5 things to do this weekend in Flint, Genesee County this weekend (June 8

Oct 28, 2023

Scenes from the 55th Annual Flint Art Fair on Saturday, June 11, 2022.(Jenifer Veloso | MLive.com)Jenifer Veloso

FLINT, MI – A look at this weekend's activities in the Flint area include Flushing SummerFest 2023, the start of Juneteenth celebrations, the annual Flint Art Fair, an outdoor movie night and a paddling and biking event.

Check out the list below for a variety of events happening throughout Flint and Genesee County from Thursday, June 8 to Sunday, June 11.

Flushing SummerFest

Flushing's SummerFest 2023 is heading "Back Through the Decades" to provide five days of fun this weekend.

This year's festival started Wednesday, June 7 and runs until Sunday, June 11 at Riverview Park, 230 Cherry St. in Flushing.

SummerFest highlights include live performances, a beer tent, arts and crafts, face painting, book giveaways, carnival rides, corn hole tournament, a Sunday church service and a pancake breakfast at Dalton Airport.

A full list of times and dates for festival events can be found on the Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce website here.

Flint's Juneteenth Celebration

The 51st Traditional Flint Juneteenth Celebration of Flint is just a couple days away.

Friday marks the start of 11 days of free festivities celebrating Juneteenth.

This weekend there are three main events, starting with three BLM Mural Paint Days from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 4-7 p.m. on Saturday and 3-5 p.m. on Sunday at the BLM Zone, located at the corner of Martin Luther King Avenue and University Avenue.

A Juneteenth kickoff event will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 at Sarvis Park, 4000 Wisner St. GenWEL United is sponsoring the event featuring food, activities, music and performances.

The weekend ends with a "street dance" block party paying tribute to the Historical St. John Street Neighborhood. The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 at St. John Street Memorial Park, 3500 W. Boulevard Dr.

The celebration wraps up Monday, June 19. A full list of events with dates and times can be found here.

"Top Gun: Maverick" outdoor movie night

Grab a blanket or chair and your family and friends for an outdoor movie night in Grand Blanc Township.

Creasey Bicentennial Park, located at 1505 E. Grand Blanc Road, is hosting a free showing of "Top Gun: Maverick" at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 9.

The film is the sequel to "Top Gun" which was released in 1986. Some of the stars in the 2022 movie are Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and Glen Powell.

It has a PG-13 rating and runtime of 130 minutes.

Concessions, including popcorn, drinks and candy will be available for purchase at the park.

LAFF Paddle and Peddle

Genesee County residents can participate in a family-friendly event that combines paddling and peddling.

It is not a race, but rather a three-day event to complete over the course of the weekend, from Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 11.

Participants pick the day they want to complete the recommended route, paddling on the Shiawassee River and peddling on the completed phase one LAFF Pathway.

The paddling route goes east up the Shiawassee River to Tupper Lake or Lake Ponemah and takes about two hours to complete. Kayaks will be available for rent.

The bike route is approximately 10 miles or 4-5 hours round trip, beginning at the Mill building in downtown Linden. Signs will be posted along the route to guide bikers.

Registration is available online. Participants will receive packets including route maps, sponsor goodies and a sport backpack.

Packets can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the table near Linden Mills, 201 N. Main St.

56th Annual Flint Art Fair

The Flint Art returns for its 56th year this weekend.

The Flint Institute of Arts is hosting the city's 56th art fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 on the front lawn of the facility, 1120 E. Kearsley St.

Every year the fair attracts thousands of visitors and features original works from around 175 established and emerging artists from Michigan and beyond.

Art mediums include ceramics, glass, painting, jewelry, fiber, metal, mixed media, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.

Free parking is available behind the FIA, as well as at other Flint Cultural Center institutions. A detailed parking map is available here.