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As spring gives way to early summer, Metro Detroit comes alive with an incredible variety of events, experiences, and community celebrations that showcase the region's vibrant culture and deep-rooted traditions. Whether you're already living in Metro Detroit or considering moving to Metro Detroit, May offers the perfect opportunity to explore the area's unique neighborhoods, diverse artistic scenes, and outdoor festivals that highlight what makes this part of Southeast Michigan so dynamic. From family-friendly outings to one-of-a-kind cultural experiences, there’s no shortage of things to see, do, and enjoy as the city and its suburbs shake off the last of winter and welcome warmer days with open arms.
Concerts
Comedy
Sports
Metro Detroit Events & Festivals
Main Event
Concerts
Sound Board Theater
2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Date: May 1, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
TIcket: Starts at $58
Website: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Dru Hill
Date: May 15, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $62-$168
Website: Dru Hill
Jon B
Date: May 22, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $41-$250
Website: Jon B
Brady Lodge
6970 Andersonville Rd, Clarkston, MI 48346
Benjamin Sharkey: Clarkston Garden Gala
Date: May 8, 2025
TIme: 5:30 - 9:30 pm
Wesite: Benjamin Sharkey: Clarkston Garden Gala
Fox Theatre
2211 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
The R&B Invitation Tour
Date: May 3, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $59-$175
Website: The R&B Invitation Tour
Pre-Mother's Day R&B Jam
Date: May 9, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $77-$260
Website: Pre-Mother's Day R&B Jam
97.9 WJLB Presents We Up Now, Vol. 2
Date: May 10, 2025
Time: 8:00pm
Ticket: $69-$209
Website: 97.9 WJLB Presents We Up Now, Vol. 2
Mother’s Day Celebration
Date: May 11, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Ticket: $54-$135
Website: Mother’s Day Celebration
97.9 WJLB Presents Crunkfest Takeover
Date: May 24, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $79-$215
Website: 97.9 WJLB Presents Crunkfest Takeover
Little Caesars Arena
2645 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Shakira
Date: May 22, 2025
Time: 7:30 pm
Ticket: $204-$832+
Website: Shakira
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Ford Field
2000 Brush St, Detroit, MI 48226
POST MALONE: THE BIG ASS STADIUM TOUR
Date: May 18, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm
Ticket: $129-$611+
Website: POST MALONE: THE BIG ASS STADIUM TOUR
THE WEEKND - AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN STADIUM TOUR
Date: May 24-25, 2025
Time: 7:00pm
Ticket: $34-$194+
Website: THE WEEKND - AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN STADIUM TOUR
Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Sturgill Simpson
Date: May 10, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $59-$207
Website: Sturgill Simpson
The Beach Boys
Date: May 25, 2025
Time: 7:30 pm
Ticket: $29-$194+
Website: The Beach Boys
Freedom Hill
14900 Metro Pkwy, Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Warren Zeiders
Date: May 16, 2025
Time: 8:00 pm
Ticket: $39-$200+
Website: Warren Zeiders
The Fillmore
2115 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Machine Head & In Flames
Date: May 2, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm
Ticket: $34-$96
Website: Machine Head & In Flames
Pop Evil - The What Remains Tour
Date: May 10, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Ticket: $37-$118
Website: Pop Evil - The What Remains Tour
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Comedy
Comedy Castle
310 S Troy St, Royal Oak, MI 48067
DREW LYNCH
Date: May 8-10, 2025
Time: Thur (7:30 pm) | Fri (7:15 pm & 9:45 pm) | Sat (7:00 pm & 9:30 pm)
Ticket: $35
Website: DREW LYNCH
JR DE GUZMAN: BOYFRIEND MATERIAL
Date: May 15-17, 2025
Time: Thur (7:30 pm) | Fri (7:15 pm & 9:45 pm) | Sat (7:00 pm & 9:30 pm)
Ticket: $30
Website: JR DE GUZMAN: BOYFRIEND MATERIAL
Michigan Theater
603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Kevin James: Owls Don't Walk
Date: May 18, 2025
Time: 8:00pm
Ticket: $49.50-$95
Website: Kevin James: Owls Don't Walk
The Fillmore
2115 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Nate Jackson: Super Funny World Tour
Date: May 17, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Ticket: $53-$94
Website: Nate Jackson: Super Funny World Tour
Sports
Detroit Tigers Schedule
