page_title: Culture of Detroit
section_title: Festivals and events
hierarchical_section_title: Culture of Detroit / Festivals and events
caption_attribution_description: Fireworks display during the w:Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, as seen from the Art Gallery of Windsor.
context_page_description: The culture of Detroit, Michigan, has influenced American and global culture through its commercial enterprises and various forms of popular music throughout the 20th and 21st century. Its automotive heritage plays an important role in the city's culture.
context_section_description: Detroit has three major events that are associated with the automobile industry: the North American International Auto Show (January until 2019, then June), Society of Automotive Engineers world congress (April) and the Woodward Dream Cruise (August). Annual music events in the city include the DEMF/Movement/Fuse-In electronic music festival (May), Concert of Colors (July), Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival (September), Dally in the Alley (September) and Arts, Beats and Eats (September).  Annual art events include the Dirty Show International Erotic Exhibition  (February), People's Art Festival (August), the DAMNED Exhibition (October), and Noel Night (December).
  The Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival features a fireworks display over the Detroit International Riverfront and coincides with U.S. Independence day (July 4) and Canada Day (July 1). The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is a major film festival also shared with the city of Windsor. The New Center summer events and Detroit Thunderfest hydroplane races which take place in July.  African World Festival and Detroit Fashion Week happen in August.  The America's Thanksgiving Parade, originally the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade, is one of the nation's largest and has been held continuously since 1924.
  Hosted by the United Irish Societies, the Detroit St. Patrick's Parade is one of the largest St. Patrick's parades in North America and is held annually in Corktown.
  The day before Ash Wednesday, or the festival of Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday, is more frequently celebrated locally as "Paczki Day" by the large Polish population. Many Metro Detroiters join in the festivity by indulging in jelly-filled donuts called paczkis.
  The Bayview Yacht Club sponsors the annual Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race as well as a number of other regional and local regattas.
  Two large LGBT Pride events are held annually in Detroit. Motor City Pride, started in 1972 and currently produced by Equality Michigan, is held the second weekend of June in Hart Plaza and is attended by over 40,000 people. Hotter Than July! is a week-long black gay pride celebration held annually since 1996 is attended by over 20,000 people and produced by the Detroit Black Pride Society and KICK.
  Events introduced in the 2010s include the Motown Winter Blast  in February and the Detroit River Days  in June .
caption: Fireworks at the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival
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