Summer is in full swing in metro Detroit, offering numerous opportunities to enjoy live music, art and cultural activities. In Sterling Heights, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy; and celebrate art, creativity, music, and collaboration in the streets of downtown Ann Arbor.
Detroit’s riverfront will be alive with music and festivities, while a diversity-themed festival takes over the Midtown Cultural District. Additionally, book lovers can revel in a large book festival at the Eastern Market in Detroit.
Festa Italiana
The Italian American Chamber of Commerce presents Festa Italiana, a celebration of Italian heritage that will feature live music, Italian food, Italian wines and beers, fireworks, a family fun zone complete with bounce houses, a zip line, bocce courts, rock-climbing wall, and more.
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Headlining acts will include The Bronx Wanderers, Ray Massa’s EuroRhythms, Aaron Caruso, Mark Randisi, among others.
The fireworks display is scheduled from 10 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday.
The festival runs from 6-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday at Freedom Hill County Park at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, 14900 Metro Parkway in Sterling Heights. Free to attend. Parking is $10 daily per vehicle with proceeds going to local charities.
Detroit Festival of Books
This seventh annual Detroit Festival of Books, dedicated to promoting the joy of reading and the rich culture surrounding it, returns. The festival will feature a wide variety of vendors selling books of all kinds: used, rare, antiquarian, unusual, ephemera, and more. Additionally, vendors will also be offering vinyl LP records, comic books, creative arts, vintage board games, and other unique items. There will also be music and food throughout the day.
"Misguided: A Mackinac Island Novel" by Dave McVeigh and Jim Bolone will be among many books at the festival.
The festival takes place 10 a.m-4 p.m. Sunday at Eastern Market, Shed 5, 2934 Russell St. in Detroit. Free entry.
Ann Arbor Art Fair
Spanning more than 30 downtown blocks, the Ann Arbor Art Fair will transform Ann Arbor into one of the largest art fair destinations in the country with art, live music from three stages, demonstrations, activities, and more. This vibrant event comprises three independently juried, nonprofit art fairs that run concurrently: the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original; the Guild’s Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and the Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair.
Highlights will include live silversmithing demonstrations, the Youth Art Fair, live glass blowing, 60-second Speed Skechers, and performances by Tumbleweed Circus, and Eric Scott Baker the Smile Maker, to name a few.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair runs 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday.
Concert of Colors
This free annual diversity-themed festival returns to Midtown Detroit’s Cultural District as Detroit’s largest and oldest music diversity festival. Highlights will include a Caribbean carnival and parade, dance and music from around the world, global food vendors, art exhibits, film, poetry, discussions, interactive art for kids, and more.
Entertainment and activities will take place at various locations, including the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Arab American National Museum, the Hellenic Museum of Michigan, Detroit Historical Society and Museum, the Carr Center, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Sosnick Courtyard, the Scarab Club, Third Man Records, the University of Michigan Detroit Center, Michigan Science Center and other locations.
Headliners will include Transglobal Underground, The Big Palladium 3 Orchestra, Don Was, among others.
The Michigan Science Center will offer community free days during the festival on Thursday and Friday.
The festival runs through Sunday. The full lineup and schedule can be found at concertofcolors.com.
Riverfront Music Festival
This R&B-centric music festival is set to return to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit for a two-day event. Open to attendees aged 21 and older, the festival will feature an Indie Fashion Show and what’s being billed as the largest R&B Singalong with Mr. Light Show. Food trucks and other vendors will be available.
The lineup includes notable artists such as Queen Naija, Yung Miami, Jacquees, Uncle Luke, Monica, K. Michelle, Keke Wyatt, and Kelly Price.
The festival will run from 2-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1 Hart Plaza in Detroit. Tickets range from $50-$200. For tickets and more information visit riverfrontmusicfestival.com.
Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.
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