It’s officially holiday season - Oktoberfest for grown-ups (yes...parents can still have fun!) and Halloween for the kids! In Michigan,…
Top Family-Friendly Events Happening In Detroit In 2022

There are so many exciting family events happening in Detroit all year long – mark your calendars and start making plans.
JANUARY
- January 14th – 16th: Fire & Ice Fest
- The Fire and Ice Fest is the weekend of January 14th and features some of your favorites from a renaissance fair – roaming characters, a LARP meet up, blacksmith demos and medieval music, mixed with some winter fun like an ice carving competition, a 7-foot ice tower that will incase a giant bonfire, and warm up with a techno dance party on Saturday night.
- Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Detroit’s museums open its doors to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. It’s also a great opportunity to plan an act of service for your family.
FEBRUARY
- February 18-20: Winter Blast Weekend
- New location, same fun – Winter Blast makes a return but this year it’s in downtown Royal Oak!
- Tuesday, February 25: Fat Tuesday (aka Paczki Day)
- Take a trip to Hamtramck and pick up a ‘giant donut’ at a traditional Polish bakery.
MARCH
- Tuesday, March 1: Fat Tuesday (aka Paczki Day)
- Take a trip to Hamtramck and pick up a ‘giant donut’ at a traditional Polish bakery.
- Sunday, March 13: Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade
- Don some green and get ready to party in Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood.
- Sunday, March 20: Marche du Nain Rouge
- Think of the Marche as Detroit’s little Mardi Gras. The neighborhood parade features human-powered floats, live music and symbols of Detroit’s unique communities.
APRIL
- Friday, April 8: Detroit Tigers Opening Day
- Get tickets to see the Tigers take on Kansas City for the 2020 season home opener (don’t forget to wear layers).
MAY
- May 15: Flower Day
- Flower Day takes place every year on the Sunday after Mother’s Day and growers offer a wide variety of flowers at a great value.
- May 28-30: MOVEMENT
- Electronic music is for everyone and the three-day festival is open to all ages.
JUNE
- June 3-5: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
- Watch fast cars take the pavement on Belle Isle at the annual racing event.
- Monday, June 27: Ford Fireworks
- Find a seat on the riverfront and watch the beautiful Ford Fireworks.
- Sunday, TBD: Log Cabin Day
- Get a rare look inside the historic 1800s Log Cabin at Palmer Park and enjoy an afternoon of free family fun.
JULY
- July 25-31: Rocket Mortgage Classic
- Watch the world’s best golfers take the green at the Detroit Golf Club.
- July 30 + 31: Mo Pop
- Detroit’s Coachella (that’s family friendly) featuring emerging and established indie-rock, pop, and hip-hop artists.
- TBD: Sidewalk Festival
- Detroit’s Coachella (that’s family friendly) featuring emerging and established indie-rock, pop, and hip-hop artists.
AUGUST
- August 6 & 7: Belle Isle Art Fair
- Find art, meet artists and make art at the Belle Isle Art Fair.
- TBD: Detroit Hydrofest
- Watch the world’s fastest automotive powered hydroplanes race on the Detroit River.
SEPTEMBER
- September 2-5: Detroit Jazz Festival
- Every Labor Day weekend, jazz legends in their prime and up-and-coming artists perform at location around downtown for FREE concerts.
- September 23-26: North American International Auto Show – NOW Motor Bella
- The Auto Show is now a fall event and it’ll be outside in Pontiac.
- TBD: DLECTRICITY
- The free festival will electrify Midtown Detroit’s Woodward Corridor + Beacon Park as artists light up buildings and and activate unexpected spaces using projected images, video, light, performance, sound and other artistic practices that engage technology.
OCTOBER
- October: Cider In The City
- Head to Beacon Park for a Big Biergarten Tent, fall food favorites, kids activities and games, and live entertainment
- October 15: Detroit Free Press Marathon
- Run a mile, marathon or the Kid’s Fun Run.
- TBD: Harvest Fest
- Harvest Fest is a FREE festival on the Detroit Riverfront with hayrides, pumpkin patches, trick or treating, inflatables, live music and more.
NOVEMBER
- TBD: Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Carols will be sung, the tree will be lit and the ice rink will open at Campus Martius as hundreds gather together to celebrate the holiday season.
- Thursday, November 24: America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Bundle up before turkey and watch the floats march down Woodward Avenue.
DECEMBER
- TBD: Noel Night
- Hundreds of venues in Midtown will open their doors for special events, performances, and hands-on activities.
- TBD: Menorah In The D
- Celebrate the Festival of Lights with the annual menorah lighting at Campus Martius.
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About Kerry Doman
Kerry Doman is the founder and CEO of LittleGuide Detroit and After 5 Detroit. She has lived downtown Detroit for 10+ years and still calls the city home with her husband and son. As a relatively new mom, she’s excited to explore downtown with her family and hopes you’ll enjoy doing the same!
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