Comerica Park | 2100 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers
Date: May 9-11, 2025
Time: Fri (6:40pm) | Sat (6:10pm) | Sun (1:40pm)
Ticket: $31-$259
Website: Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox
Date: May 12-14, 2025
Time: 6:40 pm
Ticket: $31-$259
Website: Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox
Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians
Date: May 22-25, 2025
Time: Thur (6:40pm) | Fri (7:10pm) | Sat (7:15pm) | Sun (11:35am)
Ticket: $23-$259
Website: Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers vs San Francisco Giants
Date: May 26-28, 2025
Time: Mon, Wed (1:10pm) | Tue (6:40pm)
Ticket: $28-$209
Website: Detroit Tigers vs San Francisco Giants
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The Henry Ford, Facebook
Metro Detroit Events & Festivals
Day Out with Thomas – Greenfield Village
Date: May 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 2025
Greenfield Village | 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124
Admission: Kids 12+ $54 | Senior 62+ $50.25 | Youth 5-11 $44.75 | Child 1-4 $17
Website: Day Out with Thomas
All aboard for one of metro Detroit’s most beloved spring traditions! Greenfield Village transforms into a railroad-themed wonderland as Thomas the Tank Engine rolls into town for three weekends in May. Families can kick off the day with a hearty Railroader’s Brunch at A Taste of History, offering a delicious spread from Belgian waffles to Bananas Foster French toast. Kids will be delighted by live bluegrass music, story time, hands-on activities, and a special appearance from Sir Topham Hatt, before climbing aboard Thomas himself for a scenic ride around the historic village. With VIP parking and full access to Greenfield Village included, it’s a full day of unforgettable adventure.
60th Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade & Fiesta (Southwest Detroit)
Date: May 4, 2025
The parade starts at Patton Park, ending at Clark Park | Southwest Detroit, MI 48209
Admission: Free
Website: 60th Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade & Fiesta
Now in its 60th year, Detroit’s iconic Cinco de Mayo Parade returns to the vibrant streets of Mexicantown, bringing a kaleidoscope of culture, music, and heritage to W. Vernor Highway. Thousands will line the route as folkloric dancers swirl in vivid dresses, mariachi bands perform atop festive floats, and custom lowriders glide past cheering crowds. This deeply rooted tradition honors the richness of Mexican-American culture in the heart of Southwest Detroit, welcoming all to join in the celebration. After the parade, the fiesta continues with authentic street eats—from steaming tamales to sugar-dusted churros—making it the perfect Sunday for community, culture, and culinary delights.
Art Birmingham – Shain Park
Date: May 10–11, 2025
Shain Park | 270 W. Merrill St, Birmingham, MI 48009
Admission: Free
Website: Art Birmingham
Mother’s Day weekend blooms with creativity at the 44th annual Art Birmingham, held in the heart of downtown Birmingham’s scenic Shain Park. Featuring over 150 juried artists from across the country, this fine art fair offers an eclectic mix of mediums—from hand-crafted ceramics and glasswork to contemporary painting and wearable art. The event, hosted in collaboration with the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, also includes live music performances, gourmet food trucks, and engaging art-making stations for kids, making it a family-friendly favorite. With its picturesque surroundings and upscale urban energy, Art Birmingham continues to be a springtime staple for art lovers and weekend explorers alike.
Royal Oak in Bloom
Date: May 11, 2025
Parking lots | 6th & Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Admission: Free
Website: Royal Oak in Bloom
Each Mother’s Day, downtown Royal Oak bursts into color as Royal Oak in Bloom returns for another vibrant year of flowers, foliage, and fresh air. Sprawled across the parking lots at 6th and Main, this beloved open-air garden market features dozens of local growers offering everything from lush hanging baskets and herbs to unique perennials and flats of annual blooms. It's a seasonal rite of passage for green thumbs and casual browsers alike, drawing early risers in search of the best picks and freshest flowers. Whether you’re planning a full garden makeover or simply shopping for a perfect plant gift for mom, this event’s joyful atmosphere, live music, and local food vendors make it a springtime tradition that blooms with charm.
