What happens when teens get bored? Well, let’s just say it’s better if they have parent-approved recreational activities to keep them and their friends busy instead of the alternatives.
To put your mind at ease — and to help your kid find fun things to do for teens that aren’t totally lame — we’ve rounded up some great teen events in metro Detroit.
Take a look below to find out what’s happening for teens and tweens this month. Plus, get a list of fun things to do at home with them, too.
Don’t see an event your teen will love? Check out our online calendar for even more family events and things to do with teens.
This article was recently updated on July 9, 2024 by Metro Parent’s Audience Development Coordinator, Kari Zaffarano. The update included her adding Metro Detroit teen needs events to the MetroParent.com‘s calendar, aligning Metro Parent’s mission to provide the top parenting resources for local families. Questions? Please reach out to kari@metroparent.com.
Teen events
From concerts to festivals and art fairs to workshops, there’s plenty of fun events for teens in metro Detroit. Find some of our favorite options for them here.
Metro Detroit Youth Day on Belle Isle
July 10, 2024
- Address: Belle Isle Park, Detroit
- Cost: Free
Ages 8-15 will enjoy a day full of free games, races and other contests along with live entertainment, celebrity guests and more at this 40-year-old event. Registration required.
Movie Nights in the D at Campus Martius
July 10, 17, 24, 31; Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024
- Address: 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Cost: Free
Head downtown to see a movie. In July, watch The Fifth Element (PG-13), PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (PG), Spanish Movie Night: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (PG-13) and School of Rock (PG-13). In August, watch Some Like It Hot (NR), Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (PG-13), Kung Fu Panda (PG) and Barbie (PG-13).
Uncle Sam Jam at Woodhaven Civic Center Park
July 11-14, 2024
- Address: 23101 Hall Road, Woodhaven
- Cost: $25-$38/all-day ride passes, $10-$15/parking
Enjoy a carnival, live music, cornhole tournaments, classic car show, petting zoo, monster truck rides, fireworks and more.
African World Festival at Hart Plaza
July 12-14, 2024
- Address: 1 Hart Plaza, Detroit
- Cost: Free admission for members of The Wright Museum; $15/ages 18-61, $12/ages 6-17
Celebrate the 41st Annual African World Festival, which is three days full of entertainment, live demonstrations, community resources and information, vendors and more.
Blake’s Lavender Festival at Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill
July 12-14, 19-21, 2024
- Address: 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
- Cost: $12/Friday ticket, $14/Saturday or Sunday ticket
Shop from over 200 artisans, sip on lavender lemonade, enjoy lavender-themed treats, DIY workshops, free train ride to the lavender field and more.
Berkley Street Art Fest in Downtown Berkley
July 13, 2024
- Address: Downtown Berkley, Coolidge Hwy., Berkley
- Cost: Free
The celebration of art and music includes chalk art competitions, sustainable goods vendors to shop from, Yappy Hour dog adoption and more.
Candlelight: Classic Rock on Strings at The Detroit Masonic Temple
July 13, 2024
- Address: 500 Temple St., Detroit
- Cost: $38.50-plus
Come out to The Detroit Masonic Temple for a Candlelight concert, featuring Classic Rock on Strings. Listeso String Quartet will be performing.
Chandler Park Community Arts and Music Festival at Chandler Park
July 13, 2024
- Address: 12831 Frankfort St., Detroit
- Cost: Free
Head to Chandler Park to experience hands-on arts and music-making, food and performances from DSO musicians and local artists.
Hippie Fest at Canterbury Village
July 13-14, 2024
- Address: 2325 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion
- Cost: $9.99/early bird ticket, $11.99/advanced ticket, $15/at the door ticket
This festival features live music, tie-dye, chalk art, bubble fun, tarot readers, vendors, a best-dressed hippie contest and more.
The Lavender Harvest Festival at Lavender Lane Farm
July 13-14, 2024
- Address: 12040 Plank Road, Milan
- Cost: $10
Stroll the lavender fields and take photos and visit with over 40 artisan vendors at this festival. Also, a petting zoo, henna tattoos and more.
Concert of Colors in Detroit
July 15-21, 2024
- Address: Various locations in Detroit
- Cost: Free
Enjoy this annual diversity-themed music festival. Although music is its main focus, it also offers ethnic food, poetry, movies, merchandise vendors and more. Event locations include Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum, Carr Center, Detroit Historical Museum, University of Michigan Detroit Center, The Scarab Club, Michigan Science Center and Hellenic Museum of Michigan.
Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair in Downtown Ann Arbor
July 18-20, 2024
- Address: Downtown Ann Arbor, Main Street, Liberty St., State St. and South University, Ann Arbor
- Cost: Free
The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair is a juried fine art event featuring 400 exhibiting artist booths, live entertainment in partnership with The Ark, art activities and more.
Pride in the Park & Movie at Veterans Memorial Park
July 18-20, 2024
- Address: 27325 Barkman St., Roseville
- Cost: Free
This festival features a Pride flag ceremony, Zumba, craft stations, vendors, DJ and local artists, yard games, giveaways and more.
Festa Italiana at Freedom Hill County Park
July 19-21, 2024
- Address: 14900 Metro Pkwy., Sterling Heights
- Cost: Free/admission, $10/parking
This three-day event celebrates Italian Heritage with live music, delicious food, fireworks on Friday, contests, a zip line and more.
2024 The Festival of Chatiots at Novi Civic Center
July 21, 2024
- Address: 45175 W. Ten Mile Road, Novi
- Cost: Free admission
A big parade kicks off this Indian cultural fest. There will be live music, free food, Yoga and more.
Sterlingfest at Dodge Park
July 25-27, 2024
- Address: 40620 Utica Road, Sterling Heights
- Cost: Free/admission; fees/rides
Check out art on display, hear live entertainment, get their fill of tasty fair food and spin swing and slide on carnival rides at this annual.
Blake’s Sunflower Festival at Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill
Aug. 9-11, 16-18, 2024
- Address: 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
- Cost: $10/early bird discount ticket, $12/Friday ticket, $14/Saturday or Sunday ticket
Shop from over 200 artisans, cut your own sunflowers, DIY make and take workshops and more.
Milford Memories Summer Festival
Aug. 9-11, 2024
- Address: 317 Union St., Milford
- Cost: Free
Enjoy a three-day art festival, live musical entertainment, sports tournaments, rock climbing tower and more.
Armada Fair at the Armada Fairgrounds
Aug. 12-18, 2024
- Address: 74280 Fair St., Armada
- Cost: $10/ages 13-plus; $5/daily parking, $25/weekly parking (cash only for parking)
This old-school fair offers everything from carnival rides and games to livestock displays, demolition derby, tractor and truck pulls, rodeo, monster trucks and much more.
Movies in the Parks at Stony Creek Metropark
Aug. 24 and Sept. 7, 2024
- Address: 4300 Main Park Drive, Shelby Township
- Cost: Free; parking pass required
Enjoy a drive-in style movie night. Bring your own food and drinks. Watch Barbie (PG-13) on Aug. 24 and Ghostbusters Frozen Empire on Sept. 7.
Cranbrook on the Green: Artist Designed Miniature Golf at the Cranbrook Art Museum
Through Sept. 22, 2024
- Address: 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills
- Cost: $15/adult, $10/ArtMembers and Detroit Residents
Visit the new miniature golf course, inspired by the art and design of Cranbrook. There are ten holes for you to practice on. Tickets to the Green include admission to the Art Museum’s galleries.
Saturday in the Park at Nankin Mills Park Area
Through Sept. 28, 2024 (Saturdays)
- Address: 33275 Edward Hines Drive, Westland
- Cost: Free
Walk, run, skate or cycle safely on the six miles of Hines Drive at Nankin Mills Park Area. Hines Drive will be closed from Outer Drive to Ann Arbor Trail.
At-home ideas
Looking for more fun things to keep your teens entertained at home? Check out some of these options along with places for them to explore around town.
- Family game night may not be your teen’s first choice but with the right game pick, they’ll be laughing before you know it. Here are some games your teen or tween might want to try.
- A trip to Cedar Point might be more fun, but if it’s not open or you can’t make the trek to Sandusky, virtual roller coaster rides might keep your kid entertained in a pinch.
- TikTok is all the rage right now. Impress your teens by learning the platform and spend the afternoon together creating fun videos.
- Malls are dying but you don’t want your child on their phone all day either. Let them hang out with their friends at one of these local hangout spots.
- Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor are full of creepy stories and urban legends that are sure to spook older kids and teens. Share some of our favorites at your next backyard bonfire.
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