DDP Unveils Summer in the Parks Line-Up for Detroit's Recovery

As the state continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), with major support from Rocket Mortgage and DTE Beacon Park Foundation, is planning a full summer of fun and free activities for people of all ages. The DDP encourages people to enjoy the outdoors in Downtown Detroit’s parks and public spaces and to shop and eat at local retailers and restaurants.

“As more people return to work and are vaccinated for COVID-19, foot traffic is increasing and visitors will be enjoying our beautiful outdoor spaces,” said David Cowan, chief public space officer for the Downtown Detroit Partnership. “We want to create opportunities for Detroiters and beyond to explore Downtown and its dynamic cultural and entertainment scene in a way that is safe and comfortable. This summer’s events are certain to bring about a return to normalcy and drive business back to Downtown Detroit.”

The DDP reports Downtown Detroit has experienced a 174 percent increase in pedestrian traffic since April, as visitors begin to take advantage of Detroit’s outdoor venues and the newfound privileges that come with being vaccinated.

“At DTE, we understand the importance of free public spaces and events, which is why we created Beacon Park, to help play a role in uplifting our cities and our people,” said Lynette Dowler, VP of Public Affairs, DTE Energy. “We invite families from across Southeast Michigan and beyond to come downtown this summer to safely experience all Detroit has to offer. From free live music and art experiences at Beacon Park, to outdoor markets and fitness classes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while creating memories for years to come and supporting local businesses.”

Events and entertainment on tap for this summer include:

SUMMER IN THE PARKS

Social gathering safely in one of DDP’s award-winning and historically significant, landscaped

outdoor spaces is the perfect way to usher in summer. DDP’s six Downtown Detroit parks — Campus Martius Park, Beacon Park, Cadillac Square, Capitol Park, The Woodward Esplanade and Grand Circus Park — attract more than 3 million visitors annually through 1,000+ innovative cultural experiences, programs, events and activations. This summer’s action-packed lineup includes new and returning seasonal programming that reflects the diversity of Detroit’s neighborhoods and communities, featuring local talent and celebrates the spirit of the city.

There are plenty of dining options, from casual to fine dining and everything in between, including the award-winning Parc and Fountain Detroit at Campus Martius Park, Lumen at Beacon Park and many others to explore.

NOW OPEN FOR THE SEASON

Today marks the official season opening of The Beach at Campus Martius Park, the only urban beach in the region and an island oasis in the heart of Downtown Detroit. Visitors can sit back, sink their feet into the warm sand and relax in one of the many seating options, including colorful beach and lounge chairs, or have fun in the sun building sandcastles with the family. Umbrellas and palm trees in the park offer a resort-like feel and staycation vibes for those looking to stay cool on a hot, summer day.

To support food trucks owners and highlight some of Detroit's finest small business owners and entrepreneurs, the DDP is proud to welcome back its popular Downtown Street Eats program, now being offered at Cadillac Square and The Woodward Esplanade. This hotspot for locals, employees and tourists features a rotation of food trucks and a variety of cuisines to feed hungry visitors from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Guests can take their food to go or eat outdoors under shaded seating areas in the parks.

RETURNING FUN FAVORITES

Those longing for live musical performances won’t be disappointed. Live music returns to Campus Martius Park, sponsored by Truly. Every Friday from 4-9 p.m. June 4 through Sept. 10, the Friday Beach Party will feature a rotating lineup of the best local and regional bands performing beachside. Campus Martius Park also is the place to be Thursdays from noon-1 p.m. Beginning today, June 3, lunch-goers can enjoy Midday Music featuring musical acts from a variety of genres.

While taking in live, musical entertainment, beachgoers can grab food and beverages from the park’s favorite shipping container restaurant, The Fountain Detroit. The casual, open-air dining destination offers plenty of fresh bites, along with spiked frozen drinks, draft cocktails, wines, Michigan beers and non-alcoholic options. Plenty of seating options on its wood deck, such as picnic seating, high tops, lounges and more, make it the city’s coolest place to enjoy a piece of beachside paradise.

Back by popular demand, Movie Nights in the D returns, providing a fun way for families to enjoy their favorite films on a giant screen in an open-air environment. Every Saturday at 8 p.m., beginning July 10, movie lovers and families can enjoy an award-winning film at Campus Martius Park. This summer’s schedule, supported by McDonald’s and Samuel Adams, includes eight weeks of movies and features a showing of the 2021 Academy Award for Best Picture “Nomadland” and Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

Detroit’s parks offer plenty of fresh, outdoor air and greenspaces for Fitness + Energy workouts that build stamina, flexibility, burn calories and sculpt lean muscles, as well as challenge beginners and athletes alike. At Beacon Park, residents and visitors can participate in a variety of free classes, such as Fitness After Dark with Coach Kiwi on the last Thursday of each month starting May 27, Cardio Boxing with Pulse Fitness weekly on Sunday starting June 6, and City Glow Yoga with CTYHOP bi-weekly on Mondays starting June 7. At Cadillac Square, there’s Workout Wednesdays with First Responders 4 Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness classes on Thursdays and 2nd Saturdays with Black Health Movement. At Capitol Park and Grand Circus Park, DDP welcomes Citizen Yoga.

Detroit’s two, off-leash dog parks ­– Capitol Park and Grand Circus Park – offer a plethora of themed-events and costume parties for the city’s four-legged friends and their humans. Beach parties, ice cream socials and an annual dog prom are just some of the fun scheduled that allows owners to have a howling good time with their furry friends and to meet other pet people.

