Things to Do in Michigan in March

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March is here! I always let out a sign of relief for March. Spring and its welcoming flowers are just around the corner! Even though half the month is still winter, it’s the spirit and expectation of spring that makes me excited. And without further ado, here are the things to do in Michigan in March!

From Saint Patrick’s day celebrations to maple syrup festivals (yum!), and from late winter fests to welcome spring events, there is plenty to look forward to in March in Michigan.

Things to do in Michigan in March Map

Unique and Interesting Things to Do in Michigan in March

Here are my picks for unique and interesting things to do in Michigan in March to check out:

• Butterflys are Blooming – Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids: March-April, Butterfly’s are here! Check out the butterfly’s in the Tropical Conservancy at the Meijer Gardens. This annual tradition is one that will help hold you over until its finally t-shirt season in Michigan.
• Walloon Lake Writers Retreat – Hotel Walloon: 3/4-6, Calling all writers! Converge with your community and make some progress on your novel or writing projects. The package starts at $350 and includes lodging, autographed book, workshops, and tour!
• March Mannequins – downtown St. Joseph: 3/11, 7-8:30pm; Enjoy a very unique window shopping experience in downtown St. Joseph. The storefront windows are transformed as human mannequins strike a pose. You can even vote for your favorite store display!
• First Annual Sip + Savor Tasting Event – Tabor Hill Winery, Buchanan: 3/12, 12pm; Enjoy the ultimate sampling event! Taste wine from Tabor Hill, Round Barn, and Free Run Cellars, and/or beer and small batch spirits from Round Barn. For $25 per person, you’ll receive 8 sample tastes plus a wine glass to keep.
• Laugh Fest – Grand Rapids: 3/16-20, 2022; Laugh Fest is the US’ first festival of laughter and has been an annual event since 2011. Check out their website to find a comedy show to attend at one of the more than 50 venues across west Michigan. In the past there have been large headliners like Russell Peters, Amy Schumer, and more! And there are also a number of family friendly acts to enjoy as a family.
• Annual Rock, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show – American 1 Event Center, Jackson: 3/18-20, 10am-5pm; If you’re into gems, rocks, fossils and more, this is one annual event you don’t want to miss! Hosted by the Michigan Gem & Mineral Society, there will be a number of dealers in attendance. It is $4 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for students, and those 5 and under are free.
• 1st Annual Jerami Grant Topgolf Classic – Top Golf, Auburn Hills: 3/20, 5:30-8:30pm; Enjoy a fun evening at Top Golf with a chance to win prizes like $10k and meet USA Olympic Gold Medalist Jerami Grant and other Pistons Players.

Top Day Trips and Getaways to Take in March

If you’re looking for a family friendly day trip or getaway to take in Michigan this month, below are some of my recommended trips.

First, for many Michiganders, March or April means Spring Break! If you aren’t already planning to head down south, consider staying in Michigan for a staycation. Not sure where to travel to within Michigan? I can help! I put together this fun quiz to narrow down some options for you.

Next up is one of my favorite hidden gem small towns in lower Michigan, Grand Ledge. If you haven’t already spent a day exploring Grand Ledge, this needs to be on every Michigander’s bucket list. Between Fitzgerald Park and Oak Park, you’ll be blown away!

Another great place to visit in March is Grand Rapids! The World of Winter attractions are still out but also, there are so many fantastic hotels to chose from for a staycation. Looking for more things to do in the area? Check out my article on my ten favorite things to do in Greater Grand Rapids.

Finally, I recommend visiting someplace new to you in Michigan ahead of summer’s busy tourist season. For this, check out this list of Underrated Places in Michigan article.

St. Patrick’s Day Events

Green beer, corned beef, unicorns, pots of gold, shamrocks, and more are some things to look forward to when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. While there’s a lot of pub crawls happening throughout Michigan in March, there are also some family friendly events taking place too.

