Oakland County, Michigan

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Things to Do in Royal Oak

Arts, Beats & Eats

Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, 2011, Arts, Beats & Eats will again be held in Royal Oak. Please visit the Arts, Beats and Eats website for events details, artist applications, and more news as important event updates will be available throughout the year.

Other events throughout the year include:

  • Clay, Glass and Metal Festival
  • Annual Garage Sale
  • Royal Oak in Bloom
  • Oak/Apple Run; and
  • Parades for St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, and the Holiday Magic Parade that launches our Christmas season.

Residents, visitors and vendors have come to see Royal Oak as a town that pulls together and knows how to provide a good time for the whole family.

Detroit Zoo

Children and adults of all ages enjoy an excursion to the Detroit Zoo, conveniently located in Royal Oak at the intersections of Interstate 696, Woodward Avenue and Ten Mile Road. Sprawling over 125 acres, the zoo's naturalistic exhibits house 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates of 275 different species. Opened in 1928, it was the first zoo in the United States to use natural exhibits without barriers. Recent additions to the Detroit Zoo include the National Amphibian Conservation Center, a facility devoted entirely to the research and exhibition of amphibians, and the Arctic Ring of Life showcasing polar bears and recreating the North Pole environment. These new exhibits are two of the world's largest animal exhibits.

Royal Oak Farmers Market

The freshest in-season produce can be found at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, located at 316 E 11 Mile Rd (just 2 blocks east of Main Street). A legacy since 1927, the market sells only food products that Michigan farmers grow themselves. Some of the farmers who bring their crops to the market travel from locations up to four hours from Royal Oak, extending the seasons availability for many varieties of fruits and vegetables. In addition to food products, the Farmers Market sells numerous varieties of annuals and perennials in the spring and summer, and greenery and pine trees in December. Crafts and antiques are available during Farmers Market. Hours: Every Saturday 7:00 A.M. – 1:00 pm.   There is a smaller version of the Farm market on Fridays during the growing season (May thru November, 7:00 A.M. - 1:00P.M.)

The Sunday Antiques and Collectibles market has been a year round event for over 40 years. Every Sunday (except on major Holidays) 80-100 dealers from Michigan and out of the state offer a constantly changing plethora of vintage and antique items. The hours are: Sundays 8:00A.M. – 3:00 P.M. (FREE ADMISSION during regular hours). There is a special (7:00 A.M -8:00 A.M.) early bird admission charge of $5.00 for the more devoted antique hunters).  A restaurant, coffee bar and local Bakery prepare daily specials. There are some farm goods during the summer months. Check out the Royal Oak Farmers Market schedule for the numerous special events that are held in the Market building.

Woodward Dream Cruise

August: The Woodward Dream Cruise is an annual event that celebrates the cars, music and memories of the fifties and sixties in the region where the world's first automobile was manufactured. The world's largest one-day celebration of the car culture attracts over 1.5 million visitors. The Woodward Dream Cruise takes place on the third Saturday in August.