Summer Kicks Off with David Bowie Tribute and Riverfront Fun at Detroit's Shimmer on the River

Robert C. Valade Park is the newest park to open along the East Riverfront. It features an expansive, sandy beach with chairs and umbrellas, a children’s musical garden, colorful play scapes for kids to climb on, a community barbecue pavilion and Bob’s Barge, which is Detroit’s only floating bar each summer. The park is also home to The Shed, a 3,600-square-foot building that will be used for food, events and programming. During winter Valade Park will feature over-sized outdoor fire places, hot drinks, marshmallow roasters, the Sled Shed (featuring free sleds when it snows), synthetic ice curling, and more.

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	Summer Kicks Off with David Bowie Tribute and Riverfront Fun at Detroit's Shimmer on the River Annual beach party fundraiser returns June 26 with all-ages entertainment, local food trucks, and honors for riverfront champions Jean Davis - Local/State Tell Us Detroit News DETROIT (June 5, 2025) – The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is throwing a summer beach party on June 26, and everyone's invited. Shimmer on the River returns to Robert C. Valade Park from 5-9 p.m. with live music, food trucks, games, and fun for the whole family. The big draw this year? David Brighton's Space Oddity – The Ultimate David Bowie Tribute Experience. Get ready to hear all the hits like "Let's Dance," "Space Oddity," and "Ziggy Stardust" with full costume changes. Kids will love the Adventure Park with rock climbing, obstacle courses, basketball games, and Skee Ball. There's even a Kids Dance Party right on the beach. Parents can join in or grab food from Detroit's best food trucks. Speaking of food, you'll find everything from fish and chips to Caribbean fusion. Cool Jacks, Detroit Original Fish & Shrimp, Detroit Panzerotti Company, Paradise Street Eats & Biryani, Tacos El Caballo, and Xav's Jammin Caribbean Fusion will all be there. The Conservancy will also honor three people who helped make Detroit's riverfront what it is today. Robert Alan Davis, a founding board member, worked on key projects like Milliken State Park and connecting the Riverwalk. Vivian Day and John Stroh III have been supporting the riverfront for decades. In 2023, they named Christopher Stroh Plaza at Gabriel Richard Park after their son. Want to go? Main event tickets are $150 and get you in from 6-9 p.m. That includes dinner, drinks, entertainment, and free admission for up to two kids 12 and under. VIP tickets cost $250 and include everything above plus access to a special reception and award ceremony from 5-6 p.m. The park is at 2670 Atwater Street in downtown Detroit. "Shimmer is a chance for our community to celebrate the best riverwalk in the USA," said Cassie Brenske from the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. "When people support this event, they're helping us keep improving Detroit's riverfront." This is the Conservancy's biggest fundraiser of the year. The money helps pay for everything from big construction projects to daily upkeep of the riverfront.