The Metro: The Detroit Kite Festival soars high above Belle Isle this summer

The Detroit Kite Festival returns to Belle Isle on Sunday, July 12 for its eighth year, held near the James Scott Memorial Fountain. The event is free (beyond the island entry fee) and features kite-making stations, live music, bubble activities, cooling tents, and book nooks. The Mint Artists Guild will also mark their tenth anniversary with free face painting and crafts, part of their ongoing work training young Detroiters in the arts.

Lex Draper Garcia Bey, a fourth-generation Detroiter, took over as festival director after the founder stepped back. She emphasized her commitment to keeping the event fun and engaging rather than letting it become stale — calling it her absolute favorite festival.