A 2025 Detroit summer bucket list

Kayak down Detroit’s canals

For a more intimate view of the Detroit River, try kayaking or paddle-boarding. Here’s a fun way to do so: Neighboring businesses Detroit River Sports and Coriander Kitchen & Farm offer “Paddle-to-Table” tours of the Jefferson-Chalmers canals — a charming residential neighborhood dubbed the “Venice of Detroit” by some. The tours go for about an hour and a half and end with a delicious dinner at an acclaimed riverside restaurant.

Detroit River Sports and Coriander Kitchen & Farm; 14601 Riverside Blvd., Detroit; detroitriversports.com. Tickets are $180 per person and includes a tour, a four-course meal, beer and wine, and tip.

Catch a Detroit City FC game

Detroit’s pro soccer team has come a long way since it was founded by beer league friends in 2012, playing at Cass Tech before taking over Hamtramck’s Keyworth Stadium in 2016. Le Rouge recently purchased a sprawling property in Southwest Detroit, about 17 acres, with plans to expand mightily for the 2027 season. Until then, let’s enjoy the final games at Keyworth, where the rowdy Northern Guard fan club keeps the energy going with boisterous cheering and colorful smoke bombs.

Keyworth Stadium; 3201 Roosevelt St., Hamtramck; see detcityfc.com for full schedule.

Enjoy the better Belle Isle

Going a summer in Detroit without ever visiting Belle Isle is just unthinkable, and if you haven’t been in a while there are even more reasons to go this year. The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory recently emerged from a two-year, $10 million restoration that saw the installation of new window panes, the repair of steel trusses, updated exterior limestone panels, and a new concrete flooring and planter walls filled with colorful flora. In 2021, the nearby Belle Isle Aquarium reopened after $1.2 million in renovations, including the addition of aquatic creatures like garden eels, endangered Mexican axolotl salamanders, and an octopus dubbed Sir Ringo Woodward.

The Belle Isle Aquarium; 3 Inselruhe Dr., Detroit; belleisleconservancy.org; no cover. Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, 4 Inselruhe Dr., Detroit; belleisleconservancy.org; no cover.

Enjoy the city’s murals

Detroit’s streets are packed with stunning works of arts murals turn the city into an open-air gallery, with murals districts in the Eastern Market, Southwest Detroit, the North End, and the Dequindre Cut — a former railroad line turned into a scenic greenway. This year, the city announced the creation of nine “Art Alleys” across Detroit that will feature nearly 50 artists.

Cheer on the Detroit Tigers

The Tigers have been on a hot streak ever since the team snapped out of its decade-long postseason drought a year ago, and are enjoying one of the best starts in franchise history this season. As of Friday, the team had the best record in MLB and was the only team in baseball with at least 40 wins. The energy in the entire city changes when Detroit’s major sports teams are winning. For the past two seasons it was the long-suffering Detroit Lions, and at least for now it seems it’s the Tigers’ turn.

Comerica Park; 2100 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mlb.com/tigers.

Get wine and hear music at Motor City Wine

1949 Michigan Ave., Detroit; motorcitywine.com

Perhaps one of the most beloved patios in the city, MotorCity Wine offers more than just an extensive selection of red, white, and rosé wines. Its ample outdoor seating and cozy fire pits make it a perfect spot for summer evenings. Plus, the wine bar frequently hosts dining pop-ups and DJ entertainment, creating an intimate party atmosphere under the open sky.

Tour the river by boat

Here’s a fun way to learn about U.S.-Canadian history. This family-owned tour business offers sightseeing tours four days a week, Thursdays-Sundays, highlighting notable and historic attractions along the Detroit River.

1340 Atwater St., Detroit; diamondjack.com. Tickets are $25.

Cruise Woodward Avenue

For decades, this late-summer tradition of driving classic and unique cars down the Woodward corridor has garnered both fans and haters. If you fall into the latter camp, consider embracing the chaos this year: It’s the 30th anniversary of the Woodward Dream Cruise, which started as a fundraiser to build a soccer field in Ferndale and now lays claim to being the largest one-day automotive event in the U.S. Maybe we should just enjoy it while it lasts, because who knows — perhaps in the near future all vehicles will be electric and autonomous, and this event will seem like a strange dream. (And if it really just ain’t your thing, seek alternate routes!)

From 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16; along Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac; woodwarddreamcruise.com. No cover.

Walk the RiverWalk

Detroit’s ongoing transformation of its riverfront is flipping decades of industrial privatization into a public amenity, connecting key pieces of the city like never before. The RiverWalk now offers an scenic, uninterrupted 3.5-mile walk from the former Joe Louis Arena site to Belle Isle, with landscaped paths, fishing piers, gardens, bike lanes, and public art, and more parks on the way. While the larger plans unfold, every day is a good day to stroll, bike, fish, or simply linger along the completed stretch.

See detroitriverfront.org for more information.

