Guide To Labor Day Weekend Festivals & Events In Metro Detroit
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Step away from the Netflix! Metro Detroit has a long history of closing out the summer in style. With that in mind, here are just a few of the headlining events that the area has to offer this Labor Day weekend.
Arts, Beats & Eats
Now in its 19th year, Arts, Beats & Eats has celebrated many successes — including attracting large crowds, earning top rankings for its juried fine arts show, securing top national entertainment, and providing unique interactive programs for the family over four days.
The festival in Downtown Royal Oak has something to offer to everyone, in a child-friendly, safe environment. On Friday the festival is free to enter until 5 p.m., after 5 p.m. the price is $5. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, admission is $3 before 3 p.m. and $5 after 3 p.m.
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This year's musical acts include Jett & The Blackhearts, Gavin DeGraw, Our Lady Peace and country crooner Cole Swindell among other national and local musicians scheduled to perform during four-day festival.
On the eats front, attendees can fill up on goodies from Woodpile BBQ, La Dulce, Treat Dreams, Café Muse, Bigalora, bd's Mongolian Grill and Soaring Eagle Soaring Cuisine Machine and more.
Detroit Jazz Festival
It's the largest FREE jazz festival in the world.
Now in its 37th year, the event boasts around 60 national and local acts in Downtown Detroit , with four stages at Hart Plaza and the Campus Martius and Cadillac Square.
The four-day festival also offers educational activities for adults and children, fireworks, late-night performances, rare opportunities to meet the artists and much more.
This year's lineup includes a Homecoming Series with Detroit natives, exciting new artists, legends and student groups all connected around special custom programming and unique musical experiences that can't be seen anywhere else in the world.
Michigan Peach Festival
The Michigan Peach Festival of Romeo is the second oldest festival in the state, beginning in 1931. Every Labor Day weekend, Romeo hosts many events based around its prized crop, the peach. Events include parades, carnival rides, craft shows, live music, and much more. It's fun for the whole family, Friday through Monday. (ps: There's a beer pavilion).
Michigan State Fair
The original Michigan State Fair was one of the state's most venerable traditions and public sector events, since 1905 — but in recent years it had struggled financially and was eventually discontinued.
Billed as "Michigan's number one family event," the five-day event is now being produced as a private sector event at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, featuring live music, a farmers market, home arts, livestock, midway rides, a circus, a beer garden, competitions and more in the beloved traditions of our grand old State Fair.
Hamtramck Labor Day Festival
For the past three decades, Hamtramck has celebrated Labor Day weekend with a festival on the Main Street of Joseph Campau. This year's celebration features yacht races down Jos. Campau, the Golab-K 5K run and an assortment of crowd-pleasing events for kids and adults of all ages.
As always, there will be plenty of music, food and fun. With two separate stages, booths from a number of restaurants and a full line-up of carnival rides, there's never a dull moment at the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival — Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Michigan Renaissance Festival
Go back in time at the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly. Since 1979 this event has given visitors a chance to relive the glory days of the 16th century. From the food (perhaps a giant turkey leg or steak on a stick) to armored jousting, live entertainment and shopping, there is a little bit of fun to be had by all. Open rain or shine every Saturday and Sunday and Labor Day through Oct. 2.
General admission is $19.95 for adults, $11.50 for kids 5-12 and $10 for dogs (yes, dogs).
Detroit Labor Day Parade
Celebrate in the true spirit of the holiday with sisters and brothers from the Detroit Federation of Teachers, AFT Michigan and Detroit's organized labor family for the Labor Day Parade on Monday, Sept. 5. The parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. at Michigan Avenue and Trumbull in Downtown Detroit.
"Labor Day honors the American labor movement," says Ron Bieber, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO, "and the contributions that working people made to the prosperity, strength and well-being of our country."
This year's special guest is former President Bill Clinton.
Don't forget to check the traffic and weather before you go!
