Detroit Harvest Fest 2026 runs Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4 at Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park on Detroit’s west riverfront, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s fall festival brings 40 food trucks, 4 stages, free trick-or-treating and a pumpkin patch to the park, and advance tickets are $5 with a family four pack option for $15.
Last year’s Harvest Fest doubled as the park’s grand opening weekend. This year the festival returns to the 22-acre park bringing back dozens of food trucks and a huge variety of live entertainment, plus some new experiences, like outdoor movies on the Summit lawn.
The short version:
- Detroit Harvest Fest 2026 is Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day
- The location is Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, 1801 W. Jefferson Ave, Detroit, on the west riverfront
- Advance tickets are $5, a Family Four Pack is $15, and admission at the gate is $8
- Kids 3 and under, adults 65 and over, and active military with ID get in free
- 40 food trucks line West Jefferson, and trucks will offer a tasting-size option
- Trick-or-treating, the pumpkin patch and Art Alley run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days
Here’s how to plan the day, plus a few details that are easy to miss.
When is Detroit Harvest Fest 2026?
Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days, rain or shine.
The kid stuff runs on a shorter clock. The Kids Adventure Trail, the pumpkin patch and Art Alley all close at 4 p.m. Families who want the full experience should get there early. The stages, food trucks and bars keep going until 8 p.m.
How much are Detroit Harvest Fest 2026 tickets?
Advance tickets for Detroit Harvest Fest 2026 are $5 per person through Showpass. A Family Four Pack is $15, which covers 4 people for less than 2 tickets would cost at the gate. Walk-up admission is $8.
Kids 3 and under, adults 65 and over, and active military with ID get in free.
What’s new at Detroit Harvest Fest this year?
Movies on the Summit. The DTE Foundation Summit lawn becomes an outdoor theater for the first time at Detroit Harvest Fest. Hocus Pocus screens Saturday, October 3 at 6 p.m. Hotel Transylvania screens Sunday, October 4 at 2 p.m. Both play on the Summit Main Stage and both are free with admission. Bring a blanket or a chair. Personal chairs are allowed this year.
What’s back at Detroit Harvest Fest this year?
A pet & human costume contest. Dogs have always been welcome on the riverfront. Now they get stage time. The Pet Costume Contest is Sunday, October 4 at 1 p.m. on the Summit Main Stage. The witch-themed costume contest for people is Saturday, October 3 at 5 p.m. You can register for both on the Conservancy’s entertainment page.
Which food trucks are at Detroit Harvest Fest?
Dozens of trucks and carts line West Jefferson for the Detroit Harvest Fest 2026 Food Truck Rally, sponsored by Michigan Lottery. One thing to know before you go: every vendor offers a tasting-menu option. The whole setup is designed for grazing across several trucks instead of committing to one.
The published lineup includes Balkan House, Big Bo’s Grill, Black Tiger Fusion, Burrito King, Chick-A-Dee, Cousins Maine Lobster, Detroit’s Original Seafood Truck, Detroit Pop Shop, Drunken Rooster, Egg Roll Diva, Foodie Snapper, Fork In Nigeria, Galindo’s, Gud Dog, Hog Heaven, Howdy Doodle Ice Cream Coach, Island Noodles, Motown Bistro, No Sauce BBQ, Olmeka Mexican Bites, Paradise Street Eats & Biryani, Sabor Del Gordo, Shawarma Stop To Go, Tacos El Caballo, Tacos El Rodeo, Torta Express, Xavier Jammin Caribbean Fusion and Zantor Magic Ice. Elephant ears and sweets come from Bowlders, Jackson 5 Star, Mercurio and Motor City Sweet Treats.
Vegan, gluten-free and halal options are marked on the Conservancy’s full food truck lineup. Fork In Nigeria and Paradise Street Eats & Biryani cover all three.
Outside food and drink can’t come in, with exceptions for medical and dietary needs and small children. Empty water bottles are fine, and there are refill stations inside. For adults, 6 full bars are spread across the park.
Who is performing at Detroit Harvest Fest 2026?
Larry Lee & Back in the Day Band headline the Summit Main Stage on Saturday, October 3 at 3 p.m. Across the 4 stages, the weekend mixes live bands, folklorico and street dance, salsa, house music and a couple of big group fitness sessions.
Summit Main Stage, Saturday: Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel at noon, Motor City Street Dance Academy at 1:30 p.m., Larry Lee & Back in the Day Band at 3 p.m., the witch costume contest at 5 p.m., then Hocus Pocus at 6 p.m.
Summit Main Stage, Sunday: Detroit Drum & Dance at noon, the pet costume contest at 1 p.m., Hotel Transylvania at 2 p.m., and Detroit House Collective closing out the festival from 4 to 8 p.m.
Southwest Stage (Jefferson at Rosa Parks): Saturday brings Mariachi Jalisco De Detroit, COMPAS BAND, Grupo Illusion, Armando Vega Salsa Orquestra and Roots Vibrations. Sunday has Ballet Folklorico de Detroit, Grupo Autonomo, Los Cuervos De La M, Universal Xpression and Alina Morr & Urban Tropical.
