Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!
The annual Detroit Festival of Books (aka: Detroit Bookfest) will be held on Sunday, July 16, 2023 from 10am-4pm at Eastern Market’s Shed 5.
FREE ENTRY for attendees!
Detroit Bookfest is a glorious day of BOOKS, records, comics, creative arts, food, drinks, funk music and exploring Detroit’s incredible Eastern Market District.
The district is anchored by the actual Eastern Market itself, which is a series of large consumer sheds.
Be sure to check out our Official Detroit Bookfest Afterparty from 10am-8pm, which is located a few blocks Southeast at Eastern Market Brewing Company
https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-afterparty-embc/
We encourage everyone to check out the Official Detroit Bookfest Festival Guide
https://detroitbookfest.com/detroit-bookfest-festival-guide/
Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!
Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees
1.) Every vendor is on their own in terms of cash flow and providing change. There is no centralized market bank. Please help the vendors out by bringing small bills, if you can. $1’s, $5’s, $10’s will be needed. Yes, there are two nearby ATM’s (ie: Shed 5 northern exterior wall and also the Chase Bank across the street). Several vendors should have the ability to accept credit card payments on their smartphones, however, we are not sure that all of them will have this ability.
2.) There will be vendors inside Shed 5. And there will be the Community Activities area outside Shed 5 along Russell Street. Please check out both! There will also be music, food trucks, ping-pong, and more!
3.) Wear a pair of good, comfortable walking shoes. We encourage you to make a day of it and check out the fabulous Eastern Market District, which is packed with a ton of great eateries, bars and stores of all sorts. If you haven’t already, please read our Official Detroit Bookfest Festival Guide.
https://detroitbookfest.com/detroit-bookfest-festival-guide/
4.) This event is all-weather, so dress accordingly. Dress comfortably and casually. Watch the weather forecast and if you think you may need an umbrella, please bring one.
5.) Make sure you check out our food vendors on Alfred Street on the south side of Shed 5.
Bookfest Food Vendors
https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-food-trucks/
Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!
6.) Parking is plentiful, however, it is scattered around the Eastern Market district. Make sure you plan accordingly. You can drop people off, park, then get the car and pick them up, if you need to. Eastern Market oftentimes handles even larger events which get 150,000+ people at them, so there are places to park, just be prepared to walk a little bit.
7.) Public restrooms are located inside Shed 5 and spread throughout Eastern Market. If there are long lines at one, walk over to another bathroom.
8.) This event is all-ages. The love of books can start at any age, so parents, bring your family and always remember to keep an eye on your children. There will be several children’s activities going on in the Community Activities area outside Shed 5, including a book donation drive. If you have any kids books to donate, please bring them!
9.) Warning: grooveilicious FUNK MUSIC might make you feel the unexpected urge to boogie. If you feel like dancing, then dance!
10.) We are tremendously excited about this event and feel it is an important and positive happening for Detroit and Michigan and the world of books and many other things. Please help us spread the word on your favorite social media websites by posting photos and telling people about your experience.
THANK YOU! We love you all and hope everyone has a great time!
And pull out your calendars…
The 7th Annual Detroit Festival of Books will be on Sunday, July 21st, 2024.
Top 10 Tips for Detroit Bookfest Attendees!
Detroit Bookfest 2019 (photo by Ryan M. Place)
The Detroit Festival of Books, aka: Detroit Bookfest, is a FREE annual in-person event at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan.
Eastern Market
Shed 5
2934 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48207
Sunday, July 16, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/540874824674576/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DetroitBookfest
We are also hosting Virtual Detroit Bookfest on our website from July 15-17, 2022
https://detroitbookfest.com/vendor-application-2022/
Eastern Market Detroit map
The phrase “Eastern Market” refers to both the large district/neighborhood and also the series of Sheds owned by the city of Detroit and run by the Eastern Market Partnership non-profit organization.
Opened in 1891, Eastern Market is the largest historic public market in the United States.
Featuring 43 acres of space, Eastern Market is comprised of a series of indoor and outdoor sheds which function as thriving year-round consumer markets.
This year, Detroit Bookfest will be located inside Shed 5 where vendors will be selling all sorts of books (ie: used, rare, antiquarian, authors, children’s, new, unusual, ephemera, etc), comic books, vinyl LP records, creative arts, and more.
Detroit Festival of Books (photo by Debography)
DJ Seven Whales will be providing the vibes.
Debbie Maciolek will be documenting the experience with her keen and perceptive eye.
Two food trucks, Sonny’s Hamburgers and Treat Dreams will be on the south side of Shed 5 on Alfred Street (east of Russell Street)
Char’latte Coffee Company: Two Metro Detroit sisters are bringing their Mobile Coffee Cart to Detroit Bookfest
Brilliant Detroit will be in the DTE Plaza on the westside of Shed 5, along Russell Street
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau’s D-Rover van will be outside Shed 5.
