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Enter to win Rock'n'Rides Family Fun Passes!

Event benefits more than 20 nonprofits and community organizations

June 8, 2019

Metro Detroit families have a new way to celebrate the start of summer, while also helping to support more than 20 area charitable and community organizations. The first ever Rock ‘n’ Rides Royal Oak will be hosted Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, in downtown Royal Oak. For a limited time only, you can enter to win one of four Family Fun Passes, which will include: 4 admission passes, 4 all-day carnival wristband coupons, and 4 vouchers good for one meal. Enter here by 11:59 p.m. on Monday June 10! If that link doesn't work, please use this one instead: https://forms.gle/BoTrdtotvD2XCiWNA


The festival focuses on bringing together many of the charitable and community groups in the surrounding area for a large, family-friendly gathering with the opportunity for partner organizations to raise funds for their organizations.

“Rock ‘n’ Rides Royal Oak is an amazing opportunity to bring the community together to support the charitable and community organizations that positively impact the lives of our neighbors and have a whole lot of fun at the same time,” said Brett Tillander, CEO at Metro Detroit Youth Clubs. “We’d like to invite everyone out to learn about the great work of these organizations. We hope to see this festival continue for years to come.”

Rock ‘n’ Rides Royal Oak is kicking off the festival with Community Day presented by Cornerstone Community Financial Credit Union on Thursday, June 20. Community Day offers 1,500 local kids and their families free carnival wristbands and parking for the first four hours of the festival by partnering with great organizations such as The Rainbow Connection, The HOPE Center, the Children’s Miracle Network and more to help the deserving families they service.

A Family-Friendly Carnival Atmosphere

The celebration includes a carnival comprised of 18 of the hottest family and thrill rides, including the Cliffhanger, Ring of Fire, Scrambler, Vertigo, Tornado, Wet Boat, Jumpin’ Jumbos, Tinsel Town and more.

Rock ‘n’ Rides Royal Oak has a jam-packed lineup of activities for kids, including live entertainers ranging from magicians and musicians to puppet shows and performances from local school and community groups. There will be hands-on arts and crafts experiences to engage youngsters, too, allowing them to create a take-home remembrance of their time at the festival. A schedule of the children’s event lineup can be found at the conclusion of this release.

A Rockin’ Block Party for the Record Books

Downtown Royal Oak will transform 5 th Avenue between Washington and Center streets into a party for the grown-ups. The Fifth Avenue Block Party has on tap some of the best craft beer in town from local breweries, including ROAK Brewing and River Rouge Brewing Company.

It also will be home to the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Music Stage, featuring the high energy musical stylings of more than 20 bands throughout the weekend. From classic rock, funk, alternative and even a little rhythm and blues, the block party’s music lineup will offer a wide variety of genres and local musical talent.

Charitable Partners

Many local nonprofits have partnered with Rock ‘n’ Rides Royal Oak on this summer celebration. For every $5 ticket sold, $3 will be donated to the organizations. Each charitable partner also will receive a part of the carnival revenue and sales from beverage booths. Partners include Clawson United Methodist Church, Ferndale Schools Fine Arts Boosters, Friends of the Royal Oak Public Library, Metro Detroit Youth Clubs, Northwood Elementary PTA, Open Hands Food Pantry & Garden, Renaissance Unity, Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, Royal Oak Schools Foundation, St. Paul Lutheran Church and Starr Presbyterian Church.

Tasty Treats

A variety of mouth-watering carnival fare will be on hand to munch on. Festivalgoers can enjoy tried and true favorites such as freshly dipped corn dogs, funnel cakes, elephant ears and homemade lemonade, as well as the opportunity to make their own slushies.

Tickets, Admission and Parking

Tickets are available to purchase in advance online for $5 each (plus online processing fee) by visiting https://www.rocknridesro.com/tickets.

Tickets purchased only online include admission to the festival – good for the entire weekend – and a discount of $5 off the cost of a single all-day unlimited rides carnival wristband. This is a $10 value for just $5 (plus online processing fee).

Festival entrance is free all day Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21, until 5 p.m. After that, the price is $5 and is good for the entire weekend.

Carnival ride wristbands can be purchased during the festival for $15 per person on Thursday, June 20 for Community Day and $25 from Friday, June 21 through Sunday, June 23. Individual tickets for rides will range from $3 to $6. The zipline will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday for $10 per person.

Royal Oak parking will operate as it normally does. The parking structures offer two hours of free parking before 5 p.m., and are $.75 per hour after that with a flat rate of $5 after 5 p.m.