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. beginning June 4 at Cadillac Square, visitors can safely shop outdoors, support small business owners and entrepreneurs and grab takeaway foods at Market Fridays, a weekly pop-up market operated by the DDP and curated by Ask Jennyfer. Local farmers, food purveyors and other vendors bring a colorful array of fresh produce and unique goods, including handmade accessories, beauty products and more. Market Fridays shoppers can peruse the vendors or stock up on weekend groceries or gifts while waiting for their lunch order from Downtown Street Eats.

Visitors also have an opportunity to shop, dance, drink and eat and under the lights at the Night Market atBeacon Park. Starting June 5, from 6-11 p.m. Saturdays, attendees can shop local and support Detroit-based makers and entrepreneurs, while taking in live music from Detroit’s best bands and DJs. This summer’s lineup includes a variety of fantastic artists, including Alise King, Gasoline Gypsies and Thornetta Davis, Detroit's “Queen of the Blues,” whose performances are guaranteed to bring everyone on their feet. Visitors also can enjoy dinner and drinks at Lumen Detroit and from several food trucks. Vendors interested in participating in the Night Market at Beacon Park can apply here.

Beginning June 6, Sundays from 1-5 p.m. are Family Fun Days at Beacon Park sponsored by the DTE Beacon Park Foundation. Back by popular demand, Family Fun Days are a mix of free activities throughout the summer for all ages to enjoy, everything from music, arts and storytelling to fitness, crafts and stage performances.

New to Beacon Park is Mama Meet Ups with Detroit Mama Hub, held biweekly Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-noon beginning June 22. Mamas and their babes are invited to gather to make new friends, swap tips, ask questions and just converse with other understanding moms.

NEW PARTNERSHIPS BOLSTER DETROIT VENUES AND SMALL BUSINESS

The DDP is proud to partner with the Charles H. Wright Museum for its Juneteenth Jubilee Freedom Weekend that will focus on our community’s education, economic independence and engagement. On June 18, presented by CHASE Bank’s Advancing Black Pathways initiative, and in collaboration with the DDP, The Wright Museum will screen the film “Concrete Cowboy” starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. at Campus Martius Park. Festivities kick off at 7 a.m. and include an opening ceremony with remarks from President and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, followed by the pouring of libations to honor the spirits of the deceased.

On Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, All Things Detroit Weekend, created by Ask Jennyfer, will be held at Grand Circus Park. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors can attend a one-of-a-kind marketplace experience to support the best of Detroit’s small business owners and entrepreneurs. The family-owned men’s clothier Hot Sam’s, a popular fashion destination that has been committed to Detroit for decades, proudly celebrates its 10th Anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, Hot Sam’s and the DDP host Celebrating a Century of History on Saturday, July 10. The two-hour event hosted at Campus Martius Park will feature a fashion show and live music performed by one of Detroit’s hottest local bands. There also will be a market showcase taking place adjunct to the park on Monroe Street in conjunction with the celebration.

In partnership with the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, the recently announced Motor City Car Crawl is a new, free four-day walkable festival held Aug. 5-8, that will showcase new vehicles from metro Detroit area dealers throughout six Downtown Detroit parks: Beacon Park, Cadillac Square, Campus Martius, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park and Spirit Plaza. It will include local food trucks, beverage stations, family activities and live entertainment. The community also has an opportunity to attend a ticketed event on Saturday, Aug. 7, to raise money for several local charities that would have benefited from the charity preview of the North American International Auto Show had it been held in the city in 2020 and 2021.

More details and a full schedule of events are available at downtowndetroitparks.com.

NEW AMENITIES

Downtown Detroit Parks Website

A refreshed aesthetic and new features designed to improve ease of navigation and a mobile friendly, overall online visitor experience are now available at downtowndetroitparks.com. Multiple event calendar views also are now offered, and visitors can get a high-level overview of Campus Martius Park via a live streaming link.

Free, High-Speed Public Wi-Fi

Downtown Detroit Parks and public spaces now offer free, high-speed public Wi-Fi internet, sponsored and installed by Cronus Communications LLC, Detroit’s only headquartered internet provider in Michigan. Visitors and small business partners across the parks can access the network “Detroit Parks” on all devices, without a password, for educational purposes and resources, to seek employment, learn more about park wellness programs and other offerings, and maintain social connections and support.

SPONSORS

The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a privately funded non-profit organization that greatly benefits from the support of its lead sponsors The DTE Beacon Park Foundation and Rocket Mortgage, as well as the following additional sponsors: Absopure, Angry Orchard, Autoliv, Budweiser, Capital One, Compuware, Cronus Communications, Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, EY, Faygo, Gardner White, Honigman, Hydro Flask, KeyBank, McDonald’s, MGM Grand Detroit, Michigan.com, One Magnify, Samuel Adams, SEEN, Strategic Staffing Solutions, TCF Bank, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Truly Hard Seltzer, The Westin Book Cadillac and WXYZ Detroit.

About the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) strengthens and supports Downtown Detroit through strategic initiatives and programs. DDP convenes business, philanthropic and government partners to create a vibrant and resilient urban core for Detroit and the surrounding community. DDP is responsible for programming, managing and operating several of Downtown Detroit’s parks and public spaces. For more information, visit DowntownDetroit.org.

About Beacon Park

Beacon Park, located at Grand River and Cass Avenue, was developed by DTE Energy as both a programmed public space and a catalyst for growth in west central downtown. The park hosts hundreds of events annually, from live music and art installations to family fun days and fitness boot camps. Programming for the park is underwritten by the DTE Beacon Park Foundation. Visit DTEBeaconPark.com for a full list of events.