12 Essential Summer Activities in Oakland County
Story by Brandon Alger
Oakland County has a cool summer season that lasts typically from late-May to late-September, peaking in mid-July with average highs around 83°F and lows around 65°F. Its summers are known for beautiful blue skies, late-evenings, and a near-perfect setting for making memories. It isn’t only the environment that’s right, but the amenities too.
Oakland County’s townships are known for numerous lakes and hardwood forests, while the more-populated southern part of the county is known for its numerous downtown areas and event venues. Here are 12 activities which I consider essential to the perfect Oakland County Summer.
Visit the Detroit Zoo - Located at the intersection of Woodward and the 696 in Royal Oak, the Detroit Zoo is an incredible place to see animals. The zoo values conservation, sustainability, and its animals live in large habitats which are well-designed and spread apart to give animals a more authentic environment, and for me nothing feels more like an Oakland County summer than a busy day at the Detroit Zoo seeing the Arctic Ring of Life, visiting the world-renown Polk Penguin Center, riding the train, walking along the red panda bridge, and letting the kids play in the splash pad or on the Merry-go-Round. Get a membership, because it pays for itself in two visits and makes the parking structure free.
Go back in time to the Michigan Renaissance Festival - At 12600 Dixie Highway, in Holly Township, and starting August 19th, running through the rest of the summer, the Michigan Renaissance Festival is the best of 16th Century Europe in 21st Century Oakland County. With 17 stages for entertainment, you’ll find musicians, magicians, jugglers, and competition. Be sure to browse their themed weekends for highlights such as Pirates and Pups or the Viking Invasion.
Go kayaking at Kensington Metropark - With its main entrance at 4570 Huron Parkway, Milford, but land sprawling across 4,481 acres of wooded terrain and lakes, no Oakland County summer is complete without a trip to Kensington. There’s no need to own any specialty equipment as you can show up at one of the many beaches, rent a kayak and life vests, and carry it down to the lake. Or if you’re more experienced, bring your own. When you’re done, be sure to check out the nature center, hiking trails, or grab lunch in nearby downtown Milford or South Lyon. Speaking of our downtowns...
Spend an Afternoon in one of Oakland County’s downtowns - Located throughout Oakland County, you could hit a different downtown every weekend of the summer if you wanted. Whether you’re looking for a quiet stroll through historic Downtown Milford or an upscale day of shopping in Downtown Birmingham, Oakland County has no shortage of historical districts and downtown districts to explore.
Spend a weekend at Canterbury Village - 2359 Joslyn Ct, Orion Twp - Canterbury Village is always an exciting place to visit, but every summer weekend brings a unique festival or event. For a few examples July 29-30 is Harry Potter’s Birthday, August 12-13 is the Canterbury Dog Fest, and August 26-28 is the Michigan Made Festival. In addition to these events, Canterbury is home to many shops, vendors, dining options, and a castle that can be rented for private events or banquets.
Float the Lazy River at Red Oaks Water Park - 1455 E. 13 Mile Road, Madison Heights - But you don’t have to stick to the lazy river. You can enjoy a high-speed water slide or enjoy the wave pool, and a zero-entry pool makes Red Oaks friendly to all ages. Red Oaks operates all summer long, until September 4th, and stays open until 7 PM through August 20th. The cost is $20 for Oakland County residents, or $26 for everyone else.
Cool off at Lilypad Springs - 6200 Farmington Road, West Bloomfield, At 5,500 square feet, Lily Pad Springs is the largest splash pad in Michigan. While West Bloomfield residents all know this and get a discount, this outdoor play-scape is less-known to others, but open to everyone. At a cost of $6, it’s an affordable family-friendly afternoon. Enjoy the slides, water works, and sprayers, but beware of the giant bucket that dumps 55 gallons of water when it fills.
Celebrate our nation, at Independence Fest - July 1 at 11 AM at Clintonwood Park in Clarkston - Why not celebrate Independence Day in a township literally named for it? Independence Township puts on a huge carnival and event for the region that includes a market, live entertainment, kids activities, a stunt-dog show, and a huge firework show that kicks off at 10 PM. A free-shuttle runs from either Clarkston High School or Everest Academy where parking costs $5-10, depending on when you arrive.
Indulge at the Pig and Whiskey Festival of Ferndale - July 14-16, in Downtown Ferndale. If you enjoy barbecue, meats, whiskey, or all three - this is an event you don’t want to miss. Pig and Whiskey is now in its 14th year and has all the kinks worked out becoming an event as smooth as the whiskey options available for you here. Live music keeps the party going until Midnight, so bring friends and make new ones at this can’t-miss annual festival.
Enjoy High Octane at the Woodward Dream Cruise - August 19 (officially, but with events throughout the week leading up to it), on Woodward Avenue. Love it or hate it, the Woodward Dream Cruise is a huge event for classic car enthusiasts, drawing people from throughout the country to the Motor City to see the best of our classic cars! Don’t sleep on the other events either. Whether it’s the family-friendly Berkley CruiseFest, on August 18 at 6:30 PM on 12 Mile; or Pontiac’s Roadkill Nights on August 12 at the M-1 Concourse, where the muscle cars compete in various races, there’s an event for every car enthusiast during Dream Cruise week.
Spend Labor Day weekend at Arts, Beats, and Eats - September 1-4, 2023 and located throughout downtown Royal Oak, this festival describes itself. You’ll see local artists, musicians, and food options scattered throughout, and during the evenings you’ll get to hear big names. The list for 2023 hasn’t yet been released, but 2022 included 311, Chevelle, Sponge, and Flo Rida. The arts will be in many forms, from digital, to glass, to sculpture, and the eats range from simple to ethnic, and since the event takes place in a temporarily closed-off portion of downtown Royal Oak, the restaurants are always an option too.
Dance a Jig, at the County Oakland Irish Festival - September 9, 2023 and located on 12 Mile in Berkley, The County Oakland Irish Festival is a small-town street fair that is as fun to attend as it is to say its name. Irish music is accompanied by Irish dance and Irish cultural display. You can visit vendors, activity areas, or enter into the contest for the best legs in a kilt.
