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Woodward Dream Cruise celebrates 30 years this weekend: Your guide to parking, events

✇WDET 101.9 FM
Emma George-Griffin

What started as a fundraiser for a soccer field in Ferndale is now a 30-year-long tradition. 

The Woodward Dream Cruise, a 16-mile joy ride that starts in Ferndale and ends in Pontiac, is known for its unique display of unique, vintage cars that travel up and down Woodward Avenue, historic and modern alike — but all cars are welcome to join the drive on Saturday, Aug, 16.

The Dream Cruise has several stops along its route, from car shows to live music, where drivers and spectators can show off their rides and explore different community events from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Dream Cruise. 

What is the Woodward Dream Cruise? 

The Dream Cruise started in 1995 to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale. That year, 250,000 people showed up. Now, more than 1 million people come to watch the sea of cars travel down Woodward Avenue. 

Michael Lary says the event is so special because of the powerful stories that each car owner has to tell and the artistry that they get to show off. 

“There’s a lot of imagination that’s out there that you don’t get to see on a regular basis, and during the Dream Cruise, you get to appreciate it,” Lary said. 

When is the Woodward Dream Cruise 2025? 

The 2025 Woodward Dream Cruise is officially Saturday, August 16. But a number of metro Detroit communities will host events throughout the day on both Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16. 

Where is the Woodward Dream Cruise? 

The Dream Cruise takes place along Woodward Avenue (M-1), primarily from Pontiac to Ferndale, with events and displays taking place all throughout the route. 

Woodward Dream Cruise parking 

Birmingham 

According to the Dream Cruise website, all events in Birmingham are within walking distance of all downtown parking decks. 

  • Peabody parking structure at 222 Peabody St. 
  • Chester Parking Structure 180 Chester St. 
  • Chester Parking Structure 180 Chester St. 
  • Pierce Parking Structure 333 Pierce St. 
  • N. Old Woodward Parking Structure 333 N. Old Woodward Ave. 

Ferndale 

According to the Dream Cruise website, all downtown parking lots will be available in Ferndale. Here are some closest to the action. 

  • 221 W. Troy St. 
  • 141 E. 9 Mile Rd. 
  • 141 Vester Ave. 
  • 156 Breckenridge St. 

Pontiac 

Downtown Pontiac has plenty of garages and lots. Here are some closest to Woodward Avenue. 

  • 10 Water St. 
  • 34 W. Lawrence St. 
  • 59 N. Saginaw St. 

Royal Oak 

  • South Lafayette Parking at 514 S. Lafayette Ave. 
  • Sixth St Parking Lot at 150 W. 6th St. 
  • Lafayette Avenue Parking Structure at 290 S Lafayette Ave. 
  • Lot 7 at 163 W 6th St. 

Check out the Woodward Dream Cruise Parking Facebook page for additional parking information. 

 

Woodward Dream Cruise
A long-lived tradition, cars line the street and drive in the parade at Woodward Dream Cruise 2007. Photo by Stephen K. Donnelly

What to do at the Woodward Dream Cruise

Berkley 

Friday, Aug. 15 

  • Cruisefest Classic Car Parade 6:30-7:30 pm

  • Concert, Movie, Other activities from 7:30-11 p.m. 
  • Merch tent open all day, west 12 Mile Road at Woodward Avenue

    More info on activities and parade route 

      Birmingham 

      Saturday, Aug. 16 

      • Birmingham Cruise Event 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at South Old Woodward Avenue from Maple Road to Lincoln Street. These streets will be closed for the event that day. 

      • If you’re looking for a place to stay in Birmingham, check out their Hotel Guide. 

      Ferndale 

      Friday, Aug. 15 

      • Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show from 1-7 p.m. 

      • Curry Motorsports Formula 1 and various muscle cars event 1-8 p.m. 

      • Official ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate 30 years of the Woodward Dream Cruise happens at 5 p.m. 

      • Directly following is the lights and sirens cruise parade at 5:30 p.m. 

      • After that, meet R&B and Motown star, Martha Reeves 

      • The kids’ play zone will be open all day 

      • Get your 30th anniversary Dream Cruise merch at the merch tent — open all day 

      Saturday, Aug. 16 

      • “Mustang Alley” car show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

      • “Bronco Corral” car show from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. 

      • Live entertainment, Kid Zone and merchandise tent will be open all day. 

      Royal Oak 

      Friday, Aug. 15 

      • Performance Park Classic Car Show from noon to 7 p.m. 

      • Merchandise tent will be open all day 

      Saturday, Aug. 16 

      • Performance Park Classic Car Show from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

      • Merchandise tent will be open all day 

      Pleasant Ridge 

      Saturday, Aug. 16 

      • Merchandise tent available at Woodward and Oakland Park Boulevard 

      Pontiac 

      Saturday, Aug. 16 

      A block party on North Saginaw St. will have live music and entertainment at these locations: 

      • Flagstar Strand Theater Marquee at 12 North Saginaw St. from 2-6 p.m. 

      • Hidden River Park at 11 North Saginaw St. from 6-10:30 p.m. 

      • Kegger Burger at 7 North Saginaw St. suite 1B from 6-11 p.m. 

