Detroit Fourth of July events: Unity Fest, Afrobeat parties and a jazz weekend bash

Happy Fourth of July (eve), Detroit!

We hope you’re getting the grill ready for delicious food and getting settled for some fireworks. Make sure to review some safety tips (and maybe give your neighbor a heads-up) before you let sparks fly.

There’s no Detour newsletter on Thursday because of the holiday, but we’ve still got a bunch of Independence Day events around the city for you. From cultural showings at Detroit African Caribbean Unity Fest to historical teachings at Not Our Independence Day, you’re sure to find something to get out and do for the holiday.

Not feeling the red, white and blue? Skip past the first section for more ways to connect and thrive with your fellow Detroiters this weekend.

Celebrate Fourth of July

🥘 Acknowledge the vibrant cultures of Africa at Detroit African Caribbean Unity Fest at Riverside Park on Thursday. Fill your belly with traditional Afro-Caribbean dishes, dance along to the rhythmic drums and cheer on the dancers as they embrace the diversity of the city through their performances. Registration required. Free.

🎉 After spending the day at Riverside, keep the party alive Thursday night at Afrobeat vs Everybody at El Club. Munch on some good food and shimmy to funky music from VDJ Wada , High Energy and Deej Tj . Then close out the night with guest DJ Ablaze from Washington, D.C., and soak in the good vibes from your fellow Detroiters. 21+ $15.

💃 Groove to Afrobeats, hip-hop and reggae at The Official 4th of July Afrobeats Party at the Liberian Hall on Puritan Avenue. DJ Coop , VDJ Tobias and VJ Ezzyk will hold down the booths all Thursday night, so don’t forget your dancing shoes. $20 for general admission, $45 for couples.

✊🏾 Acknowledge the mistreatment and injustice of formerly enslaved Black people Thursday at Not Our Independence Day at the Shrine of the Black Madonna on Linwood Street. Listen as community activists and leaders recite excerpts of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” then purchase African food, art, jewelry and clothing from vendors at the marketplace. $20.

🍻 Don your stars and stripes for a night of fun on Saturday at Red, White and Brew Bar Crawl . Access four bars around Detroit and take advantage of the themed drinks, live music, food specials and camaraderie with thousands of other bar crawlers. Photographers and videographers will be at the bars to capture the action. Say cheese! 📸 Remember, it’s not cool to drink and drive, so plan accordingly. 21+ (of course). $20.

☀️ Party for the Fourth of July (and still get to bed early) at Sandbox Outdoor Bar and Lounge for #DaycationSaturdays . This downtown bash will feature beats from DJ Kid McFly and DJ Don’t Trip , along with some snazzy happy hour deals to get the biggest bang for your buck. 21+ $5.

🎵 Chill out to jazzy tunes on Saturday at a weekend bash at Aretha’s Jazz Café . Dr. V. Shawn and the Jazz Ensemble will perform a set while you enjoy food, drinks and the ambiance of it all. To jazz, not to jazz, there’s no question! $15.

This weekend

✨ Strut your way to the Avenue of Fashion for this year’s Light Up Livernois , a street festival on Saturday encompassing fashion, art and design. Grab your besties for vibrant music, some good grub and fashionista vibes sure to be a summer highlight. Then, try your luck with several gift card and service giveaways from local businesses. Registration required. Free.

🖼️ View 2,000 archival photos from a historic neighborhood at Black Bottom Street View in Eastern Market starting Saturday. Visitors can view the panoramic exhibit, listen to oral histories and remember the neighborhood as it once stood. Detroit’s Black Bottom thrived in the ‘40s and ‘50s as a thriving predominately Black neighborhood before discriminatory initiatives led to its demolition . Free.

👗 Show off your “summertime fine” ‘fits for Sundresses & Sangrias Day Party at Level Two bar on Saturday. Mix and mingle with the Rho Sigma Detroit Alumnae Chapter for an afternoon of cool sangrias and lots of fun. $25+ in advance or $35 at the door.

🖌️ Shake your booty to some music while channeling your inner Picasso at TrapxCanvas at DoubleTree Suites (aka the Fort Shelby Hotel ) in downtown Detroit. Paint something new for your living room or your fridge (adults can hang their art there too, OK?) and dance along to trap classics and new music for a full cultural experience. We don’t know if art gets easier with booze, but let us know your verdict. 21+. $38.

Next week

🗣️ Connect with fellow residents on things you care about at Skip the Small Talk at The Congregation on Tuesday. Bring the homies (or come by yourself) and spend the evening answering “big talk” questions (hopefully) without the awkwardness. There will be ground rules in place to keep the event respectful and fun, and refreshments will be for sale — so you don’t have to chat famished! Registration required. $18.50.

🎤 🗳️ Join our newsroom partners at WDET for Smart Politics: An Election Discussion at The Rind in Berkley on Wednesday. News Director Jerome Vaughn and a panel of journalists from across the state will discuss the effect Michigan could have on the presidential election, and answer audience questions. Eating delicious food and chatting about politics: That’s our idea for a rad evening. Registration required. $5.

Detroit Fourth of July events: Unity Fest, Afrobeat parties and a jazz weekend bash · Outlier Media