Hart Plaza Event Schedule

**GPCharles** · July-18-24, 09:02 AM

It seems like there is any event every weekend at Hart Plaza, which is great, although the Plaza seems to be constantly fenced-off.

Where can I find a schedule of the weekly events? I have tried to find one online, but I am probably looking in the wrong place.

**401don** · July-18-24, 11:30 AM

https://www.eventbrite.ca/d/mi--detroit/hart-plaza/

**stasu1213** · July-18-24, 06:22 PM

Who own Hart Plaza? Who own the fence company that uses the fence that surround Hart Plaza? Almost every event held at Gart Plaza has a fee attached to attend. The fountain wasn't even on last weekend, the hottest weekend of the summer, during the African World Festival. I am wondering if the Grand Prix and Jazz Festival have to pay the city an exuberant amount of money just to hold events that are free to the public. There is an event that is held every Sunday evening in the old neighborhood called Blue in the Park which had grew in attendants over the past couple of years complete with vendors. Strangely, the event wasn't held this past weekend and in the meantime attendance was very low at the African World Festival the same day.

**401don** · July-19-24, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

Who own Hart Plaza? Who own the fence company that uses the fence that surround Hart Plaza? Almost every event held at Gart Plaza has a fee attached to attend. The fountain wasn't even on last weekend, the hottest weekend of the summer, during the African World Festival. I am wondering if the Grand Prix and Jazz Festival have to pay the city an exuberant amount of money just to hold events that are free to the public. There is an event that is held every Sunday evening in the old neighborhood called Blue in the Park which had grew in attendants over the past couple of years complete with vendors. Strangely, the event wasn't held this past weekend and in the meantime attendance was very low at the African World Festival the same day.

Ahh, the city owns Hart Plaza. The city stated several years ago they could no longer pay for policing to these events so unless the event could get a sponsor to pay they would have to be ticketed to cover the costs. If there are back-to-back events it doesn't make sense to take the fencing down for a few days just to put it back up. I will say the temporary fencing looks really tacky at a city riverfront plaza. Jazz Fest has a large number of corporate sponsors and will remain free.

**K-slice** · July-19-24, 08:22 AM

Those events on Eventbrite all look god awful. I cant believe that they are well attended.

**Zacha341** · July-20-24, 07:24 PM

Nothing stays the same. Going back to the eighties we used to attend the African World festival - prior to the fencing etc. Saw Isaac Hayes perform one year. Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Steel Pulse, others.

Great per the headliners, lower-level gallery events, family oriented events/ performances, vendors, food etc. Now there's patchy fencing and fees which go along way for crowd control and revenue I suppose but the AW Festival was always a safe crowd, similar to the annual Detroit Jazz Festivals.

**Honky Tonk** · July-22-24, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Nothing stays the same. Going back to the eighties we used to attend the African World festival - prior to the fencing etc. Saw Isaac Hayes perform one year. Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Steel Pulse, others.

Great per the headliners, lower-level gallery events, family oriented events/ performances, vendors, food etc. Now there's patchy fencing and fees which go along way for crowd control and revenue I suppose but the AW Festival was always a safe crowd, similar to the annual Detroit Jazz Festivals.

I saw some of your mentioned artists and attended AW Festivals regularly. I remember when Concert of Colors used to be at Chene Park. It was always a very civil, fun, and interesting crowd. The venue was changed when DPD started charging $85k for crowd control. I attended Concert of Colors for the last 5 days around the museum district this year. 0 problems. Saw some terrific world music bands. People were very friendly. Good vibes.

**ABetterDetroit** · July-22-24, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Nothing stays the same.

Truer words were never spoken.

**GPCharles** · July-23-24, 09:47 AM

10:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning and Hart Plaza is once again closed to the public and completely fenced off. Isn't Hart Plaza supposed to be a public place?

**Zacha341** · July-26-24, 08:44 AM

^Yes. I drove by there Wednesday and there was an opening in the fence and there were people walking within the Plaza! And the fencing is horrid, patch-work, spotty [the random gaps] and not a good look for the city or the plaza.

**401don** · July-26-24, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

^Yes. I drove by there Wednesday and there was an opening in the fence and there were people walking within the Plaza! And the fencing is horrid, patch-work, spotty [the random gaps] and not a good look for the city or the plaza.

Agreed. You would think with Duggan and lots of other people looking at it from across the street every day something would be done. Lots of people walk along the riverfront from the Ren Cen expecting to come through Hart Plaza but have to either turn around or make a long walk around it to the west. Who knows who and how much they are paying for that ugly fencing, which is probably rented.

**Meddle** · July-27-24, 05:08 PM

'Prior to the fencing' ....

I remember driving through most of it. Very slowly of course. I don't remember the access points, but we drove in one area, around and down and out another area.

This was not long after it opened and not during events. Few if any DPD present.