Sports & Recreation

From thrilling soccer and roller derby matches to community rugby clubs, the Detroit region has opportunities to experience non-traditional sporting events for every type of athlete.

Detroit City FC (DCFC) is a Detroit-based soccer club founded in 2012 that plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). DCFC plays its home games at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. The club’s rapid growth in popularity is shown through its doubled operating budget for the 2015 season, its corporate sponsorships from Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers, Flagstar Bank, and Henry Ford Health System, and also through the $741,250 raised to renovate and rehabilitate Keyworth Stadium in 2016.

The Detroit Roller Derby is the premier roller derby league in the state of Michigan and offers a fun and meaningful experience for fans and participants. The league also prepares participants for national and international competitions. You can watch the Detroit Roller Derby at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.

Watch or participate in a rugby match with the Detroit Tradesmen or the Detroit Rugby Football Club, two programs dedicated to holding exciting events and giving back to youth and communities in Southeast Michigan.

There are hundreds of municipal and county parks in the Detroit region, in addition to 13 metro parks, 10 state parks, 14 state recreation areas and 17 state game areas. All of these parks offer a variety of facilities, including swimming areas, boating, golf courses and ranges, biking/hiking trails, fishing, skating and winter sports. The region is also home to four water parks, if you are looking to take a ride on a wave, swim in a pool, or slide down a giant water slide.

Located in the city of Detroit, Belle Isle Park is the largest city island park in the United States. Belle Isle offers a variety of facilities including the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle Nature Center, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

The metro parks are well-maintained and offer year-round outdoor recreation. Springtime offers trees and flowers in bloom while fall shows beautiful colors along the nature trails. Take a swim in a sparkling lake during the summer months and enjoy ice-skating and cross-country skiing in the winter.

For more information on the parks in regional Detroit, follow the links below:

• State Parks and Recreation Areas
• Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority

The Detroit region is home to many festivals and community events that improve resident quality of life. Listed below are some of the most prominent festivals.

• Arts, Beats, and Eats: The festival is a celebration of the quality of life in Oakland County, featuring family entertainment at low cost with presentations of musicians, artists and culinary exhibits in downtown Royal Oak. The festival offers over 200 performances on 10 stages, a fine arts show and cuisine presented by local restaurants.
• Detroit River Days: Held along the banks of the Detroit River, the festival celebrates summer with music, family activities, great food, the boat Parade of Lights, a carnival, Pooch-A-Palooza and fun on the water.
• Hart Plaza: Located in downtown Detroit, the Plaza features many festivals and activities throughout the year. To view the current events calendar, click here.
• Michigan Renaissance Festival: The festival is held annually in Holly. Each weekend presents a different theme such as the Royal Ale Festival and the Harvest Huzzah; along with special events, the feast of fantasy, queen’s tea and others. The festival offers many attractions with an artisan marketplace, theater, and live music.
• The Woodward Dream Cruise: More than 40,000 stunning cars cruise Woodward Avenue from Pontiac to Ferndale, through Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak, during the Woodward Dream Cruise: a celebration of classic car culture attracting over 1 million visitors to the Metro-Detroit area. The cities of Berkley, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pontiac and Royal Oak host events in honor of the Dream Cruise such as classic car shows, family activities and live musical performances.