July gets hot, hot, hot in southeast Michigan, but that’s no reason to hide indoors in the air conditioning all summer. There are tons of outdoor July fairs and festivals in Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland counties for you and your family to enjoy.
From events that celebrate different cultures, like the American Polish Festival and the Saline Celtic Festival, to music-centered events, extensive county fairs, and educational fests, there’s something for every southeast Michigan family this July.
Check out this Metro Parent guide to all of the fairs and festivals in July, cake on the sunscreen, and hit up your fave for all kinds of family fun.
Looking for even more family fun activities? Check out the Metro Parent calendar for details on happenings throughout the year.
Clawson Fourth of July Festival
July 4, 2019
- Where: City Park, West Elmwood and Main Streets, Clawson
- Times: 10 a.m.
- Cost: Fees apply, check ahead
Celebrate the Fourth of July with this massive shebang with a fun run, games, rides, art on display and more. It all leads up to fireworks display at dusk.
Independence Fest
July 4, 2019
- Where: Clintonwood Park, 6000 Clarkston Road, Clarkston
- Times: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
- Cost: Fees apply
A parade themed to the kicks off this community tradition. A craft show, games, inflatables for kids and more follows the procession.
Michigan Rib Fest
July 4-7, 2019
- Where: Canterbury Village, 2359 Joslyn Court, Lake Orion
- Times: 3-11 p.m. Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: $3/general, free/kids under 12, fees/food and some activities
Find live musical performances, a Kidz Zone, monster truck rides, pig racing, adult beverages and tons of barbecue ribs.
Oakland County Fair
July 5-14, 2019
- Where: Oakland County Fairgrounds, Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg
- Times: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. daily (closes at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 14
- Cost: $12/car, $6/motorcycle or walk-ins, $18-$25/ride wristbands, $5-$10/grandstand shows
This annual hometown fair features games and rides; plus plenty of live entertainment including a rodeo, demolition derby, livestock contests, musical performances and more. Be sure to check out the Independence Day fireworks display, too!
Camaro Superfest
July 6-7, 2019
- Where: Riverside Park, East Cross and North Huron Streets, Ypsilanti
- Times: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: Free
If you go to Depot Town on Friday, you’ll get to tour Vanguard Motor Sales. Head out Saturday and Sunday to check out some driven and modified Camaros on display.
Metro Detroit Youth Day
July 10, 2019
- Where: Belle Isle Park, Detroit
- Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday
- Cost: Free
Kids ages 8-15 will enjoy a day full of free games, races and other contests; plus live entertainment, celebrity guests and more at this 36-year-old event.
Concert of Colors
July 10-18, 2019
- Where: various locales in midtown, Detroit.
- Times: Vary by date
- Cost: Free
Detroit is full of different ethnicities and cultures. Celebrate these different cultures with live music and dance performances at this 27-year-old fest. There’s ethnic food, shopping and crafts, too.
Saline Celtic Festival
July 12-13, 2019
- Where: Mill Pond Park, 565 W. Bennett St., Saline
- Times: 5:30-11:30 p.m. daily.
- Cost: Friday: $5/general, free/under 13, Saturday: $10-$15/adults, $5/ages 13-17, free/under 12
Enjoy live music and dancing throughout the park – and competitions for reels and jigs, wool spinning, sheep herding, lacemaking and jousting. There’s activities for wee-folks, too.
Plymouth Art in the Park
July 12-14, 2019
- Where: Downtown Plymouth area
- Times: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: Free
This annual Michigan favorite fills the downtown area with the work of some 400 artists from across the country. It offers food, music and family activities, too.
American Polish Festival & Craft Show
July 12-14, 2019
- Where: American Polish Century Club, 33204 Maple Lane Drive, Sterling Heights
- Times: 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: $5/admission, free/ages 17 and under, free/parking
This annual craft show and festival offers tons of one-of-a-kind items on display and for sale, homemade Polish and American eats, inflatables and other activities.
