Detroit passes 8 PM curfew for Fireworks night as the City gears up for June 22 show

Detroit City Council voted 6 to 2 this week to set an 8 PM curfew for unaccompanied minors in the downtown fireworks zone on June 22, the night of the Ford Fireworks. The emergency ordinance moves the curfew that normally takes effect at 10 PM up to 8 PM, well before crowds peak along the Detroit River.

The curfew runs from 8 PM Monday, June 22 through 6 AM Tuesday, June 23, and applies to anyone 17 and under who is in the zone without a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult age 21 or older. The City defines the area as bounded by the Detroit River, Third Street, the Lodge Freeway, the Fisher Freeway, the extension of the Fisher Freeway east to include Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street, and the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater. Minors found in violation will be taken to the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center at 2751 Robert Bradby Drive and held until a parent or guardian arrives.

District 7 Council Member Denzel Anton McCampbell and At-Large Council Member Mary Waters voted against the ordinance. McCampbell said his objection was about results, not intent. "It's not a question of whether you care about public safety or want people to be safe," he said, but "whether this is effective in achieving that goal." The push followed recent teen takeover gatherings downtown and gun violence in the viewing area on fireworks night last year. Detroit Police First Assistant Chief Franklin Hayes told the council the measure is "only in the spirit of safety" and said officers "would not be walking around profiling youth."

The fireworks themselves are free. Hart Plaza, Spirit Plaza, and Erma Henderson Park all open to the public at 2 PM on June 22 and stay open until they reach capacity, with Erma Henderson Park capped at 1,500 people. Belle Isle stays closed until 2 PM, then opens to vehicles and pedestrians, with park staff admitting up to 3,000 vehicles before the island fills. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicles entering Belle Isle.

Every site is a weapon-free zone, and everyone entering is subject to security screening. The City bans tents, alcohol, drones, pets, personal fireworks, and open flames or cooking. With each location closing once it hits capacity, the City is telling families to arrive early.