By Jourdan Taylor Senior High Student, Writer, Artist, Activist
Summer is almost here, and that means fun awaits! No one wants to be stuck in the house with no plans. So, I thought, why not give a list of places you can visit to make the most of warm weather and longer days? This list is made up of activities around metro Detroit and won’t disappoint. There’s so much to do, you won’t have time to think about being bored for the rest of the summer! So let’s dive in.
Ford fireworks: This always happens near the end of June and is a super-fun, family-friendly event! There are several food trucks and restaurants nearby and plenty of things to do while waiting for the fireworks to begin. It’s usually an all-day event and ends around 10 p.m.
Detroit Riverdays: Another fun family event that happens in early June to kick off the summer! There are rides, food trucks, and more along the River Walk. It’s a great place to meet friends!
Detroit Kite Festival: Located on Belle Isle, this a great activity for younger kids.
New Center Park Summer Entertainment Series: This is one of my favorite activities. Movies play in New Center Park and it’s free and open to the public! Bring food and a blanket, and relax and enjoy!
Chene Park Movie Series: This is pretty similar to the previous one but located in Chene Park and held every Friday!
Great Lakes Food, Art & Music Festival: This festival is a three-day, family-friendly event that takes place in Campus Martius in July. There are activities for all ages.
Garden Party at the Whitney: I just learned about this last summer. It’s a really nice summer party held at the Whitney every Thursday. It’s a great excuse to dress up, hang out, and enjoy the historic house.
Detroit Startup Week: For all of my entrepreneurs out there, this business conference happens in June and is an informative, week-long event with sessions on starting up your business and networking. The event is for all ages and I highly recommend!
African World Festival: The best cultural event of the summer. It happens outside of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and celebrates African culture and history with tons of great food, music, and vendors. This is a “do-not-miss” event… trust me!
DIY Street Fair: This event is located in Ferndale and celebrates the “doers” and creatives in the art and music world! You might not want to miss this one either.
Mo Pop Festival: I have to say this is my absolute favorite festival in Detroit! It’s a music festival that takes place over the course of two days, with various local and national artists performing on different stages. The riverfront view is perfect, the music is good, and your friends will thank you!
These are a few of my favorite events that I had to share. There are so many more, like the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Corktown Farmers Market, Dally in the Ally, Murals in the Market, MOCAD events, and, of course, just hanging out with friends. Make sure to do your own summer activity search. I promise that with this list, you’ll have a summer you won’t forget. Have fun!