History of Concert of Colors
Concert of Colors is one of Detroit’s most celebrated cultural traditions and one of the nation’s longest-running free global music festivals. Since its founding in 1993, the festival has grown from a one-day event into a multi-day experience that brings together tens of thousands of people each year through music, culture, and community.
Founded in DetroitConcert of Colors was established in 1993 by Ismael Ahmed — former head of ACCESS — in partnership with New Detroit.
The inaugural event took place at Chene Park as a one-day festival on Detroit’s riverfront. What began as a modest gathering quickly gained momentum, attracting more than 10,000 attendees annually by 1999.
Rapid Growth and Expansion
In 2001, Concert of Colors expanded to three days as part of Detroit’s 300th anniversary celebration, drawing an audience of more than 100,000 people. The festival continued to grow in scale and impact, becoming a cornerstone of Detroit’s summer festival season.
By 2019, the festival had expanded to nine days of programming, offering one of the most extensive free music festival experiences in the region.
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