Detroit's outdoor floodgates are open! May's arrival signals the launch of "primetime" for our region's recreational ecosystem, and these "Top 10 Outdoor Events near Detroit" are perfect for exploring the wealth of outdoor experiences waiting for you this May.
"What a time to be in Detroit..!"
Those words reverberated around my head while walking up Woodward Avenue towards Campus Martius last week. More specifically, last Thursday. Alongside 275,000 of my closest friends at the historic 2024 NFL Draft hosted downtown.
The sensation of hometown pride pulsating through the streets of Detroit was palpable. Beautiful. Unforgettable.
And yet, for us at Expedition Detroit, our region's ability to draw record visitor figures like that represents only the tip of the iceberg for the transformative change that Detroit's experiencing. Especially in the outdoor arena, the Detroit region increasingly attracts major headlines and accolades as one of North America's emerging outdoor adventure hotspots. Like our spring wildflowers, the countless hours spent by local volunteer organizations and trail advocates are finally blooming for the world to marvel at. The expansion of the Metroparks into the Detroit Riverfront and opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge will only further that narrative.
Again - what a time to be in Detroit. Especially now, in early May, when the masterpiece that is our regional outdoor ecosystem finally is back on full display.
With our parks and trails now firing on all fronts, spring in Metro Detroit's outdoors can represent a chaotic, daunting challenge. Like a child walking into Disney World for the first time, the sudden inundation of recreational opportunities available to us can be paralyzing. As we all recalibrate to primetime in our outdoors, these Top Ten Outdoor Events near Detroit will ease the transition by providing fun, engaging, challenging, and rewarding experiences for the whole family to enjoy.
Plus...we've thrown in a few special discounts for you to enjoy.
Happy May - we can't wait to see you outside!
1. Experience the Great Trails State at the Michigan Made Run
May 4th | Indian Springs Metropark | 8:00 a.m.
Prime time outdoor season is BACK in the "Great Trails State" - and there's no better way to celebrate than with a Michigan-themed run! Kick off your first weekend in May by running in one of TOMORROW'S "Michigan Made Run" events at Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake, which include 5K, 8 Mile, Half Marathon, and "Kids Run" events (Kids Run starts at 10 a.m.).
As expected with our #ExpeditionPartner Running Venture, all race participants will receive top-tier race swag: a custom shirt, hat, finisher medal, and complimentary refreshments. Standout runners can also earn additional awards for top male and female finishers in each event, as well as top 3 age group awards. Don't forget that a Metropark sticker is required for entry to the park, although you will be able to purchase one on race morning upon entry.
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2. Celebrate Detroit's Resident Prehistoric Fish at Sturgeon Day
May 4th  | Milliken State Park  | 10:00 a.m.
Have you ever met one of the Detroit region's oldest residents? No, we're not talking about some kind elderly soul residing within one of our city's storied neighborhoods. We're referring to a particular fish that has witnessed every phase of our environment's evolution - even surviving near extinction at the turn of the 21st century.
TOMORROW, head down to Milliken State Park along the Detroit Riverfront to celebrate "Sturgeon Day" with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy! This unique (and free) event will not only feature interactive exhibits starring the resurgent Lake Sturgeon, but also include games fit for all ages, arts & crafts, food trucks, learning activities sponsored by the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and so much more.
3. Gaze into Galaxy Far, Far Away at a Dark Sky Preserve
May 4th  | Point Pelee National Park, ON | 7:30 p.m.Â
May the Fourth be with you! Hear that phrase an obnoxious amount of times on Saturday, you will.
For the uninformed, May 4th has been unofficially dubbed "Star Wars Day" due to its play on words resemblance to the iconic Star Wars saying "May the Force be with you." So...if you're going to spend your Saturday being bombarded with intergalactic vernacular, why not get into the spirit by gazing into the cosmos at an international dark sky park?
Finish off a jam-packed May 4th by jumping into light speed and heading over to Point Pelee National Park - the best stargazing destination in the Detroit region - for their celebratory "Dark Sky Nights" event! This outing is especially catered towards star-gazing tourists willing to brave cooler temperatures at night, with amenities including extended visitor hours, seasonal star charts, and the combined natural beauty of the park and the cosmos. Plus, this month's event will include a spotlight on real objects that have either a specific connection to the stories of the Star Wars universe!
4. Protect Your Parks at a DNR Volunteer Workday
Throughout May | Bald Mountain, Brighton, Highland, and Waterloo State Recreation Areas | 9 a.m.
As Mahatma Gandhi so eloquently stated, "Action expresses priorities." As applied to our region's outdoors, the Expedition Detroit team interprets this statement as a call to care for the people and places that you value, and that your values should further manifest into action. We care immensely for our wildest, most pristine outdoor destinations, as well as for the team at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that so diligently cares for them. Any opportunity to assist the DNR with their operations is an opportunity well-worth seizing.
Fortunately for all of us, the DNR has taken the lead in sponsoring several official "Volunteer Stewardship Workday" events across the Detroit region at the following locations:
Waterloo State Recreation Area (May 5th, 11th, and 18th)
Bald Mountain State Recreation Area (May 11th)
Highland State Recreation Area (May 12th)
Brighton State Recreation Area (May 19th)
Work crew activities will focus on eliminating highly invasive garlic mustard that threatens to take over woodland environments. Rain boots or other waterproof boots are recommended for these events, and preregistration is required.
5. Run for the Ale of It
May 10th | Detroit, MI | 6:30 p.m.
Beer and 5Ks are a match made in heaven. We don't know who the first genius was to recognize that a crisp beer beats the hell out of a finish line banana, but they sincerely deserve a Nobel Prize for such a great contribution to outdoor society. Beer tents at finish lines are now as common as podiums, and any race bib that doesn't feature a tear-off beer coupon is a bib not worth wearing.
