The Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History (3225 4th St., 517/787-2320, www.ellasharp.org) holds three interesting annual events: the Sugar & Shearing Festival, a late March event that celebrates the arrival of springtime with sheep-shearing and maple sugar demonstrations; the Art & Wine Festival, which invites visitors to the museum grounds in early June for the chance to sample area wines and peruse regional artwork; and the Fall Harvest Festival, an October event that celebrates autumn with pumpkin painting, a farmers market, and an antique tractor trade.

For something completely different, plan a trip around the annual Hot Air Jubilee (Jackson County Airport, 3606 Wildwood Ave., 517/782-1515, www.hotairjubilee.com, $10 adults, $5 children 6–12) in mid-July. Watching nearly 70 colorful hot air balloons take to the sky at once is quite a dazzling sight to see. Besides the balloons, the weekend features an arts-and-crafts show, stunt kite demonstrations, carnival rides, aircraft and antique military displays, and live entertainment. Stick around until dusk for the Balloon Night Glow, a spectacular light show of tethered balloons.