West Michigan Events to Celebrate May!

May. Everything starts warming up, the feel of summer starting is in the air, and everyone wants to get outside and have fun! It’s a busy month of holidays and events in the West Michigan area, with some highly recognizable events and festivals occurring! Here is our guide to the top events you must check out this month!

1. Tulip Time-Holland, MI. This quintessential West Michigan Festival is a must for local residents and tourists alike! Celebrating our strong Dutch heritage, this event takes place from May 6-14 in Holland, MI. The Netherlands is famous for the fields of tulips in the springtime (just Google it to see some amazing images), hence the name of this festival! Enjoy thousands of gorgeous tulip varieties on Windmill Island Gardens and around downtown as well. Some of the favorite events include the Dutch dances, the parade, the carnival, and music! This year there are a number of great concerts to enjoy like Sara Evans, A Girl Named Tom, Bicycle Showband Crescendo, and Fiddlefire. The whole festival closes out with fireworks on Saturday night! Find schedules and more event info here.
2. Grand Rapids Lantern Fest-Grand Rapids, MI. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and what better way to celebrate than seeing hundreds of beautiful Chinese lanterns at John Ball Zoo? This display of lanterns is only making a stop in Grand Rapids for the state of Michigan! There are lanterns of animals, plants, and Chinese heritage and cultural items all over John Ball Zoo for the month of May! They’re impressive in the daylight, but seeing them at night is even more spectacular! Tickets and time information can be found on John Ball Zoo’s website here.
3. Donut and Beer Fest-Grand Rapids, MI. On May 6, head to The Whitecaps Stadium for the return of the Donut and Beer Festival! After 4 years away, it’s back! Find unique donuts, beer, and live music at this one-of-a-kind event! There are non-alcoholic options as well. Tickets are needed for entry, and it tends to sell out where ever this event goes. Find all the info here!
4. Amway River Bank Run-Grand Rapids, MI. The biggest running in West Michigan happens this month! The Amway River Bank Run has been a staple in Grand Rapids since 1978! The signature 25k race is the largest in the country! Thousands of racers will gather to compete in everything from a 5k walk to the 25k! There’s also a 25k handcycle/wheelchair event! Come support the runners or compete yourself! Registration and other race information can be found here.

Of course, there are hundreds of other events happening this month all over West Michigan, but these are some we found interesting and representative of the variety of celebrations you find around here! If you’re looking for resources to find your favorite events or try something new, we love Experience GR’s calendar! There are so many events and activities that they post every month!

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