The following is a list of major metro Detroit events. Events are annual unless otherwise noted.
JANUARY
North American International Auto Show
Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, Detroit, (313) 877-8777, (248) 643-0250 or www.naias.com. The Detroit Auto Dealers Association’s annual extravaganza showcasing the latest and greatest in automotive design.
Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular
Downtown Plymouth, (734) 453-1540. An awe-inspiring display of frozen art featuring 400,000 pounds of ice. It’s the oldest and largest ice-carving event in North America.
FEBRUARY
Celebrate Black History Month
The Henry Ford, Dearborn, (313) 271-1620 or www.thehenryford.com.
Detroit's Winter Blast
A winter festival that kicked off in 2005 as a backdrop to Super Bowl XL in 2006. www.WinterBlast.com
Detroit Boat Show
Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, Detroit, (313) 877-8777, (248) 643-0250 or www.detroitboatshow.net.
MARCH
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Super 6 Championship game.
Held at Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, (313) 396-7575 or www.collegehockeyatthejoe.com this a great time to watch the teams pit for the top spot.
Autorama
Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, Detroit, (313) 877-8777, (248) 373-1700 or www.autorama.com
NCAA Men's Basketball Regional Games
Ford Field, 2000 Brush St, Detroit, (313) 262-2260 or www.fordfield.com
MAY
Budweiser Downtown Hoedown
Hart Plaza, Detroit, 734-459-6969 or 313-877-8077 or www.wattsupinc.com. The premier showcase for established, new and local country artists. Widely recognized as the largest free country music festival in the world.
Eastern Market Flower Day
Eastern Market, Detroit, 586-393-8800 or www.easternmarket.org. If you’re in the market for flowers, shrubs or trees, this is the place to be!
Movement: Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit, www.demf.com. Held each Memorial Day weekend, a free event celebrating techno music—the world’s most popular new music—in the city of its origin.
Fourth Fridays with Ford
Campus Martius Park, Detroit, (313) 202-1800 or www.theworldiscoming.com
JUNE
Motor City Praisefest
Hart Plaza, Detroit, (313) 877-8077 or (734) 459-6969. Detroit’s premier showcase of both local and national live gospel music.
Greektown Arts Festival
Greektown, Detroit, 313-963-3357 or 1-877-GREEKTOWN. A juried fine art and fine craft festival featuring 125 artists. Also features live performances.
Detroit Festival of the Arts
University Cultural Center, Detroit, (313) 577-5088 or www.detroitfestival.com.
The region’s unrivaled international arts festival delights all ages.
Motor Muster
Greenfield Village, Dearborn, (313) 271-1620 or www.thehenryford.com. An annual Father’s Day weekend event. The historic village is transformed into a drive down memory lane. See hundreds of cars, trucks, motorcycles, motor scooters and bicycles on display and on parade.
International Freedom Festival Fireworks
Downtown Detroit and downtown Windsor, (313) 923-8259 or www.theparade.org. The world’s largest international-border festival with fireworks and festivities held in downtown Detroit’s Hart Plaza and across the river in Windsor, Ontario.
Fourth Fridays with Ford
Campus Martius Park, Detroit, (313) 202-1800 or www.theworldiscoming.com
JULY
Comerica Cityfest
New Center, Detroit, (313) 872-0188 or www.tastefest.com. A world-class smorgasbord of great food and live music.
Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup Hydroplane Races
Detroit River, 313-331-7770, 1-800-359-7760 or www.thunderfest.com. More than 500,000 fans gather to watch aerodynamic piston- and turbine-powered hydroplanes race at speeds exceeding 200 mph.
Ford Senior Players Championship
TPC of Michigan, Dearborn, (313) 441-0300, 1-800-868-7564 or www.fordseniorplayerschamp.pgatour.com. The Ford Senior Players Championship is sponsored by Ford Motor Company and benefits several Detroit-area charities.
Afro-American Music Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit, (313) 877-8077 or (313) 863-5554. Rhythm and blues, jazz, rap and rock in continuous open-air concerts.
Concert of Colors
Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit, concertofcolors.com
Selfridge ANGB Air Show
Selfridge ANGB, 25090 Altus Ave., 48045; (586) 307-6999 or www.selfridgeairshow.com. This breathtaking air show celebrates the Centennial of Flight and honors the many contributors to aviation including Tuskegee airmen.
Fourth Fridays with Ford
Campus Martius Park, Detroit, (313) 202-1800 or www.theworldiscoming.com
AUGUST
2008 PGA Championship
Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Twp, (248) 646-2008 or www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2008.com
Fiesta Mexicana
Historic Fort Wayne, Detroit, (313) 843-6940.
Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance
Meadow Brook Hall, Oakland University, Rochester, (248) 370-3140 or www.mbhconcours.org. This “gathering of elegance” presents more than 250 luxurious classic cars on Oakland University’s plush golf course. Includes entertainment, automotive art and food tents.
Buick Open
Warwick Hills Golf & County Club, Grand Blanc, 1-877-804-0472 or www.golfweb.com/tournaments/r035.
African World Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit, (313) 494-5800. Free music, a diverse artists’market, and international cuisine from more than 20 countries.
Woodward Dream Cruise
Along Woodward Ave. from Ferndale to Pontiac; 1-888-493-2196 or www.dreamcruise.org. Held each year the third Saturday in August. Dig out your letter sweater and poodle skirt, throw on your blue suede shoes, slick back your hair and get ready to enjoy a day filled with classic cars and great entertainment.
Michigan Renaissance Festival
Holly, in Oakland County, 1-800-601-4848 or www.michrenfest.com.
Step back in time to the 16th century. Watch musicians, puppeteers, jugglers and jousters. The festival is open for seven consecutive weekends and Labor Day.
Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats
Pontiac, in Oakland County, (248) 975-8850 or www.artsbeatseats.com.
Labor Day weekend. This premier entertainment festival draws more than 400,000 people to experience more than 200 art exhibitors, 50 restaurants and 150 bands on five stages.
Chrysler Jeep Superstores Thunder Over Michigan Air Show
Yankee Air Museum, www.yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow.
Featuring a salute to the "rough and tough" P-47 Thunderbolt and special segment dedicated to the beloved WWII Heavy Bombers, a wide variety of vintage & modern military Fighters, Bombers & Transports will help celebrate the event.
Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
Belle Isle, Detroit, (313) 262-1800 or www.detroitgp.com
The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, featuring the cars of the American Le Mans Series and the IndyCar Series. The weekend is collectively referred to as the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.
Fourth Fridays with Ford
Campus Martius Park, Detroit, (313) 202-1800 or www.theworldiscoming.com
Michigan State Fair
Michigan State Fairgrounds, Detroit, (313) 369-8250 or www.michigan.gov/mda.
No summer is complete without a visit to the nation’s oldest state fair, featuring livestock shows, community arts, agricultural exhibits, concerts and great rides.
Detroit International Jazz Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit, (313) 447-1248 or www.detroitjazzfest.com.
Labor Day weekend. The largest free jazz festival in North America showcases international, national and local jazz artists. Events are held throughout downtown. Produced by Detroit International Festival Foundation.
SEPTEMBER
Detroit Football Classic
Ford Field, Detroit, (248) 601-2200 or www.detroitfootballclassic.com.
2003’s inaugural event, created by Detroit Lions Defensive End Robert Porcher is a hit each year.
Caribbean International Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit, (313) 877-8077.
Art & Apples Festival
Rochester Park, Rochester, (248) 651-4110 or www.artapplesfestival.com
The Art & Apples Festival serves as a principle fundraiser for Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA), a non-profit art center located in Downtown Rochester dedicated to community art enrichment.
NOVEMBER
America’s Thanksgiving Parade
Woodward Ave. between Mack and Jefferson, Detroit; (313) 923-7400 or www.theparade.org. Held on Thanksgiving Day morning. Start by watching or running in the Turkey Trot 10K on the parade route, then attend this metro Detroit tradition. Floats, bands, equestrian units and helium balloons march down Woodward while onlookers anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus.
Tree Lighting
Campus Martius Park, Detroit (313)962-0101 or www.campusmartiuspark.org
DECEMBER
Noel Night
University Cultural Center Association, Detroit, (313) 577-5088. An annual evening of caroling and celebration.
Twelve Nights of Christmas
Greenfield Village, Dearborn, (313) 271-1620 or www.thehenryford.com.
Step back in time to the holidays of yesteryear.
Annual Wassail Feast
Olde World Canterbury Village, Lake Orion, (313) 871-0666. At this “feast fit for royalty,” the opulent winter Court of England under Elizabeth I has been celebrated for more than 30 years.
Kwanzaa
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, (313) 494-5800 or www.maah-detroit.org. This event adapts the traditional African celebration of the harvest, when the community gathers to celebrate the fruits of its labor.
Motor City Bowl
Ford Field, Brush & Adams, Detroit, (313) 262-2010 or www.motorcitybowl.com.
First Night
Birmingham, in Oakland County, (248) 258-9075 or www.technomasters.com/
firstnight. Held each New Year’s Eve. First Night is an alcohol-free festival of arts for children and adults.
