2024 Detroit Ford Fireworks guide: How to watch, event info, parking, curfew, more

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Ford Fireworks

Ford Fireworks 2024

DETROIT – We have everything you need to know about the 2024 Ford Fireworks.

How to watch the Ford Fireworks from home

The 66th annual Ford Fireworks are set to light up the Downtown Detroit sky on Monday, June 24. The fireworks show will be broadcast live on Local 4 and Local 4+, which is available for free, even outside the Detroit area.

Watch the 66th annual Ford Fireworks live here on Local 4+ with pre-show coverage at 8 p.m. and the fireworks show at 10 p.m.

Best Downtown Detroit viewing spots

The following locations are considered the best places to watch the Ford Fireworks in person:

  • Hart Plaza
  • Belle Isle (Viewing from the MacArthur Bridge is not allowed)
  • Spirit Plaza

📷 Share your photos of fireworks celebrations with us on MIPics!

Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza are both open to the public. People are not allowed to set up or gather before 2 p.m. on June 24. The plazas will remain open until capacity is reached and there is no re-admittance into either plaza. Anyone who enters will have to undergo a security screening that will include the searching of backpacks and coolers.

What to know about the rules at Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza:

  • No tents, alcohol, drones, pets, or contraband (weapons, knives, etc.) will be allowed.
  • Flames or fires are prohibited, and cooking is prohibited.
  • Fireworks are not allowed.
  • Reserving an area in excess of the number of people currently in the group is prohibited.

Belle Isle will be closed on Monday until 2 p.m. The island will open to vehicular traffic at 2 p.m. and remain open until capacity is reached. The island will open at 5 a.m. to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Drivers will need a Recreation Passport to enter the island. The passport is only needed for vehicles and can be purchased at the entrance for $14. The passport costs $11 for out-of-state and international visitors for the day. When capacity is reached, no other vehicles will be allowed in the park.

You can get updates on when the island is full by texting GEM to 80888.

What to know about the rules at Belle Isle:

  • Alcohol consumption is prohibited on the island.
  • No tents and canopies allowed.
  • From 2 - 4 p.m., all vehicles will be directed to the paddock area (except those with valid ADA placards)
  • RV parking will be on the paddock area near the Casino.
  • Consumer fireworks are prohibited on the island.

Detroit weather updates

The forecast for the Ford Fireworks is looking fantastic. High temperatures reach the low-to-mid 80s Monday afternoon but drop into the 70s by the time the fireworks kick off.

Click here to see the latest weather forecast.

What to know before heading downtown

Here is what you’ll want to know before you head to Downtown Detroit on Monday.

Closed locations

The following Detroit locations will be closed on Monday, June 24:

  • RiverWalk in its entirety including Milliken State Park/Harbor
  • AB Ford Park, 100 Lenox
  • Gabriel Richard Park, 7130 E. Jefferson
  • Mariner Park, 14700 Riverside Blvd.
  • Lakewood East, 14578 Riverfront Blvd.
  • Erma Henderson Park, 8800 E. Jefferson Ave.
  • Owens Park, 8430 E. Jefferson Ave.
  • Stockton Park, 9250 Dwight
  • Maheras-Gentry Park, 12550 Avondale
  • Elliott Park, 110 Mt. Elliott
  • Riverside Park

Road closures

The following traffic changes will go into effect around 6 p.m. on Monday:

  • No northbound or southbound traffic will be allowed on Woodward Avenue beginning at Park and Witherell. Motorists may cross Woodward at John R/Clifford, Grand River, and State/Gratiot.
  • All streets south of Fort and west of Woodward will be closed.
  • All streets south of Congress and east of Woodward will be closed.
  • Beginning at 6 p.m., freeways will begin to close. *

Detroit police may close freeways or surface streets earlier in the day if there is a high amount of traffic.

Where to park

The parking department will not enforce parking meters after 5 p.m. on June 24. All other parking restrictions will need to be followed.

If you violate a parking restriction you will receive a ticket and in some cases vehicles may be towed. Motorists will be ticketed for the following:

  • Improper parking (vehicles within 20 feet from crosswalk; within 15 feet from an intersection; within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic control device; and within 15 feet of a fire hydrant)
  • Parking in front of fire hydrants and bus stops or blocking driveways and alleys.
  • Parking in designated zones, such as handicap zones (without proper credentials), fire lanes, no parking zones or no standing zones

The parking department offers parking at the following city-owned garages:

  • Ford Underground Garage at 30 East Jefferson Avenue will be open from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. and cost $10.
  • Eastern Market Garage at 2727 Riopelle Street will be open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. and cost $5.

Viewing the fireworks or tailgating from any parking facility is not allowed. If you need more information you can call 313-221-2500 or go online to detroitmi.gov/parking.

If your vehicle has been towed you’ll need to talk with a Detroit police officer to determine which company towed your vehicle.

Minor curfew in effect

Detroit will be enforcing its existing curfew for minors ages 17 and under. The curfew is in effect from 8 p.m. on June 24 until 6 a.m. on June 25 for the area bounded by the Detroit River, Rosa Parks Blvd., Lodge Freeway, Fisher Freeway, the extension of Fisher Freeway east to include Gratiot Avenue, Vernor Highway, Chene Street, Atwater Street and Chene Park.

Minors can view the fireworks from any approved public area but they must be with a parent, legal guardian, or other adult age 21 or older, if they are within the curfew boundaries. Minors are still allowed to travel to and from work, school, church, or organized activities.

Minors found to be violating the curfew will be taken to the Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval and held there until a parent or guardian can pick them up. The parent or guardian will receive a “parental responsibility violation ticket.”

Lost children will be taken to the following locations:

  • Huntington Place, off Atwater Dr. in the atrium
  • Detroit Police Department 3rd Precinct, 2875 W. Grand Blvd. (313) 596-5300
  • Detroit Police Department 4th Precinct, 4700 W. Fort Street (313) 596-5400
  • Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, 628-2100

Detroit People Mover

Rides on the Detroit People Mover are completely free. The People Mover will be open for the fireworks from 7 a.m. until midnight.

Riders will want to exit at the Financial District Station for viewing at Spirit or Hart Plaza. Anyone transferring to the People Mover from the Rosa Parks Transit Center will want to board at Times Square Station.

Trains will not stop at Huntington Place and the Renaissance Center after 2 p.m. due to early closures.

You can find more information at peoplemover.com or call 313-224-2160.

DDOT bus reminders

The following Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus routes will be impacted by the fireworks:

  • Grand River (#3)
  • Woodward (#4)
  • Van Dyke/Lafayette (#5)
  • Gratiot (#6)
  • Conant southbound only (#12)
  • Jefferson (#9)
  • Dexter (#16)
  • Russell (#40)
  • Chene (#52)
  • Cadillac/Harper (#67)

All DDOT routes will go to the Rosa Parks Transit Center. You can call 313-933-1300 for more information.


About the Author
Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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