RF Event's "Hightail to Ale" 5K race - sponsored by Atwater Brewery - perfects this concept with a Friday evening event that ends, naturally, with a party. Starting and finishing at Atwater, runners will enjoy the scenic riverfront course before earning their finisher's medal, custom pint glass, and complimentary brew. This can't-miss event will also feature a huge crowd to cheer you on, live music, and food trucks. Oh, and did we mention beer..?
6. Start a New Holiday Tradition with Mom
May 12th | Ann Arbor, MI | 8:00 a.m.
My Mom always encouraged an active, outdoor lifestyle for my brothers and I. Long before I ever had aspirations towards long-distance running, my dear mother all but forced me to run a few miles each day in order for me to get a less-than-fit middle schooler in-shape for my upcoming sports tryouts. Mother truly knew best - even if my angsty younger self vehemently disagreed.
A few decades later, I can properly thank and celebrate her by signing us both up for a special Mother's Day 5K race: the Mother's Day Time to Teal Run in Downtown Ann Arbor. Beyond representing another holiday 5K tradition to add the list, this event both celebrates the incredible women in our lives AND raises awareness for ovarian cancer. A portion of registration fees also support the mission and operations of the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance, so you (and mom) will truly be running for a cause.
7. Hike for Freedom at the Human Trafficking Resource Fair
May 18th | Belle Isle Park | 8:00 a.m.
For us at Expedition Detroit, there's never a bad reason to go for a hike. There are only good, great, or fantastic reasons. But this month, the Sparrow Freedom Project invites us all to join them on one of the most impactful and important reasons to hike the trails of Belle Isle Park: promote awareness of services available in the Metro Detroit area for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.
Starting at the Cricket Field, the purpose of the"5k Freedom Walk" is to raise funds to support Sparrow Freedom Project's mission and help shed light on the reality of human trafficking within our region and around the world. During the event, hikers and attendees will have access to life saving information about human trafficking, including the myths and realities of this dark underworld. The event also represents an opportunity for service providers to network and build relationships with the goal of facilitating education and advocacy. Tickets to the event are available here!
7. Find your Next Passion at O.A.K. in the Hills
May 18th | Thelma Spencer Park, Rochester Hills, MI | 11:00 a.m.
If May represents the "Great Awakening" of our regional outdoor ecosystem, then there's no better time to discover your next recreational passion than at the inaugural O.A.K. in the Hills event! OAK - short for "Outdoor Adventure Kickoff" - with consist of an outdoor activity extravaganza geared towards introducing attendees to the full spectrum of recreational opportunities in the Detroit region and beyond. The event will provide instruction and exhibition opportunities for hiking, biking, rock climbing, kayaking, archery, fishing, pickleball, bee keeping, puppy yoga (we're sold)...and so much more. This fantastic AND free event is sponsored by the City of Rochester Hills, Oakland County Parks, and MooseJaw.
8. Celebrate the Aquatic Life at the Huron River Day Festival
May 19th | Island Park, Ann Arbor, MI | 12:00 p.m.
The Huron River - the central vein of the Detroit region's recreational ecosystem - is worth celebrating every day of every season. That's undeniable. However, the Huron truly comes alive in May, both in terms of returned wildlife, wildflower blooms - and the influx of paddlers and anglers eager to experience both!
In honor of the Huron, the City of Ann Arbor's Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual "Huron River Day" festival at Island Park! The festival will include discounted boat rentals, children's activities, river exhibits, live music, and food trucks/carts. The festival also includes complementary bicycle tune-ups, half hour nature walks, and - we kid you not - water gun squirting lessons.
9. Start Memorial Day on the Right Foot with a Community Race
May 27th  | Milford, MI | 8:00 a.m.
Out of all the quintessential trail towns that host special Memorial Day events, Downtown Milford is without a doubt one of our favorites. Beyond the town's annual parade, epic flyovers, and impressive memorial to all of the United States' fallen heroes since the Revolutionary War, Milford's festivities also include a special pre-parade tradition to kick-off its wealth of community events: the annual Milford Memorial Day Run.
Sponsored by our #ExpeditionPartner Running Venture, the Milford Memorial Day Run starts at 8 a.m. with its 5K and 10K races along the beautiful Milford-Kensington Trail! A special "Kid's Run" also starts at 9:30 a.m., leaving plenty of time to trek over from the race's finish line at the Carl's Family Y.M.C.A. to Main Street. All runner's will receive a custom shirt, finisher award, and complimentary refreshments. There will also be special awards for the top male and female finishers in each event, along with top 3 in each age group!
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10. Go Jurassic at the T-Rex Triathlon Series
May 29th | Island Lake State Recreation Area | 6:00 p.m.
No sport celebrates the return of warm weather quite like a triathlon. Beyond the practical impossibility of swimming in a frozen Kent Lake during winter, a triathlon forces each participant to embrace the elements as they are. The crisp cool of flowing water. The radiant heat of the trail. The warming rays of the sun. And you, the tri-sport athlete, joined by hundreds of your new best friends navigating the variables of a race designed to challenge and reward you.
In our opinion, every outdoor enthusiast should complete at least one triathlon in their life. Fortunately for all of us, our friends at RF Events are hosting four this year within their "T-Rex Spring Triathlon Series." The first event of the series - the "Stegosaurus Triathlon and Duathlon" - will be held at Island Lake State Recreation Area and consist of both a sprint triathlon (0.5 mile swim, 12.4 mile cycle, and 5K run) and duathlon (1.5 mile run, 12.4 mile cycle, and 5K run) events. All finishers will receive a custom medal and finish-line food!
Do you host an upcoming outdoor event that you would like to be featured in a future article? If yes, then we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com to discuss Expedition Detroit feature opportunities.