The post below is sponsored by Shell. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Shell Eco-marathon Americas will return to the Motor City as a featured element of a four-day, festival of ideas and innovation – Make the Future Detroit – April 27-30, and I have the scoop on all the FREE family fun that will be happening.
This event is fantastic for introducing STEM concepts to kids, and with plenty of beautiful weather on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better!
The Make the Future Detroit Festival will take visitors on an interactive journey into the future of energy and mobility. Visit Cobo Center to see cars of the future in action, learn how gravity, salt water and just stomping your feet can create energy, and have conversations with scientists and engineers about the next bright energy idea. This family-friendly event is FREE to attend.
Visitors can also experience:
- The Shell Eco-marathon mileage challenge – a unique competition to uncover which high school or college student teams from around the world can go the furthest on the least amount of energy.
- The Shell Eco-marathon Drivers’ World Championship – a head-to-head race between the 2017 Urban Concept winners from the Americas to find the quickest and most energy-efficient driver.
Team portrait on the final day of the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2015 in Detroit, Mich., Sunday, April 12, 2015. (Bryan Mitchell/AP Images for Shell)
2017 Make The Future Detroit Festival Schedule:
April 27:
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Make the Future Festival
April 28:
- 8:30-9:15 a.m. Event kick off and Opening Ceremonies
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Make the Future Festival
- 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Rooftop Ride & Drive open to public
April 29:
- 7-9 a.m. Run the Future 5K Run/Walk benefiting Detroit-area vets. Registration fees benefit Wins for Warriors, founded by Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander. More information here.
- 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Shell Eco-marathon Americas Day 1
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Make the Future Festival
- 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Rooftop Ride & Drive open to public
- 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Hunt, an action-fueled scavenger hunt. Register your family/team here.
April 30:
- 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Shell Eco-marathon Americas Day 2
- 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Make the Future Festival
- 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Drivers World Championship Regional Qualifier Event
- 4:30-5:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
April 28 – 30 will feature:
- FREE virtual reality experiences, hands-on science experiments, live music and more
- Test drives on an outdoor track featuring the Toyota Prius and Mirai
- Vehicle displays, including FCA’s Dodge Demon, Pacifica PHEV and the Viper Simulator
Learn more about all the exciting events taking place here. Free parking available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Cobo Center is located at 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
Have so much fun if you attend this great event!
Cool event! I’ve never heard of this before! We might check it out.
It’s the perfect excuse to visit the D!
Looks like a lot of fun! I might send the hubby and kids over there while I go to LTYM! 🙂
This looks so fun! There’s always something to do in Detroit…we love to visit. Thanks for sharing, lady! 🙂
Interesting! I’ve never heard of this before, but I love that you can use it to introduce STEM concepts to kids.
What a fun event! I wish that we had a chance to check it out this weekend. I’m really excited to see how Detroit evolves and changes and think that there are so many great things ahead for the D.