What to do in Detroit this week: Zoo Boo, HarvestFest, spooky movies and more

Detour DoGooder volunteers moving raised beds at Detroit Abloom. Credit: Ryan Southen

We had such a blast this Saturday with all of Detour’s members, partners and DoGooders at Detroit Abloom. Thanks to beautiful weather and the 25+ volunteers we had along with us, we were able to rebuild a number of raised beds, weed throughout the amazing flower farm, paint the exterior of the new bathroom building and more. Afterward we enjoyed a fantastic and well deserved lunch, thanks to Chef Maryam of Khana Detroit. We had the perfect garden party vibe, with stphn-b taking care of the music and American Liquor Co. wetting the whistles. 

We have more amazing Detour events coming up this fall, so keep your eyes peeled… but in the meantime, Detroit is buzzing with spooky spirit this week. Check out scary movies, Zoo Boo and HarvestFest to get warmed up for the Halloween season. 

Wednesday

🌽Wednesday is the grand opening of Rivertown Market on Rivard and Lafayette. The grocery store has been long awaited by neighborhood residents. Meijer made the announcement they planned to open the market in 2017. The grocer will service the Downtown, Lafayette Park, Rivertown areas and fill a void for affordable and accessible food for Detroit residents. Oct. 6, free, info.

🍅 While the weather is just right, skip on over to The Congregation and check out their Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from 3-7 p.m. Shop from local vendors, and enjoy the great big patio, extensive beverage menu and a little slice of heaven in this repurposed church and community space. Every Wednesday, free, info.

Thursday

🍿 Starting on Thursday, Beacon Park will be host of the Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow Cast! The Detroit Actors Theatre Company (The DATC), DTE Beacon Park Foundation and Downtown Detroit Partnership will present the cult classic in shadow cast form. A troupe of actors will act/mime/dance in front of a large screen that is showing the film, bringing the movie to life! Oct. 7-9, free, info.

🌶️ If your garden graced you with more peppers than you know what to do with, join Keep Growing Detroit’s virtual workshop on preserving your pepper harvest with Diana Gomez of Tacos Hernandez. You’ll also learn how to make two kinds of salsa. Oct. 7, free, info.

This weekend!

🎃 Looking for some “merry-not-scary” fun for the family? Zoo Boo returns to the Detroit Zoo this weekend! Visit your favorite animals and enjoy festive decorations, strolling entertainment, photo opportunities, educational activities and more. Oct. 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24, tickets start at $13, info.

🍺 Drink beer and advocate for women and minorities in the beer industry? Yes, please. This Friday, Eastern Market Brewing Company is having a beer release party and raising glasses to a global collaboration, #BraveNoise. The beer represents the brewery’s (and hundreds of others’!) commitment to discrimination-free and safe environments for women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals throughout the beer industry. Learn more about the initiative here. Oct. 8, free, info.

🕸️ Indulge the nostalgia interactively with the Goblin King Players’ Shadowcast performance of “Beetlejuice” at the Redford Theatre — as the film plays, performers will act out every element of the movie on stage in front of the screen with accurate costumes, props and precision. Giant sandworms included. Oct. 8-9, $20, info.

💃 Make it a late night kind of Friday night at Marble Bar with Todd Osborn and Shigeto / Charles Trees spinning all night long. Oct. 8, $6, info.

👟 Tie up your walking shoes, because this Saturday is the annual Making Strides of Detroit Breast Cancer Walk. The Hart Plaza event is far more than a walk, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, boxing classes and more. Oct. 9, donation, info.

🍂 The leaves are turning and Dequindre Cut is looking more vibrant than ever. Come to the cut this weekend and enjoy not only the colors, but the Riverfront Conservancy’s HarvestFest. Along the path there will be trick or treating, a free pumpkin patch, inflatables and hands-on activities for the kids, as well as five stages of musical performances from local artists, a beer and wine garden and more than 60 food trucks from Metro Detroit and beyond. Oct. 9-10, $5, info.

