Sunday Fun Day

In Detroit, Sundays extend — not represent the end of — the weekend. Refreshed by Nyah Pierson

1. Peak Your Curiosity
2. Let’s Have Some Fun
3. Outdoors & More
4. Quick Eats
5. Extra Side Quests

For many, Sunday is a day of rest, but Detroiters know that this day is simply another day to expand one’s palate of experiences. From learning about the rich culture of the city to enjoying a soul food-inspired brunch at Fixins Soul Kitchen, the city of Detroit offers a wide array of opportunities to fill your Sunday schedule.

1. Peak Your Curiosity

Museum Square

Detroit’s Cultural Center, an easy 15-minute QLine ride from Campus Martius Park, puts you in an area where you can easily walk to and enjoy the Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Science Center, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Main Detroit Public Library — all in one day, if you so choose. Or head towards downtown and hop on the people mover to head to Greektown to go to Second Baptist Church - Detroit Underground Railroad Historical Society

Your day can be filled with discussing the works of Diego Rivera within the Detroit Institute of Art, or you can learn about the three-panel mural Man’s Mobility by John Stephens Coppins at the Main Detroit Public Library downtown, amongst the lively Wayne State University campus. The Detroit Public Library is known to host an event or two on any particular Sunday — a noted author’s reading, a jazz combo, or a yoga session are among its beyond-books offerings.

However, if you skip out on library time, consider walking the brick streets of Old Detroit at the Detroit Historical Museum, or strolling through the permanent exhibit, "And Still We Rise" at The Wright, which depicts the perseverance and power of African Americans. If you love the Charles H. Wright, stop by DIA and appreciate masterpieces by masters like Rivera, Degas, and Van Gogh. While there, check out independent films at the Detroit Film Theatre. After, make your way to the Second Baptist Church for their famous Detroit Underground Railroad Historical Society Tour.

A little-known secret: the DIA’s cafeteria-style eatery, Café DIA inside Kresge Court, has really good eats and is open Sundays from 10a.m.- 4:30 p.m.


With the Kids

Although all of Detroit’s museums are family-friendly, there are some that are notably made for young children. No matter the age group, every child will learn something new at the Michigan Science Center, which has more than 250 exhibits and three theaters, including a planetarium. With various group activities and live science shows, there is no shortage of things to learn for young minds in search of learning about the world around them. Other not-to-be-missed Sunday spots, especially for families, include the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC), just east of downtown Detroit on the riverfront. “There’s a lot of doing, not just seeing,” said Linda Walters, director at the OAC. “We offer an active way for kids and adults to feel like they’re outdoors.” Those ways include getting in a rowboat and mimicking fishing, plus various forms of archery. Sometimes, weather permitting, you might be invited to actually go outdoors for ice fishing, snowshoeing, or sledding.

Credit: Shelby Dubin


Or visit The Henry Ford in Dearborn, to feel like you are stepping into a time machine while you view into the minds of America’s greatest minds while walking the halls of the museum. Explore exhibits such as Driven to Win: Racing in America, exploring the history of race car driving, or catch a show at the museum’s Giant Screen Experience. And if the weather permits, visit the beautiful world of Greenfield Village - 80 acres devoted to experiencing the “sounds & sensations of America’s fascinating formations”, open every Sunday from 9:30am to 5pm.

2. Let’s Have Some Fun


Credit: The Yard at Corktown - Brayan Gutierrez

See a show

On a Sunday, a performance of a lifetime is sure to change your perspective on the world around you. Whether enjoying a critically acclaimed show with local talent at Detroit Public Theatre, seeing a touring company perform a Broadway show at the Fisher Theatre or Fox Theatre, or hearing a symphony orchestra at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, you are sure to leave any artistic space in the city of Detroit feeling rejuvenated for more.

Let’s Go Shopping

Experience one of the oldest outdoor market experiences of diverse produce, beautiful art from vendors, and great performances from local artists around the Eastern Market. Home to over 225 vendors, the Market is known for its culinary prowess. From the vast amounts of food out for purchase to weekly cooking classes, this space has been home to feeding the city of Detroit with healthy and hearty meals since 1891. The Market is also home to over 150 small businesses and surrounding historic restaurants and storefronts.

Did someone say Games?

The Yard is housed in Corktown, the city’s oldest neighborhood that was first established in the 1830s by Irish immigrants. The Yard is an entertainment venue for all personalities. Whether an introvert who likes playing board games with family and friends or an adventurous extrovert who is interested in axe throwing, this venue has it all. On Sundays, The Yard is open from 4pm to 10pm.

Any day in the city of Detroit, it is hard to miss out on the opportunity to watch any of our championship-bound sports teams. Whether you want to watch the Pistons or the Red Wings at the Little Caesars Arena, the city of Detroit goes hard for its teams. In the fall, the tailgates that surround Ford Field to see the Lions play, or if it’s spring, head over to Comerica Park to watch the Tigers hit it out of the park. Whether it’s a tailgate, a crowd chant, or catching a free t-shirt, experience the spirit that’s brought trophies home to the Motor City.