• Leapin’ Leprechaun 5K – Traverse City: 3/12, 9-12pm; Dress up in green and get your run on with this fun 5K through downtown Traverse City. It’s free to join the fun from the sidelines.
• St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Holland: 3/12, 12pm; The parade starts at the Holland Farmers Market and ends at 8th Street between College Avenue and Columbia Avenue. But the party continues with New Holland Brewing, Hops at 84 East, and Curragh Irish Pub where more festivities await you!
• St. Patrick’s Day Pet Parade & Pub Crawl – downtown Saugatuck: 3/12; Dress up your pet and join the annual pet parade. Then enjoy the pub crawl afterwards.
• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – Otsego Resort, Gaylord: 3/12, all day; Enjoy live music and drink specials all day. Special events to celebrate include a bead hunt, costume contest, and splashdown.
• Port Huron Pub Crawl: 3/12, 1-7pm: The Blue Water Area CVB organized a pub crawl all across Port Huron. There are 11 pub’s to chose from to visit during the event and a bus helps carry’s partiers throughout town between the pubs. Purchase tickets for $15 (cash only) on any of the pubs or at the CV office.
• Spud-tacular Snowshoe Lunch – Treetops Resort, Gaylord: 3/12, 1-3pm; Snowshoe along the Potato Railroad on Treetops property where you’ll learn more about the potato industry in Michigan. You’ll stop at 4 different stations to enjoy a different potato dish along with non-alcoholic beverages. It costs $30 for adults, and $25 for kids age 4-12, kids 3 and under are free.
• Saint Baddy’s Day – BAD Brewing Co, Mason: 3/12, 12-9pm; Enjoy the beer’s of BAD Brewing, Irish Food, and live music! There’s no cover charge for this event.
• St. Patty’s Day Wildlife Enrichment – Howell Nature Center, Howell: 3/13, 1-3pm: This is a great St. Patrick’s Day event for the whole family to enjoy! Watch the animals at the Howell Nature Center enjoy St. Patrick’s Day toys and treats as you learn more about the animals. Entrance is $12 per person.
• Irish Tea and Trivia – Stuart Avenue Inn, Kalamazoo: 3/16, 4-5:30pm; Instead of Guinness, go for some Irish tea! For $30 a person, enjoy Irish hors d’oeuvres with tea and some Irish trivia.
• St. Patrick’s Day – Grand River Brewery, Marshall: 3/17, 7am-9pm; Start off your day with a hearty Irish brunch then stay for awhile to enjoy the live music and entertainment throughout the day. There is also a green beer chugging contest and raffle prize.
• St. Patrick’s Day in Downtown Ludington: 3/19, 12-11pm; Ludington’s St. Patty’s day celebration includes a parade, scavenger hunt, live music, and kids’ games, with Irish pub food being sold throughout town.
• Irish Afternoon Tea at the Greenleaf Mansion, Onsted: 3/19, 2-4pm; Enjoy afternoon high tea the Irish way! You’ll receive a 5 meal and tea for $48.50.
• Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl – Bookie’s Bar & Grille, Detroit: 3/19, 4pm-midnight; Join in on the fun by hitting up over 8 different bar’s around Detroit. Tickets are $15 and cover a complimentary drink or shot, badge, and waived cover charge.

Maple Syrup Festivals

Maple syrup is serious business in Michigan. And if you’re in the lower portion of the state, March is the best time to prioritize attending a maple syrup festival, tree tapping, or tour! Consider visiting one or more of these events.

