Free events in Flint, MI

A free community gathering offers playful games, creative craft stations, face painting, a giveaway of school supplies, and complimentary pizza and ice cream. Event parking is available in the GHS Center for Children’s Integrated Services overflow lot. For questions, email fwalker@genhs.org or call 810-569-9822. If weather becomes an issue, the event will move to a later date with the same schedule and location.

Patio Night at the Flint Institute of Arts offers an outdoor evening on the Palette Cafe patio, presented in partnership with FIM’s Music Around Town. Admission is free, with food and beverage specials available to purchase. This date features Roane with a Celtic-focused performance. Patio seating is limited, and visitors may bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax on the FIA lawn. Styles vary from week to week, and the museum stays open later so guests can wander the galleries and exhibitions. If the weather turns, the event will shift indoors to Isabel Hall.

Classic cars and community take center stage in Downtown Davison with easygoing cruising vibes along Main Street. Owners can showcase their vehicles, and visitors can stroll to admire the lineup, stop by local businesses, and enjoy the summer atmosphere. Warm nights and cool cars set the tone for a relaxed evening in the heart of downtown.

Back again, Ponetian Weekend offers two days of lakeside traditions across Lake Ponemah and Tupper Lake. Highlights include a fireworks show over Lake Ponemah with a pre-show boat glow, a relaxed noodle float on Tupper Lake, and live music on the lake. Whether floating, boating, or watching the sky, it is all about PST summer traditions and community by the water.

Enjoy a relaxed day of board gaming with access to a shared collection or bring favorites from home. A dedicated swap table invites trades, so bring a game you are ready to pass along and pick up something new to try at no cost. The cafe will have drinks, baked treats, and sandwiches available for purchase. Admission is free, the event is open to the public, and participants of all ages are welcome.

Taking place at CenterPoint Church, this community day offers free food, family activities, and giveaways for Flint and the surrounding area. Kids can enjoy inflatables, games, and face painting. School supplies and groceries will be distributed, and a child must be present to receive school supplies.

NourisHER+HIM is a cooking class for girls and boys that builds practical kitchen skills and shares simple nutrition knowledge. Guided by experienced chefs, participants learn to plan and prepare budget-friendly, flavorful meals while receiving encouragement from a supportive community. The class also gives young cooks a chance to meet peers who share an interest in food, and it is offered in a drop-in format.

Drive-thru pickup is open to everyone. Enter the parking lot from Hemphill Rd and proceed to the corner of the building near the large garage door for service. Availability is while supplies last.

The 14th annual Flint Drop Fest fills the streets of Downtown Flint with a free, all ages celebration of electronic music and art. More than ten open air stages host over one hundred performances by local, regional and national artists, alongside a bustling mix of arts, crafts and food vendors. Recognized as the Flint and Genesee Attraction of the Year for two years in a row, the festival is billed as the largest free electronic music event in the state. Expect live art, DJs, workshops, body painting, a fashion show, a car, truck and bike show, performance art and a city-wide vendor market, all presented with plenty of energy and color. Custom sound systems tuned for low frequencies and a range of lighting effects, including flashing, strobing and laser elements, are part of the experience, so guests with sensitivities to audio or visual effects should plan ahead. A safe, welcoming atmosphere is a priority, with zero tolerance for violence, intimidation or disruptions and a strict PLUR policy that emphasizes peace, love, unity and respect. Guidelines include no glass, no weapons, no illegal drugs or alcohol, no vending without approval and no harassment. Attendees are asked to help care for Downtown Flint by avoiding any damage and by keeping the area clean, and everyone is encouraged to focus on having fun and spreading good vibes.