Festa Italiana
July 12-14, 2019
- Where: Freedom Hill County Park, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights
- Times: Vary by day
- Cost: Free/general, $10/parking
Enjoy family fun with an Italian flair including Italian food, live entertainment, kids’ activities, imported beer, contests, a Family Fun Zone, a Holy Mass and more.
Farmington Founders Festival
July 18-21, 2019
- Where: Shiawassee Park, Farmington
- Times: 5-11 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: Free/admission, additional fees may apply
Celebrate the city of Farmington with a fireworks display, live entertainment, outdoor movies, hot air balloons, monster truck rides and more.
The Ann Arbor Art Fairs
July 18-21, 2019
- Where: Downtown Ann Arbor
- Times: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: Free
This annual event packs four art fairs into one on the streets of downtown Ann Arbor. Pencil in a time to hit each fair because the Street Art Fair, Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, State Street Art Fair and South University Art Fair are all a little different from one another and are all really fun.
Michigan Elvisfest
July 19-20, 2019
- Where: Historic Depot Town, Ypsilanti
- Times: 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday (doors at 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday)
- Cost: $25/Friday, $45/Saturday, $60/two-day ticket free/kids 12 and under
This annual fest brings the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to life with live performances by some of the world’s best tribute artists; plus arts and crafts, face paintings, inflatables and more for those still growing into their sideburns.
PNC Roar on the River
July 19-21, 2019
- Where: Elizabeth Park, 202 Grosse Ile Parkway, Trenton
- Times: 5:30-11 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: Free/general, $30/Friday Tastefest, $5/parking donation
See fast boats, high-action Jet-Ski demonstrations, enjoy food and live music here. For kids, there are bouncy inflatables, games, face painting and more.
Pig & Whiskey
July 19-21, 2019
- Where: East Troy Street between The WAB and the Emory, Ferndale
- Times: 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday
- Cost: Free/admission, fees apply for food and drinks
Head to Ferndale to enjoy live music, delicious barbecue from local eateries, adult beverages and more.
Festival of Chariots (Rath Yatra)
July 21, 2019
- Where: Starts at Novi Civic Center, 45175 W. 10 Mile Road; ends at Fuerst Park at 10 Mile and Taft roads, Novi
- Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
This fest kicks off with a three-mile parade that ends with a grand celebration that showcases Indian culture with some 20 tents of food, shopping and henna; plus kids’ activities, music and more.
Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show
July 21-26, 2019
- Where: Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor
- Times: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
This event showcases the art projects and livestock that have been made and raised by local 4-H kids.
Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair
July 25-27, 2019
- Where: City Campus, 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights
- Times: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
- Cost: Free/admission, fees/rides
This annual fest mixes art with music, games and rides to make the perfect event for the whole family. Be sure to take your kiddos to the Kids Tent for some great age-appropriate fun.
Sounds & Sights Festival
July 25-27, 2019
- Where: Downtown Chelsea
- Times: 6:30-11 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday
- Cost: Free
This 30-plus-year-old fest will liven up your nights with great musical performances and a social ten, a classic car show, Kid Zone and open-air market.
Rally on the Ridge
July 27, 2019
- Where: Preservation Park, 500 Ridge Road N., Canton
- Times: 5:30-9 p.m. Tuesday
- Cost: Free
Support the local Farmers Market at this annual event, which features a plethora of food trucks to taste-testing, music, inflatables, lawn games and more.
Maker Faire Detroit
July 27-28, 2019
- Where: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
- Times: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: Fees apply
Check out mind-boggling electronic and robotic creations, rockets on display and other scientific contraptions at this annual event. There’s food and music, too.
Arab & Chaldean Festival
July 27-28, 2019
- Where: Hart Plaza, Detroit
- Times: Noon-midnight Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: Free
This 48th annual event celebrates Arab and Chaldean culture with an Arab fashion show and calligraphy, children’s fair with inflatables and more.
Orchard Lake Fine Art Show
July 27-29, 2019
- Where: West Bloomfield High School, 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield
- Times: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: $5/admission, free/ages 13 and under, free/parking
Hundreds of top-notch local artists display their work at this top art show There’s kids’ activities and a kids’ art competition, too.
This post was originally published in 2012 and is updated regularly.