• Maple Sugar Festival – Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo: 3/5 & 6; Register to take a tour after showing up for the pancake breakfast. Tours take place every thirty minutes between 9am and 3pm. Additional activities include a story trail, presentations, crafts, a blacksmith demonstration, and wagon rides.
• Maplefest – MSU Tollgate Farm, Novi: 3/5 & 6, 9-2pm; For a collegiate perspective, register to attend MSU’s annual Maplefest. It costs $10 for everyone age 3 and up to attend and you can register online. Your day starts with a wagon ride to the Sugar Bush, learn tree identification, tap a tree, and enjoy some maple infused foods.
• Journey to the Sugarbush and other Maple Syrup Events – throughout Huron-Clinton Metroparks: 3/5 & 6, 3/12 & 13, 10-3pm; Pre-register for a timeslot to see how maple syrup is made. The cost is $3 for kids and $5 for adults.
• Maple Syrup Time – Stage Nature Center, Troy: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 9-3pm; Sign up for an 1.25 tour to see how maple syrup is made, then sample and shop for maple products at the Troy Historic Village.
• Syrup Community Day – Wittenbach Wege Center, Lowell: 3/12, 9-1pm; Start your day off with a pancake breakfast supporting the Center’s programs then go on a tour where you’ll learn about how maple syrup is made.
• Maple Sugar Time – Van Raalte Farm, Holland: 3/12 & 3/19, 11-3pm; For $10 per car, show up (no registration needed) to watch trees be tapped, gather the sap and boil it down into fresh maple syrup. There will also be plenty of activities for kids to enjoy!
• Maple Syrup Festival – Dewaters Educational Building, Burton: 3/19, 11-4pm, For $10 a car, sign up to see how maple syrup is made. Each tour lasts one hour.
• Maple Madness Interpretive Tours – Dahlem Center, Jackson: 3/19; Sign up online to take a 1.5hour informative tour at either 10am or 12pm to learn about the history of maple syrup tapping. There are also a variety of other STEM activities to enjoy during your time here.
• Maple Syrup Day – Chippewa Nature Center, Midland: 3/19, 9-4pm; Pre-register for an exciting day that’s all about maple syrup. Then take a wagon ride to the sugarhouse, tour the sugarbush, tap a tree, and compete in a scavenger hunt. You can also purchase maple products in the gift shop.
• Alcona FFA Maple Syrup Celebration – Harrisville: 3/19, 9-2pm; Show up for a free pancake breakfast, sales, tours, and more!
• Syrup Festival – Maple Row Sugar House, Jones: 3/19, 20, 26, 27; If you’re looking for a free maple syrup event to enjoy, here it is! There will be plenty of food and fun to enjoy at this two week festival including sugarhouse tours, a talent show, pancake eating contest, carriage rides, a Civil War reenactment, and petting zoo.
• Michigan Maple Weekend in Southern Lower and Northern Lower Michigan: 3/19-20 (Southern) and 3/26-70 (Northern); For a truly authentic experience, plan a trip to one of the many local maple syrup makers. Check out the Michigan Maple website for more info on which farms are participating this year!
• Mini Maple Event – Blandford Nature Center, Grand Rapids: 3/26, 10-12:30pm; Go on a sugarbush tour, participate in family friendly crafts and enjoy a snack, and learn about some local animals.

Food & Drink Festivals

March is a hot month if you’re looking for food and drink festivals and events in Michigan!

• Berrien County Restaurant Month: This month marks Berrien County’s first ever restaurant month. Support the local restaurants and take advantage of the unique specials and meal deals they’re serving up!
• Harbor Springs Restaurant Week – Now-3/6: Enjoy a special menu at participating restaurants to see area chef’s flex their culinary muscle!
• SugarBASH! – Upper Hand Brewery, Escanaba: 3/5, 3-9pm; Combine maple syrup and beer and what do you have? One delicious drink! Celebrate the release of Upper Hand Brewery’s newest lager Sugarbush.
• Downtown Marquette Restaurant Week – 3/6-12: Check out the specials and participating restaurants here.
• Paws, Claws & Corks – DeVos Place, Grand Rapids: 3/9; Enjoy food from West Michigan’s top restaurants and local beer and wine in this fundraiser for the West Michigan Humane Society. There is also a silent auction going on where you can bid on unique items and experiences.
• Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival – American 1 Event Center, Jackson: 3/12, 12-5pm; Featuring over 150 craft beers, ciders, meads, and wines there will also be food trucks, games, and activities to enjoy. Tickets cost $30 in advance or $35 at the door, and you’ll get 10 tasting tokens.
• Taste of the Irish Hills: 3/12 & 13, Enjoy a self guided tour from over 20 different restaurants located all across the Irish Hills area.
• Delta Township Restaurant Week – 3/14-21: Dine in, take out or order delivery within a particular theme every day this week to support the local restaurants of Delta Township!
• Dearborn Restaurant Week – 3/18-27: Explore Dearborn’s diverse foodie scene!
• Mackinaw Trail Winery & Brewery’s Experimental Beer Dinner – Petoskey: 3/19, 6-8pm; For $50 per person, try out the 5 new experimental beer’s which are matching with food pairings.
• Chocolate Sensation – Ella Sharp Museum’s Community Room, Jackson: 3/22, 5:30-8pm; Support the Dahlem Conservancy during its annual fundraising delicacy dinner. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple. After enjoying local hors d’oeuvres there is a performance by Steve Tucker, silent auction, and raffle.
• Grand Rapids Whisky Festival – DeVos Place, Grand Rapids: 3/26, 7-10pm; For $45 per person sample 10 whisky’s from all over the world. Admission also gets you a glass, photo, and live entertainment.
• Harbor County Restaurant Week – 3/28-4/2: Explore new venues and cuisines in the southwest corner of Michigan!

Arts & Cultural Events

Art and cultural events are more great options of things to do in Michigan in March. Consider attending some of these events if you’re looking for more indoor activities.

