Art fairs, an aquarium party and a vegan fest: 10 things to do in metro Detroit this weekend

Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press
·4 min read

A number of outdoor art festivals are planned all over metro Detroit this weekend, along with a major music festival, an aquarium celebration and theater performances of both classic and original pieces.

Here are a few ideas for you and your family to consider for the weekend of July 22.

The Ann Arbor Art Fair, which runs July 21-23, spans nearly 30 city blocks.
The Ann Arbor Art Fair, which runs July 21-23, spans nearly 30 city blocks.

Ann Arbor Art Fair

The largest juried art fair in the nation will transform downtown Ann Arbor into an outdoor gallery that will span nearly 30 blocks. This three-day event will have international art exhibits, a local business showcase, nearly 1,000 artists and live music. The art fair is comprised of three independently juried, nonprofit art fairs that run consecutively, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the original; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and the Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair.

Local musical talent will perform on three stages and interactive activities including Mr. B and his Boogie Woogie Piano and Chalk the Walk with David Zinn will add to the artsy atmosphere.

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday

A busy Hastings Avenue in Paradise Valley, near Black Bottom in 1942. Hastings was once filled with Black-owned businesses until I 375 was built in the late 1950s and 1960s.
A busy Hastings Avenue in Paradise Valley, near Black Bottom in 1942. Hastings was once filled with Black-owned businesses until I 375 was built in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Hastings Street

Plowshares Theatre Company, a professional African American Theatre, presents the premiere of an original jazz musical about Detroit’s Black Bottom community, where thousands of African American residents and business owners were displaced to build what is known today as I-375.

7:30 p.m. July 21-31 at The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison Ave. in Detroit. Tickets start at $29.

Pontiac Arts Crawl

This third annual event will feature more than 40 artists, 30 entertainers and more than 35 vendors and food trucks as the community celebrate arts and culture with local art, live painting, music and more.

3-10 p.m. Friday, downtown Pontiac.

Christine Labaza and photos from her underwater photography will be at the Stony Creek Metropark Art Fair.
Christine Labaza and photos from her underwater photography will be at the Stony Creek Metropark Art Fair.

Stony Creek Metropark Art Fair

This art fair returns to a natural lakeside setting with more than 80 artists showcasing works loosely themed “Flora and Fauna” in keeping with the natural setting.

Paintings, prints, sculptures and pieces for home and garden including ceramics, glass and wearable art like jewelry, fiber and accessories will be on display. There will be food trucks, music and interactive art activities from the Anton Art Center.

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Stony Creek Metropark, 4300 Main Park Drive at Baypoint Beach in Shelby Township. Free admission and parking. A daily or annual Metropark pass is required to enter the park.

Art In the Garden Exhibition

Nine Detroit women will exhibit and sell their artwork at this community event on three vacant lots that’s been transformed into a garden named Griffin Gardens.

4-8 p.m. Saturday July 23 at 19400 Bentler in Detroit. Free.

Community Fun Day @ Belle Isle Aquarium

The Belle Isle Conservancy and Detroit Parks Coalition will host a day of activities, art, music, dance, storytelling, food trucks and more.

Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Belle Isle Aquarium, 900 Inselruhe, Belle Isle State Park in Detroit.

Photo from Michigan Shakespeare Festival.
Photo from Michigan Shakespeare Festival.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival

For the first in time in its 27-year history, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival will be performing its entire run at The Village Theatre of Cherry Hill, 50400 Cherry Hill in Canton.

The three main stage shows will be ‘Henry V,’ featuring Ann Arbor native and festival favorite Sam Hubbard as the king, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor,’ directed by the award-winning Robert Kauzlaric, and ‘Charley’s Aunt’ by Brandon Thomas featuring Edmund Alyn Jones.

The festival began Tuesday and runs through Aug. 21. Ticket information at cantonvillagetheater.org.

Paint Out – Maybury Farm, Image Courtesy of Northville Art House & Robert Perrish
Paint Out – Maybury Farm, Image Courtesy of Northville Art House & Robert Perrish

Plein Air Paint Out & Exhibition

Watch artists paint outdoors at scenic locations in Northville.

6 a.m. to10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Details at northvillearthouse.org/exhibitions/plein-air/. The works created this weekend will then be open for viewing and purchases July 30-Aug. 20 at the Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady in Northville.

30th Annual Concert of Colors

This celebration of global music, food and film, also offering children’s activities and conversations on culture and race, began last weekend and continues through Monday in Midtown Detroit on the lawn of the Detroit Institute of Arts and surrounding streets.

Details at concertofcolors.com. Free admission.

Related: Concert of Colors live again in Detroit: Fest to include Iggy Pop tribute, Ukraine band

3rd Annual Vegan Fest

Vendors will offer food, products and information on a plant-based diets and lifestyles. There'll be tastings, demonstrations and live music.

Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Detroit Abloom, 248 Manistique St. in Detroit.

Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 10 things to do in metro Detroit: Art fairs, aquarium and vegan fest