May in Shores & Islands Ohio is when everything comes to life—longer days, blooming landscapes, and a full calendar of can’t-miss events that signal the start of the season. From outdoor adventures and waterfront festivals to family-friendly celebrations, shopping events, and unique cultural experiences, this curated “best of” list showcases the very best ways to enjoy the region throughout the month. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or looking for something new to explore close to home, these standout events offer something for every interest—and every kind of spring day.
Lakeside Daisy Stroll
Friday, May 1, 2026
11 am
Castalia Quarry MetroPark, Castalia
Enjoy a walk into the quarry to view the spectacular blooming Lakeside Daisy! Learn about the restoration efforts that went into establishing this state endangered plant in the quarry. Walk ups welcome, no registration required.
Spring Sip & Shop
Saturday, May 2, 2026
1-5 pm
Twin Oast Brewing, Catawba
A laid-back afternoon combining local shopping, craft beer, and springtime vibes! Guests are invited to browse a selection of small businesses featuring handmade goods, unique finds, and locally crafted products. Vendors will be set up throughout the brewhouse and extending onto the outdoor patio, creating an open-air market atmosphere perfect for a spring day. As you explore, enjoy beer samples and take time to relax with a full pour of your favorite Twin Oast brew. Whether you're discovering new local makers, meeting friends for a drink, or simply soaking in the setting, our Spring Sip & Shop is designed for easy, enjoyable afternoons.
Biggest Week in American Birding
Friday, May 8-Sunday, May 17 2026
Various Locations
Black Swamp Bird Observatory is proud to host The Biggest Week In American Birding along with their amazing co-hosts, Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, Destination Toledo and Shores & Islands Ohio. "The Biggest Week" celebrates the peak of spring migration in the Lake Erie Marsh Region of Northwest Ohio. This 10-day festival features some of the best spring birding North America has to offer. The festival features birding, photography, and art workshops, guided birding activities, field trips, keynote speakers, spotlight presentations, evening socials and so many more fun actitvities!
Cedar Point Opening Day 2026!
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10 am-8 pm
Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky
It’s the unofficial start of summer at A Place Like No Other™ and your first chance to take on your favorite record-breaking coasters like Top Thrill 2™ and Siren’s Curse, North America’s tallest, longest, and fastest tilt coaster. Indulge in big bites of delicious fresh-cut fries and decadent funnel cakes, or kick back and relax on the mile-long Cedar Point Beach. Mark your calendars and join in as Cedar Point® opens for its 157th season on Saturday, May 9!
Mother's Day Craft & Vendor Show
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10 am-5 pm
Sandusky Mall, Sandusky
Over 100+ vendors with unique items, decor and sweet treats will be on hand for your shopping pleasure! While you are here, join in the Mother's Day Adventure Tour! Grab a "Passport Sheet" from the table at the Mall Main Entrance. Get your passport stamped at 5 or more participating stores and enter to win a $50 Mall gift card and prize package!
Mother's Day Tea
Saturday, May 9, 2026
2 pm
Historic Lyme Village, Bellevue
Step back in time and celebrate Mother’s Day with an elegant afternoon tea inside the beautiful Wright Mansion. Join the living history interpreters of Northcoast Narrative, dressed in period attire, as they serve a delightful selection of traditional teas. Guests will enjoy an assortment of classic tea fare including chicken salad and cucumber tea sandwiches, scones, cream puffs, and other bite-sized delectables. Guests are encouraged to wear a hat for the occasion—those who do will be entered into a drawing for a special prize! After tea, guests are invited to take a self-guided tour of the historic mansion and experience the elegance and charm of the Victorian era. Bring your mother, daughter, grandmother, or a dear friend and share a memorable afternoon together.