• Midwest RAD Fest – Kalamazoo: 3/4-6; Attend concerts, screendance presentations, master classes, artist talk-backs, interactive lectures/discussions, audience Q & A sessions, and movement installations during this year’s hybrid RAD Fest.
• Interlochen Arts Academy Jazz Orchestra & Jazz Combo Spring Concert – Interlochen Center for the Arts: 3/4, 7:30 pm; Spend a relaxed evening listening to a variety of live jazz music. Tickets cost between $9-$12.
• The Jackson Antique & Collectible Show – Jackson Fairgrounds: 3/4 & 5, 10am-5pm; Do you love antiques or are a picker? If so, don’t miss out on this long running massive antique show to find your next gem! It’s $3 per person (12+) to enter.
• Fly Fishing Film Tour – City Opera House, Traverse City: 3/5, 7:30 pm: Enjoy films featuring fly fishing from all over the globe like Costa Rica, Hawaii and more. For adults, tickets cost $20, kids 10-17 are $17, and kids under 10 are free.
• Aladdin – Peter Martin Wege Theatre: 3/11-20; Watch the Grand Rapids Ballet’s Junior Company retell the tale of Aladdin through dance and movement.
• Coastline Children’s Film Festival – throughout Southwest Michigan: 3/18-27; Finally a film festival that’s fun for the whole family! Film’s are shown throughout southwest Michigan from St Joe on down to New Buffalo and feature kid friendly and animated children’s films. While everything is free, a $1 per person donation is suggested.
• Onsted Mid Winter Craft & Vendor Show – The Mill, Onsted: 3/19, 10-4pm; Enjoy a local craft and small business craft show in Southeast Michigan with over 80 vendors. Entry is $1 and you can also enter the 50/50 raffle and enter to win a number of vendor donated prizes.
• Ann Arbor Film Festival: 3/22-27, This year the Ann Arbor Film Festival enters its 60th year! It is the oldest avant-garde and experimental film festival in North America. This year over 180 films from 20 countries in all genres are participating. Be sure to check out the details for more information!
• Mountainfilm on Tour – Saugatuck Center for the Arts: 3/25 & 3/26; This is the film festival for you if you’re big on outdoor adventure and experiences.

Remnants of Winter Festivals and Events

While in Southern lower Michigan may be looking forward to spring, the Upper Peninsula knows there’s at least another month of snow to enjoy! Get out and enjoy this final month of winter at the following events.

• World Telemark Day – Indianhead Mountain, Big Snow Resort: 3/5, 10am-3:30pm, Celebrate and show up for some telemark skiing and live music!
• Muk UP Ski Race – Blackjack Mountain, Big Snow Resort: 3/5, 8:30-5pm; Register to participate in this annual ski race that’s also a fundraiser to help local youth ski racing.
• Mt. Brighton Slush Cup – Brighton: 3/5, 9-12pm; Put on your best vintage gear and attend this slushing winter/spring event. There will be a pond skimming competition with live music, bar, photo booth, prizes, and more.
• Hard Water Fishing – Carl T. Johnson Hunting & Fishing – MDNR, Cadillac: 3/5 & 3/6: Learn to ice fish this weekend! The cost is $40 and includes instructions from a professional, lunch, bait, and goodie bag. After the class ends Saturday, join the DNR team for dinner!
• Winter Blast Fireworks – downtown Milan: 3/4, 7pm: Bundle up and say see ya later winter (hopefully!) with a blast! This is a great opportunity to see some fireworks during the winter if you’re in the metro Detroit area.
• Suds and Snow – Timber Ridge RV Resort, Traverse City – 3/5: Bummed winter is almost over? This is your chance to attend a final winter fest in the best way – by indulging in the area’s finest food, beer, wine, and ciders followed by snowshoeing.
• Boyne Country Sports Highlander Friends & Family Race – Boyne Highlands Resort: 3/5, 11:30 am: To round out the season, Boyne Highlands Resort is open to all skiers and snowboard racers or all ages. Register a team of up to 4 people or show up to watch and cheer on the teams!
• Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt – Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Augusta: 3/5, 11-3pm; Learn about birds, winter survival, animal tracks and more during this annual event as you participate in this approximately 30 minute scavenger hunt! It’s $5 for adults and $3 for kids 2-17. After completion, your family is entered for the change to win an annual membership to the sanctuary.
• Great Bear Chase Ski Marathon – Swedetown Trails, Calumet: 3/12; Register to participate in one of the 7 different races. There’s a Skiathlon as well as classic and freestyle events. There will also be a pasty and soup lunch provided.

