FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BERLINE 248-593-7436
abobo@berline.com
Campus Martius
Park is the Destination
for Free Summertime Entertainment in Downtown
Detroit
Detroit, Mich., June 2,
2009 – Campus
Martius Park,
"Detroit's
Official Gathering Place"
and award winning downtown destination, is excited to present its fifth annual
"Summer in The Park" series, presented by Compuware
and FOX 2 Detroit, starting June 26.
With its lush gardens and lawn, spectacular fountains
and the surroundings of Detroit's iconic
architecture, Campus
Martius Park
is a truly unique entertainment venue. The Detroit Free Press has cited that
"Campus Martius is the scene of spectacular events" and there will be several
of them occurring this summer including national headliners at the 4th Friday's With Ford series
and the Detroit International Jazz Festival in September. This year's series offers fun-filled and FREE
activities, including music, movies, and more for metro Detroiters of all ages
to enjoy, according to Bob Gregory, President of
the Detroit 300 Conservancy.
The main attraction of this year's "Summer in The Park" is the Ford Motor Company sponsored 4th Fridays with Ford concert
series, an all day celebration with a full line-up of activities, taking place
the fourth Friday of every month between June and August.
It is designed to be a "walkable downtown
Detroit experience"
including restaurant promotions and discounts, along with insider entertainment
tours. The first 4th
Fridays with Ford will take place
June 26th.
4th
Fridays with Ford has received
summer's highest "best of events" rating from the Detroit Free Press and boasts
national and Detroit music stages that showcase a wide variety of music and
entertainers. Each month, the
Ford-sponsored event will highlight a music genre and theme including Motown
and classic Detroit
rock, world beat and hip hop dance, as well as rhythm and swing.
The kick-off 4th
Fridays with Ford will feature a very special "Happy Birthday Motown"
celebration that marks the legendary label's 50-year anniversary. The Motown
Celebration will feature 90 minutes of classic Motown hits. Legendary sax man
Alto Reed and Detroit Classic Rock all-star musicians will be the headliner for
the June event, performing a musical set of rock and roll hits.
[see
schedule of events]
Following
each 4th Fridays with Ford event, a
different downtown district will be highlighted. Those who visit the special
spotlight districts will be able to take advantage of food and drink specials,
as well as cool giveaways.
"Woodward
Avenue in and around
Campus Martius
Park will again be
transformed into a festive party for all this summer. We're thrilled to be able to offer fun-filled and
free events for the entire family to enjoy," said Gregory. "Everyone is invited to Detroit's
Gathering Place,
whether it's to enjoy a concert on a warm summer night, see a movie, or to
simply take in the downtown Detroit
skyline in the heart of the city."
During the 4th Fridays with Ford events, two 40-seat buses will
make the round trip between the Park and the IKEA store in Canton every hour from 9 AM to 10 PM. The
buses will pick up and drop passengers off at the Hard Rock Café adjacent to
the Park, 45 Monroe St.,
and also at IKEA, located at 41640
Ford Road, Canton. The shuttle is free-of-charge for
riders. For more information, visit www.ikea-cmpshuttle.com.
The popular "Lunchtime Art"
music series will again feature Detroit-area musicians and a variety of
performances on the Park's main stage, 11:30AM-1:30PM, mid-June through August.
The
downtown lunch crowd can come to the Park to relax and take a break from the
workday, beginning June 17, to enjoy Detroit's
finest musicians, visual artists, dancers and a variety of performers.
Campus
Martius Park would like to
thank its 2009 "Summer in The Park" sponsors: Compuware, IKEA, Health
Plan of Michigan, Ernst & Young, Marketing Associates, Greko Printing,
Blumz, The Detroit Media Partnership, CBS Radio Group & FOX 2.
About
Campus Martius
Park
Campus Martius
Park, Detroit's
Gathering Place and
the centerpiece of revitalization in downtown, is a legacy gift to the city of
Detroit from the Detroit
300 Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that has raised
over $20 million to design, construct and operate The Park through businesses,
foundations, and individual donations. For more information, contact the
Detroit 300 Conservancy at 313-962-0106 or visit www.campusmartiuspark.org
