Hello, hello, hello!
I’m back from my little trip to New England. I had a really good time, and I loved exploring so many different places in Maine and Massachusetts. But, I’m so glad to be home now.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way. Let’s look forward to this weekend.
It is pretty darn busy if I do say so myself. It seems like every event on City 5 this weekend is some sort of festival, which is kind of neat.
Oh, also I just want to say that these are all of the things you could do if you don’t really want to go to the Woodward Dream Cruise. Or as I like to call it getting stuck in traffic while people look at cars.
Charivari
I of course have to put Charivari in this week’s round up. This electronic music festival is one of Jer’s favorites in the city.
The three day music festival will be held at West Riverfront Park along West Jefferson. It will feature variety of House, Deep House, Soulful House and then some other artists in nearby musical neighborhoods. So if you love electronic music and want an intimate experience Charivari is the festival for you.
Also, Charivari is free to attend. Remember when Movement use to be called DEMF and it was free to attend? I do. I know the exact place when I found the beat and got what electronic music was all about. It was an after party at Foran’s by the way.
Charivari will take place on Friday from 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
West Riverfront Park is located at 1801 W. Jefferson Detroit, Michigan 48216
BoxFest at Planet Ant
If you are looking for a bit of theatre then Boxfest at Planet Ant has your name all over it.
Planet Ant Theatre will be hosting the 2018 BoxFest Detroit festival over the next two weekends.
BoxFest Detroit is actually a non-profit that gives female-identifying directors a chance to showcase and create original shows at Planet Ant. At the end of BoxFest the audience votes are tallied and the winning director will have a chance to direct a show as part of Planet Ant’s Late Night Series.
You can find the schedule for BoxFest Detroit here.
Tickets are $10 for day passes, and there are a limited amount of festival passes for $30. Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash or credit card.
BoxFest Detroit will take place on Fridays evenings and Saturday afternoons and evenings August 17 through 25.
Planet Ant Theatre is located at 2357 Caniff Hamtramck, Michigan 48212
Motor City Muscle Festival
This is the newest festival to hit downtown Detroit and it features over 100 rock acts plus over 250 muscle cars in Hart Plaza. This is the perfect weekend to hold this event, since it is also the Woodward Dream Cruise.
Each time I look at this line up I get excited; Sponge, Dead Kennedys, Reverend Horton Heat, Belinda Carlisle, and Death.
Not to mention Wayne Kramer of the MC5 will be having a conversation with Don Was about his book. If you stay a bit later you will also get a chance to see Michael Zadoorian speak about his book Beautiful Music.
The three day line up can be found here. There is something for everyone on this line up.
All and all this festival sounds like a great time. It is also free to attend, but if you can spring for VIP tickets if you feel like it.
The festival takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Hart Plaza is located at 2 E. Jefferson Detroit, Michigan 48226
COMPAS: Classical Nights at Clark Park
This weekend Clark Park will be filled with live music, dance and art thanks to the Center of Music & Performing Arts Southwest (COMPAS). The organization will be putting on a three day festival called Classical Nights.
COMPAS is an organization that provides performing arts training and cultural experiences to young people in the community.
Throughout the three day festival there will be performances by Sean Blackman, Motor City Street Dance Academy, Detroit Chevere, and CutTime Simfonica. Musicians from COMPAS will also be performing with the professional musicians throughout the weekend.
Artist Chris Pix will be creating a new painting during the event as well.
Because this is a festival, there will be plenty of food trucks to purchase food from.
You can find the schedule of performances here.
The event is free to attend, and is very family friendly.
It will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Clark Park is located on Vernor Highway and Clark Avenue in Southwest Detroit
Michigan Comic Con
Our final three day event is the Michigan Comic Con at Cobo Hall.
If you are a fan of comic books and other pop culture then you should head over to Cobo Hall.
There will be a ton of celebrity guests this weekend like Lea Thompson from Back to the Future, Cary Elwes from Princess Bride, and Paige O’Hara the voice of Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
There will also be a ton of panels and vendors in the exhibition all. Be sure to stop by and say hello to the guys at Podcast Detroit. They will be there for the whole weekend.
This is a family friendly Con, so feel free to bring your kids along.
Tickets for Michigan Comic Con are $30 for Friday and Sunday and $40 for Saturday. You can get a three day pass for $60. Kids are free.
Just a note, be sure to bring some cash. The celebrity meet and greets do cost money and it’s cash only.
The Michigan Comic Con takes place on Friday from 12:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m., and Sunday from 10:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Cobo Hall is located at 1 Washington Boulevard Detroit, Michigan 48226