From tulips to cherries to asparagus: Michigan is one of the most 'festival obsessed’ states in the country

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

A study based on Google search trends has named Michigan one of the most festival obsessed states in the country.

The study, conducted by fashion retailer Boohoo, analyzed Google search trends to see which states had residents seeking out festival information in large numbers. As it turns out, Michiganders were among the most frequent.

A pair of lucky guests walk away from the Tulip Time carnival's games with an armful of prizes Saturday, May 1, 2021.
A pair of lucky guests walk away from the Tulip Time carnival's games with an armful of prizes Saturday, May 1, 2021.

Michigan ranked tenth in the country in the overall scoring metric, behind Wisconsin, Ohio, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Vermont. States received a score from 0 to 100 for nine search terms, with a higher number meaning more search frequency.

Terms measured included:

  • "music festivals"

  • "festivals 2023"

  • "festival"

  • "festivals"

  • "fall festival"

  • "summer festival"

  • "festivals near me"

  • "festival near me"

  • "festival outfits"

Michigan had the fourth most searches for “summer festivals,” the eighth most for “festival,” the ninth most for “music festivals” and was tenth for “festival near me.”

Michigan is home to several famous — both statewide and worldwide — festivals, some of which are fast approaching. Here’s a list of just a few of Michigan’s many festival offerings and when they’ll next take place:

  • The Big Cheese Mac and Cheese Festival, April 15, Battle Creek

  • Tulip Time Festival, May 6-14, Holland

  • National Morel Mushroom Festival, May 18-21, Boyne City

  • Movement Music Festival, May 27-29, Detroit

  • Empire Asparagus Festival, June 3, Empire

  • Blue Water Sturgeon Festival, June 3, Port Huron

  • Lilac Festival, June 9-18, Mackinac Island

  • Electric Forest, June 22-25, Rothbury

  • Michigan Challenge Balloonfest, June 23-25, Howell

  • National Cherry Festival, July 1-8, Traverse City

  • Alpenfest, July 11-15, Gaylord

  • Venetian Festival, July 15-22, Charlevoix

  • Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, July 28-Aug. 6, Grand Haven

  • Yale Bologna Festival, July 28-30, Yale

  • National Blueberry Festival, Aug. 10-13, South Haven

  • Howell Melon Festival, Aug. 18-20, Howell

  • Michigan Paranormal Convention, Aug. 24-26, Sault Ste. Marie

  • Festival of the Book, Sept. 22-24, Harbor Springs

  • Clinton Fall Festival, Sept. 22-24, Clinton

  • Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival, Sept. 22-23, Ionia

  • Charlevoix Apple Festival, Oct. 13-15, Charlevoix

  • Tecumseh Appleumpkin Festival, Oct. 14-15, Tecumseh

  • Perchville, February 2024, East Tawas

  • Michigan Maple Syrup Festival, March 2024, Jones

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Michigan is one of the most 'festival obsessed’ states in the country