Advanced registration includes admission to both Cranbrook Art Museum and Cranbrook Institute of Science. $12 general admission / $10 ArtMembers and Cranbrook Institute of Science Members; $15 on-site admission.
Join us for the second annual Summer Solstice Celebration, a day of music and making at Cranbrook Art Museum (CAM) and Cranbrook Institute of Science (CIS)!
Inspired by traditional Scandinavian solstice festivities, this modern celebration embraces art, science, and the beauty of nature on the longest day of the year—when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
Celebrate the magic of midsummer with us!
At Cranbrook Art Museum:
- Maypole Dance: Celebrate the summer season with a traditional folk dance on the Cranbrook Art Museum lawn.
- Sun-inspired Sounds: Enjoy a presentation of The Dolphins, a Juilliard string quartet from the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival as well as DJ Gold playing sets on vinyl all day long!
- Fun in the Sun: Join yard games and participate in special art-making activities with educators from The Henry Ford Museum.
- Bright Bubble Wands: Create a world of bubbles with handmade bubble wands!
- Sun Sounding Tambourines: Practice rhythm by crafting tambourines decorated with ribbons and yarn – artworks that double as instruments!
- Cranbrook on the Green: Play mini-golf and learn about Cranbrook on our artist-designed course, featuring two new holes this year! (Additional fee)
- Tacos and Ice Cream: Enjoy seasonal iced coffees and our new selection of sausages, hot dogs, ice cream and popsicles at our FIKA Café! Check out tacos and spiced watermelon from the award-winning Tacos Hernandez and sun themed cocktails at the bar near the beautiful Triton Pools.
At Cranbrook Institute of Science:
- Strike a Pose with Steggy: Grab a FREE professional family photo with everyone’s favorite dinosaur, Steggy the Stegosaurus! Catch this amazing experience from 11:00am to 2:00pm—say cheese!
- Pokémon exploreLAB Experience: For almost 30 years, Pokémon have dominated pop culture, but what many people might not know is that the franchise is heavily rooted in natural science. Step into the prehistoric world of Pokémon and meet their real-life counterparts! Discover how real paleontology inspired their designs in this fun, fossil-filled exploreLAB adventure for all ages. Three showtimes will be available throughout the day. Available for an additional fee.
- Summer Crafts Station: Get crafty with sunshine vibes! Make your own colorful paper flowers and build a sundial to take home.
- Solstice Scavenger Hunt: Explore the Institute inside and out with a scavenger hunt that mixes nature, art, and science into one unforgettable quest. Discover hidden gems, solve clues, and let the summer adventures begin!
- Outdoor Campus Walks: Enjoy a guided walk around Cranbrook’s beautiful campus to uncover blooming plants, curious critters, stunning sculptures, and scenic views of Kingswood Lake. Each walk is a mini expedition—so wear comfy shoes and get ready for a mix of gravel paths, grassy trails, and dirt walkways. Walks depart at 11:15am, 12:30pm, and 1:45pm.
- Pokémon GO Adventure: Whether you’re wandering our sprawling 319-acre campus or joining us to celebrate the solstice (or both!), it’s always a great time to play Pokémon GO. With exciting new game updates, the Cranbrook Campus is your ideal playground to catch rare Pokémon, challenge gyms, spin the Institute’s PokéStops, and discover every corner of the grounds!
- Planetarium Shows: Immerse yourself in the stars with awe-inspiring shows at the Acheson Planetarium—a cool retreat on a hot summer day. Available for an additional fee.
- Outside Storytime: Kick back and cool off under the big oak tree for some summer-themed tales! Let your imagination soar as we share stories at 11:30am, 12:15pm, 1:00pm, 1:45pm, and 2:30pm.
- Cranbrook Observatory: Peek into the cosmos and soak up the stars this summer with up-close views through our giant telescope.
- Mini Science Sessions: Travel through time and around the world as we explore how ancient cultures—from Central Mexico to Cambodia—built temples, tombs, and sky-aligned structures to celebrate the Summer Solstice. See select artifacts up close, then roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cut-and-fold activity where kids can create their own solstice-inspired mini masterpiece! Structures of Summer will be offered just twice during the event.
This summer celebration is the perfect way for all ages and families to welcome the season together!
Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for general admission and $10 for members, with on-site tickets available for $15.
Celebrate the magic of midsummer with us! Save some cash, grab your tickets today.
About The Dolphins Quartet
The Dolphins are a premier Juilliard string quartet committed to adventure, excellence, and accessibility. Formed in Blue Hill, Maine, at the 2022 Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, they have frequently featured at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, performing the Juilliard premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s String Quartet No. 4, Villa-Lobos’ String Quartet No. 5, and the world premiere of William Stackpole’s 2021 String Quartet.
About Gold
Gold is a multidisciplinary artist, record enthusiast, collector, and selector specializing in expressing a deep sense of feel & pulling together of inter-dimensionalities. Between playing records and making music, the common thread of intended emotional and spiritual travel/processing is paramount. Ohio born and Detroit based for soon to be 3 years, working with jewelry and teaching art classes through Motor City Street Dance Academy, and serving as one of the resident selectors and bartenders at Paramita Sound are other interests and endeavors for Gold.”
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