DAY2

CHECK-IN & Welcome

Time: 9:00am-9:30am
📍 351 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Let’s get this day started!

• Check in and grab your wristband

• Welcome gift

• Sip on some light refreshments while connecting with new friends and familiar faces

Get ready to experience the city through culture, collaboration, and celebration.

1st Stop – Legacy Exhibit + Scavenger Hunt Experience

This isn’t your average museum walk. This is your invitation to step into the stories that made the city.

We’ll kick off the day with an interactive exhibit experience that brings the histories of Redford, Westland, Livonia, Garden City, Inkster, and Wayne to life. Discover how these communities were shaped by innovation, agriculture, migration, industry, and the ongoing fight for civil rights.

Then tap into a deeper layer — the powerful and emotional stories of Detroit’s Black queer community during the 1990s. From the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis to housing and employment discrimination, this exhibit tells a story of resilience, resistance, and building space to thrive.

While you explore, join in on our 90-minute scavenger hunt through the galleries. Clues, challenges, and yes — prizes. This is your chance to learn, connect, and compete as you move through moments that matter.

You’ll walk away inspired, informed, and ready for what’s next.

2nd Stop – Neighborhood Day Block Party

Let’s take all that history and celebrate it — Detroit-style.

Next up: Neighborhood Day. This isn’t just a block party — it’s a full-on cultural celebration with music, food, and community vibes turned all the way up.

There’ll be amazing food to keep your energy up, live music to get you moving, and games with prizes that bring out the competitor in everyone. But this stop is also about giving back. Roll up your sleeves and join in a flower planting project that’s all about making Detroit shine even brighter.

This is what joy and impact look like side by side — a true love letter to the city.

3rd Stop – Fashion Alley: Where Culture Meets Self-Care

Let’s shift gears — now it’s time to shop, eat, and treat yourself.

Welcome to Fashion Alley, a curated pop-up experience spotlighting Black-owned brands and entrepreneurs doing it with style. From unique clothing and accessories to skin care and custom pieces, this is where Detroit’s creative hustle shows out.

Grab a bite from local vendors while you explore — and if you’re feeling the need to recharge, hit up the mobile massage trailer on site. Certified massage therapists will be ready to help you relax and reset. If you’d like to book a session in advance, just tap the button on the ticket page.

This stop is about celebrating the makers, the visionaries, and the magic of Black business done the Detroit way.

Final Stop – The Grand Finale Block Party

We’re closing the day with a vibe.

Our final stop is another massive block party — but this one hits different. As the sun goes down, the city lights up. Connect with local legends, creatives, and leaders shaping the next chapter of Detroit. Vibe out with live DJs, enjoy a plate from some of the best food vendors in the city, and raise a toast to everything we’ve experienced together.

It’s about the culture. The community. The comeback.

As the night winds down, we’ll head back to the drop-off points — full hearts, new connections, and enough memories to carry with you long after the music fades.

End of Day 2

That’s a wrap on another powerful chapter of the Detroit Cookout Tour Experience. Thank you for showing up, showing out, and holding space for the stories and spirit of this city.

This is what it looks like when history, joy, and purpose come together.

Let’s keep the movement moving. Detroit, we’re just getting started.

After The Party

Absolutely! Here’s a polished and vivid experience recommendation guide built around your theme — “Coming to Detroit for Culture and History” — focusing on how to keep the energy alive even after the tour ends. It has a cohesive flow and colorful descriptions to match the spirit of Detroit:

AFTER THE PARTY: The Detroit Culture Doesn’t Sleep

So the tour’s over... but in Detroit, the real adventure just begins. Whether you're chasing city lights, soulful music, rooftop vibes, or a slice of Detroit's cultural legacy, here are hand-picked experiences that capture the heartbeat of the city — all within reach from your drop-off location.

Experience Zuzu — Detroit’s High-End Dining Gem

📍 0.5 miles away | ⏰ Open till Midnight
Step into Zuzu and indulge in elevated elegance. This upscale Asian fusion restaurant brings luxury dining to life with a modern twist and immersive ambiance. It’s the perfect spot for a late dinner or celebratory toast.
💡 Psssst... Invite Tiffany — it’s on her bucket list.
📲 Make a reservation here

Level Two — Rooftop Vibes & Dancefloor Energy

📍 Short walk from the drop-off | ⏰ Open till 2am
Craving views with your beats? Level Two delivers on both. With its rooftop patio offering stunning skyline sights and a vibrant, mixed crowd, this club is where music and culture collide. Whether you're dancing under the stars or lounging with a drink in hand, the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Society Detroit — Multi-Level Nightclub Near the Riverwalk

📍 About 1 mile away
Detroit’s nightlife meets cultural soul at Society Detroit. Think high-energy dance floors pulsing with hip-hop and R&B, alongside cozy chill-out zones across its multiple levels. Located near the scenic Riverwalk, this venue’s deep connection to Detroit’s music scene makes it a must-experience.
🎧 Check out their socials for the latest events and vibes.

