The Metro Events Guide: Parker’s Alley in Bloom, Detroit Black Film Festival + more

There’s an exciting array of events to check out in the metro Detroit area this week, from a weekend-long celebration of all things floral in Parker’s Alley to a giant block party marking the end of Detroit’s Mural in the Market festival and more.

Plus, the Detroit Black Film Festival continues through Sunday, spanning across five metro Detroit locations. Read on to learn more.

Flower festivals

If you’re looking for Instagrammable moments in Detroit this weekend, look no further than Parker’s Alley in Bloom, a floral festival hosted by Bedrock in partnership with Parker’s Alley retailers and Shinola Hotel. The event, running through Sunday, Sept. 29, features beautiful flower installations, special floral-themed cocktails, a flower truck and bouquet giveaways, live art, vendors and more.

Seasonal celebrations

The Boston Tea Room in Ferndale is hosting an Autumn Equinox Witches Market from noon-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, featuring more than 30 local vendors made up of small businesses, artists, and makers; as well as food trucks, DJ sets from DJ Sassi Blaque and more. The free event will be held outdoors outside the Tea Room, located at 1220 Woodward Heights, with a rain date planned for Sunday, Sept. 29.

Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak is hosting its annual Fall Fest from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, featuring an appearance by former Detroit Lion Stephen Tulloch, owner of Circle House Coffee, and a handful of local food and drink vendors. Don’t forget to grab a cider float, courtesy of Blake Farms and Ray’s Ice Cream (while supplies last).

Film festivals

Detroit’s fifth annual Black Film Festival continues through Sunday, Sept. 29 across metro Detroit, showcasing the voices and stories of Black independent filmmakers. Spanning across locations — The Carr Center, Marlene Boll YMCA Theater, DoubleTree Hotel and Michigan State University Detroit Center in Detroit; and Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak — the festival aims to uplift both seasoned and emerging filmmakers that reflect African American experiences, narratives and culture in their work. For tickets and more information, visit filmfreeway.com/detroitblackfilmfestival.

Block parties

The week-long Murals in Islandview (MIIV) public art festival in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood will conclude this Saturday, Sept. 28, with a giant Design Core Detroit’s Month of Design block party from 1-8 p.m. in front of Spot Lite Detroit. The free event will feature food vendors, a makers market from Design Core Detroit, a 1XRUN print sale, Detroit Electronic Quarterly record fair, and music curated by House Party.

Theater

“Fat Ham,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James Ijames, opens this Thursday at Detroit Public Theatre, kicking off its 10th anniversary season this year. Called a “hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy” by The New York Times, the story follows Juicy, a Black and queer young man working to advance his education online when his father’s ghost shows up and demands that Juicy avenge his murder. The show runs through Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, visit detroitpublictheatre.org.

Community development

The 2024 Detroit Food Summit is taking place this Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27, at Marygrove College, 8425 West McNichols Rd. The Detroit Food Policy Council’s 13th annual event will offer collaborative conversations on a variety of topics relating to local food systems. The event is being hosted by Orlando Bailey, executive director of Outlier Media. Malik Yakini, former executive director of the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network and co-founder of the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, is the keynote speaker.