2024 fall festivals guide: Upcoming Detroit-area events you don’t want to miss

By Layla McMurtrie on Fri, Aug 23, 2024 at 11:39 am

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Arts, Beats & Eats returns to Royal Oak for Labor Day weekend.

Fall is just around the corner, and metro Detroit is ready to celebrate.

There are tons of upcoming festivals to celebrate the end of summer and the start of the new season. If you love live music, carnival rides, great food, or just having a great time, there’s something for everyone coming up.

Read on for our recommendations of the best upcoming festivals.

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Facebook, Detroit Jazz Festival

Detroit Jazz Festival

Aug. 30-Sept. 2; downtown Detroit; detroitjazzfest.org

The city’s annual jazz music weekend, dubbed “the world’s largest (and best) free jazz festival,” is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Performances will include 2024 artist-in-residence Brian Blade, alongside dozens of other jazz musicians.

Mike Pfeiffer

Michigan Renaissance Festival

Aug. 17-Sept. 29; Holly; michrenfest.com

Take a trip back in time inside the gates of the Michigan Renaissance Festival, celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. The annual tradition offers 17 acres of Medieval- and Renaissance-inspired shops, taverns, and a magnificent castle. There will be entertainment on the streets and stages, plus armored jousting, comedy and theater shows, music and games, rides, food, and more.

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Michigan State Fair

Aug. 29-Sept. 2; Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi; michiganstatefairllc.com

This annual tradition celebrates the end of summer with carnival rides, games, food, and more. There will be live performances, a petting zoo, and more fun for the whole family.

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Arts, Beats, & Eats

Aug. 30-Sept. 2; downtown Royal Oak; artsbeatseats.com

This annual festival unites foodies with art and music lovers for a weekend of fun. This year’s headlining performers include Keith Sweat, Cheap Trick, Tesla, and more.

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Josh Justice

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival

Aug. 31-Sept. 2; hamtownfest.com

For the past four decades, Hamtramck has celebrated the Labor Day weekend with this free festival. This year, the event will feature live music, food, beer, carnival rides, canoe races, vendors, and a parade. Jack White is even making a special appearance to perform with his former bandmates in the Hentchmen. Other acts include a mix of local rappers, rock bands, and other musicians. There’s something for everyone.

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Facebook, Downtown Brighton, Michigan

Smokin’ Jazz and BBQ Blues Festival

Sept. 6-7; Mt. Brighton; 4141 Bauer Rd., Brighton; brightoncoc.org

What could be better than live music and barbecue?

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Facebook, Downtown Plymouth Michigan

Plymouth Fall Festival

Sept. 6-8; Downtown Plymouth; plymouthfallfestival.com

This community staple includes favorites like the chicken dinner, craft show, car show, pet show, carnival, and more.

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Facebook, St. Lawrence Apple Fest

St. Lawrence Apple Fest

Sept. 6-8; St. Lawrence Church; 44633 Utica Rd., Utica; facebook.com/applefestmi

Fall is not fall without fresh apples and family fun. This festival has something for everyone.

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Mike Pfeiffer

Dally in the Alley

Sept. 7; Detroit; dallyinthealley.com

Cass Corridor’s annual block party is packed with food, vendors, artists, and live music. The free community festival goes all day and all night, with five stages of music.

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BRED Hip Hop Theatre Festival

Sept. 7; Detroit; hiphoptheatrefest.com

Hosted by Beats Rhymes Everything Detroit, this festival will transform hip-hop songs into plays, merging the worlds of music and theater in a new way. The one-day inaugural event coincides with ELEMENTS Hip Hop Weekend and Dally in the Alley. In addition to new productions, the day will feature a block party with rap performances, DJ sets, panel discussions, dance battles, learning opportunities, virtual reality experiences, and more.

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Facebook, Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor

Apples and Honey Fall Festival

Sept. 15; Ann Arbor; funtober.com

This annual family event is open to everyone and celebrates Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah, with hands-on crafts, inflatables, apple and honey tasting, and more.

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Facebook, Frankenfest

Frankenfest

Sept. 16; Historic Fort Wayne; 6325 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; frankenfest.com

This spooky festival features mystical artwork from local vendors, plus literary guests and paranormal experts. The event, featuring hourly aerial performances, food trucks, and more, is free to the public, with free parking too.

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Facebook, Frankenmuth

Frankenmuth Oktoberfest

Sept. 19-22; Heritage Park; 601 Weiss St., Frankenmuth; frankenmuthfestivals.com

With Frankenmuth’s unique German heritage and culture, this event aims to preserve the sights and sounds of the Munich Oktoberfest. The festival features old-school entertainment, dancing, souvenirs, and food selections, plus authentic Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest beer.

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Facebook, Romulus DDA Pumpkin Festival

Romulus Pumpkin Festival

Sept. 20-22; Romulus Historical Park; 11147 Hunt St., Romulus; romulusgov.com

This annual three-day event begins with the Parade of Lights. There’s also a car show, a craft show, music, food, crafts, and games for all ages.

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DIY Street Festival

DIY Street Fair

Sept. 20-22; downtown Ferndale; ferndalediy.com

This annual three-day event features it all – bands, artists, breweries, food trucks, businesses, non-profits, and more. Anyone who loves shopping locally or has a DIY spirit should attend.

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Funky Ferndale Art Fair

Sept. 20-22; Ferndale; funkyferndaleartfair.com

More than 140 juried artists and authors will feature their work at this festival, coinciding with the DIY Street Fair.

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Facebook, Northville Chamber of Commerce

Northville Victorian Festival

Sept. 20-22; Northville; northville.org

This celebration opens with the Victorian Parade on Friday evening and continues through the weekend with live music, a saloon, theatrical performances, Victorian-era reenactors, educational presentations, craft vendors, duck races, a church service, and much more.

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Facebook, Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festivals

Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival

Sept. 23-24; Midland; miantiquefestival.com

This long-time Michigan tradition gives attendees the opportunity to shop from 1,000 antique dealers, plus see a car show, swap, and more.

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Viola Klocko

Murals in Islandview

Sept. 23-28; Detroit; muralsinthemarket.com

In partnership with the Gilbert Family Foundation and Design Core's Month of Design, 1XRun is bringing Murals in Islandview, a spin-off of Murals in the Market, back for its second year. This time, the event will feature ten new artists set to paint ten new murals throughout the neighborhood.

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Facebook, Ziggy's

Ypsi Freakfest

Oct. 4-6; Ypsilanti; facebook.com

This fun and freaky event will take place at different venues around Ypsilanti, including Wyrd Byrd, Ziggy’s, Regal Beagle, S. Washington St., and Riverside Park. There will be vendors, live music, costume contests, and more.

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