April is chock-full of big fun in Michigan.
The Annual Capital City Film Festival of Lansing lasts April 10 to April 20 with dozens of original films featured during that time.
Exclusive Q&A sessions will be part of the program. Individual tickets cost $5 to $10. All-Access passes are $50.
April 5 is the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day at Comerica Park. Cheer them on as they face the Oakland A’s. A festive atmosphere can be found all around.
The Great Lakes Loons open the same day at Dow Diamond in Midland. Watch L.A. Dodgers prospects as they follow their dreams.
Earth Day is Monday, April 24 and our state is stacked with events to celebrate the date:
https://nextmichigan.news/calendar#/show?category=396
Festival of the Angry Bear is booked for Saturday, April 13.
This marquee event happens in Downtown Marquette. A block party gets underway on Spring Street to coax the cranky caniform out of hibernation.
You can compete in feats of strength like the Growler Flex. As they say “Attendance is free, and fun is guaranteed.”
If angling is your thing, a few first-rate fishing festivals are on deck.
Freeland pulls out the stops for the start of fishing season. The Freeland Walleye Festival runs April 25-28 right off the Tittabawasse River.
You’ll find beer pong, bingo, carnival rides, casino/poker tournaments, comedy acts, corn hole, duck races, and pancakes among others.
The 2024 National Trout Festival is back in Kalkaska April 24-28. Some highlights are: a classic car show, mobile zoo, pizza eating contest and the Spring Fling Bump-n-Run Derby.
Kalkaska County Fairgrounds and Railroad Square are the designated sites.
Omer Suckerfest 2024 returns to Rifle River in late March lasting until April 7. It’s far more than a family-friendly fishing tournament. Suckerfest has a slew of stuff the kids can do.
The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival begins Wednesday, April 10 at John Ball Zoo. This dazzling display is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays 7:30-11:30 p.m.
This year will feature face changing, acrobatics and artistic hula hooping. The Lantern Festival lights up Grand Rapids nights through mid-June.
West Michigan comic lovers: Grand Rapids Comic Con will take over the Kalamazoo County Expo Center April 12-14. Several high profile guests are set to appear at the three-day show.
There’s also artists, costumes, and games just to name a few. 3-Day Passes are $55.
Keweenaw’s Migratory Bird Festival starts in late April and goes halfway through May. Copper Harbor is a huge haven for bird mavens.
The Keweenaw Peninsula is an extremely active migratory fly-way, with a wide variety of bird habitats. Copper Harbor is a quiet place of refuge for many migrating species, even Sea Ducks. A series of programs, dinners and birding activities are planned throughout the migration period. Aside from that:
“Copper Harbor’s more common year round residents include American Black Duck, Bald Eagle, Ruffed Grouse, Herring Gull, Barred and Great Horned Owl, Pileated and Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch and American Goldfinch.”
The Cheesiest Event in Michigan comes to Battle Creek April 20.
The Big Cheese: Mac and Cheese Festival will be at Kellogg Arena with a cornucopia of carnival games, cocktails and live entertainment in tow.
The Michigan State University Science Festival lands in East Lansing for the entire month of April.
The festival features talks, tours, presentations and hands-on exhibits including math, science and technology.
MSU is a world-renowned research facility in the fields of agriculture, biology and natural science. Explore the science of food, soil, robotics and so much more.
Can you feel the excitement? The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit Thursday, April 25. Hart Plaza will play host to the NFL Draft Experience.
That includes: an Autograph Stage, with stars of the past and present. And a chance to get your picture taken with the Lombardi Trophy.
A Total Solar Eclipse takes place Monday, April 8. From ABC 12:
“The very southern portion of Monroe County is the only area that sees a total eclipse. In Flint and Saginaw, the moon will begin blocking the sun at 1:58 p.m. Both areas will reach peak darkness at 3:13 p.m. Flint will see 96.5% of the sun blocked while Saginaw will see 94.8% of the sun blocked at its peak. The partial eclipse continues until 4:27 p.m. in Flint and 4:26 p.m. in Saginaw.”
Then a series of spectacular meteor showers follow in the middle of April.
Let the good times roll at Zehnder’s Ragtime Festival in Frankenmuth. Ragtime was very popular in the years shortly before and after 1900.
It had a huge influence on the music that followed. The syncopated musical style sired stride piano which gave birth to jazz. This special show will run April 24 to April 26.
Our state sure can’t wait to ring in the spring.