Arts, Beats & Eats Brings Family Fun To Downtown Royal Oak

Arts Beats and Eats brings 4 days of fun to downtown Royal Oak over Labor Day Weekend (August 30th to September 2nd) and here’s everything you need to know for visiting with kids.

Explore the fine art festival, sample food from local restaurants, listen to a variety of performers on one of 9 stages and have fun in the family zone. The Detroit News Kids Zone will host a variety of interactive, educational and fun performances throughout the weekend, crafting stations, inflatable bounce houses and kiddie carnival rides. The Michigan Science Center will be bringing out the kid’s inner scientist with activities like Neon Spin Art and Sound Splash.

One of the biggest updates for families is the wide array of cultural programming to the kids stage, thanks to a generous sponsorship by the DIA. Some of the performances at the Detroit Institute of Arts Kid’s Stage include Revolution Chinese Yoyo, String Theory Theatre, and Sakura – Japanese Dane and Story Telling. For the full performance schedule, click here.

Family Days for individuals on the ASD spectrum are Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 12pm. Families can sign up to receive free admission for up to 4 guests, free convenient parking, free access to carnival rides and inflatables an hour before the festival opens and free lunch for the first 200 registrants per day. Learn more about how to register here.

HOURS + ADMISSION:

Festival admission is $7 in advance. Admission is FREE on Friday before 5pm and $12 after 5pm. On other days admission is $10 at the gate before 3pm and $12 after 3pm. Kids under 3 are free.

Friday, August 30th: 11am to 11pm
Saturday, August 31st: 11am to 11pm
Sunday, September 1st: 11am to 11pm
Monday, September 2nd: 11am to 9pm

PARKING: All Downtown parking lots and structure will be $20 (location addresses can be found here) and shuttle transportation is available from Royal Oak High School. Parking at the school costs $10 and the shuttle is free. Rides will be available from 10:30am – midnight. NO PARKING is allowed in the neighborhoods within a mile radius from the festival.