from “le détroit” · the strait
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's seasonal beer garden on the Dequindre Cut runs Saturdays and Sundays through September, with lawn games, food vendors, and free Sunday house sets.
The Dequindre Cut Freight Yard opened for the season on May 30 and runs weekends through September along the Dequindre Cut. Whether you have been before or have never walked down into the greenway, this summer is a good time to go.
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's outdoor gathering space is open Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. The Freight Yard sits on the Dequindre Cut between Wilkins and Division streets, with the closest entrance at Wilkins and Orleans in Eastern Market.
Nine repurposed shipping containers form the structure of the space. They hold a beer and wine garden along with food from local vendors. Outside there are picnic tables, umbrellas, and lawn games including fowling, cornhole, and giant Jenga. Kids, dogs, and groups with no particular plan all fit comfortably, and the layout rewards a few hours over a quick stop.
Sundays come with their own programming. Every summer Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m., the Detroit House Collective brings DJ sets to the Freight Yard for a free outdoor music series. The afternoon draws a crowd that mixes families, dancers, and regulars who have made it part of their weekend.
The Freight Yard is run as a partnership. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy operates the space alongside collaborators that include Build Institute, the Detroit nonprofit that works with small businesses and entrepreneurs. Local makers and small brands rotate through alongside the food vendors.
Getting there is simple. Free parking is in the gravel lot at Wilkins and Orleans in Eastern Market, a short walk from the cut's entrance, with nearby street parking as well. A MoGo station sits in front of the Freight Yard and there is bike parking on the grounds. The Dequindre Cut is part of the 27.5-mile Joe Louis Greenway, so riders can connect through the trail from across the east side, downtown, or the riverfront without touching a surface street.
The cut itself has its own character. The greenway follows a former Grand Trunk Railroad line, running below street level through Detroit's near east side. The first section opened as a public trail in May 2009, with an extension following in 2016. The path is well known for the murals and graffiti along its walls.
Freight Yard hours are Saturday noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m., through September. Check the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy for schedule updates and vendor market dates.
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