Friends of the Detroit River is leading the planning efforts for this year's Detroit River Water Festival on Belle Isle. The island is an ideal location for interpretation and to feature the rare habitats and restoration work implemented by Friends of the Detroit River and partners on the island. To learn more about Friends of the Detroit River, visit our website.

Event History:

The Detroit River Water Festival is an effort by DTE Energy Foundation and Cranbrook Institute of Science to bring back the Detroit River Water Festival for area school children. It was modeled after the many water festivals that take place in the region including the UM Dearborn Rouge River Water Festival, Cranbrook Rouge River Water Festival, Clinton River Water Festival, Lake St. Clair Water Festival and the Essex Region Children's Water Festival. Festival partners are pleased to offer this outstanding educational experience to Detroit students each year since 2012.

The 2023 Detroit River Water festival was made possible through the following partnerships:

• Belle Isle Nature Center

• Detroit Audubon

• Detroit Public Schools

• Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

• Detroit Zoological Society

• DTE Energy

• DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

• The Greening of Detroit

• Friends of the Detroit River

• Huron Clinton Metroparks

• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Environmental Health

• Michigan State University Extension

• Michigan Sea Grant

• Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office

• OHM Advisors

• U.S. Forest Service Eastern Region

• University of Michigan - Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center

• We Fixin’ to Fish

• Wilderness Inquiry