Puppies, sneakers and Wyandotte Restaurant Week: 5 things to do this weekend
The Freep Film Festival is back with a fresh batch of documentaries, and there's a puppy parade in the lineup in honor of Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month. Also coming this weekend: an event in downtown Detroit for sneaker lovers, exclusive offerings for food lovers in downtown Wyandotte and a walk to help raise funds for breast cancer victims at the Detroit Zoo.
Freep Film Festival
This 10th annual version of the event produced by the Detroit Free Press has nearly 40 documentaries showing at various venues. The four-day festival with in-person and virtual at-home screenings features films with a strong connection to the issues and people tied to Detroit and Michigan.
More: Tickets on sale for 2023 Freep Film Fest: See lineup of documentaries
In-depth discussions take place after many films to encourage conversations that spin off issues raised on-screen.
The festival runs through Sunday. Venues include the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts, three theaters at the Michigan Science Center, the Detroit Historical Museum and Frame in Hazel Park. Tickets to most in-person screenings are $15; tickets for virtual screenings are $12.
Utica Puppy Parade
April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, and Utica is marking it with a puppy parade. Pets of all ages are welcome, and more than 20 organizations will be participating.
Fire and police department vehicles will escort the parade through its conclusion at Pioneer Park, where attendees can visit rescue and vendor tents. The event starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and begins at Grant Park.
Sneaker Con Detroit
This event will offer a variety of sneakers and streetwear for sale, along with activities suitable for all ages. There will be opportunities to play games on a stage, meet and interact with influencers and get deals from top U.S. sneaker sellers.
More than 300 vendors are expected, and they'll be buying, selling and trading rare, limited-edition and exclusive sneakers, as well as streetwear and accessories. You also can get your shoes authenticated by eBay experts.
Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Huntington Place Detroit, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit. $30.
A Walk at the Zoo
This annual family-friendly fundraising event hosted by the Shades of Pink Foundation is expecting more than 1,000 participants to gather Saturday to raise money to help cover living expenses for people diagnosed with breast cancer.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register. A ticket allows you to visit the zoo for the whole day. There also will be vendors, snacks and raffles.
In-person registration takes place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday at the Home & Garden Shop at 2826 Industrial Row Drive in Troy. Walk-up registration at the zoo is 7-8:30 a.m. Saturday. Participants must enter the zoo by 9 a.m. Those who cannot attend in person can register as a virtual walker for $25.
The event takes place 7 a.m.-noon Saturday at the Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. Ten Mile in Royal Oak. $45, $35 ages 6-17, $20 ages 2-5; free to children younger than 2.
Wyandotte Restaurant Week
Bars, restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops are showcasing their wares and offering special prices and raffles during Wyandotte Restaurant Week, which continues through Sunday.
Visit wyandotte.net for a list of the more than 20 participating businesses.
Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com. To subscribe, go to freep.com/specialoffer.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 things to do this weekend: Puppies, sneakers, Wyandotte dining
