About Detroit's Downtown

FREE Country Music Festival. The Detroit Downtown Hoedown 2011.

The dates for the 29th Annual Detroit Downtown Hoedown 2011 will be Friday, May 13, 2001 -- Sunday, May 15, 2011 in Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit.
This event is hosted by Detroit's Country Music Radio Station WYCD 99.5 FM.

View the full line up for the Downtown Hoedown 2011.

This years line up will consist of over fifty bands on three stages over the course of the three days.
There will be a lot of local bands playing as well as some more familiar names like Josh Gracin, Steel Magnolia and Jason Aldean.

Past performances have showcased the talents of country music stars Rascal Flatts, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry and Big and Rich just to name a few.
Detroit is better known as the car capitol or the city of Motown, but we can also throw a great country music party.

If you like square dancing or line dancing. If you love boot scootin' knee slapping, kick your heels up and dance music then you better make it to the FREE festival. This is a rain or shine event.

Even the boaters can enjoy the music while they float on the waterfront with Canada in the background.

There is also a wide variety of food to be had. From corn dogs and elephant ears to some great curly fried potatoes AND wood fired steaks. Did I mention, there's plenty of beer on tap.

Grab the sunscreen and your boots. COME ON DOWN..........

Autorama 2011 comes to Detroit, MI.

Detroit is known as THE MOTOR CITY for one reason--CARS. Detroit recently hosted the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center to highlight new vehicles from manufacturers from around the world. Now its time to highlight another aspect of the automibile--CUSTOMIZED vehicles.

The 59th annual Autorama come to Detroit's Cobo Center from February 25-27, 2011.

Hot Rods, dragsters, custom cars, custom trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. Just about anything with wheels and a motor that can be custom modified and painted will be on display.

If you are from the Motor City and you are a true GEARHEAD, this is a must see show for you.

There will also be guest appearances from Hot Rod Legend Pete Chapouris. Jonathan Hillstrand from Deadliest Catch. Billy the Exterminator. Sammie Sweetheart from Jersey Shores and wrestling superstar Shawn Michaels.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Swingin' Demons and Twistin Tarantulas.

Tickets are $18.00 general admission. Children 6-12 $5.00.

Discount tickets can be purchased at your local O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Detroit Boat Show at Cobo Center.

Do you still have that old boat in the backyard?

Is your boat in dry dock?

Wanting to get a new boat?

THINK SPRING

Go to the annual Detroit Boat Show at Cobo Center from February 12-20, 2011.

Whether you are just looking for that little dinghy to get you across the pond or you want that big boat to spend the weekend on, they have it for you.

They have boats for fishing and skiing. Pleasure boats. Pontoon boats. Kayaks.Race boats.

There is also fishing exhibitions for those looking to improve their fishing skills. The kids can try their luck at the indoor trout pond.

Take the family. Kids 12 and under FREE with adult admission.

DETROIT MOTOWN WINTER BLAST 2011.

Preparations are under way at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit for the annual winter event:

Motown Winter Blast.

The idea originated with Super Bowl XL being held in downtown Detroit at Ford Field in 2006. The organizers felt that with all the visitors in town for the football game there was a need to take advantage of the winter weather and turn it into something fun to do while you where in Detroit.

This three day weekend features fun for the whole family. There are stages set up inside of tents with a wide variety of music including soul, blues, jazz, Motown, rock and country.

There is a stage set up for kids shows with clowns, magic tricks, puppet shows and musical entertainment.

Inside of another tent is a taste fest where local restaurants feature samples from their menus.

Do you like Mexican, Greek or Mediterranean? How about some beer samples from local breweries?

There are warming stations where you can toast marshmallows over an open fire.

There is free skating at the outdoor ice rink at Campus Martius. There is also snow shoe exhibitions.

The event would not be complete without the large ice slide for you to ride down.

Bring the family downtown Detroit for a Winter Blast...

It's time for the premier event that showcases Detroit and the auto industry.

The annual North American International Auto Show comes to Detroit again in January, 2011. When you click on the link, NAIAS, go to the charity preview link to see the flash mob video.

The show is called "international" to reflect the wide diversity of auto companies that are represented at the show. The event takes place each year inside Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. With just under 1,000,000 square feet of showroom floor space, this event attracts curiosity seekers and buyers alike to see the new models available from almost ninety auto manufacturers from around the world all under one roof.

The first auto show was held in Detroit in 1907. Click to see a Wikipedia history of the show.

Before the show is open to the public, there is a press preview that attracts over 6,000 journalists from around the globe and grants them full access to all of the vehicles. Every magazine and newspaper wants to be the first to go to print with highlighted pictures and reviews. Then there is an industry preview where the manufacturers can see the competition up close. A charity event is held each year which is a black tie affair that raises funds for children of all ages from birth to eighteen years old. Since 1976, this event has raised almost $82 million for childrens charities. Finally, the public is invited in for a hands on, sit in experiance for all the car models of the present and the future with prototype models testing market response for a possible new vehicle of the future. Recent public attendance has seen over 700,000 people in an eight day period.

The automobile has changed considerably through the years as shown with the comparison here of a 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille and a 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe.

The 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille weighed in at 4,400 pounds.

It was 215" long and sold for a price of $4,500.

The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe weighs 3,500 pounds. It is 188" long and sells for about $43,000.

Much lighter and smaller than the models of fifty plus years ago. The evolution away from metals and into composite materials has helped to also increase fuel efficiency

There is also the potential that a prototype model may not make it in the marketplace as evidenced by the Ford Edsel. All the advertising and hype just couldn't result in the vehicle sales that the auto company was projecting. That particular vehicle is more popular now with auto collectors than it was when it was first introduced to the public.

The North American International Auto Show is an event that is well worth going to whether you are in the market to buy, dream or just kick some tires.