Skyline Stage (Jefferson near 8th Street): Saturday opens with a hustle class from Two Left Feet Detroit at 11:15 a.m., followed by Maraj Virtuoso & The Better Things Collective, Kayfabe: thePplsBand, Lisa Hurt and the Consequences, Julian Joel and Laura Rain & The Caesars. Sunday opens with Vamonos Baila Fitness, then South North Southwest, Mondo Kane, Ethan Marc Band and Alise King.
Coffee House lounge: Cesar Aquino, Matt Dalton, Micah James, Carly Lusk with Eli Bucheit and Abhay on Saturday. Carmel Liburdi, Mindful Dynasty, Maxwell Ricon, Jill Govan and Olivia Van Goor with Mike Harrison on Sunday.
Set times for every act are on the Conservancy’s full stage schedule.
What is there for kids at Detroit Harvest Fest?
Kids Adventure Trail. This is the trick-or-treat route, sponsored by Priority Health. It starts near the Coffee House, wraps around the Water Garden and ends at the Pumpkin Patch. Kids under 18 trick-or-treat for free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, collecting candy and giveaways from the Conservancy’s community partners along the way. Bring your own bag and wear a costume.
Pumpkin Patch. Kids 12 and under pick a free pie-size pumpkin, one per child while supplies last, then take it to the decorating tent. A pumpkin games zone for all ages sits next to it. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Art Alley. At the west end of the park, sponsored by Corewell Health, local artists and museums run free hands-on activities. This year’s partners include Arts & Scraps, REVAMP, Jovan Prints, Zuri x Zuri, Signal Return, the Arab American National Museum, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and CCS. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sensory Friendly Tent. A quiet space near the Outdoor Classroom on the east side of the park, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Teen Trailer. Near the Operations Hub in the center of the park, open 3 to 8 p.m.
The park’s everyday features are inside the festival footprint too. The Delta Dental Play Garden, the Tot Lot and the basketball courts at the William Davidson Sport House are all right there.
How do you get to Detroit Harvest Fest, and where do you park?
The address is 1801 W. Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48216. There are 4 entrances: Rosa Parks, Southwest Greenway, 8th Street and the Riverwalk entrance on the east side. Rosa Parks Blvd, 10th Street and 8th Street are closed to cars at Fort Street during the event.
Walking and biking. The park connects to the Detroit Riverwalk from the east and to the Southwest Greenway from Corktown and Southwest Detroit. The Conservancy encourages biking, but bikes can’t come inside the festival. Free bike parking is at the East Riverwalk, Rosa Parks and Southwest Greenway entrances.
People Mover (Free). Get off at Water Square, walk down to the Riverwalk and head west about half a mile.
Driving. Parking is available at several lots within half a mile of the park.
Free – Assembly Garage
1701 W. Lafayette Blvd.
Free parking provided by Bedrock
$4.50 Special Daily Rate – Bagley Mobility Hub Garage
1501 Wabash St.
$10 Daily Rate – Joe Louis Arena Garage
900 W. Jefferson Ave.
Free shuttle service will be running between Assembly Garage, Bagley Mobility Hub, and the Rosa Parks festival entrance from 10am-9pm Saturday & Sunday.
What can you bring to Detroit Harvest Fest?
Personal chairs, empty water bottles and leashed dogs or cats (leashes under 6 feet) are all allowed at Detroit Harvest Fest 2026. Trick-or-treat bags and costumes are encouraged.
Coolers, outside food and drink, outside alcohol, bikes, skateboards and heelies are not. All bags get searched at the gates.
Anyone 12 and under needs to be with a parent, guardian or an adult 21 or over. Anyone 13 to 17 needs to be with a parent, guardian or an adult 25 or over.
The zero-waste side of Harvest Fest
The Conservancy runs Harvest Fest as a zero-waste event. There’s a Zero Waste Station in the Coffee House plaza for composting food scraps, and recycling bins throughout the park. Bring a reusable water bottle and you can pick up a free sticker at the station while supplies last.
They’re also looking for Green Team volunteers to help with sustainability efforts during the festival. The sign-up form is on the Harvest Fest sustainability page.
Detroit Harvest Fest 2026 FAQ
When is Detroit Harvest Fest 2026? Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days, rain or shine.
Where is Detroit Harvest Fest held? Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park at 1801 W. Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48216, on the west riverfront between Rosa Parks Blvd and 8th Street.
How much does Detroit Harvest Fest cost? Advance tickets are $5, a Family Four Pack is $15, and gate admission is $8. Kids 3 and under, adults 65 and over, and active military with ID are free.
Is Detroit Harvest Fest free for kids? Yes for ages 3 and under. Older kids need a ticket, but trick-or-treating on the Kids Adventure Trail and the pumpkin patch are free once inside, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
Are dogs allowed at Detroit Harvest Fest? Yes. Dogs are welcome on a leash under 6 feet, and there’s a pet costume contest Sunday, October 4 at 1 p.m. on the Summit Main Stage.
Can you bring chairs to Detroit Harvest Fest? Yes. Personal chairs are allowed in 2026, which helps for the outdoor movies on the Summit at 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
What movies are playing at Detroit Harvest Fest? Hocus Pocus on Saturday, October 3 at 6 p.m. and Hotel Transylvania on Sunday, October 4 at 2 p.m., both free with admission on the Summit Main Stage.
Follow RAW Detroit for more on what’s happening along the Detroit Riverfront this fall.
Sponsored: this is a paid partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.