About us

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 is 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 Waterfest. The original Detroit River Water Festival, from 2000 to 2004, was hosted by Wayne County Community College and organized by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department and many of the current sponsors and partners. It ended in 2004 due to funding issues. We are happy to continue this great educational event in 2012 and on to 2013 on the riverfront!

The 2013 Detroit River Water festival is made possible through the following partnerships:

  • Alliance for the Great Lakes
  • Cranbrook Institute of Science
  • Detroit Public Schools
  • Detroit RiverFront Conservancy
  • Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
  • DTE Energy
  • Friends of the Detroit River
  • Friends of the Rouge River
  • International Joint Commission
  • Michigan Department of Natural Resources
  • Michigan Sea Grant
  • Sierra Club Great Lakes Program
  • University of Michigan Dearborn
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Wayne County Community College
  • Wayne County Department of Public Services
  • Wayne State University

The 2013 Detroit River Water Festival is unique in that it brings U.S. and Canadian children together to learn about water along their common border - the Detroit River and uses the resource itself as part of the learning experience.

Download the 2013 Detroit Waterfest Information Sheet

About the DTE Energy Foundation Community Waterfest! Program:

Expanding the Waterfest experience to more communities in Michigan and the Great Lakes is a state-wide initiative of Cranbrook Institute of Science to promote watershed education and protection of the Great Lakes. It is funded by DTE Energy Foundation, and DTE Energy biologists, engineers, environmental specialists, and its famous Dive Team are among the planners and presenters at the region's water festivals.

Please explore our map of the water festival site to learn more about the waterfest location and learning stations.

View Detroit River Children's Water Festival in a larger map

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