Skate Into the Night at Northland Skating Rink

📍 7 miles from drop-off | 10pm – 1am | $10 entry / $4 rental
Ready for a real slice of Detroit history? Grab a few friends and head to Northland Skating Rink — a sacred ground for jam skating and cultural rhythm. From old-school jams to the latest Detroit tracks, this is where generations have come together on wheels. Watch or join in the artistry. This isn’t just skating — it’s storytelling on wheels.

Roll the Dice at Greektown Casino-Hotel

📍 0.3 miles from drop-off| Open 24 hours
Detroit’s Greektown lights up at night, and the Greektown Casino-Hotel is your playground for glitz and risk. Whether you’re rolling dice, trying your luck at the slots, or simply soaking in the electric energy, this spot is a Detroit classic. A quick stroll from your drop-off zone, it's perfect for those who want to keep the adrenaline high.

Whatever Your Vibe, Detroit Has the Flavor

Whether you're a foodie, dancer, risk-taker, or cultural explorer, Detroit is layered with experiences that go beyond the expected. The party doesn’t end when the sun goes down — it just shifts gears. Welcome to Detroit after dark.

DAY 3

By now, you’ve felt the beat of Detroit — but today, you’ll walk in the footsteps of legends, trailblazers, and freedom seekers. From the sounds of Motown to the powerful legacy of the Underground Railroad, Day 3 is about connection — to culture, community, and history.

Second Baptist Church: A Stop on the Underground Railroad

📍 441 Monroe St, Detroit, MI 48226
🔗 Book a tour here

Before freedom had a flag, it had a path — and Detroit was the final stop before Canada. Second Baptist Church, founded in 1836, was a safe haven for more than 5,000 freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. This sacred space isn’t just history — it’s living testimony.

Step inside Croghan Street Station, hear first-hand accounts of real escapees, and follow the incredible story of the Blackburns, whose daring escape helped spark the Underground Railroad movement in Detroit.

This isn’t just a church — it’s one of the last remaining original Underground Railroad sites in the city, still active and thriving today.

What to Expect:
🚂 Passionate, local guides
📜 Untold stories of courage and resistance
🕯️ Sacred space still holding the weight of history
⛪ Welcoming to all — spiritual or not

Motown Museum: Where Legends Were Born

📍 2648 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208

Step into Hitsville U.S.A., the little house that changed the world. This is where Motown Records was born — and where superstars like Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson created music that moved generations.

🎹 Stand in Studio A — the very room the Jackson 5 made history
🧤 See MJ’s iconic glove up close
🎤 Explore the Diana Ross exhibit
🎶 Learn how Motown amplified Black pride and social change through sound

This isn’t just a museum. It’s music. Memory. Movement. You’ll leave humming, maybe even emotional — but absolutely inspired.

Eastern Market: Art, Flavor & Detroit’s Creative Heartbeat

📍 2934 Russell St, Detroit, MI 48207

No visit to Detroit is complete without a stroll through Eastern Market — one of the oldest and largest public markets in the country and a living, breathing expression of the city’s creativity and culture.

By day, it’s a feast for the senses: colorful produce, rich aromas from street food vendors, and some of the best people-watching in town. But it’s also a cultural canvas — where massive murals from Detroit and international artists tell stories of pride, power, and place.

Come for the market. Stay for the murals. Support local shops. Grab a fresh juice or street taco. Snap a photo under the iconic sheds. Let the city’s flavor soak into your spirit.

What You'll Find:
🎨 Street art and murals around every corner
🍴 Farm-fresh food, food trucks, and artisan goods
🛍️ Local makers and Detroit-branded everything
🖤 Authentic community energy — pure Detroit

Recharge or Keep Exploring

Need to unwind? Head to Campus Martius Park for a drink, a lawn chair, and a front-row seat to downtown life. Or, if you’ve got energy to spare, explore more: grab coffee at a Black-owned café in Midtown, peek into The Wright Museum, or let the Riverwalk guide your feet.

End the Night at Old School Sunday – Royal Skateland

📍 5201 Alter Rd, Detroit, MI 48224
🕘 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM | 21+ only
🎟️ Admission: $12

Still in town? Good — because this is how Detroit winds down: on four wheels and full soul.

For over 50 years, Royal Skateland has been rolling through Detroit’s east side with music, rhythm, and community love. It’s not just a rink — it’s a rite of passage.

🎶 Old School Sunday is Detroit’s grown & glide night. Think:

🎧 Classic R&B, soul, and funk
💃 Black joy in motion
🛼 Jam skaters, OG regulars, and first-timers all vibing together

It’s the kind of night that lingers — in your body, in your spirit, and in every song you hear the next morning. Come catch the rhythm of Detroit one last time.

🔗 View event details here

final good byes

That wraps up your sneak peek into the full Detroit Cookout Tour experience. We can’t wait to welcome you to the city — to laugh, connect, dance, and celebrate everything that makes our communities powerful. Whether you’re joining us for the full ride or just popping in for a day, know that every moment is crafted with intention, culture, and joy.

And while this tour ends, the story doesn’t stop here. Save the date — November 22, 2025 — for The Blaque Ball: an unforgettable night of unity, velvet, elegance, and community celebration. It's not just an event, it's a statement. We hope to see you there.

Let’s turn this moment into a movement — and we’ll see you soon in The D.