Planning your visit

Planning your visit to Motor City Pride

Address
Hart Plaza, 1 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226

Parking:

Here is a link for City Parking Lots near Hart Plaza.

Some of our parking suggestions include:

  • Underground Ford Auditorium Lot.  At the center intersection of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues.  This lot is $10.00 for the day and is the closest to Hart Plaza (700 spaces).
  • Cobo Hall Roof Lot (625 West Congress Street).  1,000+ spaces and is $10.00 for the day.
  • An inexpensive lot is the GM Surface Lot.  On Atwater Drive just east of Beaubien Street (one block east of the Renaissance Center).  This lot is $5.00 for the day and only a four-block walk along the Detroit River to the festival.
  • The two parking structures on Beaubien Street East of the Renaissance Center are $9.00 for the day.
  • The Miller Structure on the west side of the Renaissance Center is convenient, but rates are by the hour.  $10.00 for 2-5 hours; $15.00 for 5-10 hours;  maximum cost of $20 for the day.
  • There are also many other lots around the city for less, and you can take the People Mover to the Cobo Hall or Financial District Stops.

Taxis
(We strongly encourage attendees to  take a taxi if you have had to much to drink, any safety or security staff member at the festival can assist you in calling a cab)
A listing of taxi services can be found here>>

Public Transportation
Here is a link to the SMART Bus Trip Planner>>
Use the address 1 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226 when planning your trip to Hart Plaza

Cover/Admission Charge
Motor City Pride is a free public event, as we have in the past we ask for a suggested $5 donation to assist in paying for the festival, Motor City Pride is 100% volunteer ran with any proceeds helping fund the work of Equality Michigan our state wide LGBT advocacy group.

Lodging:

Consider making it a weekend getaway and stay at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center for $119 per night.  You can book rooms on line by clicking:  or calling (800) 228-9290.  Be sure to mention that you would like the Motor City Pride rate.

For reservations visit the Detroit Marriott Reservation Page

Festival Entrance:

There will be two entrances to the festival, one along Jefferson Avenue and one along the Detroit River walkway.

We are asking for a $5.00 donation to help pay for the festival (the same suggested donation as in the past).

Security will check bags coming into the festival.  The following items are not allowed to be brought in:

Beverages, including water bottles
(We will have water refilling stations at the festival)

Only pets that can walk into the festival and are on a leash will be allowed.

Umbrellas larger then a golf umbrella

Roller blades and skate boards

Bicycles can be secured inside the main entrance gate.

Rest Room Facilities:

There are two sets of restrooms on the lower level of the Plaza.  These facilities have running water.  There will also be portable facilities on the upper level of the Plaza.

Food and Beverage:

The festival has 14 different food vendors that will be selling everything from vegetarian items and grilled food to pizza and burgers.  These booths will also have soft drinks and water for purchase.

We encourage patrons to make a day of attending by taking time to visit one of the many downtown pubs and restaurants that have contributed to the operation of the festival.  A list can be found by clicking here.

Our Beverage Areas will feature Bud Light, Three Olives Vodka, Barefoot Wine and Red Bull products.

Weather

Check the weather – we are hoping that you will need sunscreen, but since its Michigan, you may also want to have an umbrella (remember nothing larger then a golf umbrella). Hart Plaza has a lower level, so there is plenty of shelter from any weather that might pass through.