Detroit summers are truly something special. Maybe it’s just because it’s so cold and gray here for much of the year, but it almost feels like a completely different city with the sun shining, people walking around, the warm humidity of the evening air, and the chirping song of insects at night. So without further delay, it’s time to seize the season. Consider these activities for your 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. Credit: Courtesy of Detroit River Sports
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. Credit: Courtesy photo
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. Credit: Shutterstock
Look at 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. Credit: Steve Neavling
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. Credit: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire
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. Credit: Lizz Wilkinson
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. Credit: Corey Seeman, Flickr Creative Commons
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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Monica Morgan/Getty Images
Get a taste of Detroit’s food trucks The Downtown Street Eats program is bringing more than 80 food trucks to the Campus Martius Park area this summer from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays. You can take your meal to Campus Martius and pretend you’re in a tropical getaway, where you’ll find an ersatz beach with imported sand, lounge chairs, a cocktail bar, and Cabana 313, a two-story lounge with 360-degree views of the city. Credit: Downtown Detroit Partnership
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. Credit: Shutterstock
Thou shalt visit Eastern Market. Summer means it’s farmers market season, and Detroit’s top farmers Market is Eastern Market, filled with produce, flowers, and various vendors weekly. On Saturdays, vendors sell everything from tacos to produce to flowers. On Sundays, the space is packed with local jewelers and artists. Surrounding walls and warehouses are adorned with murals and live music is played at nearby venues. This is one great place to take visitors who want to be immersed in Detroit’s culture. Credit: Shutterstock
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). Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Corey Seeman, Flickr Creative Commons
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. Credit: Doug Coombe
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. Credit: Courtesy of the Handlebar
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. Credit: Shutterstock
Thou shalt see an outdoor movie screening. For a classic date that has been a metro Detroit tradition since 1950, bring your boo to the Ford-Wyoming drive-in and cuddle up for a movie. Or, be on the lookout for free movie screenings at Campus Martius and other local parks. Credit: Josh Kesner/Flickr Creative Commons
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. Credit: Courtesy photo

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Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.