Motor City Comic Con
Date: May 16-18, 2025
Suburban Collection Showplace | 46100 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48374
Admission: starts at $35
Website: Motor City Comic Con
Michigan’s ultimate pop culture extravaganza returns as Motor City Comic Con takes over the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi for a full weekend of fandom, fantasy, and fun. Known for its stellar celebrity lineup and electric atmosphere, this year’s guest list includes icons like Jeremy Renner, Martin Sheen, Sean Astin, and stars from Star Trek and The Mandalorian. Beyond the star power, attendees can explore hundreds of vendors offering rare comics, custom art, and collectibles, or dive into cosplay contests, tabletop gaming, and immersive Q&A panels. Whether you're a seasoned cosplayer, a Marvel junkie, or just hunting for your next graphic novel obsession, this event welcomes all ages to celebrate their inner geek. It's more than a con—it's a community where fandom comes alive.
Eastern Market Flower Day
Date: May 18, 2025
Eastern Market | 2934 Russell St, Detroit, MI 48207
Admission: Free
Website: Eastern Market Flower Day
A blooming spectacle since 1967, Flower Day at Eastern Market is a Detroit tradition that transforms the historic market sheds into a sprawling, kaleidoscopic garden for one unforgettable day. Held the Sunday after Mother’s Day, this event draws tens of thousands of plant lovers eager to explore over a million plants from top growers across the Midwest. From vibrant hanging baskets and lush tropicals to heirloom vegetable starts and every variety of annual and perennial imaginable, the offerings are unmatched in both diversity and scale. With food trucks, live music, and garden demonstrations filling the air with festive energy, Flower Day is equal parts plant sale and spring festival. Whether you're filling your garden beds or simply soaking in the colorful chaos, it's an only-in-Detroit experience that’s not to be missed.
Palmer Park Art Fair – Detroit
Date: May 31-June 1, 2025
Palmer Park | 910 Merrill Plaisance St, Detroit, MI 48203
Admission: Free
Website: Palmer Park Art Fair
Ring in the start of summer beneath the leafy canopy of Detroit’s Palmer Park, where the Palmer Park Art Fair welcomes art enthusiasts, families, and weekend wanderers for a celebration of creativity in the great outdoors. This boutique-style juried fair showcases roughly 60 talented artists working across mediums—ceramics, painting, jewelry, and more—alongside emerging local creators. Beyond the art, attendees can enjoy live performances, author readings, family-friendly art-making stations, and a curated selection of food trucks and drinks, including a laid-back beer tent. New this year is an intimate coffeehouse stage, offering acoustic sets in a chill, shaded setting—a perfect backdrop for a relaxed, inspiring afternoon in one of Detroit’s most picturesque parks.
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Movement Electronic Music Festival, Facebook
Main Event
Movement Electronic Music Festival
Date: May 24-26, 2025
Hart Plaza | 1 Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI 48226
Tickets: 3-Day GA starts at $319+fees | Single Day around $170
Website: Movement Electronic Music Festival
If there’s one event that truly captures Detroit’s soul—its grit, rhythm, and unapologetic creative pulse—it’s the Movement Electronic Music Festival. Every Memorial Day weekend, Hart Plaza transforms from an urban landmark into the beating heart of global dance culture. Six stages of nonstop music, over 30,000 revelers from around the world, and the Detroit River shimmering beside a thumping skyline all converge to create a one-of-a-kind experience. This isn’t just a music festival. It’s a homecoming. For Detroit. For techno. For the people who live and breathe this city’s music legacy.
Detroit is the birthplace of techno, and Movement is the annual tribute to that global sound. Founded by visionaries like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, the city’s electronic music has influenced artists across continents. Movement started in the early 2000s as a grassroots celebration and has since grown into a world-renowned gathering. Each year, fans from Europe, South America, and every corner of the US return to Hart Plaza for what many describe as the Super Bowl of techno. With its immersive atmosphere and world-class talent, it’s no wonder Movement has become Detroit’s most iconic music event.