      • Sunsent Island at 7 North Saginaw St. suite 2B from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

      • El Piqasso Art Cafe and Gallery at 46 North Saginaw St. from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

      • Charlene’s Theater Bar at 18 North Saginaw St. from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

      How to get around via SMART bus 

      SMART is offering free rides all around on Saturday, Aug, 16, from Ferndale to Pontiac from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

      Hop on at the SMART bus at any RED SMART or FAST bus stop along Woodward Avenue. 

      How to stream the Dream Cruise 

      If you can’t make it in person, but still want to be a part of the fun, turn on WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) to see the live broadcast of the event. The Woodward Dream Cruise Special airs on WXYZ at 7 p.m. 

       

      This story was co-posted with the Detroit Free Press

       

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      The post Woodward Dream Cruise celebrates 30 years this weekend: Your guide to parking, events appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

      Canoemobile brings ‘floating classroom’ to Michigan’s waterways

      ✇WDET 101.9 FM
      Emma George-Griffin
      More than 400 students got the opportunity to board a “floating classroom” at Lake Erie Metropark in May as part of an outdoor field-trip experience known as the “Canoemobile.”
       
      The program aims to educate kids about the outdoors, local habitats, wildlife, invasive species and more while they navigate waterways on 24-foot-long canoes. 
       
      Wilderness Inquiry is a Minnesota-based company that brings the program to schools around the country. The Canoemobile spent five days in the metro Detroit Area, with students from six different schools participating.
      More than 400 students participated in Wilderness Inquiry's "Canoemobile" program this spring.
      More than 400 students participated in Wilderness Inquiry’s “Canoemobile” program this spring.
       
      At the start of the field trip, half of the students put on life jackets, grab paddles and board canoes. The other half make their way to the grass to sit, run and play as they learn more about what they may see — both in and out of the water.
       
      When they’re on the water, the kids paddle as a team, navigating the river with the help of a “captain.”
       
      Scout Trom, a captain with Wilderness Inquiry, says learning on the water provides more opportunities for students to get curious. 
       
      “They’re asking questions about the things we’re seeing, the animals we see, the birds we see, ‘what’s a marsh? What’s different than Lake Erie versus the marsh we’re in?’ And we get to talk about all of that while we’re seeing it,” Trom said. 
      “It provides a space for people to feel included in the outdoors and provides the knowledge and the message that everyone belongs, deserves and should have a space in the outdoors — no matter your age, ability, background or identity.”
       
      – Scout Trom, Wilderness Inquiry captain
       
      She says she hopes the field trip leaves the students with more than just random facts. The goal of the program is to give the kids lasting knowledge of how nature works and how humans can interact with it, she said.
       
      “It provides a space for people to feel included in the outdoors and provides the knowledge and the message that everyone belongs, deserves and should have a space in the outdoors — no matter your age, ability, background or identity,” Trom said. 
       
      Friends of the Detroit River was the local partner for the project. McKenzi Waliczek, the group’s stewardship director, emphasized the importance of making early connections with nature. 
       
      “Oftentimes, just making that connection of, ‘hey, this resource is here, and it needs someone like you to care about it,’ is ultimately the ground floor of what we do and everything else just builds off of that,” Waliczek said.
      After spending the day outside, the kids packed their bags, boarded buses and headed back to school. 
      After spending the day outside, the kids packed their bags, boarded buses and headed back to school. (Photo courtesy of Friends of the Detroit River)
      The goal of the "Canoemobile" program is to teach kids about local waterways and habitats.
      The goal of the "Canoemobile" program is to teach kids about local waterways and habitats. (Photo by Emma George-Griffin, WDET)
      Students also had an opportunity to explore and learn on land at designated activity stations.
      But getting kids to connect with nature isn’t always easy, Trom said. A lot of the students haven’t been to public parks and most of them have never been on the water.
       
      She says some kids hesitate before they board the canoes, while others jump right in.
       
      “To see that mix of emotions come out and so very common, a group comes back, and you see everyone with a unified feeling, that in itself, is enough to bring me back to this program, year after year,” she said. 
       
      After the kids dock the canoes, they get an opportunity to explore and learn on land.  Three activity stations were set up to teach the kids about local animals, invasive species and habitats. 
       
      “We kind of laugh because with the Animal Planet, you know, kids know more about South American animals than they do about what’s in their own backyard,” said Kevin Arnold, a supervisor for Huron-Clinton MetroParks — another partner of Canoemobile.
       
      After spending the day outside, the kids packed their bags, boarded buses and headed back to school. 
       
      The Canoemobile will be back in metro Detroit for another five days in September, but this time they’ll be on Belle Isle.
       
      Willy Tully, external relations director for Wilderness Inquiry, says this is the second time the program visited the area twice in one year, but it’s the first time the program will stay for a total of 10 days. 
       
      He also says that the program has been able to visit more often because of funding from the U.S. Forest Service. But they continue to raise money through local organizations to make sure they can keep coming back and to keep kids connected with nature.
       
      Visit wildernessinquiry.org to learn more about the program.

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      The post Canoemobile brings ‘floating classroom’ to Michigan’s waterways appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

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