Michigan Promo Models marks its seventh year at Brush Park with a full slate of networking, brand activations, and creative showcases alongside Flint Drop Fest. The festival spans six or more city blocks and is free to attend, drawing crowds that reach into the tens of thousands within an electric techno atmosphere. Highlights include a Car Show, kid-friendly fun with Dunk Tank Co. bounce houses, creative live arts with Flint Fusion and Monster Drag Events, and a glow party after dark with light up toys. Models and photographers check in at the MPM tent to register and receive a lanyard or bracelet along with the daily program, which helps connect teams and ensure photos get to their proper destinations. Models have a 10 dollar fee that includes branded merch, food, and drinks, with limited helper roles that can waive the fee. Photographers have no fee and may bring cards and brochures to the MPM tent, where a donation box supports the models’ efforts. Support is available for hair, makeup, and sizing, and a backstage camper offers a place to cool off between sets. Models are asked to wear black or white basics for certain segments and bring themed looks as outlined in the program, and not every participant is required to walk each set. For those new to the industry or looking to grow, MPM’s Boot Camp team works in person or remotely, including sessions at Courtland Center Mall or VCS. Programming centers on Stages 9 and 7 with model introductions and networking, business and brand activations on the runway, photo moments with cars, local businesses, and vendors, kids runway segments with Dunk Tank Co. and blowup toys, and themed showcases featuring Space Cowgirls and Red Carpet segments. A group photoshoot anchors the day, followed by car model and photographer awards. Special recognitions include the Flint Drop Fest Queen, leadership and behind the scenes queens, and achievement awards for models and photographers. The Red Carpet Car Show Trophy Awards create additional networking touchpoints, and photo backdrops range from the alley car show to the Capitol Theatre and city streets, all fitting this year’s Space Cowgirls Alien theme. The production welcomes videographers, drone operators, and car clubs, and a live activation street team will be out across the footprint distributing business merchandise. Families can explore games, prizes, bounce attractions, and the dunk tank, while MPM adds to the fun with raffles. Festival guidelines include keeping the area clean and not parking inside the festival or coned off areas. The car show has a general admission fee of 10 dollars and a separate trophy registration fee of 10 dollars.

Enjoy a FREE evening concert with the Doobie Brothers tribute as part of the summer “Concerts in the Park” series hosted by the Frankenmuth Women’s Club. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on at Palmer Schau Platz in Memorial Park. Snacks and refreshments are available during the show.

Enjoy a free puzzle swap party where participants bring puzzles to trade with others. Attendees are encouraged to bring puzzles they are ready to exchange and discover new ones to take home, all at no cost.

A weekly wellness group at Flint Serenity House blends AcuDetox with guided meditation to ease stress, support recovery, and encourage emotional balance. Sessions use the five-needle protocol to assist with anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, and detox support, offering a gentle, noninvasive approach with ear beads or acupuncture. Each gathering includes guided meditation to cultivate calm, clarity, and inner peace. The setting is trauma informed, recovery friendly, and open to all. No experience is required and there is no cost to attend. Funded by a state grant. Register under Groups & Events or call 810-336-1018 for details or to arrange a ride.

Flint Handmade hosts a comedy and tragedy themed coloring party at Tenacity Brewing, with seating offered both indoors and outdoors. This all ages gathering provides the first 100 attendees with a complimentary coloring kit to use during the event and take home afterward. The brewery will have alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages available for purchase, and Vehicle City Tacos will be open. Admission is free and open to everyone, and dogs are welcome. Donations are encouraged to support Clio Cast and Crew. Appreciation goes to sponsors including Rolls Mechanical, the UM Flint Center for Gender and Sexuality, Meijer, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala and Dr. Nita Kulkarni, Thrivent, and the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library. Sponsorship opportunities are available starting at 100 dollars.

Leo’s Coney Island in Davison features a kids night with a rotating mix of activities like face painting, balloon animals, and glitter tattoos. A kids meal is complimentary with the purchase of an adult meal, limited to one child’s meal per adult order. The entertainment changes each week, and the activities are free.

This summer at Silver Lake Resort and Spa, a ski show delivers adventure and playful antics with plenty of laughs for all ages. Admission is free, and the park charges $8 per vehicle. A pre-show leads into the main performance, which runs for about an hour. Attendees are welcome to bring a chair or blanket, settle on the hill, and enjoy family friendly entertainment.

Howl & Heal Sanctuary offers a free, beginner-friendly yoga session at Flint Local 432 that welcomes all ages and every level of experience. The practice focuses on accessibility, calming the nervous system, and cultivating embodied wellness. Extra mats are available by request for anyone who does not have one. When the weather cooperates, the group may step outside and take the flow into the city. Drop-ins are welcome, and participants are encouraged to come exactly as they are. This community-centered class is intended to foster care, connection, and collective healing.

Enjoy an evening centered on the music of Billy Joel and Bob Seger, presented as a distinctive mash-up that blends both artists into one performance. Admission is free.