Move at Movement, Get Melanie Martinez Tickets, Watch a Catfight, Go to a Parasol Pool Party
Late spring in Michigan means three things: wildly inaccurate weather forecasts, small talk about aforementioned hard-to-predict weather and an absolutely packed calendar of queer joy. Whether you’re craving bass so loud it rearranges your organs or a place to show off your new dancing unicorn rainbow two-piece, jumping into some of these activities promises a heap of community-fueled joy. Added benefit: Think of these events as warm-ups for the approaching Pride season. You wouldn't run a marathon without stretching first, right?
1. Move at Movement
Detroit’s Movement Festival is a historic music festival, yes, but it’s also a yearly reminder that queer people have always been part of shaping electronic music culture, both locally and globally. This year’s lineup includes LGBTQ+ artists like Beige and legendary house DJ Stacey Hotwaxx Hale, alongside showcases from Detroit icons including Carl Craig’s Detroit Love and DJ Minx. Hart Plaza transforms into a joyful maze of music, sweat, sunglasses and deeply committed dancing. Honestly, it’s hard to stay cynical while somebody nearby is wearing silver platform boots at 2 p.m. on a Sunday.
May 25–27, Hart Plaza (1 Hart Plaza, Detroit). movementfestival.com.
2. Mood-Swing with Melanie Martinez
We know you're busy swimming and moving and catfighting. But if your teenage self loved theatrical pop, spooky aesthetics and aggressively emotional lyrics, ask Current Self to take a minute out and do a solid for Future Self who will be grateful you bought tickets for the Melanie Martinez's Hades: The Sacrifice tour. The bisexual icon Martinez has built a massive audience (13 million on Instagram alone) by leaning fully into strange, vulnerable, hyper-creative storytelling rather than sanding down the weird edges.
July 18, 7 p.m., Little Caesars Arena (2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit). melaniemartinezmusic.com.
3. Cheer On Catfights
Formerly known as Catfight for the Crown, this beloved Pride-season showcase returns with a different format and exactly the same commitment to queer brilliance. Catfight Against the Crown skips the competition aspect in favor of a celebration of artistry: ballroom, drag, burlesque, comedy and glorious theatrical nonsense.
The event supports the Ruth Ellis Center and its work with at-risk LGBTQ+ young people. So yes, you can absolutely enjoy a wildly over-the-top night at Saint Andrew’s Hall (dress code: better regrettable than forgettable) while helping fund real community support. That’s what we call multitasking.
June 13, 6 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall (431 E. Congress St., Detroit). instagram.com/catfightforthecrown.
4. Dive Into Parasol Pool Party Season
There are few better summer coping mechanisms than this Peak Gay equation: loud dance music plus inviting swimming pool equals bliss. Parasol Pool Party season kicks off May 23 with the first of five Midtown Detroit parties promising music, performances, themed chaos and a very welcoming crowd. It’s one of those events where you can show up solo and leave with three new Instagram mutuals, somebody’s sunglasses accidentally in your tote bag and renewed faith in humanity.
May 23, 1–7 p.m. and future dates, Common Pub (5440 Cass Ave., Detroit). instagram.com/parasol_detroit.
5. Hydrate
A shocking percentage of Pride-season problems could be improved by sitting down for 10 minutes and drinking some water. Well, and by staying less attached to fewer of our exes, perhaps, but baby steps and all that.
Michigan’s queer summer calendar is about to become an endurance event: festivals, patios, concerts, drag shows and pool parties. Set yourself a goal of keeping water (and while we’re at it, sunscreen) within arm’s reach at all times. And yes, actually drinking the water is an important part of the process. Bonus: Hydration improves your skin tone. Consider it a nod to queer vanity if texting your friends “did you drink water today?” doesn’t feel ironic enough for you. Hydration is community care.
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