Southeast Michigan in February

May through October gives you the best of Southeast Michigan. Spring arrives late here - don't expect warm weather before mid-May, but once it hits, you get mild temperatures perfect for walking Detroit's riverfront or exploring Ann Arbor's campus. Summer means festival season. The Detroit Jazz Festival in September brings free world-class music to Hart Plaza. Movement Electronic Music Festival in May draws 100,000+ people and books underground techno legends alongside mainstream acts. Fall colors peak in early October around Ann Arbor and the Irish Hills. University of Michigan football creates absolute chaos in town - hotel prices triple and restaurants book solid. But the energy is infectious if you're into college sports. Winter gets harsh. Lake-effect snow dumps 2-3 feet regularly, and temperatures drop below zero for weeks. But Detroit's indoor attractions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and Motown Museum stay open, and you'll have them mostly to yourself. Avoid March entirely. It's cold, gray, and nothing interesting happens. April can be decent if you don't mind unpredictable weather - one day it's 70 degrees, the next brings snow.