• Detroit is historically known as the home of North America's auto industry.detroit, michigan image by Pontus Edenberg from Fotolia.com
  
  Detroit, Michigan has experienced some of the worst economic declines in the United States. But the city still features the entertainment and attractions that have made it a cultural powerhouse. As Michigan's most populous city and one of the biggest in the country, Detroit is the home of Motown recording artists and will always be known as the Motor City. You can find a major Detroit event to suit just about any taste.
  
  

North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)

• Detroit is the original home of North America's auto industry. For decades, every automaker in the U.S. was based in the Motor City, so it's only natural that the city plays host to the continent's largest auto show. The NAIAS has been held at the Cobo Center in Detroit since 1961, but the show's history actually extends all the way back to the first decade of the 20th century. At the show, automakers preview their new models to the public before they hit showroom floors. It takes place over several weeks in January beginning with media and industry previews before opening to the public. Admission is generally $12 per person.
  
  North American International Auto Show
  
  Cobo Center
  
  One Washington Blvd.
  
  Detroit, MI 48226
  
  248-643 0250
  
  naias.com
  
  

Woodward Dream Cruise

• So many cars have been made in Detroit over the past century that it is no surprise the city is home to one of the largest events showcasing those classic vehicles. The Woodward Dream Cruise show brings in about 40,000 old cars during one Saturday in late August. Admission is nominally free, though it does cost money to eat at local restaurants and to attend events that may be affiliated but separate from the cruise itself, such as concerts and receptions. Also, parking often costs extra. The actual parade of vehicles extends along Woodward Avenue through several Detroit suburbs, with each city featuring its own assortment of related festivities.
  
  Woodward Dream Cruise
  
  900 Wilshire Dr., Suite 102
  
  Troy, MI 48084
  
  woodwarddreamcruise.com
  
  

Detroit Electronic Music Festival

• This annual celebration of electronic music has been held every Memorial Day weekend since 2000. The festival features some of the biggest acts in electronic music and attracts tens of thousands of fans from all over the world. The lineup for the 2010 festival featured nearly 100 musical acts from several different continents and brought in an estimated 95,000 attendees. The cost of a full weekend pass is roughly $50 per person.
  
  Paxahau Promotions Group LLC
  
  326 Hilton
  
  Ferndale, MI 48220
  
  248-584-1646
  
  movement.us
  
  

Detroit International Jazz Festival

• One of the nation's premier jazz festivals, the Detroit International Jazz Festival was launched in 1980 as a means to get people to come to the city. Part of the attraction of the festival, aside from the slate of world-class jazz musicians, is the fact that it is free to the general public. The festival generally takes place over a long weekend in September, with concerts held in the middle of downtown Detroit. There are also affiliated events such as a cruise along the Detroit River and various fundraisers and awards ceremonies. Access to the festival itself is completely free, though fundraiser events can cost upwards of $150 per person.
  
  Detroit International Jazz Festival
  
  660 Woodward Ave., Suite 13
  
  Detroit, MI 48226
  
  313-447-1248
  
  detroitjazzfest.com
  
  

Detroit Riverdays

• For a long time, this festival on the banks of the Detroit River was called the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, celebrating the two cities on either side of the international border. These days, Detroit celebrates Riverdays at the same time as Windsor's Summerfest in late June. Detroit's festival features music, food and one of the largest fireworks displays in North America. Admission is generally $3 per person, though there are several promotional time periods when the entrance fee is waived.
  
  The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
  
  600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1720
  
  Detroit, MI 48243
  
  313-566-8200
  
  detroitriverdays.com