The bandshell at Palmer Park opened officially on August 23, 2025 with much fellowship, community and culture.
The City of Detroit held a grand opening celebration featuring the Detroit Parks Coalition's Freedom Arts Festival performance of "Sounds from the Park" by famed musician Marcus Elliot along with Anjelic, Bryce LP, Charles Scales and DJ Fingers. The concert was hosted by Detroit native and Grammy-nominated singer Dwele.
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the bandshell restoration was a $3.56 million project which also includes new restrooms, support structures for event staff and equipment, a new paved parking lot with 60 spaces and walking paths that connect people to the rest of Palmer Park.
The bandshell originally opened in 1938 on the Michigan State Fairgrounds at State Fair and Woodward on the city’s west side. The structure became a fixture at the annual event, staying there until the fair closed in 2009.
In 2020, the property was sold to Amazon for a new distribution center. However, there was strong community support for saving the bandshell, including a petition gathering campaign by the State Fair Development Coalition. People for Palmer Park were instrumental in finding a new home for the bandshell. The city eventually decided to move the bandshell there following an extensive restoration process.
Information on how to perform at the bandshell COMING SOON!
Parts of this post were pulled from Bridge Detroit's Cultural Canvas.
The City of Detroit held a grand opening celebration featuring the Detroit Parks Coalition's Freedom Arts Festival performance of "Sounds from the Park" by famed musician Marcus Elliot along with Anjelic, Bryce LP, Charles Scales and DJ Fingers. The concert was hosted by Detroit native and Grammy-nominated singer Dwele.
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the bandshell restoration was a $3.56 million project which also includes new restrooms, support structures for event staff and equipment, a new paved parking lot with 60 spaces and walking paths that connect people to the rest of Palmer Park.
The bandshell originally opened in 1938 on the Michigan State Fairgrounds at State Fair and Woodward on the city’s west side. The structure became a fixture at the annual event, staying there until the fair closed in 2009.
In 2020, the property was sold to Amazon for a new distribution center. However, there was strong community support for saving the bandshell, including a petition gathering campaign by the State Fair Development Coalition. People for Palmer Park were instrumental in finding a new home for the bandshell. The city eventually decided to move the bandshell there following an extensive restoration process.
Information on how to perform at the bandshell COMING SOON!
Parts of this post were pulled from Bridge Detroit's Cultural Canvas.