Movement 2025 will run from May 24 to May 26 at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Tickets for a full weekend pass start around $319 plus fees, with single-day passes available for roughly $170. The festival kicks off in the afternoon and runs until midnight each day, offering a nonstop mix of house, techno, tech-house, drum and bass, electro, and more across six uniquely programmed stages. This year’s headliners include Belgian techno queen Charlotte de Witte, who’s known for her relentless, high-energy sets that close out the festival with a bang. House music star John Summit will bring a funky, feel-good energy to one of the main slots, while Carl Cox returns as Movement royalty, delivering a powerful masterclass in techno that’s become a tradition for veteran attendees. Detroit’s own pioneers—Moodymann, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, and Stacey Pullen—are also slated to perform, some even doing special back-to-back sets. The lineup rounds out with a wide range of international talent, including Goldie, Patrick Topping, Chase & Status, and Klangkuenstler, as well as an entire stage dedicated to rising local DJs. Whether you’re into pounding basslines or laid-back grooves, there’s a sound for everyone.
The experience of being at Movement goes far beyond the music. Hart Plaza becomes an open-air playground filled with interactive art, spontaneous performances, food trucks serving Detroit staples like shawarma and coneys, and people in wildly creative costumes dancing freely in the sunshine or under the stars. Each of the six stages has its own personality, from underground concrete caverns to the riverfront main stage with Canada shimmering across the water. You’ll see everything from LED-covered robots to hula hoop troupes to spontaneous dance battles. The energy is high, but the vibe is friendly and inclusive. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, Movement feels like a giant community reunion. People look out for one another, make new friends on the dance floor, and bond over a shared love for music. You’ll hear conversations in multiple languages, meet out-of-towners who’ve made Detroit their annual destination, and locals who’ve never missed a year.
For those attending for the first time, it’s worth knowing a few insider tips. Parking downtown can be limited and pricey, so using a ride-share service or taking the Detroit People Mover is a smart option. The Ren Cen and Millender Center stops are both just a few blocks away from Hart Plaza. Dress comfortably and prepare for a range of weather conditions—Detroit in late May can swing from sunny and hot to breezy and cool, especially near the river at night. Comfortable sneakers are essential, and layering your clothes will keep you prepared for temperature shifts. Sunscreen, a small hydration pack, and earplugs are smart additions. There are free water refill stations inside the festival and food vendors offering everything from vegan bites to globally inspired snacks. Security is tight but efficient, and once inside, the freedom to move between stages and find your perfect vibe is part of the magic.
Movement isn’t just for seasoned rave-goers either. One of the festival’s strengths is its diversity of sound and audience. There are stages with more melodic or downtempo music for those who aren’t into high-BPM all day long. The crowd includes everyone from college students to longtime fans in their 40s and 50s. Even families and casual music fans often stop by for a day just to experience the atmosphere. If you’re sensitive to sensory overload, consider easing into it during the afternoon or sticking with a group. The festival can be intense but in the most exhilarating way. There’s something freeing about dancing under the Detroit skyline, surrounded by thousands of people who are there purely for the joy of music.
As with any great event, it’s the little moments that make Movement unforgettable. You might catch a surprise set from an unannounced DJ or stumble across a Detroit Jit crew battling in the middle of the crowd. Someone might hand you a handmade bracelet as part of the PLUR tradition. If you opt for VIP tickets, you’ll get perks like shaded lounges, shorter bar lines, and elevated viewing platforms, but even general admission provides a full and satisfying experience. The final moments of the festival—on Monday night as the sun sets over the river and the last headliner plays—are something special. There’s a collective energy, a feeling of shared triumph and joy, that you won’t find anywhere else. For many, this is more than just a music event. It’s a spiritual recharge. A cultural affirmation. A Detroit tradition.
In short, Movement is the heartbeat of May in Detroit. It’s the festival that turns the city into a global stage and reminds us why Detroit’s creative spirit remains unmatched. Whether you’re a lifelong techno fan or just looking to do something unforgettable this Memorial Day weekend, make your way to Hart Plaza. The beats are waiting, and the energy is unlike anything else you’ll experience all year.
Whether you're soaking up art in the park, dancing along the riverfront, or simply enjoying a walk through one of the area's bustling outdoor markets, May is one of the most exciting times of year to experience the energy and diversity of Southeast Michigan. For those living in Metro Detroit, these events offer a chance to reconnect with the local culture and community, while anyone moving to Metro Detroit will quickly see why this region is known for its creativity, resilience, and unmistakable sense of pride. With so much to discover every weekend, May is the perfect month to explore new neighborhoods, support local artists and businesses, and make lasting memories throughout the Motor City and beyond.
For location and Directions, Please see the interactive map below
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