This weekend, we’ve got last-chance art exhibits, early holiday shopping and lots of beer.

Plus, 101.9 Day! Read on to learn more.

Sip some brews

This Friday, Oct. 18 is our beer release party with Batch Brewing! Ryan Patrick Hooper (host of In The Groove weekdays noon to 3 p.m.) will be your host for the evening as you get to be the first to try “It’s So Kölsch In The D,” an easy-drinking German-style lager designed to appeal to the masses — just like the programming at WDET. Guests will also enjoy live music from Sugar Tradition, Winestoned Cowboys and the Allen Dennard Trio while cozied up on Batch’s heated patio. Doors open at 6 p.m., the show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25. For more information, visit our events page.

Related: Winestoned Cowboys perform Live On WDET

Then, keep the brews flowing at the 15th Annual Detroit Fall Beer Festival at Eastern Market on Saturday, Oct. 19. Guests will get to sample Michigan-made beers while listening to a lineup of local musicians between 1-6 p.m. Food from Detroit-area restaurants will also be available for purchase. Tickets are $60 in advance or $70 at the door while supplies last. For more information, visit mibeer.com.

Rep your radio station

Saturday, Oct. 19 is also 101.9 Day, which is the perfect opportunity to join Team DET! Show off your public radio pride with a Team DET t-shirt, baseball hat or zipper tote bag when you make a sustaining gift of $10.19 per month at wdet.org/give. Your gift supports Detroit’s legendary public broadcaster during our 75th year of service to the community.

Start your holiday shopping

On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Michigan Makers Market returns to The Hawk in Farmington Hills. This indoor juried art fair features more than 50 local artists across various disciplines, including painting, sculpture, jewelry and other wearable art, fiber art, ceramics, printmaking, and more. This year’s market features an Oktoberfest feel with live music on The Hawk patio and beer, wine and hot pretzels available to enjoy while shopping. The market goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit their Facebook event.

Explore new music

This week through Saturday, Oct. 19 is Edgefest 28, an annual avant-jazz festival at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor. This exploration of new music — both improvised and composed — features a diverse roster of innovative international and local artists. Day passes are $60 to $80, and packages are available starting at $200. For more information, visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

Catch this exhibit

This weekend is your last chance to see Double ID at The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Through the lens of W.E.B. DuBois’ work, Double ID showcases striking contemporary artworks that focus on the inner self, identity and evolving spirt of Black men. The exhibit features works from the CCH Pounder-Koné collection, where artists across the diaspora capture the images of Black men amid a myriad of influences. For more information, visit thewright.org. 

Walk with purpose

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is holding annual community walks across the country this weekend, allowing people to remember loved ones who died by suicide while also working as a community to create more mental health support. The Metro Detroit Out of the Darkness Walk will take place at Cricket Field on Belle Isle this Saturday, Oct. 19. On-site registration starts at 8 a.m. and the program starts at 10 a.m. For more information, visit support.afsp.org.

Related: Out of the Darkness Walk on Belle Isle aims to shine a light on mental health, suicide

If you or someone else needs support, a trained counselor can be reached by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Save the date

Mark your calendars — The Rock & Roll Horror Show is coming back from the dead on Friday, Oct. 25! Now in its second year at the Cadieux Cafe, the show will feature live performances from garage rock royalty, The 3-D Invisibles and Eastside Elvis & the Motor City Mafia, as well as tarot readings from Moon Club (featuring our own Amanda LeClaire), all hosted by Modern Music’s Jon Moshier. Join us for a night of spooks and scares, and wear your best costume to be featured on stage as best dressed! This event is 21+ and tickets are $25. For more information, visit our events page.

This week, we’ve got plenty to do that crosses cultural borders — beer release parties for public radio, benefit brunches for the preservation of Black artistry, comedy shows for election season and more.

Plus, where you can best enjoy crisp air, crunchy leaves and apple cider. Read on for details.

Meaningful meals

Join us for the next installment of Ann Delisi’s Essential Cooking at TAKOI on Sunday, Oct. 13. Chef Brad Greenhill will prepare a special 5-course meal with a beverage pairing for guests to enjoy as part of TAKOI’s Ten-Year Anniversary Tour. Located in Corktown, TAKOI is known for modern Thai cooking accented with Michigan seasonality, a DIY mentality and a penchant for local food production. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is at 6 p.m. Limited spaces remain! To learn more, visit our events page.