3. Outdoors & More

Photo by Murals in the Market - Artist Tony WHLGN

City as a Canvas

If you are interested in viewing art outside of the museum walls, experience the Murals in the Market - showcasing the art of artists nationally and internationally all over the Eastern Market during their Fall Art Festival, with over 125 pieces. This festival was born after the “world-class” Murals in Islandview; this tour takes you around the Market to experience the city’s best and brightest murals in town and the history behind them.

Park It

No matter the time of year, Campus Martius Park is sure to be filled with activity. From festive lights and activities, the night of the Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony, to Movie Nights in the D in the summer. As an open plaza in the heart of downtown, Campus Martius Park is a popular gathering place for ice skating in the winter months and simply taking in the hustle-and-bustle of the heart of downtown in the summer. Voted the “#1 Best Ice Skating Rink in the country two years in a row (2024 & 2025)”, the ice skating rink is open for skating from the evening of the holiday tree lighting to early March. Open 7 days a week, with hours varying throughout, on Sundays it is open from 12pm to 8pm. Year-round, the park hosts family-friendly events from yoga in the park to Movie Nights in the D, where family-friendly movies play throughout the city center for all to enjoy.

Water Events

Being not only home to the Motor City but also to some of the cleanest water forms in the nation, be sure to take advantage of the city’s many water activities - when the weather allows. At the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, they are “dedicated to keeping the Riverfront a beautiful, exciting, safe, and accessible gathering place for all.” If you are interested in bird watching, bike riding, or sledding, look no further than the Conservancy. From cultural celebrations to just taking a walk down the city’s critically-acclaimed Riverwalk, you will find that the city embraces activities on land and water on a daily basis.

4. Quick Eats

Bringin’ Brunch

It seems like if you blink, there’s a new restaurant in town, adding to the diverse landscape of places to eat, drink, and party. To start off the list is the Dime Store, with too many “best of brunch” wins to count as a solid choice. When you order the veggie omelette or the spicy Cuban rice bowl at any time of day with their “all-day brunch”, be sure to leave a review on your experience. For those living a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, Brooklyn Street Local is your go-to brunch spot. From 10a.m.- 3p.m. every weekend, the menu features tasty vegan options from banana walnut pancakes to BSL poutine. For a laid-back yet lively time, Honest John’s, an American bar & grill, in the Cass Corridor keeps brunch budget-friendly and serves a highly praised chicken and waffles. Or a restaurant that is known for its menu, whether for brunch or dinner, look no further than Ivy Kitchen & Cocktails. With their Salmon Croquettes Benedict or short rib hash, be sure to pair it with one of their signature smoked maple old-fashions.

At The Apparatus Room inside the Detroit Foundation Hotel, you’ll find live jazz once a month during Sunday brunch. Pair any one of its plated offerings with the Foundation Bloody, which uses all Detroit-made ingredients: Detroit Foundation gin (made in collaboration with Detroit City Distillery), Norden aquavit, and McClure’s bloody mix.

The Apparatus Room. Photo by Jesse David Green

Or enter from the back at La Dolce Vita for plated Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Live piano music accompanies the menu that includes salmon hash and Italian-style french toast.

It’d be hard to argue that there’s a more romantic place to dine in metro Detroit than The Whitney. This charming restaurant, named “Best Classic Restaurant by Food & Wine,” offers a three-course plated brunch from 10a.m.-1:30p.m. and a four-course high tea at 12 p.m. - 2pm every Sunday. The high tea includes a 3-tier tower of patisseries and tea, while the plated brunch includes mimosas by the glass and a rodizio procession. Additionally, every first and fourth Sunday, guests can participate in tours and a dining experience from 9:30pm - 11pm that includes a walk-through of the mansion, a five-course meal, and a paranormal tour that the restaurant’s Director of Operations, David Duey, describes as “an authentic ghost hunting.”

After-Brunch Merriment

If you’re looking to pass your Sunday with a good drink and good company, go to Candy Bar, which Architectural Digest named the “most beautifully designed bar” in Michigan. Inside the Siren Hotel, it’s open Sundays, 4pm - 12am. Or you can head to Bert’s Market Place in Eastern Market. Known for its barbecue and music, the entertainment features a theater, jazz room, and a Motown room. Sunday night, in particular, is open-mic night. In the Midtown neighborhood, you’ll find the nothing-fancy-but-fun Bronx Bar on Second Avenue, which attracts the college crowd and locals who enjoy a good beer, burger, and game of pool. Or head on over to Fixins: Soul Kitchen, located in the historic past Black neighborhood of Paradise Valley, this restaurant is sure to fill you up with their smothered pork chops and signature better burger. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Baker’s Keyboard Lounge for a Sunday stop. Many of America’s jazz greats have played at Baker’s, which prides itself on being called the world’s oldest jazz club.

If you are looking for a restaurant that doesn’t serve American cuisine but still serves a great meal and a beautiful vibe, look no further than Ima - Izakaya. Located in Corktown, this restaurant serves meals “inspired by traditional Japanese izakayas” with fresh meat and vegetable skewers in constant rotation. Get your bowl of hot ramen every Sunday from 12pm - 10pm.

5. Extra Side Quests

Outside of sports teams and the endless amounts of culture to learn about and experience here in the city, here are a few other options to cushion your itinerary with us during your visit:

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