Enjoy a concert at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre

Detroit’s riverside amphitheater is celebrating 40 years of concerts this summer. Formerly known as Chene Park, the venue was renamed in 2019 after Detroit’s late Queen of Soul and recent improvements saw the installation of LED screens, including some facing the Detroit River for the boaters that often anchor during summer nights. If you have access to a boat, taking in a concert that way at the Aretha might be one of the most Detroit experiences you could possibly have. Upcoming concerts include country singer Jamey Johnson on June 13, an “I Love The 80’s” show with A Flock of Seagulls and Bow Wow on June 21, and Kem on July 25, among others.

2600 E. Atwater St., Detroit; thearetha.com.

Ooh and aah at the Ford Fireworks

The annual Ford Fireworks is the unofficial start of the summer and one of the largest fireworks shows in the nation, with more than 10,000 pyrotechnic effects launched from three barges in the river — delighting both Detroiters and our Canadian friends across the border. Arrive early to find a good viewing spot, or find a rooftop party for a fun viewing experience, and be patient and courteous of others — the event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, so expect heavy traffic.

Hart Plaza; starts at 9:55 p.m. on Monday, June 23; no cover.

Go shopping at Eastern Market

Detroit’s historic market district, one of the oldest and largest in the country, is open year-round — but it really comes alive in the summertime. On Saturdays, the sheds buzz with vendors offering fresh produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, and locally made goods, as well as music and street performers. It’s a beautiful cross-section of the city.

2934 Russell St., Detroit; easternmarket.org.

Beat the heat at Detroit’s museums

When the summer heat gets unbearable, there are plenty of ways to cool off indoors. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit Detroit’s museum district: the Detroit Institute of Arts has Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion on exhibition (5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org), the Michigan Science Center recently reopened its popular Kids Town exhibit thanks to a generous anonymous donor (5020 John R St., Detroit; mi-sci.org), the Detroit Historical Museum has an exhibit on the Motor City’s understated comic book history (5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; detroithistorical.org), and the Motown Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary before it expands with a much larger campus (648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; motownmuseum.org).

Hike the Potawatomi Trail

This 40‑mile trail is a great taste of the outdoors for hiking or mountain biking. Located in the Pinckney Recreation Area, the trail is a 17.4-mile loop with a mix of terrain, winding through forests, lakes, and streams.

Pinckney Recreation Area; 8555 Silver Hill Rd., Pinckney; michigandnr.com. No cover.

Attend metro Detroit’s fun festivals

Festival season is upon us. In addition long-standing favorites like Detroit’s Concert of Colors global music festival (July 16-20; concertofcolors.com), new events this year include a Hart of Detroit Summer Festival in Hart Plaza with rappers Icewear Vezzo, Peezy, Babyface Ray, and Veeze (June 19) and AfroFuture (Aug. 16-17; afrofuture.com) with acts like Nigerian singer Asake, Canada’s Kaytranada, and Brazilian singer-songwriter Ludmilla, among others, to be held at the grounds of Detroit’s former Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.

Take a pedal pub tour of Detroit

Look, it’s hard to be too critical of these silly contraptions that have exploded in popularity in U.S. cities over the past decade or so. Ignore the hypocrisy of drinking alcohol while exercising, the goofy pop music they blast into the streets, or the awkwardness of sharing the roads with these slow-moving outdoor roving bars — because the people who go on them seem to be having a genuinely fun time. We’re not going to yuck anyone’s yum — just remember to tip your bartender generously.

Detroit Rolling Pub, 2208 Cass Ave., Detroit; detroitrollingpub.com; from $295. The Michigan Pedaler, 1460 Michigan Ave., Detroit michiganpedaler.com; from $300.

Take a road trip to Cedar Point

For many metro Detroiters, a road trip to this popular amusement park — considered one of the best in the U.S. — is a classic summertime vacation, and you can be there in around two hours. Opened in 1870, it’s the second-oldest park in the U.S. and its wild roller coasters include some record-breakers, like this year’s revamped Top Thrill 2, which now lays claim to being the world’s tallest.

1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, Ohio; cedarpoint.com. Tickets start at $49.99.

Watch a movie at the Ford Wyoming Drive-In

This beloved metro Detroit landmark has been lighting up the night sky with double features since 1950, offering a nostalgic, under-the-stars moviegoing experience paired with modern-day blockbusters. This is a perfect Motor City summer activity for a date night, family outing, or just a slice of summer. Tip: Bring lawn chairs and a battery-operated radio to serve as a speaker.

The Ford Wyoming Drive-In; 10400 Ford Rd., Dearborn; forddrivein.com. Tickets are $29.75 per vehicle with two or more occupants or $15 with a single occupant.

Celebrate Independence Day with the Salute to America

Here’s a fun way to celebrate Independence Day, steeped in U.S. history. A collaboration between The Henry Ford Museum and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the annual Salute to America takes guests back in time through our nation’s history with costumed performers in period attire, rides on a 1913 Herschell-Spillman carousel, vintage automobiles, and the climax — an orchestral performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with firing cannons and fireworks.

From 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2-Saturday, July 5 at Greenfield Village; 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; thehenryford.org.