The Downtown street party will amaze those who attend starting on Thursday with the spectacular outdoor theater performance of “SeeSaw” by Wise Fool New Mexico featuring stunning aerial acrobatics at Grand Circus Park. The energy continues as George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic presented by Absopure Water Company “bring down the house” at Campus Martius Park as the 4th Fridays musical headliners. Saturday’s excitement is nonstop starting at noon and includes the Grand Valley chARTter Gallery – a youth artist exhibition, Star Wars Spectacular supported by Honigman and WRCJ 90.0 FM featuring the Michigan Philharmonic performing “Star Wars & Sci-Phonic Favorites” and a screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at Campus Martius Park, and the Summer Saturday Nights’ finale, Summertime in the City featuring food and music all night at Capitol Park. More information on the highlights is below and on all activities at DowntownDetroitParks.com.
Summerfest Must-Sees
Thursday, August 25
Evenings in Paradise hosted by The Carr Center
6 p.m. at Paradise Valley Beatrice Buck Park
This evening of musical bliss begins with the Music of Statin, Tucker and Uesaka.
From 8-10 p.m., enjoy the world class talents of Geri Allen. Detroit native, the first Lady of Soul recipient for jazz and the newly appointed creative director of the Carr Center in Detroit, Geri Allen is an artist that transcends the standard of all things jazz.
Wise Fool New Mexico “SeeSaw”
Showtimes are 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 10 p.m. at Grand Circus Park
“SeeSaw” is a visually stunning and intensely physical 30-minute public arts experience, bringing jaw-dropping, thought-provoking art into daily life. “SeeSaw” features five stilted “migrants” venturing into an unknown kinetic landscape. Claiming space in an unfriendly and chaotic environment performers push the boundaries of familiarity to create partnerships which come together and are torn apart by the mechanical machinations of a teetering and spinning metal sculpture. From imbalance to counterbalance using aerial apparatus, each other’s bodies and the sculpture itself, the acrobats fly, jump, climb and tumble their way through a formidable frontier, illustrating resiliency, adaptation, collective creativity, and mutuality.
A musical performance by Brian “Javonntte” Garrett will take place at 7:30 p.m. and artists from Go Forth will create an amazing fire show at 9 p.m.
The opening musical performance will be provided by A String Quartet.
Friday, August 26
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic presented by Absopure Water Company
9 p.m. at Campus Martius Park
Headlining the 4th Fridays concert series, the legendary George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic will bring a P-Funk party like no other to Detroit singing famous hits such as “Flashlight” and “Atomic Dog.”
Other performances include soulful songstress and world-renowned bassist Nik West at 7 p.m. with funk, rock and soul and Detroit rock trio, The Strange, at 5: 30 p.m.
Saturday, August 27
Grand Valley Charter Gallery – Youth Artist Exhibition
Noon -7 p.m. at Campus Martius Park
This exhibition features youth artists from 9 metro Detroit schools and over 500 pieces of art, chartered by Grand Valley State University Detroit Center.
Star Wars Spectacular supported by Honigman and WRCJ 90.9 FM
7 p.m. at Campus Martius Park
Michigan Philharmonic will take Campus Martius Park to another galaxy with a performance of “Star Wars & Sci-Phonic Favorites” featuring live, classical renditions of musical scores from a variety of science-fiction favorites. The screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will follow at 8 p.m. Fans are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Star Wars character.
Summer Saturday Nights Finale – Summer in the City
7 p.m. at Capitol Park
This end of summer celebration will feature a summer cookout themed menu and samples of refreshing summer cocktails and craft beers. The Infatuations will be playing funk, soul and Detroit rock and roll live.
Tickets for the Summer Saturday Nights series are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, visit CapitolParkEvents.com. This event is 21+.
Sunday, August 28
Sunday Brunch
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Capitol Park
The tasty Downtown Sunday Brunch offers delicious and affordably priced food and drink choices from a Detroit’s favorite food trucks. Specialty cocktails such as Bloody Marys, mimosas and tequila sunrises will be available for purchase. There will also be live entertainment from Kenny Watson featuring genres of R&B, jazz, alternative and classical; the alternative rock band The Redwoods from Detroit Institute of Music Education (DIME); and an opportunity to create your own masterpiece with Painting With A Twist.
Schedule and participants subject to change without notice.
The complete schedule listing for all 2016 Quicken Loans Summer in the Parks activities is at DowntownDetroitParks.com.
