Summer’s not over until the school bell rings.

In the spirit of making the most out of August, The ’Gander’s Chaunie Brusie has rounded up eight family-friendly Detroit events perfect for squeezing in some last-minute memories.

Plus: The Alabama home where MLK planned key civil rights marches has made its way to Michigan. Keep reading to find out why.

Funding cuts could threaten northern MI airport services, directors say (UpNorthLive): Airport directors in northern Michigan are sounding the alarm over proposed cuts to the Essential Air Service program—cuts they say could eliminate commercial flights at rural airports like Pellston, Alpena, and Sault Ste. Marie. A bipartisan bill to protect the funding is now headed to the US Senate, with Sen. Gary Peters calling these airports “essential to Michigan’s economy.”

Yuengling makes it to Michigan (Detroit Metro Times): After years of anticipation, Yuengling is finally launching in Michigan. Starting Monday, bars in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and East Lansing will serve the iconic East Coast beer on draft, with packaged options arriving in September and a statewide rollout to follow.

DNR warns of golden oyster mushroom spread (WKAR): Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are warning that the golden oyster mushroom, popular in cooking and native to Asia, is now spreading in Michigan forests—and could threaten native fungi. Researchers are urging caution and asking residents to log sightings as they assess the impact.

Get an up-close view of tall ships during Sail Detroit. (Tall Ships of America)

By Chaunie Brusie

Soak up the last weeks of summer by taking your family to these eight events in Detroit, including:

1. Dragon Forest at the Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo should always be a must-have stop on any Michigan family’s summer bucket list, but this month, you can add on some mystical and magical fun with their Dragon Forest. The Dragon Forest is a 3-acre adventure with 30 fantastical sculptures and animatronics. Along with dragon sounds and sights, some of the sculptures are climbable for truly interactive fun.

2. Sail Detroit 2025

A family-friendly festival open to all ages, Sail Detroit invites families to come aboard the majestic vessels to get an up-close view of the ships. A general pass lets you visit all the ships all weekend long, and there are also private, paid events like tours, sails, and a Captain’s dinner you can add on.

In addition to the ships, local and professional musical entertainment is also lined up all weekend long, allowing families to enjoy learning more about Detroit’s maritime history.

The Jackson Home, where Martin Luther King Jr. and others planned marches to call for Black voting rights in the early ’60s in Selma, Ala., is shown being reconstructed at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By The Associated Press

Brick by brick, beam by beam and shingle by shingle, a house where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and others planned marches in support of Black voting rights in the Deep South has been trucked from Alabama to a museum near Detroit.

The intricate operation to move and preserve the Jackson Home and other artifacts from the Civil Rights era preceded President Donald Trump’s efforts to eradicate what he calls “divisive” and “race-centered ideologies,” and minimize the cultural and historical impact of race, racism and Black Americans.

Trump’s purges have sought to remove all reference to diversity, equity and inclusion from the federal government and workforce, and many private companies have followed suit. The establishments that house some of the most important reminders of African American history — including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC—have come under particular pressure.

The chief executive of the Henry Ford, the new location of the Jackson Home, insists the museum has no political agenda.

“The Henry Ford’s work is focusing on good, factual public history,” Patricia Mooradian told The Associated Press.

Earlier this week, we brought you ’Gander political correspondent Kyle Kaminski‘s reporting on Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s run for governor. While he’s running as an independent, his donor list tells a different story.

So we asked you: Should Michigan voters be worried about Mike Duggan having Republican backers? 

Here’s what you said:

“Politics has become a blood sport, so it’s not surprising to find a lot of weird cross-overs. Perhaps a few wealthy old school Republicans have found Duggan’s can-do and will-do performance as mayor a sign that even though he was a Dem mayor he shoots for the middle.  His run as an I gives the rational Republicans an exit ramp from the very disturbing and hazardous MAGA highway they’ve been on in recent years.” — Judith Matlock

“No I don’t think it would be a problem if Mike Duggan gets republicans to vote for him over some of the other candidates. If he can do half of what he’s done for the city of Detroit, I believe that the people of Michigan will be better off than they have been in decades! Look at what he has done for the city! He’s brought in a lot of investors and turned that city around. It’s a clean, vibrant place to live and work like it hasn’t been in decades. I just wish it was like that years ago when I worked down there.” — Paul Grabski

“The only concern should be people voting for someone, and not knowing what they stand for, or who is funding them.” — Chris Bahr

“If what’s going on in our country RIGHT NOW doesn’t raise concern about Republicans backing Duggan, I don’t know what else needs to be said.” — Michelle McKay

“As promised, he’s going to unite both parties! I’m a Republican and looking forward to supporting Mike’s race for governor “ — Robert J Murray

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This email is written by Karel Vega, newsletter editor at The ’Gander. Have a question or comment? Reply back to this email!