This upcoming week is ripe with opportunities to unwind in the metro Detroit region, from swapping plants and gardening tips in the Arab American Museum’s heritage garden to letting loose with DanceAbility. There’s also yoga, a tour of the historic Elmwood Cemetery at dusk and more.

Upcoming events (July 30-Aug. 5)

What’s So Funny About Detroit

The Old Miami
July 30
$35 at the door

Join WDET for a night of laughter in the gorgeous backyard of The Old Miami. In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper hosts headliner Melanie Hearn, along with fellow comedians Zech, Heather Jowett, and Brett Mercer. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Al-Hadiqa Plant Swap

Arab American National Museum
July 31
Free

Swap plants and gardening tips with a group of green-thumbed community members at the Arab American National Museum’s Mymonie Elhage Jabara Heritage Garden. This plant swap, co-hosted with MetroSwaps, is open to all gardeners—no matter how green or experienced—and offers the chance to trade cuttings, seedlings, and stories. Join between 5-7 p.m.

Belle Isle Art Fair

Belle Isle
Aug. 1-2
Free with state parks pass

Returning for the eleventh year, it’s the Belle Isle Art Fair! This art fair set up by the famous Scott Fountain features dozens of artists and several craft stations for all to enjoy. Plus, a beer tent, an instrument garden, and an art dome made entirely of bottlecaps.

Elmwood Cemetery Twilight Tour

Elmwood Cemetery 
Aug. 1
Free

Detroit’s historic Elmwood Cemetery is open for a tour this Saturday, designed to show guests the sights at golden hour. The two hour walk will be mostly on pavement, but there are hills and uneven terrain. Guests may also want to take a closer peak at monuments by venturing into the grass as the fireflies emerge. The walk ends just after sunset, promising a breathtaking journey through the grounds. It’s free to attend, but register in advance to claim your spot.

DanceAbility

Robert C. Valade Park
Aug. 4
Free

DanceAbility creates supportive space to celebrate bodies and explore one’s relationship to disability. This workshop in the Shed at Valade Park starts at 11 a.m. with musician AnJelic, led by facilitator Cara Graninger. Dance freely in a creative space promoting connection and accessibility. DanceAbility offers online options over Zoom on Fridays, too.

Community Yoga with Citizen Yoga

Capitol Park
Aug. 5
Free

Take a deep breath and stretch with a certified instructor from Citizen Yoga in Downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park. All skill levels are welcome for this hour of community yoga starting at 6 p.m.

The Belle Isle Art Fair will celebrate 11 years this weekend. The two day festival will feature over a hundred juried artists from more than a dozen states.

Those with a state park pass get free entry.

Mark Loeb is the director of Integrity Shows and the ongoing producer of Belle Isle Art Fair.

Mady Chen is a featured artist of the Belle Isle Art Fair. She serves as the owner of Apple and Thistle Press and the organizer of We The People – A Resistance Art Exhibit.

 Both joined The Metro to discuss what the public should expect from the event and how the revolution can be found through linocut printing.

“If you reach out to other people, everyone is happy to come together, and then there’s so much more to it at that point,” Chen says.

WDET is supported by The Belle Isle Art Fair.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand. Never miss an episode – subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Looking to experience music and culture from around the world? Or maybe take in the sights and sounds of a Formula 1 car? This week’s Metro Events Guide has you covered with some of the best of what Metro Detroit has to offer this weekend. 

Upcoming events (July 15-19)

Concert of Colors 

Various locations
 July 15- July 19
Free

Concert of colors one of the longest-running and largest free global music festival in the country. Each summer, musicians from around the world come to Midtown for a community event showcasing music and culture from around the world. This event is free and family friendly. WDET is a proud partner of Concert of Colors.

Ann Arbor Art Fair 

Downtown Ann Arbor
July 16- July 18
Free

The Ann Arbor Art fair is a three day event featuring work from nearly 1,000 artists. Taking place in downtown Ann Arbor, the event features live music, family-friendly art activities, local food vendors, and more. This event is free to the public.  

2026 Detroit Lit Summer Writers’ Institute 

The LOVE Building
July 18- July 19
Free

The Summer Writers’ Institute offers workshops, resources, and professional growth opportunities for the Detroit literary community. Events in this year’s program include Finding Your Voice: A Non-Fiction Workshop, Landing a Book Deal: Navigating the Query Process, and more. All events are free with RSVP. 

Blake’s Lavender Festival

Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill | 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada MI 48005
July 17- July 19
$12-14

It’s lavender season and that means it’s time for Blakes’ Lavender Festival. Eventgoers will have the opportunity to pick their own lavender, enjoy lavender flavored food and drink and shop lavender inspired gifts from over 200 artisans. 

Red Bull Showrun Michigan

3 Parklane Blvd, Dearborn MI
July 18 | 1 p.m.
Free

Formula 1 comes to the streets of Dearborn with driving demonstrations showcasing the power of a F1 vehicle along with interactive racing experiences for the whole family to enjoy. This event is family friendly and free.

The Ann Arbor Art Fair will welcome nearly half a million visitors from July 16-18.

There will be a thousand juried artists from across Michigan and the entire country. They will display their work at three simultaneous nonprofit events:

• The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original
• The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair
• The Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair

A Youth Art Fair and Kids Collectors Club also emerges for grade school creatives.

Karen Bauer has been the executive director of the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair for 20 years, while Teesha Lieber is a Detroit marbling artist from Spontaneity Works. Both joined The Metro to talk more about this year’s festival.

Bauer says putting so many separate fairs together may seem like a lot, but experience is on their side. “These fairs have been working together since the early 60s, we are a well oiled machine at this point.”

Tune in to listen to the discussion with Bauer, Lieber to learn more about youth participation, and how art remains authentic during the digital age.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro