The Ford Fireworks will light up the Detroit riverfront on Monday, June 25, celebrating 60 years of the summertime tradition.
Produced by The Parade Company, the fireworks are set to kick off at 9:55 p.m.
"It is an honor to be part of a tradition that has become an international signature for summer and the city," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. "Few events bring families and communities together like fireworks, and we are proud to share the excitement of the Ford Fireworks with all the people of Detroit and southeast Michigan."
WHERE TO WATCH
Hart Plaza is a fan favorite for firework viewing. Those who plan to attend should plan to arrive early, once capacity is reached the grounds will be sealed off. If you leave, you won’t be allowed to re-enter.
Tents are not allowed, neither is alcohol, drones, pets or weapons. Cooking is prohibited inside Hart Plaza. Police note that backpacks and coolers will be searched.
Belle Isle will be closed to vehicle traffic until 2 p.m. Those who drive onto the island will need a Recreation Passport, if you do not have one you can purchase one for $11.
Only 3,000 vehicles will be allowed entrance onto Belle Isle. Alcohol consumption is prohibited on the island, however tents and canopies will be allowed. RV parking is available on the paddock area near the casino.
If you can’t make it to Hart Plaza or Belle Isle a trio of parks are worth checking out: Mt. Elliot Park, Owens Park and Erma Henderson Park are all good viewing spots.
WHERE TO PARK
Parking meters will not be enforced after 5 p.m. on June 25. Drivers will still have to observe normal parking restrictions, such as, parking in front of fire hydrants, blocking alleys, or parking in designated handicap zones without proper credentials.
MPD will offer parking at a number of city-owned garages and lots throughout the city including:
- Ford Underground Garage located at 30 E. Jefferson ($10 to park)
- Millennium Garage located at 32 W. Congress ($10 to park)
- Grand Circus Park Garage located at 1601 Woodward Ave. ($10 to park)
- Premier Garage at 1206-08 Woodward Ave. ($10 to park)
WHERE/WHEN TO AVOID TRAFFIC
Woodward Avenue between E. Jefferson and Park, as well as between Park and Temple, will be closed completely.
East Jefferson will be closed completely between Larned and I-375, along with Griswold between Michigan and E. Jefferson.
Here's the press release from the city of Detroit with all of the information
- Improper parking (vehicles within 20 feet from crosswalk; within 15 feet from an intersection; within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic control device; and within 15 feet of a fire hydrant)
- Parking in front of fire hydrants and bus stops or blocking driveways and alleys.
- Parking in designated zones, such as handicap zones (without proper credentials), fire lanes, no parking zones or no standing zones
QLINE service will end southbound at the Sproat Station and begin northbound at Adelaide starting at 6 p.m. on June 25. QLINE will run its standard weekday hours, running until midnight.
Towed vehicles within the downtown area will be held at 2121 W. Fort Street. Vehicles towed on Belle Isle will remain on the island. Free shuttles to tow lots will be available from 4 p.m. – 1 a.m. Tow lots close at 1 a.m. The fee for towing is $215.
The following traffic changes will go into effect at approximately 6 p.m:
- No northbound or southbound traffic will be admitted onto Woodward Avenue between Fisher Freeway and Congress except for emergency vehicles, D-DOT and SMART bus coaches.
- Jefferson Avenue will be closed to eastbound and westbound traffic between the Chrysler Freeway (I-375) and Griswold, except for emergency vehicles. All other eastbound vehicles will be routed north onto the Chrysler service drive.
- West Jefferson from Cobo Center westbound will be closed. Parking will be prohibited on West Jefferson, on Civic Center Drive and on Atwater to St. Aubin.
- Outbound traffic will be routed on West Jefferson from the Joe Louis Arena garage to Rosa Parks Boulevard; traffic will then proceed north on Rosa Parks to the freeways.
- Traffic on Gratiot Avenue between I-375 and Randolph will be routed one way northbound only.
- Traffic on Brush between Lafayette and Madison will be routed northeast onto Gratiot. Madison will be closed.
- Monroe Street, between Randolph and Woodward Avenue, will be barricaded and closed. Traffic on Monroe between Randolph and I-375 will be routed to travel eastbound only.
- Third Street at West Jefferson will be closed to the public and restricted for emergency vehicle use.
- Fort Street traffic between Cabacier and Rosa Parks Boulevard will be restricted to residents of the Riverfront Towers Apartments/Condominiums.