Pong Detroit, the ping-pong social club, will be wheeling some ping-pong tables over to Bookfest!
Deon Forrest (aka: Greektown Hotbox) Detroit’s own world-famous street performer will be live on Russell Street (at Alfred Street) outside Detroit Bookfest.
Detroit’s own Arts & Scraps is bringing the ScrapMobile to Bookfest! Kids will be able to build their own books here!
Birdie’s Bookmobile will be in the DTE Plaza outside Shed 5.
The Detroit Writing Room will be in the DTE Plaza outside Shed 5.
826michigan will be in the DTE Plaza outside Shed 5.
Detroit artist Rachel Quinlan created an exclusive painting for Detroit Bookfest
And more!
Health and safety is our #1 concern.
Whatever safety protocols are in place on Bookfest Day, we will be following them 100%.
We ultimately have no idea what to expect this year but we will do our absolute best to make it fun and safe.
JR Jones and Lonni Thomas, two of Eastern Market’s finest and also members of the Detroit Bookfest Committee (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Our festival footprint has grown to include:
The Official Bookfest Afterparty down the street at Eastern Market Brewing Company (runs 10am-8pm)
https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-afterparty-embc/
Please explore the Detroit Bookfest Festival Guide below.
We also encourage you to make a day of it and explore the entire Eastern Market district, which is packed with hundreds of fun shops, restaurants, and experiences.
Eastern Market’s Shed 5 Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Here’s our totally professional graphic designer-approved not flawed in any way screenshot MAP of the Bookfest Festival Footprint
Detroit Bookfest festival map
Eastern Market Brewing Company
2515 Riopelle Street
Located three blocks southeast of Shed 5, Eastern Market Brewing Company (EMBC) is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Market.
Currently, the street they’re on, Riopelle, is closed to vehicle traffic. It is pedestrian-only and they have tables in the street, food tent, live DJ Sam Morykwas, and of course beer, glorious beer.
Some of their most popular beers are:
Elephant Juice, Market Day IPA, Mae Blanc, Wonderboy, and White Coffee Stout
Bookfest Afterparty
https://detroitbookfest.com/bookfest-afterparty-embc/
Beer list
https://easternmarket.beer/beers/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/easternmarketbrewing/
Special thanks to Dayne Bartscht (owner) and his team
Eastern Market Brewing Company Detroit (photo courtesy of EMBC)
EMBC Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
EMBC Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Pong Detroit
This afterhours ping-pong social club is located inside Bert’s Warehouse (2739 Russell Street)
Pong Detroit
The brainchild of former Honolulu-based radio DJ and pong enthusiast Mal Lang, their slogan is “unplug and play.”
Mal says, “Soccer is # 1 and table tennis is the # 2 participant sport in world. Table tennis is huge in China, India, Europe (especially Sweden & Germany).”
Bert’s Warehouse also features a comedy club, kitchen, and bar, so you can drink and pong all night long.
Lessons are available and they will be doing wheelchair table tennis soon.
Their other slogan is “Food, drinks, music and pong.”
Hours
Tuesday-Thursday
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Cost
$10/hr from 5-7pm, then $15/hr 7pm-11pm
Homepage
http://pongdetroit.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pongdetroit/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/pongdetroit/
Thanks to Mal Lang (owner)
Pong Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Pong Detroit
Pong Detroit inside Bert’s Warehouse (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Michigan shaped ping pong paddle (courtesy of Pong Detroit)
Bert’s Warehouse Detroit (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
The Dequindre Cut
Closest entrance located at 3017 Orleans Street.
“The Cut,” as it’s called is a lovely greenway/urban recreational pathway for walking, biking, jogging.
It is 2-miles long and runs from the Detroit Riverfront to the northern tip of Eastern Market.
Near the Wilkins/Orleans entrance, you can find the Freight Yard Bar, this is an outdoor bar made out of shipping containers.
To get to the bar:
Enter at Orleans St & Wilkins St, walk down to the Cut, make a right, then it’s down on your left.
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DequindreCutFreightYard
Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Dequindre Cut Map
Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Dequindre Cut Freight Yard bar (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Dequindre Cut (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert @ Dequindre Cut Freightyard Bar (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Detroit City Distillery
2462 Riopelle Street
The Riopelle taproom of DCD is down the street from Eastern Market Brewing Company.
Here you will find a lively outdoor vibe, including music, cocktails and food from Midnight Temple, the Indian gastropub located above DCD. (hint: try the tandoori wings and gobi rollup).
Homepage
https://www.detroitcitydistillery.com/
Midnight Temple
https://www.midnighttemple.com/
Special thanks to JP Jerome (co-founder), Mike Forsyth (co-founder), Akash Sudhakara (Midnight Temple)
Detroit City Distillery (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Midnight Temple Indian food Detroit (photo courtesy of Yelp)
Detroit Hustles Harder shop
1353 Division Street
Detroit Hustles Harder is a globally recognized clothing store.
https://divisionstreetboutique.com/
Special thanks to Brendan Blumentritt (Detroit Hustles Harder)
The Eastern (event venue)
3434 Russell Street
The Eastern is a lovely 5,000-square foot industrial space you can rent out for special events.
