Berkley, Michigan, is a small suburban city bursting with charm. Despite becoming a city in 1932, it retained its small-town feel, warm atmosphere and sense of community. The city has a thriving downtown district packed with shops, restaurants and entertainment, and it hosts exciting community events throughout the year. Whether you enjoy history, art, food or fun, Berkley is a fantastic place to place your next trip. Plus, it’s conveniently located near bustling Detroit, so you can have your fill of small-town charm before — or after — heading to the big city.
If you’re looking to visit Berkley, this guide is packed full of advice and ideas for things to do, see and eat.
Quick links
- When to Visit Berkley
- Places to Visit in Berkley
- Fun Events to Attend in Berkley
- Try Detroit-Style Pizza at Green Lantern Pizza in Berkley
When to Visit Berkley
Before you plan your trip to Berkley, Michigan, consider what time of year you’d like to go. If you want to spend most of your time outdoors, visit between June and September. During the summertime, you can enjoy temperatures in the 70s and 80s, and there are more clear, rainless days. It’s also considered high season, so expect more people and higher prices.
Springtime — from March to June — is a great time to visit if you’re looking for comfortable temperatures and fewer people. It might rain a bit more, but there are still plenty of things to do on rainy days. To see the streets blanketed in snow, head to Berkley between November and March. This period is Berkley’s cold season, where temperatures can drop to the 20s. It can be pretty windy and cold, so pack all your winter gear and choose activities where you can stay warm indoors.
Places to Visit in Berkley
Here are a few Berkley visitor attractions that are a must for first-time visitors:
- Downtown Berkley: Take a walk down 12 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway to experience the downtown district, a must-see in Berkley, Michigan. Here, you’ll find various locally owned shops and restaurants where you can support Berkley residents. There’s free parking, so you can drive there and spend the day walking from shop to shop. If you time your trip right, you may even catch a local event!
- Berkley City Parks and Recreation: Berkley’s community center — called Berkley City Parks and Recreation — is an awesome place to visit if you have kids with you. They host fun family events, and the location has a gorgeous community park. The city features several other public parks you can visit for a picnic or to let your kids play, like Angell Park, Bacon Park, Tot Lot and Lazenby Field. If your kids love water, try out Oxford Park. It has a splash pad that’s perfect for cooling kids down on a hot summer’s day.
- Berkley Historical Museum: Want to learn more about Berkley? Visit the Berkley Historical Museum at 3338 Coolidge Highway. It’s been there since 1993 and features memorabilia from the city archives and local contributions. If you go during Christmas time, you can also catch their holiday-themed displays.
Fun Events to Attend in Berkley
Berkley has a strong community spirit, and that shines in its full roster of year-round community events. Here are just a few that you may want to attend:
- Farmers Market: Every Thursday in summer, the Downtown Berkley Farmers Market runs along South Robina Avenue. Each month has a specific theme, such as “Barkley Dog Days of Summer” and “Back to School Fun.”
- CruiseFest: If you’re a car fanatic, you won’t want to miss the Berkley CruiseFest in August. Detroit is home to The Woodward Dream Cruise, an annual automobile enthusiastic event. For more than 25 years, Berkley has joined in by hosting its own classic car parade around the same time. During the event, visitors can watch vintage cars cruise down 12 Mile Road, listen to live music, watch an outdoor movie screening and buy delicious meals from food trucks.
- Art Bash: Berkley’s Art Bash is a free, fun outdoor event in Downtown Berkley that celebrates all things art. The event usually takes place in June and occupies most of 12 Mile Road. There, you’ll find all sorts of handmade wares from over 180 artists and makers. You can also listen to live music, have a bite to eat and let your kids join an activity.
- Street Art Fest: If you can’t make the Art Bash, consider attending the Berkley Street Art Fest in July. Professional and aspiring artists come together to create colorful chalk murals along Coolidge Highway, and visitors get to watch it happen in real time. While you explore and watch, you can have a meal and participate in family-friendly activities.
- Leia’s Day Out: Star Wars fans flock to Berkley on May 4 to take part in their annual “May the Fourth” celebration. On the day, retailers in the area offer fun Star Wars-themed products and food, and you can take photos with stormtroopers, Darth Vader and Leia. Attendees receive complementarily inflatable light sabers, and nearly everyone comes dressed up as their favorite characters.
- BOO!kley: Traveling to Berkley around October? Make sure you check out their annual BOO!kley celebrations in the downtown district. There’s a Trick-or-Treat Stroll, where more than 100 businesses give out free candy and toys to kids that shout their best “trick-or-treat!” You can also attend a Monster Mash block party, Creepy Crawly pub crawl, Ghost Chase race and Witches Night Out farmers market. The whole downtown area gets a spooky makeover, and you can even decorate a skeleton!
- Holiday Lights Parade: Berkley is a wonderfully festive place to be in December. Each year, the city hosts a Holiday Lights Parade where you can witness stunning holiday floats travel along 12 Mile Road and Beverly Boulevard. Before the parade, your family can enjoy the petting zoo, take photos at the photo booth, make s’mores and decorate cookies. After the parade, you’ll have an opportunity to meet Santa and watch him light the city’s tree.
Try Detroit-Style Pizza at Green Lantern Pizza in Berkley
Looking for a place to eat pizza on your trip? Green Lantern Pizza has got you covered. We’ve served great pizza for more than 60 years, with locations in Berkley, Michigan, and the larger Metro-Detroit area. We’re known for our “Best in Town” round pizza and deep-dish “Detroit-Style” square pizza, featuring a fried, crunchy crust covered in melted cheese and pepperoni. If you’re visiting Detroit and have never tried one, now’s your chance!
If pizza’s not your thing, we also serve sandwiches, subs, burgers, soups, salads and sides. You don’t have to visit us in person — we can deliver your order straight to you. But if you choose to dine at our restaurant, you’ll experience the warm atmosphere, fast service and amazing food our fans know and love. Our Berkley restaurant is even open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can get your fix late at night.
Head to Green Lantern Pizza on your trip to Berkley, or order online today!