Then, on Sunday, Oct. 13, The Black Canon is hosting an exclusive brunch and art experience designed to help preserve and elevate Black artistry in its many forms. This inaugural fundraising event will feature a curated art exhibit, a panel discussion with emerging artists, a silent auction, and brunch selections by award-winning chef Rashard Carodine. This benefit brunch will take place at Taylor’d Garden in Livonia from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $65 and guests are asked to dress in “Black Chic” attire. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Related: Black film history treasures coming to Livonia – The Metro

Election entertainment

On Saturday, Oct. 12, actor and comedian Tim Meadows (Saturday Night Live, “Mean Girls”) is headlining Comedy Caucus, an evening of stand-up comedy and live music in support of Gretchen Whitmer’s Fight Like Hell PAC. Hosted at the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac, guests will enjoy performances by nine up-and-coming female comics from around the country, as well as live music by actor/musician Michael Shannon (George & Tammy, Boardwalk Empire) and Jason Narducy (Verböten, Superchunk). Tickets start at $48 and doors open at 6:45 p.m. For more information, visit timmeadowslive.com.

Related: Tim Meadows’ Comedy Caucus coming to Pontiac this weekend – The Metro

Then, keep the election entertainment going at a live recording of our weekly politics podcast, MichMash! In partnership with Gongwer News Service, co-hosts Zach Gorchow, Alethia Kasben and Cheyna Roth will be at UrbanBeat in Lansing’s Old Town neighborhood on Wednesday, Oct. 16 to share their insights and interview guests about all things politics as the November election nears. This free event goes from 7-8:30 p.m. For more information, visit our events page. 

Birthday celebrations

Head to Spot Lite Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 12 for a special edition of House Your Life in celebration of DJ Minx’s birthday! She’ll be spinning tracks from open to close starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and the event is 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Related: DJ Minx brings deep house delicacies, plus Sun Ra, Marvin Gaye + Rock Steady Disco exclusives – In The Groove

Speaking of birthdays, this year marks WDET’s 75th! To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with Batch Brewing in Corktown to create a custom beer just for you. Join us at Batch Brewing for the official release party on Friday, Oct. 18 from 7-11 p.m., hosted by In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper. In addition to beer tastings and mingling, there will also be live performances by Sugar Tradition, Winestoned Cowboys and the Allen Dennard Trio. Doors open at 6 p.m., the show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25. For more information, visit our events page.

Cultural experiences

For the first time in over 10 years, the Mexican Irish Festival returns to Southwest Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 13. This festival brings together two vibrant Detroit sub-cultures, featuring ballet folklórico and Irish step dancing, Mexican mariachi and Irish folk music, and more cultural collaborations (corn beef empanadas, anyone?). The festival goes from noon to 5 p.m. at El Mercado on Bagley St., and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Fall festivities

Saturday, Oct. 12 is the third annual Pontiac Harvest Festival, featuring pumpkin bowling, rock climbing, bounce houses, a DJ, and of course, apple cider and donuts. Festivities are open from 1-5 p.m. at Pontiac City Hall, and admission is free. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Then, head over to the Farmington Hills Nature Center on Sunday, Oct. 13 at for a Fall Color Walk. This guided hike will highlight the beauty of the season under a canopy of color through Heritage Park and Woodland Hills. Participants will learn why and how leaves change color and search for animals preparing for winter. The guided hike is open to all ages, admission is $3 and advance registration is required. For more information, visit their website. 

This week, we’re highlighting local makers and spaces, from Friday the 13th concerts to exclusive dining experiences. 

But we’re also highlighting something else — community. 

We know how to bring you the news that matters, the music you love and the events that you’ll add to your calendar because here at WDET, we’re in this community right alongside you. We’re out there in the heat of Movement and in the chill of the tree lighting. We’re tailgating at Eastern Market and perusing the DIA. We’re always out there with you, and now we’re asking you to be there for us.

As we begin our fall fundraiser, we need your support to keep the station strong. Consider how many concerts you’ve found out about from WDET, how many driveway moments you had when you just couldn’t turn off the radio yet, how many new things you learned from us that you had to share with someone else. What is that worth to you?

We know that not everyone is in a position to donate, but if you are, we ask that you pay it forward. WDET only exists with financial support from people like you. Invest in our community at wdet.org/give.

Donate today »

Hear local musicians 

On Friday, Sep. 13, four iconic acts from Michigan’s noise and punk scene are coming together for Beautiful Noise at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. This immersive concert takes guests on a journey through the past, present and future, featuring live projections and music by Monster Island, Infinite River, Dr. Pete Larson and WDET’s own Liz Warner (host of Alternate Take, Thursdays at 8 p.m.). Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome and tickets are pay-what-you-wish starting at $5. For more information, visit ums.org.