Built in 1888, this is the old Hook and Ladder # 5 fire station. The Eastern has capacity for 300 seated or 600+ strolling and a 3,000 square foot outdoor patio.
Note: The entrance is not directly on Russell St, rather the main entrance is located on the north side of the building next to Wasserman Art Gallery.
Homepage
http://www.theeasterndetroit.com/
Virtual Tour
http://www.theeasterndetroit.com/virtual-tour
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/theeastern
Special thank you to Scott Rutterbush (owner).
The Eastern event space Detroit (courtesy The Eastern)
The Eastern event space Detroit (courtesy The Eastern)
The Eastern event space Detroit (courtesy The Eastern)
The Eastern event space Detroit (courtesy The Eastern)
Elsewhere in the Eastern Market district….
Eastern Market sculpture at Orleans and Erskine (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Erskine (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Erskine (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Winder (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Winder (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Winder (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Eastern Market graffiti on Orleans Street, north of Alfred (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
J’adore Loft
2501 Russell Street, ste. 400
This fun event space is 2,000 square feet and has capacity for 50 seated or 125 strolling.
Great for meetings, weddings, photo shoots, events of all sorts.
Homepage
https://www.jadore-detroit.com/the-loft-1
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jadoredetroit
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/jadoredetroit/
Special thanks to Candice Simons (owner).
J’adore Loft in Eastern Market (photo courtesy of J’adore Loft Detroit)
J’adore Loft in Eastern Market (photo courtesy of J’adore Loft Detroit)
J’adore Loft in Eastern Market (photo courtesy of J’adore Loft Detroit)
J’adore Loft in Eastern Market (photo courtesy of J’adore Loft Detroit)
Dyno Indoor Climbing Gym
3500 Orleans Street
This place is really cool! Inside you will find 12-15 foot tall boulders and a 49 foot tall rope section.
You can get a day pass, punch pass, or membership.
Climbers must be over 4 years old and you have to be over 16 years old to belay.
Homepage
https://www.dynodetroit.com/
Special thanks to Dino Ruggeri (owner)
Dyno indoor climbing gym (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
Dyno indoor climbing gym (photo courtesy of Dyno)
Dorais Park Velodrome
601 Mack Avenue
Located on the NW edge of the Eastern Market district, this is also another really cool place!
Inside the 64,000 square foot dome you will find an indoor wooden bicycle track.
Bicyclists beware, you can actually go up to 50mph on your bicycle inside here!
Homepage
https://lexusvelodrome.com/
Special thanks to Dale Hughes (owner)
Dorais Park Velodrome (photo courtesy of the Velodrome)
Dorais Park Velodrome (photo by: Ryan M. Place)
That’s not everything in Eastern Market.
Merely a small sampling of some of the fun and exciting things you can do.
Be sure to explore the entire district and enjoy your experience in Detroit!
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s new early literacy program ‘Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront’
The Detroit Festival of Books, set to return to Detroit’s Eastern Market this July, is pleased to announce its collaboration with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy in its efforts to boost literacy in the city. The Conservancy will host a table at this year’s Bookfest.
The Detroit Festival of Books is the largest book festival in the state of Michigan, featuring vendors from all over the United States and Canada. Bookfest is a goodwill effort to generate a deeper love and appreciation of books and culture, and to promote literacy. The free event takes place annually at Detroit’s Eastern Market.
Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront (R3) is the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s unique, interactive early literacy program. With support from General Motors, R3 stretches six weeks throughout the summer (July 6 – August 11, 2023).
The program takes place at Gabriel Richard Park (7130 East Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI) and features readings by local celebrities, as well as business and community leaders.
The program also boasts live and interactive family entertainment, a healthy snack provided by the YMCA and free books provided by General Motors in partnership with the Detroit Public Library’s “Library on Wheels.”
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’
“We are excited to have a presence at this year’s Bookfest,” said Renee Rodriguez, program manager for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “Literacy is something that is very important to us at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, so we are supportive of any efforts that promote books and the joy of reading to people throughout the community, especially children.”
“As Bookfest expands its offerings and sees ever greater attendance, we want to do everything possible to boost the organizations devoted to fostering a love of reading,” said Ryan M. Place, Bookfest’s founder and chairman. “So with thousands upon thousands of individuals streaming through Bookfest, why not encourage those book lovers to volunteer their time and funds to support the worthiest of causes?”
The Detroit Festival of Books takes place Sunday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shed 5 in Detroit’s Eastern Market. The event is free. Photos of the 2022 Bookfest are available for download and use via this link.
Detroit Riverwalk (photo by Detroit Riverfront Conservancy)
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