Spring Bloom 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10 am-3 pm
Quarry Hill Orchards, Berlin Heights
Spring has sprung at Quarry Hill Orchards! This annual Spring Bloom joyfully coincides with Mother’s Day weekend for a buzzing day of interactive workshops. This year's workshops include a macrame plant hanger, tree planting in the orchard with Ben Gammie, and a pressed flower bar to make mom the perfect handmade gift. Explore fruit trees for sale (pre-order online) or reserve a gorgeous bouquet for mom! Delight in springtime treasures, from handmade aprons to local honey to fresh produce. Celebrate the changing of the seasons at the blooming orchard!
World Migratory Bird Day Hike
Saturday, May 9, 2026
8 am
Old Woman Creek Visitor Center, Huron
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a guided hike during prime migration time. We will make our way through the trails to see (and hear!) what is on the move in our area. Join other birders to learn from each other and practice your ID skills. We will have some binoculars on hand to lend if needed. Expect to hike approximately two miles with uneven terrain, elevation changes, and stairs.
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 10, 2026
11 am-4 pm
Schedel Arboretum & Gardens, Elmore
What better gift for Mom can you give but your time.....come spend the day with us in our beautiful 17 acre garden setting! Holly's Homemade Street Eats, "Mom'osas (aka mimosas) and other fun drinks available. The first 100 Moms get an annual plant from Bench's Greenhouse in Elmore.
Ned Talks Presents: Ned presents Mayflies, Damsel Flies, and Dragon Flies, Oh My!
Thursday, May 14, 2026
5:30 pm
Shores & Islands Ohio Welcome Center – West, Port Clinton
Ned the Naturalist (Brian Shifflet) will present about Mayflies and other insects who begin their lives under water!
Night At The Movies With Mr. Edison!
Friday, May 15, 2026
7 pm
Milan Township Hall, Milan
Join Edison Birthplace for an evening of movies, great food, and great company. The Edison Birthplace is proud to host their 2nd Night At The Movies With Mr. Edison! with Edison impersonator, Mike Woloszyk. Edison Birthplace will be showing 5 of Mr. Edison's silent movies !! Reserve your free tickets at www.tomedison.org/events. Get yours today as there is limited seating!
Island Wide Garage Sale Put-in-Bay: A Community Treasure Hunt
Saturday, May 16, 2026
10 am-6 pm
Various Locations, Put-in-Bay
Island Wide Garage Sale Put-in-Bay: A Community Treasure Hunt! Embark on a community-wide treasure hunt, where residents across the island open their garages and lawns to bargain hunters and vintage enthusiasts alike, offering a unique shopping experience. Discover hidden gems, rare antiques, and eclectic items as you explore the sales peppered throughout our charming island. A map of sale locations will be available, ensuring a seamless adventure for all who join the quest for one-of-a-kind finds
Sandusky Area Safety Expo
Sunday, May 17, 2026
10 am-4 pm
Safe Harbour Marina, Sandusky
Come join Erie Islands Sailing and Powerboating School along with Safe Harbor Sandusky Marina to kick-off National Safe Boating Week. You will be up close with all of the various agencies across the region that provide educational resources and training and help keep us safe on Lake Erie. Open and free to everyone. Come by land or by sea (or Lake). Boats can receive a free vessel safety check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Erie Islands will be giving short demos of training (weather permitting) from the On-Water NSBC and American Boating training curriculum. Attendees can sign up for 2 FREE raffles, a Duffle Bag made from recycled sails by a local vendor and a 1 Year BoatUS Saltwater Towing Membership w/Trailer Assist and Tow, a $230 VALUE!
Ohio Goes to the Movies
Thursday, May 21, 2026
7:30-9 pm
Lakeside Chautauqua, Marblehead
"Ohio Goes to the Movies" is a statewide celebration of movies showcasing Ohioans---actors, directors, writers, composter, locations, and topics----highlighting Ohio's contributions to America's film industry and moviemaking. Lakeside Chautauqua remains the last, and only, movie theater in Ottawa County. Purple Rose of Cairo celebrates local Marblehead native Loretta Nellie Clemons Tupper (1906-1990) whose appeared in Annie Hall and The House of God. She may be most remembered playing the elderly lady in the Fruit of the Loom television commercials during the 1980s.
