memorial Day Weekend
