Michigan is fortunate in having numerous annual events and festivals to boost tourism and the local economy. Events cover every major genre of the arts and touch on politics and industry too. The state’s towns and cities offer many visitor attractions, which visitors can enjoy while attending events. The Great Lakes is a scenic destination for events in that area.
The North American International Auto Show grew out of the regional shows that Detroit has hosted for many years. It is the largest one in North America and is an important showcase for manufacturers and distributors. The show received almost 715,000 visitors in 2010 and the 2011 show in January is expected to display over 500 automobiles. Since 1976, the Charity Previews raise money for children’s charities in southeastern Michigan, and the total amount raised, as of 2010, is over $82 million.
North American International Auto Show; Cobo Center; Detroit; MI 48226; 313-877-8777
The TEA Party Rallies are organized by the Taxed Enough Already campaign against high local and federal taxes. Different rallies occur on different dates in April in various Michigan cities, including Kalamazoo, Lansing, Detroit, Port Huron and Plymouth. The first protests were in 2009, taking their inspiration from the Boston Tea Party. Part of the 2010 campaign was to protest against the proposed changes to health insurance, and there were counter protests in support of President Obama’s reforms.
Tea Party; 734-665-4537; 269-375-5980
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presents a program of dance, comedy, film, music and other arts events over a period of three weeks. Since the first festival in 1984, the City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan have collaborated on the event. The festival draws tourists to the city with the diverse nature of the performances and international acts. There are both outdoor and indoor venues used in downtown Ann Arbor and on campus at the university. Many movies, concerts and family events are free to attend. Past performers include Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Johnny Cash.
Organized by the Michigan State University Museum and the City of East Lansing, the Great Lakes Folk Festival follows a long tradition of folk music and dance festivals in the region. The festival is free and the music crosses many genres, inspired by local and international musical styles. Performers include exponents of bluegrass, Cajun, blues and Latin American styles.
The first Detroit International Jazz Festival took place in 1980 and has continued every Labor Day weekend. Performers play at the Hart Plaza, which is a park adjacent to the Detroit River. The festival’s reputation was boosted by its partnership in the 1980s with the famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. The 2010 program included the world-famous musicians saxophonist Branford Marsalis and drummer Roy Haynes.
