Carnivals, tequila and a June Jubilee: 6 things to do in metro Detroit this weekend

Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·3 min read
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The NAACP this weekend is holding a series of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, where he gave an early version of his "I Have a Dream Speech."

A number of suburban communities, meanwhile, will be celebrating the start of summer with festivals, fireworks, garden tours, music, food, and more.

Here are six things to do across the region for the weekend of June 23.

NAACP June Jubilee

A statue unveiling, march and the NAACP's annual Freedom Fund dinner are part of this weekend's June Jubilee:

  • Unveiling of a statue of King: 10 a.m. Friday, June 23, Hart Plaza

  • 60th Commemorative Freedom Walk and Rally: The roughly 1.7-mile walk will begin 10 a.m at Woodward Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, followed by a noon rally at Hart Plaza. Saturday, June 24. Register at bit.ly/CommemorativeFreedomWalk.

  • 68th annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner: U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia will keynote the event. 5 p.m. Sunday, June 25, Huntington Place. Purchase tickets at bit.ly/FightforFreedomFundDinner.

American Polish Festival and Craft Show

This festival hosted by the American Polish Century Club will feature live music, dancing, the 9th annual “Srodek’s Pierogi Eating Challenge,” food, a Polish pub, beer tent and an outdoor craft show that will feature more than 50 crafters.

Polish dance groups will be performing throughout the weekend during the American Polish Festival.
Polish dance groups will be performing throughout the weekend during the American Polish Festival.

4-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday at The American Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane in Sterling Heights. Admission is $5; 17 and younger enter free.

Berkley Garden Walk

This third annual event has grown to 17 gardens as hosts share their creativity and love of gardening with the community. Gardens styles range from perennials, annuals, vegetables and unique plantings and designs.

The owner of this garden, part of the Berkley Garden Walk, calls it her "Little Slice of Heaven." There are stepping stone paths through the gardens and blooms come and go from February to November.
The owner of this garden, part of the Berkley Garden Walk, calls it her "Little Slice of Heaven." There are stepping stone paths through the gardens and blooms come and go from February to November.

A map of gardens will be available at Berkley Parks & Recreation, Berkley Public Library, City Hall, the Lunch Café and Garden Central.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday in the city of Berkley. Free.

Inaugural Detroit Taco and Tequila Fest

This outdoor tequila festival will feature more than 100 tequilas, food trucks, live music, vendors and more.

Proceeds for this event for ages 21 and older will benefit Friends of the River.

4-7 p.m. Saturday at Belle Isle Casino on Casino Way in Detroit. Tickets can be purchased at detroittacoandtequilafest.

Livonia Spree

This event in Livonia celebrates the anniversary of the city's founding with a week-long birthday party June 20-25. There will be a carnival, food, music, classic car show, 5K run, petting farm, pig races, duck races, clowns, costume characters, kids zone, fireworks and more.

2-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and noon-midnight Saturday and Sunday, Ford Field at the corner of Farmington and Lyndon in Livonia. Fireworks will close out the Livonia Spree around 10:15 p.m. Sunday. Free admission.

Trenton Summer Festival

This downriver summer celebration promises live music, food, a kids corner, beer tent, crafts and fireworks on Saturday around 10 p.m.

The Trenton Summer Festival with vendors, live music, food, a kids corner, beer tent, crafts, fireworks and more will take place in downtown Trenton this weekend.
The Trenton Summer Festival with vendors, live music, food, a kids corner, beer tent, crafts, fireworks and more will take place in downtown Trenton this weekend.

10 a.m.-noon Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday along Jefferson in downtown Trenton. Free admission.

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: Carnivals, tequila and a June Jubilee: 6 things to do in metro Detroit