Sunflowers, riverfront jazz and block parties: 5 things to do in metro Detroit this weekend

Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read

The first weekend of August brings more outdoor opportunities to explore local music, art, agriculture, community service efforts and other family-friendly adventures.

Here are a few fun ideas for the weekend of Aug.5.

George Benson will perform at the Jazz on the River.
George Benson will perform at the Jazz on the River.

Jazz on the River

Celebrating its 25th year, this free jazz music festival returns with a lineup of musicians known for jazz, R&B and soul, headlined by George Benson and Stephanie Mills.

Additional artists will include Alexander Zonjic, James Lloyd, Randy Scott, Justin “Lee” Schultz, Dee Brown and more on Saturday and Sunday.

The first performance begin at 1:30 p.m. and the last performance at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabeth Park, 4461 Elizabeth Drive in Trenton. The park opens to the public at 10 a.m. and will close after the final performance. $5 cash parking fee.

Faygo soft drinks will be plentiful at the Buy Michigan Now Festival.
Faygo soft drinks will be plentiful at the Buy Michigan Now Festival.

Buy Michigan Now Festival

Nearly 90 Michigan-based businesses will offer food, entertainment, kids’ activities and shopping opportunities on Main and Center streets in downtown Northville.

4 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission.

More than 100 exhibitors are expected at the Belle Isle Art Fair.
More than 100 exhibitors are expected at the Belle Isle Art Fair.

Belle Isle Art Fair

This juried art show will feature 100 local, regional and national painters, jewelers and artists at Belle Isle in Detroit around the James Scott Memorial Fountain.

The fair will also include the Mint Artists Guild with young emerging artists; Hannan House sponsoring a Heritage Tent with senior artists; Anton Art Center family art activities, music, food trucks and more.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission with state park pass.

Members of the Stoepel Cutis-7 Mile Block Club partner with ARISE Detroit! to help maintain their community garden in Detroit on Oct. 20, 2021. ARISE Detroit! partners with more than 400 community organizations across Detroit like the Stoepel Curtis-7 Mile Block Club. The garden was started after four homes burned down when a transformer caught fire, setting the homes ablaze. The community wanted people to stop using the lot for dumping grounds and started a community garden.

Arise Detroit Neighborhood’s Day

This 16th annual community service event throughout Detroit brings together more than 100 block clubs, community groups, churches and volunteers to improve, beautify and support neighborhoods.

A plethora of Saturday events includes block parties, cleanups, back to school giveaways, garden tours, clothing and food distribution, health fairs, picnics, activities for children, music and art displays.

A full schedule of events can be viewed at arisedetroit.org.

The sunflower crop in at Spicer Orchards in Fenton, Michigan on August 21, 2020. This year the sunflowers haven't grown as tall as usual and there aren't as many due to the lack of rain this summer. The orchard and cider mill has been adapting how it runs and operates to make sure people stay social distanced and wear masks.
The sunflower crop in at Spicer Orchards in Fenton, Michigan on August 21, 2020. This year the sunflowers haven't grown as tall as usual and there aren't as many due to the lack of rain this summer. The orchard and cider mill has been adapting how it runs and operates to make sure people stay social distanced and wear masks.

Sunflower Days

Enjoy access to a 5-acre sunflower field with wagon rides, photo opportunities, flower picking and 3 acres of playground and barnyard animals, plus a straw mountain and a tire mountain through Aug. 14.

Special events that require tickets purchased ahead of time for Sunflower Days include Team Challenge Night for players 21 and older, 6-9 p.m. Friday; Date Night special, 6-9 p.m. Friday; Sunset Sunflower Yoga, 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, and Butterflies & Blooms, the weekend of Aug. 13-14, when about 100 butterflies will be released at 2 p.m.

Westview Orchards & Winery is open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 65075 Van Dyke in Washington Township.

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: Sunflowers, jazz and block parties: 5 things to do in metro Detroit