FoolMoon happens Friday, April 10th from 7:30pm to midnight. The theme this year is is Fools of a Feather, and they are inviting winged creatures of all kinds to dress in creative costumes and bring luminaries light up Ann Arbor’s streets! Festifools happens Sunday, April 12 from 4-5 on Main Street. The theme is Back to the FOOLture so somebody remember to pick up Marty!! Get all the details from Destination Ann Arbor.
PS: For sure check out FestiFools Studio where they make a lot of these awesome marionettes!
Spring officially begins today with the vernal equinox at 10:46am, and the statewide forecast from NOAA looks like it will more or less cooperate with highs in the 60s in southern Michigan and the entire state expected to top freezing today – a welcome respite!
The photographer shared this way back in 2008, writing “MOMENTS after I took this shot, I balanced this egg on this nail. Unfortunately I didn’t “catch” that event but here is the lead-up to it. So, an egg CAN balance on the head of a nail on spring equinox.” So close!! For sure follow them on Flickr for the latest!
There’s lots more science on Michigan in Pictures, but to be strictly scientific, the equinox has no measurable effect on your ability to balance an egg! With that said, would love to see your egg balancing photos!!
The 2026 Marche du Nain Rouge takes place this Sunday, March 22nd in Detroit’s Midtown. This will be the 16th year that the Mardi Gras themed parade & party takes over the Cass Corridor to humorously drive the hated Red Dwarf from the city. The Facebook event for the Marche says (in part):
11:30 a.m.+ Music starts as the crowd gathers at our Community Stage, located at the intersection of Canfield and Second. 1 p.m. Should the legendary Nain Rouge appear, we will show hope prevails in the city that rises from the ashes. Bring your sense of Detroit pride, positivity, and sense of humor. The opening ceremonies conclude with the Nain leading a procession down to the Masonic Temple around 1:30 p.m.; we don’t chase the Nain! You are the parade, so come with a pan on your head or in full regalia. Bring a washboard and jug band (EDITOR: even I daresay an Honest 2 God Jug Band). Wear a costume. Build a human-powered float. Put on a mask, cover your body in biodegradable glitter and sustainably harvested feathers– whatever it takes.
My Marche du Nain Rouge posts from past years have more photos & information about this hilariouslt goofy event including the Nain’s French roots!
While most of the nation turns its eye towards Punxsutawney Phil, true Michiganders know there’s only one source for your winter woodchuck weathercast: Howell Nature Center’s own Woody the Woodchuck. Woody has been a fixture at the nature center since (at least) 2017 when I shared the photo from John Heinz Jr of lil Woody figuring out if something was or wasn’t food.
If you’re in the neighborhood, their free Groundhog Day Celebration is already underway, but you can also tune into their Facebook livestream that starts at 8:20 am!
Back in May, we introduced you to Big Penny, Lansing’s Truck Munching Bridge & now she’s back to show the Mighty Mac it’s not the only bridge making news. This diminutive 12-foot tall bridge has taken some big bites over the years – so many that as of May 1, 2025 she had snacked on 87 semis since counting began in 2004. Despite the added exposure Penny has been on an absolute tear in 2025, and yesterday our friends at STUPID Lansing threw a party celebrating the 100th truck munched! WLNS Lansing was there to document this historic occasion, and you can head over to STUPID – Lansing for more on this important story & some great Big Penny merch!
Adjectives commonly applied to nature are typically “grand” or “majestic” but Howell Nature Center reminds us to save a little room for fun.“Enjoy these wildly unflattering yet totally adorable photos of our animal ambassadors caught in all their goofy glory 🤪🦊🦉🦝 Come learn their stories and see the real wildlife behind the camera!
For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
Friday, April 4th 2025 is the 124th Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers. As a resident of Midtown in Detroit, I can tell you that this is unquestionably one of the biggest holidays of the year for us. Already the streets are filling with cars as baseball fans from all over Michigan and the world get ready for Tiger Baseball to return to the Motor City!
I’ve rounded up some of the highlights with a laser focus on FREE including and Opening Day party at Grand Circus Park by the City of Detroit and a Wisconsin manufacturer of watery beer that features a LOT of great food trucks, DJ Invisible, and lots of video walls and screens. There’s another free party from noon – 6pm just across Woodward at one of my favorite venues, The Fillmore with giveaways, WRIF and the game on their MASSIVE screen (tell the security guys Andy sent you and they will laugh). Also on the free front are a party at Gilly’s with giveaways, raffle, face painting & DJ Ray Ya Dig (official DJ of the Lions) from 9 AM–4 PM. I think that the Opening Day Party with my friends The Honest to God Jug Band is free, but they’re so fun and Cliff’s Bells is SO cool that I think you won’t mind if there is a cover.
And everywhere there are giveaways, giveaways, giveaways including the House of Faygo Pop-up at Campus Martius this Friday – Sunday.
Here’s more information on the photos & happenings. Please add yours in the comments here or on our Facebook!
I just realized that summer is almost over, and I hope that we can all act accordingly!!
I have featured Jonathan’s photo of Grand Haven’s “Formal Day at the Beach” before & I will undoubtedly share it again!! Near as I can tell, the event no longer happens but it looks super fun. See the latest from Jonathan on his Flickr.
The Upper Peninsula State Fair started on Monday in Escanaba and runs through Sunday, August 18th with midway rides & games, free entertainment and of course the time honored fair tradition of animal & produce beauty pageants. One especially great attraction is their Miracle of Life exhibit where children of all ages can see the live births of calves, lambs, piglets and watch chicks, ducks, and quail eggs hatch. I heartily applaud the Fair for helping people get a better idea of where their food comes from!!
John caught these snoozing pigs on Monday. See a bunch more from this year & years past in his UP Fair gallery on Flickr.
Detroit’s Belle Isle Park shares that the infamous Giant Slide – which briefly opened last August before quickly closing after riders were going way too fast – will reopen for the summer this Friday (July 19) from 11-6pm. Regular hours through Labor Day will be Friday 12:30 -5:30pm and Saturday & Sunday from 10:30-3:30pm. It only costs $1 per ride so I’m expecting plenty of pics from all of you!!
Now here’s a look courtesy GmacCash at what’s in store for you on the Giant Slide!
Michigan in Pictures 