Top 10 Outdoor Events near Detroit - May 2025 Edition
- Dan Cooke
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
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.
Guess what...it's gonna be May (in Detroit's outdoors).
What does that mean exactly? In the Detroit region, that means the floodgates of outdoor recreation are flung wide open. An endless smorgasbord of races, family-friendly events, industry expos, and good ol' fashion camping and stargazing under the warmth of a mid-spring night.
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. Celebrate Resiliency at the Trauma Survivors 5K
May 3rd | Belle Isle Park | 8:40 a.m.
The month of May packs in a lot of festive flair. From the "It's Gonna be May" memes to Star Wars Day, Mother's Day to Memorial Day, the entire month seems to celebrate a resurgence of life that could only accommodate Spring's natural revival.
May also has another important feature: National Mental Health Awareness Month. Thirty-one days' worth of recognition that even in the midst of the festivities, we all need to prioritize caring for our mental health alongside our physical health. As well as support those still healing from the physical and mental trauma of devastating injuries.
This May, we encourage you to put your support into action by joining a scenic run/walk that celebrates the courage and strength of individuals who have faced and overcome traumatic injuries. The "Trauma Survivors 5K 5K Run/1 Mile Walk" will take place at stunning Belle Isle Park, and offer a unique opportunity for survivors, family members, and healthcare providers to reconnect through outdoor recreation. Participants will take in the gorgeous views of the Detroit River, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Belle Isle, and celebrate their amazing accomplishments along the way.
2. Jumpstart #TrailSeason at "Trail Fest Demo Day and $5 5K" Event
May 3rd | Brighton State Recreation Area | 9:00 a.m.
ICYMI, we have JUST entered peak #TrailSeason in the Detroit region. The lingering ice, snow, and torrential rains from early April have subsided. Our pristine campgrounds are open. And our envy-worthy trail system is primed for fueling your hiking, trail running, and backpacking adventures.
Ready to jumpstart your 2025 Trail Season? Head over to Brighton Recreation Area THIS SATURDAY for "Trail Fest Demo Day and $5 5K," a truly unique and immersive expo sponsored by Running Lab and several partners in the Detroit region's outdoor recreation industry - including a little company called Expedition Detroit. The event will take place in the Bishop Lake Road Trailhead, and everyone who attends Trail Fest will receive one raffle ticket. But wait, there's more - if you participate in the "$5 5K" (with all proceeds supporting Brighton Recreation Area's trail maintenance), you'll earn an additional five raffle tickets.
That's right, a 5-5-5 special. We're stoked. We'll see you there.
EXPLORE BRIGHTON RECREATION AREA WITH EXPEDITION DETROIT
3. Celebrate Detroit's Fishing Heritage at Riverfront Fish Fest
May 3rd | Milliken State Park | 10:00 a.m.
Spring fishing in the Detroit region represents a time-honored tradition. Not only because generations of Detroiters have bonded while casting lines into the abundant Detroit River. Responsible fishing has also restored native fish populations to healthy, sustainable levels - including saving the prehistoric Lake Sturgeon from near extinction at the turn of the 21st century.
Now that's worth celebrating - and for the FIRST TIME this year, the Detroit Riverfront is hosting the perfect event for doing so.
THIS SATURDAY, head down to Milliken State Park along the riverfront to celebrate "Riverfront Fish Fest," sponsored by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Michigan DNR, and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge! This inaugural Fish Fest will provide an exciting, fun-filled day on the Detroit Riverfront that brings together two beloved events: "Sturgeon Day" AND "Kids Fishing Fest." This family-friendly event is FREE to attend and the perfect opportunity to explore the wonders of wildlife and conservation while also experiencing the world of fishing.
Expedition Detroit is a proud proponent of fishing, hunting, and other wildlife conservation activities occurring throughout the Detroit region. To learn more about the value of conservation throughout Michigan, please check out the Michigan Wildlife Council.
4. Protect Your Parks at a DNR Volunteer Workday
May 10th and 20th | Bald Mountain Recreation Area | 9 a.m. and 4 p.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 two official "Volunteer Stewardship Workday" events at Bald Mountain State Recreation Area this month:
Volunteers will meet at the East Graham Boat Launch parking lot on the north side of Predmore Road in the park's North Unit. Work crew activities will focus on eliminating highly invasive garlic mustard that threatens to take over woodland environments. Long pants, long sleeve shirts, and closed-toe boots are recommended for these events. Register by emailing Emily Leslie at LeslieE1@Michigan.gov.
5. Meet the Game-Changers in Detroit's Recreation Industry at the "Partner Expo"
May 17th | DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, Detroit, MI | 11 a.m.
Michigan's outdoor recreation industry - and specifically Detroit's - is enjoying a stratospheric rise. In just a few short, exponential years, our region's investment in its outdoor destinations, experience providers, and retailers has caught the eye of the international media. Southeast Michigan is now regularly cited as a primetime destination to experience world-class outdoor recreation, from our award-winning riverfront, to plazas, to industry-redefining trail network.
This month, we all have an opportunity to meet the regional partners that have facilitated such explosive growth in our outdoors at the "Partner Expo"! Come on down to the OAC to meet the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Metro Detroit-based community partners in recreation, leisure and health services. The DNR's partners will be sharing news about their impactful work and the services they provide to families throughout the region.
There are two other perks to attending the Partner Expo:
Admission to the event is complimentary to your ticket to the incredible OAC; and
We'll be there. Just saying.
6. Wear Teal & Start a New Holiday Tradition with Mom
May 11th | Ann Arbor, MI | 8 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.
Expedition Detroit is proud to partner with the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance in promoting this important event! We will also be raffling an "Expedition Bundle" guided hiking package in support of the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance's mission and operations. We hope to see you there - and don't forget to wear teal!
7. Celebrate the Aquatic Life at the Huron River Day Festival
May 18th | Gallup Park, Ann Arbor, MI | 12 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 Gallup 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 guided hikes, and a special performance from Ann Arbor’s own Laith Al-Saadi — finalist from Season 10 of NBC’s “The Voice.”
8. Start Memorial Day on the Right Foot with a Community Race
May 26th | Milford, MI | 8 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!
USE CODE "EXPDET25" TO SAVE 15% ON THIS RACE!
9. Go Jurassic at the T-Rex Triathlon Series
May 28th | Island Lake State Recreation Area | 6 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!
10. Space Out May at a Dark Sky Preserve
May 31st | Point Pelee National Park, ON | 7:30 p.m.
Finish off a jam-packed May by spacing out into the cosmos over at Point Pelee National Park - the best stargazing destination in the Detroit region - for a 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.
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.
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