There’s plenty of opportunities to get outside this weekend, whether you’re looking for mushrooms, bike rides or want to help out at a river cleanup.
Here’s what we recommend:
Ride in the Zoo-de-Mackinac
The 36th annual Zoo-de-Mackinac weekend is May 15-17, with a full weekend of biking fun.
The 51-mile ride takes cyclists from the Zoo Bar at The Highlands in Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City, then on the ferry to Mackinac Island.
There will be a short detour on the route to bypass the washed-out section of the Tunnel of Trees.
To register or find out more, visit zoodemack.com.
Join the Dandelion Dash
The Dandelion Dash Trail fundraiser is back on Saturday, May 16 at Petoskey Middle School.
The event features a 5K run/walk, a 1 mile run/walk, a short Family Fun Run and a virtual 5K option. Entry cost varies based on which option is selected.
The 5K kicks off at 9 a.m., with the 1 mile at 10 a.m. and the Family Fun Run at 10:30 a.m. Participants need to check-in prior to the event.
Proceeds benefit the Petoskey Children’s Nature Preschool, a nonprofit preschool that provides an “enriching, play-based, child-centered environment.”
To sign up, visit runsignup.com/DandelionDashPetoskey.
Explore open studio with Good Hart artist
The Good Hart Artist Residency will host its first Open Studio Saturday event of 2026 on Saturday, May 16.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests are invited to stop in at 910 N. Lamkin Road and explore the art of Matt Bodett, an artist and the founder and director of the Center for Mad Culture in Chicago. According to the Good Hart Artist Residency, Bodett’s work is “driven by a desire to reimagine classical paintings and cultural myths through the lens of madness, not as a medical condition, but as a culturally relevant and human experience.”
Find out more about the residency and see other upcoming events at goodhartartistresidency.org/events.
Go for a “Walk in the Woods”
Naturalists Jim Bricker and Eowyn Bates will lead a “Walk in the Woods” Earth Week Plus program on Saturday, May 16 in Cheboygan.
Participants will meet at Alpena State Road and follow the Earth Week Plus signs for the 10 a.m. start time. On the walk, guests can expect to learn how to identify wild edibles, such as local mushrooms. They’ll also hunt for sightings of rare wildflowers and get tips on birdwatching.
This event is free and suitable for all ages. Participants should dress for the weather.
Find out more at earthweekplus.org/event/walk-in-the-woods-adventure.
Help clean up your community
Many communities are hosting some spring cleaning opportunities this weekend, including:
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 5 fun things to do this weekend in Northern Michigan
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
