10 things to do in May in Michigan

May is almost here, and with it comes early-blooming flowers, colorful comics and flavorful brews. From Tulip Time in Holland to the Motor City Comic Con, here are some events to put on your May to-do list:

Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival

The 17th annual Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival is May 10 to 21, bringing films from all over the globe to one local hotspot. The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit has selected films from around the world that address Jewish issues and principles.

Showings will take place at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. For a full list of showings, visit www.jccdet.org. For ticket information, head to www.theberman.org.

Tulip Time

Tulip lovers no doubt have the Tulip Time festival marked on their calendars. The longstanding event takes place in the city of Holland from May 2 to 9.

Holland is the perfect spot to celebrate tulips, as the Holland area boasts nearly 4.5 million tulips, planted and ready to bloom in early spring. Aside from the fragrant flowers, Tulip Time also offers the Dutch dance, with nearly 1,000 costumed locals performing traditional Dutch dances each day of the festival throughout the City of Holland.

Festival parades are scheduled May 6, 7 and 9, and there's also a carnival. For more information, visit www.tuliptime.com.

Comic fans, head to Novi

This year, Motor City Comic Con is back for a 26th years, offering comic book fans a magical world of thrilling comics, intriguing fantasy and spectacular sci-fi.

"Breaking Bad" actors Giancarlo Esposito, who played Gus Fring and Mark Margolis, who played Tio Salamanca, are two major names booked for the event.

This year's Motor City Comic Con lineup includes Katey Sagal, Dean Cain, Robert Englund, Steven Yeun, Ian Ziering, Robert Patrick, Ryan Hurst, Emily Kinney, E. Roger Mitchell and many more. The event also will feature more than 300 comic book creators, writers and artists.

Motor City Comic Con is May 15 to 17 at the Suburban Collection Showplace at 46100 Grand River Ave in Novi.

For information, including ticket details, visit motorcitycomiccon.com.

Spring pottery show and sale

The Greater Lansing Potters' Guild's spring pottery sale happens April 30 to May 2 at All Saints Church in Lansing. The sale highlights the work of more than 30 potters, with wheel-thrown and hand-built pieces in stoneware and porcelain. It's a great idea for a Mother's Day gift, too. Expect to find mugs, bowls, casseroles, teapots, planters and lamps as well as jewelry, sculptural and decorative items for home and garden. Best of all, admission is free.

For more information. Visit www.glpg.org.

Button bonanza

Those who like to button should find lots to like at Michigan's Button Society's Spring Button Show.

Discover the ins-and-outs of collectable clothing buttons, including the different materials used to make buttons over the past few centuries, the variety of designs on buttons and the kinds of clothing on which particular buttons were worn. The show also offers vendors with unique buttons you won't find at a traditional store.

The Spring Button Show is May 1 and 2 at the DoubleTree Hotel on 5801 Southfield Freeway in Detroit. For information, visit www.michiganbuttonsociety.org.

East Lansing Art Festival

The East Lansing Art Festival is a sure sign of spring locally . Whether it's rain or shine, people from across Michigan find a way to make it to the annual art extravaganza.

The 52nd annual festival takes place in downtown East Lansing May 16 and 17. Activities include a juried art fair, food, live music and things to do for the kids. An estimated 70,000 art lovers attend the festival each year.

For more information, visit www.elartfest.com.

Ukulele fun

Mighty Uke Day, Michigan's largest ukulele festival, will rock various spots of Lansing's Old Town May 8 to 10. The core of the annual event is paying tribute to the mighty ukulele with live music, film, workshops, open mics, children's activities, a ukulele museum and more.

This year's performers include Stuart Fuchs, Victoria Vox, Gerald Ross, Andy Wilson, Saldaje, Susan Picking, Kendall Cassella and Ukulele Dwight.

The event is also for a good cause. A silent auction of ukuleles and accessories and other proceeds from the festival will benefit Music is the Foundation, which supports music programs in the Lansing and Holt school districts and area communities.

For more on Mighty Uke Day, visit www.mightyukeday.com.

Munch on Mushrooms

It's May, and that means the hunt is on for mushrooms. After all, May is morel season in Michigan.

Mesick, a village between Cadillac and Traverse City, is the self-proclaimed mushroom capital of the United States. In honor of the mushroom madness, the city's annual Mesick Mushroom Festival is a three-day celebration of the fleshy treat with parades, carnival rides, live music and mushroom hunting.

The Mesick Mushroom Festival will take place May 8 to 10. For the full schedule of events and more, head to www.mesick-mushroomfest.org.

Beer City Spring Fest

Beer is big in West Michigan, and in that spirit, Hudsonville's debut craft beer festival is set for May 2 at the Hudsonville Community Fairgrounds. A wide selection of West Michigan breweries will be on hand with homegrown beverages, including Bell's Brewery, Boatyard Brewing, Dark Horse Brewing Co., Mitten Brewing Company and many more.

The event is also a fundraiser for The American Legion Post 179, an organization dedicated to helping local Veterans.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.beercityfestivals.com.

Riverbank Traditional Powwow is back

Following a three-year hiatus, the Lansing Riverbank Traditional Powwow is back May 30 and 31 on the west side of Louis Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing. Admission is free.

One major attraction is the festival's Grand Entry, when Native American dancers enter the arena and the color guard honors veterans of all nations. The Grand Entry is set for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 30 and noon May 31.

The focus of the festival is to learn more about Native American history, legends and stories, plus to understand the importance of dance and music in the culture of America's Indigenous peoples.

For more information, call event co-sponsor Robin Menefee at 721-1502.