Berkley Pride Block Party makes return

BERKLEY — The city of Berkley’s Pride Block Party will be making its return to the downtown this weekend.

The Berkley Pride Block Party, presented by the Downtown Development Authority, will be held noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 25, on Robina Avenue south of 12 Mile Road, on Griffith Avenue south of 12 Mile, and in the municipal parking lot in between the two roads.

The event will feature various food trucks, arts and crafts tents, vendor booths, and live music. It will be the second Pride Block Party the city has put on after the inaugural edition last year.

“As with last year it was very positive, inclusive,” DDA Executive Director Mike McGuinness said at a City Council meeting last month. “A lot of the churches and community organizations had sort of their focus … on serving LGBTQ+ populations but not exclusively so. It was a number of community organizations that in part just wanted to show their solidarity and engage and reach out to the different populations.”

McGuinness said the event certainly is a celebration of Pride, but it also is a celebration for Berkley as well.

“Many celebrations throughout metro Detroit and the region, they each have their different sort of take or interpretation on it. We very intentionally, with the community members who, through their volunteer efforts, led the planning process last year and this year, make it have a very distinctly Berkley feel,” he said. “In terms of it being all access, you know it’s not catering to one specific age demographic; it definitely does not have a mature or adult focus. It’s very much in keeping with all of our other block parties in the downtown, so that way it celebrates the many families that call Berkley home.”

Compared to last year’s event, the block party will have an expanded footprint due to its success. It also was moved to Robina south of 12 Mile, whereas last year it was north.

“It was very successful last year, so they have scaled up the number of volunteers; the infrastructure in this particular parking lot has the benefit of having fewer entry points than the one on the north side as well,” City Manager Matt Baumgarten said. “So from a vehicle entry standpoint, we do feel like it’s a safer space to hold this event on the south side there. And, again, it balances between the participating businesses as well. So north side got to participate last year, south side gets to participate this year.”

For more information, visit downtownberkley.com.