10 Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-31)

Celebrate with a mural and public art tour, parades, patriotic brass music, and even life-size dinosaurs this holiday weekend
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Dino Stroll - memorial day weekend
See nearly 100 animatronic dinosaurs at Dino Stroll. // Photograph courtesy of Canterbury Village

Dino Stroll

Guests at Canterbury Village this weekend will be transported to the Mesozoic Era, as they embark on an outdoor adventure that brings them face-to-face with nearly 100 animatronic dinosaurs, including T-Rex, Velociraptors, and Stegosauruses. After touring this prehistoric wonderland, guests can become paleontologists, studying the skeletons, fossils, and gigantic eggs of the world’s largest creatures. They’ll also enjoy live music by the Dino Band. $10. May 28-31. Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Ct., Orion Charter Twp.; dinostroll.com

Monroe Street Midway

Formerly home to Bedrock’s Monroe Street Drive-In, the site has been fitted with a number of new facilities. These include the Rocket Mortgage Sports Zone, featuring four basketball courts and a multi-use sports court, to accommodate a wide range of activities, including futsal, pickleball, and handball. But perhaps the most notable amenity is Rollout Detroit — the city’s only outdoor roller rink. The space is also adorned with installations by Detroit artists. In addition to regular outdoor fitness classes and performances by local DJs, the Midway will host rotating food trucks daily. No cost. May 28-fall 2021. Monroe Street Midway, 32 Monroe St., Detroit; deckedoutdetroit.com 

Find It… Every Dream

The Detroit Institute of Arts’ is hosting one last production to close out its 2021 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations. Find It… Every Dream is a collection of dance performances from regional Asian and Pacific Islander-American-led arts and culture organizations. The groups will offer a wide variety of acts that include a fusion of contemporary dance with Tai Chi, a traditional Japanese dance relaying the legend of a mythical lion, a Giring-Giring — a cultural dance symbolizing joy and love — from the Dayak Maanyan tribe of Indonesia, and a combination of Dappanguthu — an ancient, South Indian, storytelling dance — with Western break dancing. No cost. May 29. Virtual event, dia.org 

motor city brew tours - memorial day weekend
See local art on Motor City Brew Tours’ upcoming excursion. // Photograph courtesy of Motor City Brew Tours

Murals and Public Art Bike Tour

Experience murals, sculptures, and other public art from Woodbridge to New Center and Milwaukee Junction on this 9-mile, 3-hour guided bike tour across Detroit. Sculpture Park, Grand River Creative Corridor, Lincoln Street Art Park, Local Community Garden, and the Illuminated Mural/Kahn/Tiger Murals are just some of the stops you’ll enjoy. Each of Motor City Brew’s small, group bike tours are led by an experienced, local tour guide who provides knowledgeable historical commentary along the way. And at the end of the ride, you’ll be rewarded with a beer at a local brewery. Plus, each ticket includes a goodie bag stocked with swag and a can of local beer for later. $30. May 29. Motor City Brew Tours, 511 W. Canfield St., Detroit; motorcitybrewtours.com

Motor City Brass Band

The Motor City Brass Band will perform an assortment of patriotic anthems at Veteran’s Plaza this Sunday in honor of Memorial Day. Led by musical director Craig Strain since its inception in 1996, the group participates annually in the North American Brass Band Association Championships and the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships and ranks among the top competition brass bands in North America. The band has also performed a wide range of musical styles — from classical to jazz, to pop — across the state, as well as in Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, and Ontario. No cost. May 30. Veterans Plaza, 16301 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; mcbb.org

St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade

Kicking off at 1 p.m. this Sunday, the 68th annual St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade will feature a performance by the Detroit Youth Choir and appearances by the American Legion State Commander Barry Wood, Civil Air Patrol 176th Selfridge Composite Squadron and CAP Van Dyke Squadron, Tuskegee Airmen Detroit Chapter, and more. Korean War veteran Gene Perye will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. No cost. May 30. Starts at Jefferson Avenue and Nine Mile Road and runs north to 11 Mile Road, St. Clair Shores; facebook.com

Hazel Park Memorial Day Ceremony/Bike Parade

This Memorial Day ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at Hazel Park City Hall. Following the event, locals can partake in a bike parade to nearby Green Acres Park. Participants are encouraged to outfit their bike with patriotic decorations — such as streamers and American flags — to honor fallen soldiers.  No cost. May 31. Hazel Park City Hall, 11 E. Nine Mile Road, Hazel Park; facebook.com  

motor city brass band - memorial day weekend
Motor City Brass Band at Dearborn’s Veterans Plaza this weekend in honor of Memorial Day. // Photograph courtesy of Chris Scarlett

Utica Memorial Day Ceremony

Held at Memorial Park Utica, this event will feature special speakers and a gun salute and taps performance by the Marine Corps League Honor Guard. Local restaurant K’nickies Pizza N Toasties will serve refreshments at American Legion Past 351 following the ceremony. No cost. May 30. Memorial Park Utica, north of Hall Road and west of Cass Avenue, and American Legion Post 351, 46146 Cass Ave., Utica; facebook.com

Orion Veterans Memorial Day Run

Run — or walk ­— for a good cause at the Orion Veterans Memorial Day Run. This family-friendly 5K, which will support maintenance of the Orion Veteran’s Memorial, will start in Downtown Lake Orion and take you along the scenic Paint Creek Trail. Or, visit the memorial website to learn how you can participate virtually. $20+. May 31. Downtown Lake Orion, 20 Front St., Lake Orion; orionveteransmemorial.com

Eastpointe Memorial Day Parade

Eastpointe’s annual Memorial Day parade will return this weekend, despite forgoing the awards ceremony and picnic that typically follow, due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. As always, the event will honor all service members. And, with the 30th Anniversary of Desert Storm taking place this year, it will dedicate special attention to the nine Michiganders who lost their lives in that conflict. Also new is the route. Slightly longer than that followed in previous years, the parade’s path will now begin at the Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society. No cost. May 31. Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society, 16600 Stephens Road, Eastpointe; erchamber.com