Talk to Gerard Burnash and the message is clear.
Of course there is a ton to do in Flint this summer, because there always is a lot to do. From the cool hipster vibe at Soggy Bottom where trivia and jazz are also on tap to the sun filled patios at 501, Cork, and Blackstones — plus all the Cultural Center offerings, art galleries, and live music — Flint continues to carve out its place as a destination, says Burnash, head of Flint’s Downtown Development Authority.
This summer, Burnash is especially looking forward to showing off the work being done in the area, including the park areas at Chevy Commons as well as the ongoing river restoration project.
“Downtown has a lot going on. It’s got a vibe as the place to be. It’s what you want: It’s natural for people to come down when they’re looking for something to do,” Burnash says. “Throw in Alley Fest and other special events—and now the Capitol Theatre—and it just accents all that is going on.”
The summer is starting of with a bang (pun intended) with the Genesee County Parks 50th Anniversary Celebration fireworks show and for the Fourth of July, the DDA, Kettering University, and the Flint Symphony Orchestra are teaming up for the unique concert-and-fireworks combo event.
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Of course, there are also the longstanding cornerstone events of summer, such as the Crim Festival of Races and Back to the Bricks car show are expected to again flood the streets with thousands of people.
OK … so if you are looking for something to do … here’s a list of events to get you started.
(There is no way we can claim this list is fully comprehensive—Genesee County Parks and Flint Public Library have DAILY events—so let us know if you see something missing from our list. Send an email to [email protected].)May 27
• Genesee County Parks 50th Anniversary Kick off to Summer fireworks: 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Bluebell Beach.
May 31-June 1
• Mott Motown & More: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mott Community College Mott Memorial Auditorium.
June 1
• 2018 Flint & Genesee Annual Golf Classic: 8:30am to 5 p.m. at Flushing Valley Country Club.
June 2
• Kaleidoscope Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad. Free family fun day.
• Young People’s Ballet Theater Spring Gala: Noon to 3 p.m. at The Paavilion, 5251 Commerce Road in Flint Township.
• The PARTY-The Art of Glamour: 7 p.m to midnight at Flint Institute of Arts.
June 3
• Yoga in the Gardens: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
June 5
• Yoga on the Roof: Noon at Flint Farmers’ Market.
June 8
• Second Friday Artwalk: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., various locations downtown Flint.
• The Moth StorySLAM-Gatherings: 7:30 p.m. at Sloan Museum.
June 9-10
• Flint Art Fair: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the front lawn of the Flint Institute of Arts.
June 10
• Yoga in the Gardens: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
June 15
• Hollywood Gala for the Flint Children’s Museum: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Flint Golf Club.
June 17
• Father’s Day Celebration: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
• Yoga in the Gardens: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
June 18
• Father’s Day Juneteeth Cookout: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at University Square at the corner of University and Grand Traverse avenues.
June 22
• 80s in the Hole: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Second Avenue and Stone Street near Atwood Stadium.
June 24
• Yoga in the Gardens: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
June 25
• Vision Board Party: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
June 30-July 2
• Getting Ready for Independence Day Celebration: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
July 2-4
• Heritage & Harmony Festival: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Civic Park Neighborhood along Dayton Street between Humboldt and Forest Hill Avenues.
July 4
• Independence Day Celebration: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
Flint Symphony Orchestra Concert: Gates open 6:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. show and 9:45 p.m. fireworks at Atwood Stadium.
July 13
• Second Friday Artwalk: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., various locations downtown Flint.
July 14
• Be a Tourist in Your Hometown: 10 a.m.to 4 p.m., various locations throughout Flint. Hosted by Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce.
• Alley Fest: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Buckham and Brush alleys, downtown Flint.
July 14-15
• Gold Rush Weekend: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
July 19
• Savor the Summer: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
July 21-22
• Apprentice Weekend: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
June 23-24
• Sloan Museum Auto Fair: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad.
July 26-29
• Flint Jazz Festival at Riverbank Park.
July 27-28
• Fresh Flint Festival: 1 to 5 p.m. at Dort Federal Event Center.
July 28-29
• Family Mystery Weekend: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
July 28
• Warrior Dash at E.A. Cummings Center.
August 4
• Wet Paint Day: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Applewood Estate.
August 4-5
• Railfans Weekend: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
August 10
• Loudwire Live 2018 at Dort Federal Event Center.
• Second Friday Artwalk: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., various locations downtown Flint.
August 11
• Literary Day-19th Century Rhymes: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
August 14-18
• Back to the Bricks at various locations. Main car show 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Downtown Flint.
August 17-19 and August 24
• A Day Out With Thomas: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
August 24-25
• Crim Festival of Races.
September 1-3
• Say Goodbye to Summer: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
Other Genesee County festivals
• May 31-June 3: Holy Redeemer Festival in Burton
• May 31-June 3: Swartz Creek Hometown Days
• June 6-10: Davison Festival of Flags
• June 7-10: Grand Blanc Family Fun Fest
• June 20-23: Firemens’ Homecoming Carnival and Parade in Clio
• June 23-24: Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournaments in Linden
• July 4: Fenton Freedom Festival
• August 1: Taste in Fenton 4 p.m. to 8 p.m at Fenton Community and Cultural Center
• August 4: Goodtimes in Goodrich
• August 17-19: Montrose Blueberry Festival