Memorial Day Weekend 2026!
Friday, May 22, 2026
Put-in-Bay
Join Put-in-Bay for a meaningful Memorial Day weekend, a time to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active-duty military personnel. Throughout the weekend, service members can enjoy special discounts at local businesses and free ferry passage (Jet Express and Miller Ferry) on Memorial Day. The weekend culminates with the annual Salute to the Troops ceremony at Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial. This event is not just about remembrance; it’s also a celebration of the community, with an array of activities and experiences that make Put-in-Bay a special place to be during this national holiday.
Walleye Festival
Thursday-Monday, May 21-25, 2026
Waterworks Park, Port Clinton
The 45th Walleye Festival gets underway Memorial Day weekend 2026 at picturesque Waterworks Park on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie in Port Clinton. An 
array of free live concerts, Kids Fishing Derby, Grande Parade, educational programs and activities, carnival rides, and more than 130 vendors from around the nation, help make this event one of Ohio’s premier outdoor weekend celebrations. Never in short supply, delicious food and beverages will be enjoyed by all. This is the perfect summer kick-off!
Time Traveler History Talks: Before the Talkies: Silent Film Stars and Sandusky’s Silver Screen
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
5:30 pm
Shores & Islands Welcome Center – East, Sandusky
Continue our America 250 celebrations with Angie George of North Coast Narrative. Before the Talkies: Silent Film Stars and Sandusky’s Silver Screen explores the golden age of silent movies and the stars who captivated audiences a century ago. Learn how early film pioneers like Thomas Edison helped launch the movie industry and how local theaters brought the magic of the silver screen to Sandusky audiences. Discover the fascinating history of movie-going in the community—from silent film stars to the theaters that made it all possible. Light refreshments will be served.
Ohio Bike Week
Friday, May 29-Saturday, June 6, 2026
Various Locations, Sandusky
Ohio Bike Week, held in Sandusky, with live bands, food trucks, and plenty of merchants. Activities at Mad River Harley Davidson, downtown Sandusky, and Barrel House Saloon.
Put-in-Bay Dog Bowl
Friday-Saturday, May 29-30, 2026
McCann Field, Put-in-Bay
Get ready for a high-energy dog-sports showcase as the Put-in-Bay Dog Bowl brings a DockDogs® competition to the Put-in-Bay! DockDogs® events feature trained canine athletes sprinting down a dock and launching into the water in three main disciplines: Big Air (long-jump distance), Extreme Vertical (high-jump bumper grab), and Speed Retrieve (timed dash to a suspended toy). This is a spectator-friendly event! Families and pets alike are welcome to visit and watch the action, cheer on your favorite canine, and enjoy the nonstop splashes and big jumps. Plus, although this is a DockDogs® showcase, if you have a canine who would like to participate in practice rounds or in the competition, a DockDogs® registration is required.
43rd Annual Kelleys Island 5/10K Run/Walk + 1 Mile Fun Run!
Sunday, May 31, 2026
9 am-3 pm
Kelleys Island
A family favorite for over 40 years, this annual event brings runners and walkers from near and far to enjoy the beautiful, friendly surroundings of Kelleys Island. Whether you're aiming for a competitive time or simply enjoying a fun day outdoors, this event is a perfect addition to your wellness goals. Participants of all ages are invited to run or walk the 5K, 10K, or 1 Mile Fun Run, with awards for 1st-3rd place and unique commemorative t-shirts—some participants have collected them for over four decades! Make a weekend of it! Stay in a cozy cottage, condominium, or large family home while soaking in the natural beauty of the island.
For even more spring fun, check out the full area events calendar at SHORESandISLANDS.com/events – and get out enjoy spring!