Think Spring + Support Michigan Makers!

It’s time to think happy and warmer thoughts! While the hats and mittens may not be put into your winter storage just yet, March is a great time to swap out your winter décor and add some spring pieces to your wardrobe. Below are some great spring craft fairs to attend.

• Winter Craft Show – Kalamazoo Expo Center: 3/5, 9am-3pm; Peruse over 150 vendors at this free indoor craft show!
• Spring Flower Bulb Show – Hidden Lakes Gardens, Tipton: 3/12-3/27, 10-5pm: Enjoy an early glimpse of spring flowers by visiting the Hidden Lake temperate house where all sorts of spring flowers will be in bloom!
• Michigan Makers Market – VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center, Muskegon: 3/12, 9-5pm; Shop from 80-100 different Michigan craft and fine art makers all in one place.
• Mt. Pleasant Market – Cornerstone Church, Mt. Pleasant: 3/12, 9-1pm; Support local Mt. Pleasant makers are this free event featuring handmade items!
• Handcrafters Spring Fling Handmade Market – Embassy Suites, Livonia: 3/25-26, 9-6pm; Shop for home décor, apparel, Easter gifts, food and more from over 80 artists and makers in attendance from across the Midwest.
• Spring Fling Craft & Vendor Show – Meridian Mall, Okemos: 3/26, 10-7pm; A variety of crafters and other small businesses will be showing off their fresh spring products for sale at this spring market.

Other Idea’s of Things to Do in Michigan in March

March is one of those in between seasons months. You don’t know if there will be enough snow in some parts of the state, but typically it’s never warm enough to count on breaking out the shorts. Finding in-state deals on hotels are another great thing to do in Michigan in March. Here are a couple you may want to take advantage of:

• Shanty Creek Resort: While it’s questionable on whether or not you’ll be able to ski, there are great on-site restaurants, pools and fitness center. Plus there is a shuttle that can take you to downtown Bellaire where you can enjoy a beer or two at Shorts!
• The Vault Hotel Houghton: Book a stay at Houghton’s hottest new hotel which is in an old bank. Much of the bank’s old features like teller windows and bank boxes remain, yet the hotel’s design is a modern take on art deco. If there’s one new hotel you need to check out this year in Michigan, it’s this one!
• The Inn at St. John’s: A resort right in Southeast Michigan? Yes please! You don’t have to travel far to get a resort experience (especially with these high gas prices)! The Inn at St. John’s features an on-site steakhouse, fitness center, 27 hole golf course, indoor pool, and luxurious jacuzzi.
• Inn at Bay Harbor: Another great northwest Michigan resort to stay at in March is the Inn at Bay Harbor. Room rates soar in the summer so book a stay now! There are even a number of great package deals to take advantage of like a spa escape or romance package. This Inn is right on Lake Michigan near Petoskey. While at the Inn take advantage of the resort activities they offer seasonally and year round (like their amazing outdoor hot tub!)
• JW Marriott in Grand Rapids: This hotel is the most high end hotel to stay at within Grand Rapids. Often during the shoulder season, you can find deals on rooms here. The hotel’s interior is modern with upscale finishes. There’s an indoor pool, restaurants on site, and it connects to Grand Rapid’s sky walk so you can get around downtown without stepping outside!
• The Graduate Hotel in Ann Arbor or East Lansing: Whether you root for the Spartans or Wolverines, the Graduate Hotel will get you in the spirit this month! March madness is here and there’s no better place to watch the game than at either hotel – either at the bar or from the comfort of your own room!

Some other great idea’s of things to do in March include:

• Visit museum’s
• Take up birding – March is when bird’s start to migrate North and a good month to get into birding. Many local county parks have events, programs or virtual lessons to help you get started.
• Try out a new restaurant. If you’d scaled back on dining out over the winter, consider visiting a new, local independent restaurant near you.
• Set your goals and/or bucket list for what you want to accomplish during the warmer months. Do you want to go on more hikes? Start planning which trails you want to hike. How about Michigan travel? Do you want to explore more towns throughout Michigan? Research and schedule in those summer day trips! (And definitely use my website and social media channels in your research of what to do in these towns!) If you start preparing now, come summer, you’ll be ready to go!

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