🎤 Comedian Heather McMahan will be performing in town this Saturday. I’ve been an IG follower since the beginning, and she cracks me up. Maybe it’s her attitude or her potty mouth that I seem to relate to… Check her out at Music Hall and enjoy the LOLs. Oct. 9, tickets starting at $62, info.

👻 The star-studded horror flick “Scream” is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, and there is a special screening at Senate Theatre this weekend. Why not get an early start on Halloween and enjoy the slasher flick in a real live movie theatre, remember those? Plus, the Senate Theater is a nonprofit and we need more places that feature and celebrate art in Detroit, right?! Oct. 9, $6, info.

⚰️Preservation Detroit’s popular cemetery tour sold out… but you’re in luck, because they added another date for their afternoon tour of Woodlawn Cemetery, home to Detroit legends like the Dodge Brothers and Aretha Franklin. Oct. 9, $25, info.

📰Stroll through Shed 5 on Sunday and you will find the Power of the Press Fest 2021, hosted by Signal Return. The event celebrates the multiplicities of printmaking and features over 50 print artists. There will be artist demonstrations throughout the day, live entertainment and the Quarantine Public Library. “Real business is done on paper.” – Michael Scott. Oct. 10, free, info.

🧘🏻‍♀️I love nothing more than a Sunday stretch, so I was thrilled to hear my friend and favorite yogi Giustina Easton is hosting Sunday Sessions at Foundation Hotel. Every Sunday at 10 a.m. you can find her hosting a class on the fifth floor. Secure your spot to stretch it out! Oct. 10, free, info.

Next week

🎭 Planet Ant Monday night improv is back! Every Monday at Ant Hall in Hamtramck the Home Team performs against other local comedians and brave souls. Enjoy some laughs and a cold beer from the attached bar Ghostlight. And maybe if you’re feeling brave you can participate in the community freestyle at the end 😉 Every Monday, $5, info.

🎲 Another fun Monday night activity is Big Time Bingo at the Garden Bowl in Midtown! Hosted by Mayor Darlington, it’s free and there are amazing vintage prizes for the winning. So enjoy a slice of Sgt. Pepperoni’s pizza, grab a cold one and make your grandma proud with some Bingo wins every Monday! Oct. 4 and every Monday, free, info.

🍴Come hungry, because next Wednesday, Bell’s is hosting a Beer Dinner at Brass Rail, and you’re sure to end up in a delightful food coma. The dinner includes six courses and six thoughtfully chosen Bell’s beers to accompany each course. I just got full thinking about it. Oct. 13, $50, info.

Coming soon…

🌎 On Oct. 15, Freedom House‘s annual Voices of Freedom Festival will be held at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and is guaranteed to be a unique and delightful experience. It features cultural dishes from global inspired vendors; cocktails from Two James Spirits; global music from Mariachi Mexico 2020 and Xiao Dong Wei; live renderings by artists Josh Skeel and India Solomon; and an intimate conversation with alumni. Detour Detroit readers get $15 off their ticket using this link! Oct. 15, $145, info. (Detour is a media partner of the Voices of Freedom Festival)

🇮🇹 Calling all bocce enthusiasts! American Bocce Co. is bringing back the indoor league games at Brew Detroit in Corktown after a long pandemic-induced hiatus. Starting Oct. 26, and every Tuesday for six weeks, teams of four will gather on the bocce battlefield and duke it out for a chance at the Golden Keg. If you’re looking for some friendly competition and a weeknight out… it’s time to throw your pallino in the ring! Sign ups are live, league starts Oct. 26, $65, info.

🔗 Detroit Nonprofit Day is a one-day event with workshops, fireside chats, networking and skills-building exercises to strengthen Detroit’s dynamic nonprofit and social enterprise communities. This is a great opportunity for nonprofit leaders and community organizers to connect and learn. Detour Detroit reader receive $25 off admission when they use the discount code DDDND2021. Oct. 30, tickets start at $75, info. (Detour is a media partner of Detroit Nonprofit Day)