America 250 celebrations
• “Telling Troy’s Stories” exhibit celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, is open during regular hours in June, July and August, at Troy Historic Village, 60 W Wattles Rd., Troy. (Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursdays). Exhibit is included with general admission, non-members-$7 per adult, $5 per senior, free for children under 18, pre-register at www.TroyHistoricVillage.org, 248-524-3570, walk-ins are also accepted.
• Canterbury Village, 250th Year Celebration, June 28, 2325 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion. Food, music from 2-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-3 p.m. Sunday, lawn games, face painting, Monster truck rides. Hot dog eating contest, 6 p.m. Saturday, sign up at: https://signup.com/go/efLBaKZ Free admission and parking. https://www.canterburyvillage.com/event/250th-year-celebration/
• 39th Annual Tiki Night/America 250th: 9 p.m. Friday, July 3. Lighting Up of Wolverine Lake. Line your shores with candles. All around the village – Clara Miller Park, private homes, and on the lake, Clara Miller Park, 855 Glengary Road Wolverine Lake. Fireworks 10 p.m. Candles can be purchased at the Village for $5/each. https://america250.org/event/tiki-night-2026/
• Oakland County’s America 250 Celebration: 12-4 p.m. July 25-26. Oakland History Center, 405 E Chavez, Pontiac. This year’s Summer Social includes exhibits, talks and re-enactors from historians and free antique appraisals, flea market, food trucks, music, kids activities, free tours of the Governor Moses Wisner mansion. Free ice cream and free admission. office@ocphs.org.
• America’s 250th Birthday Bash: 2026 Fourth of July Parade, 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4, Downtown Northville. Featuring bands, floats, antique cars. maddy@northville.org.
• America: 250 Years in the Making, 5-10 p.m. July 2-5, Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn. Grand stage performance by Detroit Symphony Orchestra at 8:30 p.m. Rotating performance groups, including brass, ragtime piano, Motown, blues, jazz, decade vignettes, Military fife and drum parade, Summer street food, cold treats and craft beer, free carousel rides. Performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” with cannon fire and a fireworks finale. $10 per vehicle for public tickets and free for members. Member and public ticket prices vary. https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/plan-your-visit/admission
Children’s activities
• Dreams & Wings program for children with a disability is July 11 at the Maven by Midfield hanger at the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Twp. Flight times will be scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon. The event includes an airplane ride, and airplane-themed activities, for youth ages 6-17 with disabilities and up to two family members and/or friends. Registration is due by June 26 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScL58arsiQPS2ZBXEY2P6wz-Ux1D36e4jpUvdTMk4za9LTHzQ/viewform. Applications are entered in a selection lottery with first-time participants receiving priority. There is no charge to attend.
• Bugs on Wheels: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Thursdays, July 9 and 23, Noon-2 p.m. Sunday, July 19. “The Bug Lady” presents a hands-on, educational session featuring live insects and facts about them. Children and adults have the opportunity to better understand and appreciate how amazing, important, and not-so-scary bugs really are. See, touch, and hold some amazing little creatures. Guests can also look at taxidermy and see what scientists who study these creatures do in order to save and study them. Free. Festival Park, The Village of Rochester Hills, 104 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, TheVORH.com
• Kids Komotion Concert is 10 a.m.-12 p.m. August 20 at Marshbank Park, 2805 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield Twp. Interactive children’s entertainment, free inflatables and special costumed characters. The Optimist Club of West Bloomfield will be on-site selling snacks and refreshments, with all proceeds supporting programs for children in our community. wbparks.org/series/kids-komotion-concerts
Community activities
• Wet & Wild Wednesdays: 12 – 2 p.m. Wednesdays in July, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road. Musical entertainment, slip and slides, a Rochester Hills Fire Truck, foam machine for little kids, Rochester Public Library Book mobile on site. Purchase tickets at the door, $6 per person for adults, children under age 2 and Museum members free.
