2019 Winter & Spring Tip Sheet

The world has taken notice of Detroit’s evolution and the city continues to earn accolades for it. Notably, Detroit was included on Fodor’s Go List 2019—a compilation of 52 places that inspire the magazine’s editors to “get going in 2019.”  Let us help you get going too. 

The beloved Motown Museum is in the planning stages of a $50-million-dollar expansion that will add 50,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, meeting space and expanded retail space. The new Motown Museum will be designed and built around the current museum space and the historic Hitsville U.S.A. house.

The automotive world comes together in Detroit this January for the North American International Auto Show. See up-close the vehicles and technologies that will shape the future automotive landscape. From muscle and electric cars, to high-performance supercars and full-size trucks, NAIAS has something for everyone to enjoy. The public show takes place January 19-27 at Huntington Place. It was also recently announced that NAIAS will move to June starting in 2020.

Quicken Loans Winter Blast Weekends transform downtown Detroit into a winter wonderland. The free, four-weekend series that begins in January (Jan. 19-21 and Jan. 25-27) continues Feb. 8-10 with an ice sculpture garden, marshmallow roasting, polar plunge and local music showcase and wraps up Feb. 15-17 with family activities, strolling entertainers, a zip line and free ice skating. One of the greatest rivalries in sports comes to Hockeytown when USA Hockey and Hockey Canada’s women’s national teams face off in a three-game series Feb. 12-17. Little Caesars Arena will host the final game of the series as part of Hockey Week Across America.

At the new Robert & Katherine Jacobs Asian Wing at the Detroit Institute of Arts, visitors explore philosophies that have shaped arts and cultures across Asia. Asian-themed programming will complement the new gallery’s opening throughout 2019. The Lost & Found exhibit (through March 3), features photographs rescued from attics, resale shops, online sources and DIA archives.

This season’s Fisher Theatre lineup will keep audiences coming back for more. Shows include The Play That Goes Wrong, Feb. 12-24; The Lightning Thief, Feb. 26-March 9 and Hamilton, March 12-April 21. Family-friendly shows Sesame Street Live, Jan. 24-Feb. 2; Paw Patrol, Feb. 28-March 3; P.J. Masks Live, April 4 and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live, April 27, visit the Fox Theatre. Upcoming hot tickets at Little Caesars Arena include Cher, Feb. 12; Eric Church, Feb. 15; Kelly Clarkson, Feb. 21; Michael Buble, March 1; KISS: End of the Road World Tour, March 13; Ariana Grande, April 5 and Pink, April 26-27.

This winter Detroit will host two major figure skating events. The nation’s most prestigious figure skating event, U.S. Figure Skating Championships, will crown ladies, men, pairs and ice dance at all skill levels at Little Caesars Arena Jan. 22-27.  It also serves as the final qualifier for the U.S. World Figure Skating Team and U.S. Olympic Teams. The 2019 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships glides into town Feb. 28-March 2 at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. In this team sport, 8 to 20 skaters perform a program together, judged on speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences.

Detroit celebrates its diverse heritage with Paczki Day, March 5; Corktown St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 10 and the Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade, March 24—three extra special reasons to visit.

Public shows throughout metro Detroit keep things interesting this winter. Huntington Place has a robust lineup, with the Detroit Boat Show, Feb. 16-24; Autorama, March 1-3 and Motor City Comic Con, May 17-19. At Macomb Community College’s Warren campus, Great Lakes Comic Con, a comic, toy and collectible event, runs Feb. 22-23. There will be lots of laughs at the LGBT ComedyFest, scheduled at the Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center March 2. Get inked at the Motor City Tattoo Expo at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, March 1-3. Prepare to

hit the links at the Michigan Golf Show, March 8-10, or explore all things nautical at the Novi Boat Show, March 14-17 at Suburban Collection Showplace. For additional events and expos, check out visitdetroit.com.

The Detroit Red Wings regular season wraps up April 6, when they face off against the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena. The state-of-the-art stadium is also home to the Detroit Pistons, whose final home game of the regular season is April 9 against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Detroit Tigers usher in spring with their home opener April 4 at Comerica Park, versing the Kansas City Royals.

While the Detroit Zoo is open all year, spring is a great time to visit, with special spring events include Bunnyville, April 19-20 and Zoo Brew May 3.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation inspires year-round with the stories of America’s greatest inventors. Celebrate Black History month with museum programming throughout February. The Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village, 80-acres of immersive American history, reopens for the season April 14.

The 2019 FIRST Championship, the world’s largest celebration of STEM for students, returns to Detroit this April.  More than 30,000 students from 74 countries, 6,000 coaches and mentors, 2,400 volunteers and 30,000 sponsors and spectators will take over Huntington Place April 24-27, with a Championship Closing Celebration at Ford Field.

Volleyball fans won’t want to miss the AAU’s Can-Am Classic, May 11-12 at Huntington Place, an all ages tournament for girls and boys, open and club.

The internationally recognized Movement Electronic Music Festival, May 25-27, is a Memorial Day weekend tradition in Detroit. Finally, rev up for summer and experience racing in the Motor City at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, May 31-June 2.

Visit Detroit is a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market and sell the metropolitan Detroit area on a worldwide basis as a destination for leisure and business travel including conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, tours and incentive travel to maximize additional visitors, visitor expenditures, state and local tax revenues and job opportunities.

More than 700 businesses are represented in Visit Detroit’s membership. Visit Detroit was founded in 1896 as the world’s first convention and visitors bureau. visitdetroit.com