The first sign of spring might just be the Detroit Tigers loading up the buses and taking off all over Michigan. Here's the schedule for the upcoming Winter Caravan:
METRO BUS
Wednesday, Jan. 21
— West Michigan Whitecaps Winter Banquet, DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, 6-9 p.m.
[APPEARING: Dombrowski, Lobstein, McCann, Trammell]
Thursday, Jan. 22
— Dave Dombrowski will be the keynote speaker addressing the Economic Club of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Kellogg Center in Lansing, noon-1:30 p.m.
[APPEARING: Dombrowski]
— Employee rally at Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in Detroit, 1:50-2:35 p.m.
[APPEARING: Ausmus, Alex Avila, Bernard, Clark, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Kinsler, Krol, Lamont, Machado, Martin, Victor Martinez, Nathan, Price, Smith, Verlander, Vizquel, Wilson, Dan Dickerson and Rod Allen]
— Tigers players Nick Castellanos and J.D. Martinez will act as celebrity servers at Buffalo Wild Wings in Rochester Hills, 1:40-2:25 p.m. [Open to the public]
— Players Nick Castellanos and J.D. Martinez will put on a skills demonstration for OU Cares program at Oakland University, and do a Q&A with program participants, guests and OU students, 2:45-3:30 p.m.
— Tigers players Justin Verlander, Victor Martinez and manager Brad Ausmus will participate in a sandwich making contest at Lipari Foods and Winter’s Sausage in Warren, 3:05-4:20 p.m. Alex Avila, Joe Nathan and David Price will act as judges.
[APPEARING: Ausmus, Alex Avila, Bernard, Clark, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Kinsler, Krol, Lamont, Machado, Martin, Victor Martinez, Nathan, Price, Smith, Verlander, Vizquel, Wilson, Dan Dickerson and Rod Allen]
— Detroit Tigers Kids Club Rally at Sterling Heights High School’s Performing Arts Theatre, 4:45-6 p.m. [Ticketed event open to the public; first come, first served]
[APPEARING: Bernard, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Krol, Machado, Nathan, Price, Smith, Verlander, Wilson]
— Photo opportunity at Hockeytown Authentics in Troy, 5:15-6 p.m. Fans can take photos with Nick Castellanos and J.D. Martinez, in exchange for new (packaged) warm men’s or women’s socks to be donated to the Neighborhood Service Organization’s Homeless Recovery program. [Open to the public; max of 150 wristbands distributed, starting at 4 p.m.]
— Tiger Talk at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, home of the Triple-A Mud Hens. Brad Ausmus and Alex Avila will participate in a Q&A session at a seated dinner for fans. [Ticketed event open to the public]
Friday, Jan. 23
— Fox Sports Detroit event in Southfield, 10:45-11:45 a.m.
[APPEARING: Victor Martinez, Price]
— Northville Fire Department, 10:45-11:45 a.m.
[APPEARING: Alex Avila, Bernard, Castellanos, Dickerson, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Krol, Machado, J.D. Martinez, Nathan, Lamont, Smith, Wilson, Rod Allen] Alex Avila and Joe Nathan will take part in 'Suit Up' competition, donning fire gear.
— Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Northville, 11:15-noon
[APPEARING: Ausmus, Kinsler, Martin, Verlander, Vizquel]
— Neighborhood Service Organization in Detroit, 11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
[APPEARING: Dombrowski, Clark, Victor Martinez, Price, Rod Allen]
— DTE employee rally in Detroit, 1-1:40 p.m.
[APPEARING: Ausmus, Alex Avila, Bernard, Castellanos, Dombrowski, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Kinsler, Krol, Lamont, Machado, J.D. Martinez, Martin, Nathan, Victor Martinez, Price, Smith, Verlander, Vizquel, Wilson, Rod Allen, Dan Dickerson]
— DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, 1:55-3 p.m.
[APPEARING: Bernard, Castellanos, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Kinsler, Krol, Machado, J.D. Martinez, Nathan, Smith, Verlander, Wilson]
— United States Customs and Border Protection Agency in Detroit, 1:55-2:55 p.m.
[APPEARING: Ausmus, Alex Avila, Clark, Lamont, Martin, Price, Victor Martinez, Vizquel, Dan Dickerson]
— North American International Auto Show in Detroit, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Players will take part in a Q&A with fans at the Chevrolet display area. [Open to the public]
[APPEARING: Bernard, Castellanos, Farmer, Fields, Hardy, Kinsler, Krol, Machado, J.D. Martinez, Nathan, Smith, Verlander, Wilson, Rod Allen]
— Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation in Detroit, 3:15-4 p.m.
[APPEARING: Victor Martinez, Omar Vizquel]
NORTH BUS ROUTE
Thursday, Jan. 22
— Lake City Fire Department, noon-12:45 p.m.
[APPEARING: Lobstein, McCann, Trammell]
— Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, 3:15-3:45 p.m.
[APPEARING: Lobstein, McCann, Trammell]
— Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, 4-5:15 p.m. Following the tour of the training center, team personnel will participate in a Q&A and photo session with military personnel and their families.
[APPEARING: Alburquerque, Al Avila, Billmeyer, Cespedes, Collins, Davis, Gose, Greene, Holaday, Iglesias, Jones, Joyner, Moya, Newhan, Perez, Romine, Rondon, Ryan, Simon, Verhagen, Zeid, Mario Impemba]
Friday, Jan. 23
— Northern Michigan Rotary Club Alliance Business Breakfast at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, 9:15-10 a.m. [Ticketed event open to the public]
[APPEARING: Alburquerque, Al Avila, Billmeyer, Cespedes, Collins, Davis, Gose, Grene, Holaday, Iglesias, Jones, Joyner, Lobstein, McCann, Moya, Newhan, Perez, Romine, Rondon, Ryan, Simon, Trammell, Verhagen, Zeid and Mario Impemba]
— Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth, 2-3 p.m. Guests are encouraged to donate items for care packages to be sent to troops overseas. [Open to the public]
[APPEARING: Alburquerque, Al Avila, Billmeyer, Cespedes, Collins, Davis, Gose, Grene, Holaday, Iglesias, Jones, Joyner, Lobstein, McCann, Moya, Newhan, Perez, Romine, Rondon, Ryan, Simon, Trammell, Verhagen, Zeid and Mario Impemba]