• Lake Orion Dragons High School Band: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, July 23. Featuring some of the most dedicated young musicians in our community. Highlighting the skill, spirit, and hard work of Lake Orion’s student performers. The program includes concert band favorites, upbeat selections, and polished ensemble pieces. Free. Wildwood Amphitheater, 2700 Joslyn Ct, Lake Orion, Wildwood Amphitheater
• Troy Buy Nothing Give Event: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. July 18. Free community event at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy. Bring items to give or help items find their new home. Free admission/items. Volunteers also needed July 17-18 to help keep volunteers fed and hydrated and donating or lending event supplies. To volunteer or donate: https://tinyurl.com/2026BuyNothingEventSupport. https://rec.troymi.gov/programs___events/allevents.php
Farmers markets
• Clarkston Area Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 10 in the front parking lot at the Clarkston Community Education Center, 6558 Waldon Road, Clarkston, clarkstonareafarmersmarket@gmail.com, clarkstonareafarmersmarket.com.
• Holly Farmers Market: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 25, at Crapo Park, downtown Holly, hollyfarmersmarket.weebly.com, www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568281307212.
• Oakland County Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, through December (summer market hours began May 2. The market is open year-round on Saturdays), at 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp., email OCmarket@oakgov.com, 248-858-5495, www.facebook.com/OaklandCountyFarmersMarket.
• Ortonville Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, through Sept. 26, downtown Ortonville, Market Info Booth, 476 Mill St., facebook.com/ortonvillefarmersmarket.
• Downtown Oxford Open Air Summer Market: 4-7 p.m. July 16 and Aug. 13, at Washington Square, Oxford. (Also, Summer Concert series is 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays June 18-Aug. 13, excluding July 2), https://downtownoxford.info/events.
• Downtown Rochester Farmers’ Market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 31, (closed July 4). The market will be moving back to its original location at the corner of E. Third and Water St., just one block east of Main Street, downtown Rochester. www.downtownrochestermi.com/farmers-market.
• Wolverine Lake Farmers Market: 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays, through October 13, Clara Miller Park, 2500 Benstein Road. Wolverine Lake. Vendor spot available. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1479743227495768&set=pb.100063803136847.-2207520000
Festivals/Shows
• Carnival at Lake Orion Jubilee is June 25-28, New Location: Wildwood Amphitheater, 2700 Joslyn Ct., Lake Orion.
• Magic Bus at Hippie Fest in the Village is 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11, Canterbury Village, 2420 Joslyn Road, Lake Orion, Hippie items, beers, cider and wine, various food options and late 60’s Classic Hit songs.
• The Oddities & Curiosities Expo: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 11-12. For the lovers of the Strange, Unusual & Bizarre, something weird for everyone. Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue, Novi. Ticket prices vary. Children 12 and under free. https://odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com/
• Oakland County Fair: July 10-19. 1-11 p.m. July 10-11 and 1-10 p.m. July 12 is the Big Rock Carnival Weekend, rides, midway games, food, drink and fair treats. Livestock and horse exhibitors will begin arriving after the evening fireworks on Friday, July 10. https://www.oakfair.org/ Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg.
• Pride in Pontiac 2026: Co-produced by Broken Arrow Entertainment and Unorthodox Dragat. Pontiac’s first full LGBTQ+ Pride celebration featuring Live drag performances, Live music and DJ sets throughout the day, Community organizations and resources on site, VIP lounge, complimentary drink ticket, and meet & greet access (presale only), Noon-9 p.m. free wristband entry, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. ticketed 21 and over only, Friday, August 14. The Crofoot, 1 South Saginaw Street, Pontiac. Purchase Early Bird tickets (ends July 20) and VIP tickets. Pontiac.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pride-in-pontiac-2026-still-here-still-proud-oakland-county-mi-tickets-1989365764554
• Friday Nights at the Fountain: 7-9 p.m. July 10, 17, 24, 31, live music, Center Street Park Gazebo, Downtown Milford. https://www.meetmeinmilford.com/events/friday-night-live-summer-concerts/
• Holly Car Show: 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 7. Downtown Holly. Weather permitting. https://www.facebook.com/holly.carshow
Fundraisers
• Swing for THAW Golf Outing: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday, July 17. 18-hold scramble, shotgun start, on-course food & beverage, lunch on the turn, silent auction & raffle, dinner and awards ceremony. Proceeds to benefit THAW’s mission of providing essential energy assistance to those facing hardship. Northville Hills Golf Club, 15565 Bay Hill Drive, Northville. Prices vary. https://birdease.com/swingforthaw
• OLHSA Golf Fore Change 2026: 8 a.m. Friday, August 28. Westwynd Golf Course, 4161 Adams Road, Oakland Twp. Hosted by OLHSA to raise funds for OLHSA’s essential emergency support programs helping local families in times of crisis. The event includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 18 holes with golf cart, and contests and raffles at the event. The cost of the event is $600 per foursome or $150 per person. To register or sign up as sponsor, olhsa.org/fore. Sponsorship pledges must be turned in by August 7.
