When Detroit throws a party, it usually happens at Hart Plaza. The 14-acre riverfront plaza at Woodward Avenue and Jefferson — officially Philip A. Hart Plaza — has been the city’s festival grounds since 1975, home over the years to the Detroit Jazz Festival, the electronic-music pilgrims of Movement, ethnic festivals and championship celebrations.
Even between events, the plaza rewards a visit. The Dodge Fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi, throws arcs of water over a granite plaza; the stainless-steel Transcending sculpture — the Michigan Labor Legacy Landmark — frames the skyline; and the riverwalk promenade offers front-row views of the Detroit River and the Ambassador Bridge.
Hart Plaza sits at the foot of Woodward, steps from Campus Martius and the Renaissance Center. Check visitdetroit.com for the plaza’s festival calendar across the seasons.
