Summer is time to step out and enjoy all the fun things happening in Michigan. With restrictions lifted, it means that many of the events and festivals that you love are returning to host you once again.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy your summer in Michigan, with art fairs, music series, and cultural events happening all season. Save the dates to these exciting events and festivals coming up!

Jazzy Nights Concert Series @ Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre (Every Wednesday, July 7-Sept 22)

Check out the Jazzy Nights Concert Series happening all Summer at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre. Every Wednesday night from Jul 7 – Sept 22, you can find world-class jazz musicians playing live concerts at the venue.

The Jazzy Nights Concert Series features a lineup of 12 headlining acts, including Sheila E., Najee, Will Downing, and Gerald Albright. They’ll be bringing along their full bands to deliver incredible performances on every show.

ADVERTISEMENT

Purchase season tickets to attend all the shows or select your favorite artist and plan a date night. 

Event details and the performance lineup is available at thearetha.com.

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (July 15-17)

Get ready for three days full of art! The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is a go for this season, running from July 15-17th. It’s the biggest juried art fair in the US and one event you don’t want to miss!

The Ann Arbor Street Fair transforms Downtown Ann Arbor into an art hub showcasing close to 1,000 artists. Explore the artists’ booths selling paintings, canvas prints, sculptures, merchandise, and more.

Nearly half a million people attend the fair every year. It has an incredible summer atmosphere to spend the weekend with live music performances throughout the day and food vendors to grab a bite to eat.

Event details are available at theannarborartfair.com.

Movie Nights in the D @ Campus Martius (Every Sat, July 10-Aug 28)

Looking for something fun to do on Saturday night? How about catching a film at Campus Martius! The park will host the Movie Nights in the D series every Saturday between July 10-Aug 28).

Catch award-winning films that you might have missed on the big screen. The series kicks off with The Photograph, starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, and will screen other movies over the Summer, including Cars 2, Nomadland, Amazing Grace, and Onward.

Movie Nights in the D is a family-friendly event. You can bring chairs and blankets and pick a spot on the lawn to enjoy the movie!

Event details and movie lineup are available at downtowndetroitparks.com.

Detroit Festival of Books @ Eastern Market (Jul 18)

Returning for its fourth year, the Detroit Festival of Books is Michigan’s largest book fair. Book-lovers will have a fabulous Sunday down at Eastern Market.

The Detroit Festival of Books features over 100 vendors selling books, vinyl records, comic books, art, and more. It’s an excellent place to meet collectors, and you may even find some rare gems worth purchasing or trading.

You’ll love the lively atmosphere at the fair. The event will have live music from DJ Seven Whales as well as food and beer available for purchase. And the best part is that it’s free entry!

Event details are available at detroitbookfest.com.

African World Festival @ Charles H. Wright Museum (Aug 20-22)

The Charles H. Wright Museum will host the African World Festival for its 38th year. It’s a massive three-day festival to celebrate African cultural heritage in Detroit. It’s a destination for the entire family to immerse in the vibrant African culture.

The African World Festival will run Aug. 20-22 outside of the museum. Every day you can expect exciting performances on the live stage – musicians, dance acts, speakers, and more. You can check out the numerous vendors selling African-inspired art, clothing, and other merchandise in between performances.

Event details are available at thewright.org.

Woodward Dream Cruise (Aug 21)

Discover how Detroit preserves its title as the Motor City! The Woodward Dream Cruise is always one of the most anticipated events of the year in Michigan. You’ll get to see a parade of spectacular cars cruising down Woodward Ave.

More than one million people come every year from all over the world to sit on the side of Woodward to watch the cars drive by. You’ll see everything from vintage cars, sports cars, luxury vehicles, and some unique cars you never knew existed!

The event takes place across 16-miles on Woodward Ave. There are lots of vendors set up on side streets. Pick a spot on the roadside and find your favorite car of the event.

Event details are available at woodwarddreamcruise.com.

Arts, Beats, & Eats (Sept 3-6)

Celebrate music, art, and culture at the Arts, Beats, & Eats festival happening in Royal Oak. It’s one of the most popular events in Michigan to end the summer over Labor Day weekend.

For more than two decades, Arts, Beats, & Eats has showcased the best of local culture. It’s a juried art show featuring over 100 artists from across North America. There are many vendors with artwork and other merchandise available.

Check out the live acts performing on the event stages. You can look forward to 200 bands playing on nine stages over the event weekend.

Finish the experience by grabbing a meal at one of the food trucks. Many local Detroit restaurants bring their kitchens right to you, where you can discover a new favorite restaurant in Detroit.

Event details are available at artsbeatseats.com.

Michigan State Fair @ Novi fairgrounds (Sept. 2-6)

The Michigan State Fair is back and better than ever! The fair is a place for kids and adults to have a good time, so close out the summer the right way with an exciting Labor Day weekend event.

Considered the best family event in Michigan, the state fair has tons of things to do for all ages – rides, games, food, live entertainment. Go for a ride on the Ferris Wheel for a view overlooking the grounds or catch the acrobatic circus performance. It has several stages featuring local musicians. The fair also celebrates local agriculture with livestock and a pumpkin contest.

Be sure to check out the fireworks happening on Thursday night.

Event details are available at michiganstatefairllc.com.

Share your event in the comments below and let us know which events you’re most excited about attending!

Facebook Comments

ADVERTISEMENT

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR