Tacos, fireworks and fashion: 5 things to do in metro Detroit this weekend
As the countdown to Independence Day begins, several communities in metro Detroit are gearing up to celebrate with activities that include firework shows, music, food and entertainment.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will supplement a fireworks display at Greenfield Village; Royal Oak will host a Taco Fest and an outdoor art fair; and local merchants will gather the Light up Livernois Fashion, Art, and Design Festival.
Here are five things to do across the region for the weekend of June 30.
Royal Oak Taco Fest
This five-day street festival will feature more than 50 taquerias, taco trucks and other eateries. There'll be margaritas, more than 100 music and entertainment acts performing on four stages, tequila samplings, artisan vendors and more.
Musical genres will range from rock, R&B, alternative, jazz and country.
Other entertainment will include Lucha Libre wrestling; daily contests will include a hot sauce challenge, timed taco-eating competition, and a pet costume contest.
Performances will also include fire eating, juggling acts, stunts involving a bed of nails, and knife balancing.
A Kids Zone sponsored by the Royal Oak DDA will include bounce houses, arts and crafts, face paintings, a magic show and a water-jet play area.
Fest hours are 4-11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Monday; and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday in downtown Royal Oak. Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at festival gates; children under 3 are free.
Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair
The 52nd annual art fair in partnership with the Royal Oak Arts Council and the City of Royal Oak Recreation Department will take place in a tree-lined park setting with entertainment, food and more than 100 artists specializing in fine art that includes ceramics, drawings, jewelry, wood, fiber, metals, paintings, photography and sculptures.
Saturday and Sunday at Royal Oak Memorial Park in Royal Oak. Free admission.
Salute to America
Stroll through Greenfield Village at this annual event presented by The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and The Henry Ford held in celebration of Independence Day featuring musical ensembles throughout the village, plus a grand stage performance by the DSO at dusk.
Ensemble performances will showcase a diverse assembly of music from American history, including choral singing, ragtime and jazz.
At 8:30 p.m., the DSO will perform, complete with Tchaikovsky’s stirring 1812 Overture, cannon fire and a fireworks finale.
There will also be food, craft beer, free carousal rides and a military fife and drum parade.
5-10 p.m. Friday-Monday at Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd. in Dearborn. Admission is $42 (12 and up); $37.75 for seniors (62 and up); and $31.50 for youth (5-11); children under the age of four are free. Members of The Henry Ford can purchase discounted tickets.
Light Up Livernois Fashion, Art and Design Festival
This festival is expected to showcase more than 300 merchants along Livernois Avenue (Avenue of Fashion) as makers, artists and designers from Detroit collaborate with local businesses.
Noon-10 p.m. Saturday along Livernois Ave., between 6 and 8 Mile Roads in Detroit. Free.
Independence Fest 2023
A local tradition to celebrate our nation’s birthday will take place in Clarkston with a day of kid’s activities, a marketplace, live entertainment, a classic car display, a military museum, a classic K-9 show, food, local crafters, live entertainment and fireworks.
Kids activities include inflatables, petting zoo, rock wall, spray park, face painting, mechanical surf board, wood carving and a playground.
11 a.m.-dusk Saturday at Clintonwood Park, 6000 Clarkston Road in Clarkston.
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: Royal Oak Taco Fest, Salute to America among things to do this weekend