- Eastbound traffic on Fort Street will be allowed to turn right onto Griswold and proceed to the Lodge Freeway.
- Traffic on Trumbull between W. Fort and Fisher Freeway will be routed to travel northbound only.
- Traffic on Larned and Congress will be allowed to flow in respective directions, with no southbound turns except vehicles en route to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel via Randolph.
- Michigan Avenue traffic will be westbound only.
- All traffic proceeding south on Griswold will be directed to the Lodge Freeway, via Congress.
- Eastbound Lafayette traffic will turn right at Griswold and proceed to westbound Congress to northbound Lodge freeway.
- St. Antoine traffic flow will be one way northbound from Atwater after the fireworks display.
- Woodbridge, Franklin, and Atwater between St. Antoine and Rivard will be one way, eastbound throughout the evening.
- Rivard will be one way northbound from Atwater to Lafayette after the fireworks display.
- E. Grand Blvd. will be used for outbound traffic from Belle Isle. Belle Isle traffic will proceed northbound on East Grand Boulevard and eastbound on East Jefferson.
- No parking on West Jefferson between 23rd and St. Anne.
All the main streets – Michigan, Grand River, Gratiot, E. Grand Blvd. and W. Grand Blvd. – will remain open to allow motorists access to freeways. Woodward will remain open north of the Fisher Freeway service drive.
CURFEW ENFORCEMENT
The City will enforce a curfew for minors, ages 17 and under, that will be in effect from 8 p.m. on June 25 until 6 a.m. on June 26 for the area bounded by the Detroit River, Third Street, Lodge Freeway, Fisher Freeway, the extension of Fisher Freeway east to Gratiot Avenue, Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and Chene Park.
Parents can find lost children in the following locations:
Downtown – Cobo Center, Atwater Lounge (southeast corner-Atwater Atrium) – (313) 877-8064
East of I-375 – Martin Luther King High School – 3200 E. Lafayette Blvd.
Southwest Area – Third Precinct – 2875 W. Grand Blvd. (313) 596-5300 or Fourth Precinct – 4700 W. Fort Street (313) 596-5400
For bus riders, the Detroit Department of Transportation issued these reminders:
On June 25 between 5 and 11 p.m., the following routes will end at the Bricktown People Mover Station on Beaubien between Congress and Lafayette. The affected routes are #7 Cadillac-Harper, #10 Chene, #25 Jefferson, #40 Russell and #48 Van Dyke. Passengers going to the Rosa Parks Transit Center should board the People Mover at the Bricktown Station and exit at Times Square Station.
Starting at 5 p.m., the Dexter (#16) and Woodward (#53) routes will end at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
Passengers at the Rosa Parks Transit Center traveling east should board the People Mover at the Times Square Station and exit at the Bricktown Station to board eastbound coaches. Passengers must have a DDOT transfer to receive a People Mover token from DDOT personnel.
Passengers at the Rosa Parks Transit Center traveling east should board the People Mover at the Times Square Station and exit at the Bricktown Station to board eastbound coaches. There will be DDOT personnel to assist with tokens to ride the People Mover.
Additional service will be provided after the fireworks leaving downtown on an as-needed basis.
Coaches will depart from the Rosa Parks Transit Center westbound and eastbound until 1 a.m. as needed.
Coaches will depart from Bricktown People Mover Station on Beaubien between E. Congress and E. Lafayette (Eastbound Only) until 11 p.m.
The Detroit People Mover (DPM) will operate from 6:30 a.m. – midnight.
After 2 p.m. trains will stop at the Renaissance Center Station, however only guests staying at the RenCen Marriott and Courtyard Marriott hotels will have access to the facility with appropriate ID. All other patrons must exit the DPM Renaissance Center Station by the station’s stairwell or tower elevator (ADA accessible) to Jefferson Ave.
DPM trains will bypass Millender Center beginning at 2 p.m. on June 25. Guests may enter the hotel using the elevated pedestrian bridge.
Financial District Station is the closest DPM station within walking distance of Hart Plaza and the next station following Millender Center.
All other DPM stations except those named above, will remain open to the public until close. The People Mover fare is 75 cents per ride, and children ages five and under ride free. For more information, go online to www.thepeoplemover.com [links.govdelivery.com]or call (313) 224-2160.Click to edit this placeholder text.
