Family Fun & Play Day!
Saturday, August 16 | 12 – 4pm
Join Us for Family Fun & Play Day at Motown Museum! Get ready for a day of laughter, creativity, and pure joy on Rocket Plaza!
Motown Museum invites families of all ages to our Family Fun & Play Day—a celebration filled with music, jumbo games, bubbles, art activations, delicious food trucks, karaoke, and a special street dance performance and cypher from Motor City Street Dance Academy!
Whether you’re grooving to the beat or playing giant Connect Four, it’s a perfect afternoon to make memories with the ones you love. Come play, create, and celebrate with us—Motown style!
Past Summer Events
Tiny Porch Concert Series: One Single Rose & Nikell
SATURDAY, MAY 31 | 1-6PM
Each Tiny Porch Concert creates space for our artists to display their talent with help from a live band. Get ready for 45 minutes of music, featuring classic Motown covers and original songs from each artist right here on Rocket Plaza. This is a family friendly show with food trucks and yard games.
RHYTHM & RECORDS: VINYL SWAP AND SHOP
SATURDAY, JUNE 7 | 12 – 4PM
Calling all record aficionados, collectors, and Motown fans, our vinyl celebration, Rhythms & Records: A Vinyl Swap is back on Rocket Plaza!
Join us at Motown Museum, with People’s Records, Detroit Record Club, Third Man Records, and Della Soul Records for a day of music and shopping. We’re opening the plaza to buy, sell, and trade all genres of records from each decade. Additionally, experience live-spinning from our DJs and get creative with our family-friendly “Art for the Record” painting activation. Bring the family down to enjoy Museum tours, lively music, shop unique 45s, food trucks and more.
DIGITIZING DETROIT: Motown Legacy Day
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 | 12 – 4PM
Let’s Digitize Detroit!
Join us Saturday, June 14, from 12-4pm for our FREE Digitize Detroit Motown Legacy Day!—a special event where your personal Motown treasures can become part of history!
Bring your cherished photos, posters, playbills, and other paper memorabilia to be digitized with care by our expert Archives team. Learn how to preserve your items for future generations while contributing to the legacy of Motown.
Hear from the children of Motown icons in an inspiring panel about the power of legacy and the importance of preserving history.
Create new memories at our collage-making station, dance on the plaza, and support Detroit businesses.
VOICES OF THE FORUM: Juneteenth Celebration!
Saturday, June 21 | 2 – 6pm
In honor of Juneteenth, we’re uplifting the holiday with Voices of the Forum, a poetic display of resilience, passion, and pride.
Following the legacy of Motown’s Black Forum label and its mission, we’re lighting up the plaza with spoken word that uplifts, strengthens, and inspires. Join us for a day of excellence with performances from our Motown MIC poets, Nanou Djiapo Afrikan Drum and Dance, and a live DJ. Hosted by Peace Bell and a special performance from Hitsville NEXT artist Deborah Gabriel.
Motown: Past, Present, and Future Alumni Celebration
Saturday, June 28 | 12 – 4pm
Spend the day with legends at our Motown: Past, Present, and Future, alumni celebration on Rocket Plaza!
Take a trip down memory lane with Motown’s living legends during an insightful conversation spotlighting the icons who built the stars behind the scenes. You’ll hear from Motown’s producers, writers, and background vocalists reliving memories from the past and sharing knowledge with future generations of artists. We’ll finish the day with exciting live performances from our Hitsville NEXT artists, and a special performance from [@]CJEmmons.
The Divine 9 Greek Day at Motown Museum
Saturday, July 12 | 2 – 6pm
Where D9 Culture and Motown Community Connect
In partnership with the Metro Detroit NPHC, we’re bringing the Homecoming spirit to Rocket Plaza sharing the rich history and tradition of Black Greek Organizations with our Divine 9 Day!
Indulge in Greek life with a celebration of culture and D9 excellence. Gather in community, reconnect, and relive memories with a fraternity and sorority stroll off. Hosted by [@ImTeeTwoTimes] and sounds by [@]DJUnkleEli. Enjoy live music, shopping, food trucks, Museum tours, and more!
Motown Detroit Hustlers
Saturday, July 19 | 12 – 3pm
Get ready to groove with the Detroit Motown Hustlers for an afternoon of excitement and dancing in the street!
We’re bringing the heat to Rocket Plaza, grab your dance shoes and meet our lead instructors Louis Jenkins, Nichol Poyntz, and the Hustle Team on the dance floor!
Curating the soundtrack is DJ Sam Smooth. Come out to learn new moves and enjoy a free community dance class and food trucks! Tours of Motown Museum can be purchased online or at the box office.
Divinity United: Gospel Quartet Showcase
Saturday, July 26 | 12 – 4pm
Feed your soul at our Divinity United: A Gospel Quartet Showcase on Rocket Plaza at Motown Museum.
In partnership with Detroit United Quartet Ministries, this event highlights 10+ gospel quartets from across the Metro Detroit Area with live performances, reviving the rich history and ties between quartets and Motown artists. Join us on an uplifting day full of soulful sounds and spiritual fulfilment.
Tiny Porch Concert Series
Saturday, August 2 | 1 – 4pm
Join us for our last Tiny Porch of the summer 2025!
Get ready to be entertained by two live performances featuring special guest, two-time GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist, SAXAPPEAL at 1 PM and Hitsville NEXT’s AMPLIFY Artist of the Year, Remington Loyd at 3 PM. Experience 45-minutes of energizing performances, featuring classic Motown songs and original music from each artist. This is a family-friendly show with food trucks and Museum tours happening every hour!
Detroit Bass Day 2025!
Saturday, August 9 | 12 – 4pm
Detroit Bass Day is Back!
Join us on Saturday, August 9, from 12-4pm for a celebration 40 years in the making! We’re honoring legendary Motown bass player, James Jamerson, Museum founder Esther Gordy Edwards and 40 years of Motown Museum with 40 Detroit bassists taking the stage for a one-of-a-kind Plug & Play Mega Jam, performing 10 classic Motown hits that shaped the sound of a generation.
Special guest Bootsy Collins will be making an appearance as we proudly partner with his organization Funk Not Fight — using the power of music to uplift, unite, and inspire!