Garden walks
• Troy Garden Club 51st Garden Walk and plant sale: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. Six local gardens are participating including five in Troy and one in Bloomfield Hills. This is Troy Garden Club’s principal fundraiser, whose purpose is to generate funds to support the horticultural endeavors of organizations and individuals at local, regional and state levels. Garden Walk attendees will receive free raffle tickets from the following: each garden visited; from THV vendors following a sale; and from the TGC plant sale with each purchase. Advance tickets are available for $15 each at Auburn Oaks Garden Center, Telly’s Greenhouse, the Troy Historic Village, Uncle Lukes, Bordine’s Rochester and online at troygardenclubMI.com. On Garden Day, tickets will be sold for $18 each at the Troy Historic Village until 6 p.m. (Cash or check only). Included with tickets is a map to all venues. Free admission to Midsummer Arts & Crafts Boutique and TGC Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Troy Historic Village, 60 West Wattles Road, Troy. www.TroyGardenClubMI.com.
• Southfield Garden Walk: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, June 28, featuring 18 yards in the Sherwood Village Neighborhood, registration in front of the former Schoenhals School, 16400 Lincoln. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased on the day of the event or from the Southfield Mayor’s Office. Attendees are encouraged to walk, a shuttle bus will make a continuous loop around the subdivision. Parking is free, as are refreshments.
Health activities
• Yoga in The Park and Sound Healing: Yoga is 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays through August 26 (No class July 29) Sound Healing is 10:45 a.m. following Yoga on July 15 and Aug. 12, Brandon Twp. Community Park, 1414 N. Hadley Road, Ortonville. Held in the Tree Library along the paved walking path near the gazebo. Yoga is $12 per class and Sound Healing is $20 per class. Must preregister online prior to class start time. No on-site registration: https://brandonrec.recdesk.com/Community/Program?category=3
• Forest Therapy Series: Forest therapy is a slow restorative walk in a natural setting that follows a standard sequence of elements. Nurture your well-being as you experience the physical and mental health benefits of forest bathing. Refresh and Renew is 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, July 16 at Highland Oaks County Park Nature Area; Dusk to Dark Forest is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 at Oak Park Woods. To register, visit OaklandCountyParks.com.
Parks/Outdoor activities
• Midsummer Bash: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Face painting, bounce houses, climbing tower, roller skating rink, library bookmobile, food trucks. Stine Community Park, 241 Town Center, Troy. https://rec.troymi.gov/programsevents/midsummerbash.php
• Oakie’s Birthday Bash: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24. Oakland County Parks’ 60th Anniversary. Free outdoor party including food trucks, live entertainment, DJ, Inflatables, Air Jumper, birthday games, performers and goodie bags (while supplies last). Independence Oaks County Park, Twin Chimneys Pavilion, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston. 248-858-0916 or visit OaklandCountyParks.com
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply. Annual vehicle passes are $40 for residents or $45 for non-residents. Senior citizen pricing on annual passes are available in-person at toll booths or park offices with ID as proof of age.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
Support resources
• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.
• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.