JULY 2015 Globally Soulcial Passport to Metro Detroit

The American summer presents the perfect opportunity to take a couple weeks off from work to travel abroad and explore new cultures with your family. However, if you’re anything like me, the month of June may have crept upon you like an Ellen DeGeneres practical joke, leaving you with a minimal or nonexistent travel budget. Luckily there are a number of arts and culture festivals in Southeast Michigan that will allow you to improvise and live vicariously through the careful planning and organization of savvy local planners and sponsors.

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When: Every Friday in July from 6-9pm
What: Travel Journal Project
Where: Detroit
Cost: FREE/Tri-County Residents
Info: www.dia.org
Hosted by the Detroit Institute of Arts, kids use cardstock, paper and a rubber band to make a book that they can keep track of their adventures.

When: July 9-12
What: Concert of Colors
Where: Detroit
Cost: FREE
Info: www.concertofcolors.com
The Concert of Colors is metro Detroit’s free annual diversity music festival. It is produced by the Arab American National Museum with partners Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, ACCESS, Midtown Detroit Inc. and University of Michigan – Detroit Center. The goal of this five-day festival is uniting metro Detroit’s diverse communities and ethnic groups by presenting musical acts from around the world. Over its 22-year history, the festival has become a beloved highlight of metro Detroit’s summer festival season, and one of the few free-admission music festivals remaining locally.

When: July 11 - 12
What: Haitian Arts & Crafts Festival
Where: Farmington
Cost: FREE
Info: www.haitiannetworkdetroit.org
Celebrating Bèl Bagay Lakay (Beautiful Things from Home), experience the art, food, dance, music and culture of Haiti in this first annual festival and celebration. Presented by the Haitian Network Group of Detroit and in conjunction with Madonna University and the Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Chicago. www.haitiannetworkdetroit.org

When: July 10-11
Saline Celtic Festival
Where: Saline
Cost: $10/Adults, $5/Youth 13-17
Info: www.salineceltic.org
Check out traditional Celtic games, sporting events, music, dance, maypole braiding, Irish jigs and more.

When: July 10-12
What: American Polish Festival & Craft Show
Cost: $2/General, FREE Parking
Info: www.americanpolishfestival.com
Poles are the second largest ethnic group in Michigan. The festival highlights some of the biggest names in Polka Music, along with finest Polish Dance Ensembles in Michigan and features the 4th Annual “Srodek’s Pierogi Eating Challenge”.

When: July 18
What: Growing up Green Festival
Where: Shelby
Cost: $5/Adults, FREE/Kids
Info: www.growingupgreenfestival.com
This festival features a day of music, kids yoga, classes, crafts, food, games and fresh produce.

When: July 18-19
What: Czech and Slovak Festival
Where: Dearborn Heights
Cost: $5/Adults, FREE/14 & Under
Info: www.sokoldetroit.com
Enjoy ethnic dancers, strolling musicians and more traditional fun at the Sokol Cultural Center.

July 17-19
What: Festa Italiana at Freedom Hill County Park
Where: Sterling Heights
Cost: FREE/general, $10/parking
Info: www.iacsonline.com
Find family fun with and Italian flair, including beer and wine, food, live entertainment and more.

July 19
What: Festival of the Chariots
Where: Novi
Cost: FREE
Info: www.mirathyatra.com
Following the 3 mile parade, a grand celebration awaits the crowd, including an exhibition showcasing India´s spirituality and culture. The festival site will feature 20-plus tents with various forms of entertainment, a FREE lunch, dancing, live music, shopping, henna, Vedic culture and arts, and many more kid activities.

July 25-26
Call of the Drum Festival
Where: Detroit
Cost: FREE
Info: www.thewrightmuseum.org
This FREE 2-day family friendly event will include: live performances, interactive drum circles, food trucks, workshops, lectures, children’s activities and more from cultures all around the world. Hear the sounds of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and more.

When: July 25
What: Nations Celebration
Where: Holly
Cost: $5/Oakland County Residents, $10/Non-Residents
Info: www.destinationoakland.com
Around the world with global games and art. Pinatas, paper art, henna tattoos, tribal face paint, global masks, wagon rides and a band. Activities’ schedule usually available sometime at the park during the week prior to this weekend.