Get inside the cockpit of a military aircraft at the Yankee Air Museum: 5 things to do
Metro Detroit will be buzzing this weekend with a diverse array of both outdoor and indoor activities for everyone.
Marvel at ice carvings while indulging in a little retail therapy; snag an autographed first edition at an African American book expo; climb inside the cockpit of a vintage aircraft; gear up for Spring and find inspiration and resources at a home improvement show, and celebrate the LBGTQ+ community at a Winterfest.
Here are five things to do for the weekend of Feb. 16-18.
Winterfest - Detroit Shipping Company
The Detroit Shipping Company, a food hall and beer garden built with 21 refurbished shipping containers, will have its first Winterfest celebrating the LBGTQ+ community with activities that will include a friendship bracelet-making station, a DJ dance party, a hot cocoa bar, Drag show, photo ops, vendors and more. Bonfires will be placed in the outdoor beer garden, weather permitting.
A portion of ticket sale proceeds and donations will go to Affirmations, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ community center in Ferndale.
Noon-9 p.m. Saturday at 474 Peterboro St. in Detroit. Advance tickets are $25 and $30 at the door on the day of the event.
Winterfest at The Mall at Partridge Creek
This free winter event will include ice carvings, a DJ, fire and ice stilt walkers, arts and crafts, face painting, LED dancing robots, hot cocoa, treats, special discounts from many of Partridge Creek’s 80+ stores.
12-4 p.m. Saturday at The Mall at Partridge Creek, 17240 Hall Road in Clinton Township.
African American Family Book Expo & Read In
This 8th annual event hosted by Detroit Book City Bookstore will showcase more than 30 Black, independent authors of adult and children’s books and autographed copies can be purchased.
Authors and attendees are invited to take part in National African American Read-In and read an excerpt from a story, poem or song written by an iconic author reflecting any aspect of Black History, starting at 1 p.m. with poet/author One Single Rose as the opening act.
12:30-5 p.m. Saturday at the Historic People’s Community Church at 8601 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Admission is free. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Open Cockpit Days
Explore aviation history at The Yankee Air Museum, a Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science museum that has rare historical aircrafts ranging from World War I to the Gulf War. On Open Cockpit Day, some of the museum's static aircraft will be open for exploring inside.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Yankee Air Museum in Belleville. Admission to the museum is $13 for adults and $10 for children. Other Open Cockpit Days in 2024 are scheduled for May 19, Aug. 25 and Oct. 20.
Macomb Home Improvement Show
Meet with hundreds of home improvement professionals at this show that will also include local artisans.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Macomb Sports & Expo Center, 14500 E. 12 Mile Road in Warren. Free admission.
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.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Yankee Air Museum's Open Cockpit Day: 5 things to do in metro Detroit