Then, head over to Ziggy’s for a Friday the 13th concert featuring music by Wolf Eyes and Twig Harper, and an inner critic hierarchy purge led by Sara Tea. The show starts at 9 p.m., tickets are available exclusively online for $20 and the event is 18+. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Peruse local excellence

The Black Food & Wine Experience makes its Detroit debut on Thursday, Sep. 12 through Saturday, Sep. 14. This stop on the multi-city tour features three ticketed downtown events that showcase and celebrate Black excellence and the rich heritage featured in food, wine and cocktails inspired by African Diaspora. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit blackfoodwineexperience.com.

Also this weekend is E. Warrenfest, which returns to the community on Saturday, Sep. 14. This annual event features over 50 vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, an Eastside bike ride, a kids zone and live music from Alice King, Mic Phelps, Cye Pie and Sounds Like Detroit Winner Drey Skokie & The kLOUDs. Festivities go from 4-9 p.m. on E. Warren between 3 Mile and Grayton. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Eastern Market After Dark returns for its 12th year on Thursday, Sep. 19 from 6-11 p.m. As a signature event of the Detroit Month of Design, this highly-anticipated festival showcases a wide range of talented artists, businesses, organizations and musicians. Visitors will be treated to a district-wide night market and open studios featuring galleries, retailers, brand activations and live music. This event is free and open to the public, but VIP Experience packs are available for purchase starting at $50. For more information, visit easternmarketafterdark.com.

Explore local spaces

In celebration of two years in the community, The Hawk Makerspace in Farmington Hills is hosting a free open house on Friday, Sep. 13 from 3-7 p.m. Creative community members from across metro Detroit are invited to check out this immersive shared technical and creative studio, which features professional-grade equipment like an embroidery machine, a 3D printer, laser engravers and more. There will also be giveaways, refreshments and discounts on Passholder subscriptions. For more information, visit fhgov.com.

Then, the University District Historic Neighborhood in Detroit is hosting its bi-annual home tour on Saturday, Sep. 14. Design enthusiasts are invited to tour six of Detroit’s most well-kept historic homes with unique decor and touches, many from the Art Deco era. Common features include stained glass windows, Pewabic and Flint Faience tile, grand foyers, crystal chandeliers and more. General admission is $30 in advance or $35 day-of for adults, and tickets are $5 for children 3-13. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Labor Day Weekend in Detroit means the return of some of our favorite annual festivals, including Jazz Fest, the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival and Arts, Beats & Eats.

Plus, more local music performances and a chance to check in on your health. Read on to learn more.

Festivals

The Detroit Jazz Festival returns to the city Friday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 2, and WDET is teaming up with Paxahau as an official media partner to bring you special coverage and programming all week. Featuring over 60 performances as remarkable and diverse as the genre itself, as well as spontaneous late-night jam sessions, this free festival offers something for everyone. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit our events page.

Related: Wendell Harrison performs live on WDET ahead of 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival

Another beloved tradition returning to the area this weekend is the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, featuring live music, carnival rides and yacht races down Jos. Campau. The festival goes from Saturday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sep. 2, and admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit hamtownfest.com.

And finally, there’s Arts, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak, Oakland County’s annual Labor Day weekend celebration of art, music, food and community. Festivities kick off on Friday, Aug. 30 and go through Monday, Sep. 2. The kids zone is free, and general admission is $12. For more information, visit artsbeatseats.com.

Music

On Saturday, Aug. 31, WDET’s own Shigeto (host of The New Music Show on Saturdays 8-10 p.m.) will honor the late, great Kraig Kilby by performing his timeless record Satori at Spot Lite Detroit in full over Jazz Fest weekend. His all-star ensemble will include Detroit legends like Dez Andrés, Ian Fink, JRGotTheHiTS and more. Bill Spencer and WDET’s own Kaleigh Wilder (host of Visions on Mondays 8-10 p.m.) will also be DJing inside, and Portage Garage Sounds will be on the patio all night. Doors open at 9 p.m., tickets start at $22 and the event is 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook event.

On Sunday, Sep. 1, Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra presents All Things Detroit at Spot Lite, featuring Asaka The Renegade, Natasia, 3DXT, Shardy, The Monalyse, Courtney Bell, 313 The Live Experience, Chris the Barber, House of Hit Queen Gabby, DJ Fingers, Nick Speed, Jungle, Detroit Zeus and Phat Kat. Doors open at 9 p.m., tickets start at $22 and the event is 21+. For more information, visit their Facebook event. 

Related: Hear Urban Art Orchestra perform live on WDET

Wellness

The first annual Long Live Health event debuts at Eastern Market’s Shed 3 on Friday, Aug. 30. This family-friendly, festival-style event aims to promote healthy lifestyles with free health checks, LGBTQ+ support services, sexual health education, diabetes screenings, vision checkups, mental health support and more. This event is free with registration and goes from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.