Sep 30, 2026, 6:00 PMMonthly Midweek Meetup
Affirmations · Every last Wednesday of the month, LGBTQ+ allies and friends gather for conversation, food, and entertainment in Ferndale, organized by Affirmations.
Metro Detroit Oakland County City
Ferndale
Where Woodward loosens its tie: bars, live shows and rainbow flags around 9 Mile
- People (2025 estimate)
- 19,212
- Land area
- 3.9 sq mi · 10.0 km²
- From downtown
- 9.9 miles · 16 km · northwest
- Incorporated
- 1927
01 / Why it matters
Why Ferndale matters
Ferndale is where Woodward loosens its tie. Downtown sits around 9 Mile and Woodward, and around 1997 the city made it more walkable on purpose, narrowing West 9 Mile to one lane each way to make room for people and patios.
Starting in the 1980s and 1990s, Ferndale became one of the hubs of LGBTQ+ life in Michigan. Motor City Pride moved here in 2001, voters approved a nondiscrimination ordinance in 2006, and in 2007 the city elected Michigan's first openly gay mayor. Since 2011 it has had its own festival, Ferndale Pride.
Car culture runs deep here too: the Woodward Dream Cruise was dreamed up in 1994 by Ferndale plumber Nelson House, who wanted to raise money for a kids' soccer field. Organizers expected 30,000 to 40,000 people at the first cruise in 1995, and about 250,000 showed up.
02 / Known for
What Ferndale is known for
Birthplace of the Woodward Dream Cruise, which grew out of a 1994 Ferndale fundraising idea.
An open, LGBTQ+-friendly city: Affirmations opened its new community center here in 2007, the same year Ferndale elected Michigan's first openly gay mayor.
The Magic Bag opened in 1921 as the Ferndale Theatre, a silent movie house, and has been a concert and comedy venue since 1991.
An inner-ring Woodward Corridor suburb right on Detroit's northern border, about 10 miles from downtown.
03 / What’s on
What’s on in Ferndale
Sep 30, 2026, 6:00 PM
Sep 30, 2026, 6:30 PMStonewall Run Club
Affirmations · The Stonewall Run Club organizes regular runs in Ferndale, starting outside Affirmations. Two route options are available: 5k and 10k, finishing alternately at Soho or Sidecar Slider Bar depending on the week. The run is cancelled in case of inclement weather and replaced by an indoor meetup at the Soho/Sidecar Slider Bar.
Oct 1, 2026, 6:00 PMFreeTrans Men’s/Masc Lounge
Affirmations Rooms 201 and 202 · Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center and Stand With Trans host a support and community space for trans men and trans masc folks on Thursday, October 1, at 6 p.m., in Rooms 201 and 202 at Affirmations in Ferndale. Free with registration.
Oct 1, 2026, 6:45 PMFreeWriting Group (virtual)
Affirmations · Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center hosts a virtual Writing Group on Thursday, October 1, at 6:45 p.m., organized from Affirmations in Ferndale. Connect with fellow writers to share works-in-progress or spark new ideas; registration form required. Free.
Oct 1, 2026, 7:30 PMProving Grounds feat. Mug Boys: fresh improv acts at Go Comedy! in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · Like seeing what's next before everyone else does? Proving Grounds brings two fresh opening acts to the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.. Hosting and headlining: Mug Boys, aka Alex, Will and Jake, three of the most carbonated improvisers in town.
Oct 1, 2026, 9:00 PMFreeSuper Sauce: a free long-form improv jam at Go Comedy! in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · Students and seasoned pros can all jump on stage at Super Sauce, a long-form improv jam at the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 9 p.m.. Up to three troupes get assembled for one night only. Sign up during Proving Grounds; it's free and no ticket is needed.
Oct 2, 2026, 7:30 PMDeck the Fall: an original fall sketch comedy show at Go Comedy! in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · Halloween, Thanksgiving, back to school, haunted armories and the end of baseball season: Deck the Fall is an original sketch show that has fun with everything you love about autumn. It plays the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.. And yes, there are mimes and an angry deer.
Oct 2, 2026, 9:30 PMBig Fun Murder: an improvised murder mystery at Go Comedy! in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · A ghost gets one final chance to solve their own murder. Big Fun Murder plays the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 9:30 p.m.: a completely improvised mystery where you help figure out what happened and who did it. Every show has a special guest.
Oct 3, 2026, 11:00 AMFerndale Fall Festival: Family fall fun at Martin Road Park
Detroit Curling Club at Martin Road Park · Ferndale Parks & Recreation throws its fall festival at the Detroit Curling Club at Martin Road Park on Saturday, October 3, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., with hay rides, pumpkin painting and a trick-or-treat trail. Tickets are required: $8 early bird through October 1, $10 after.
Oct 3, 2026, 7:30 PMGo Comedy! All-Star Showdown: an improvised game show in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · Two teams, one stage, and your suggestions call the shots. The Go Comedy! All-Star Showdown hits the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.. Think Whose Line is it Anyway: short improv games, challenges, and two teams battling for your laughs.
Oct 3, 2026, 9:30 PMLate Night House Party: looser, bolder improv at Go Comedy! in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · This is improv with the gloves off. Late Night House Party hits the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 9:30 p.m., with Michigan's top improv comedians mixing short-form games and fully improvised scenes built on your suggestions. The vibes are edgy, the drinks are flowing, and it's recommended for adults.
Oct 4, 2026, 7:00 PMThe Weekend Finale: four local improv troupes in one show in Ferndale
Go Comedy! Improv Theater · Four local improv troupes, one stage. The Weekend Finale plays the Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 East Nine Mile Road in Ferndale, on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 7 p.m., with Secret Menu, the newest launch group, special guests and a headlining set from long-form house team The Clubhouse. Stick around afterward for Fresh Sauce, the free open improv jam.
04 / Places
58 places on our site in Ferndale
Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center290 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
B. Nektar Taproom1511 Jarvis St, Ferndale, MI 48220
BOLD – Black Queer Support Network290 W. 9 Mile Rd (Affirmations), Ferndale, MI 48220
Belle's Lounge by Valentine Distilling161 Vester Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220
Blumz by JRDesigns522 E Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Boston Tea Room1220 Woodward Heights, Ferndale, MI 48220
Drag Queen Karaoke at The WAB22646 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220
Ferndale PrideW 9 Mile Rd between Woodward Ave and Livernois, Ferndale, MI 48220
Ferndale Project567 Livernois Ave, Ferndale, MI 48220
Go Comedy! Improv Theater261 E 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220
Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit1841 Pinecrest Dr, Ferndale, MI 48220
MiGen – Michigan LGBTQ+ Elders Network290 W Nine Mile Rd (office inside Affirmations), Ferndale, MI 4822005 / What to do
If you’re in Ferndale
Downtown Ferndale
West 9 Mile and Woodward: cafes, bars, restaurants and shops all within a few blocks. Great for an evening out too.
Official site ↗The Magic Bag
Concerts, tribute bands and comedy in a 1921 movie house at 22920 Woodward.
Official site ↗Ferndale Pride
Held every year since 2011 on West 9 Mile between Woodward and Livernois. Organizers bill it as Michigan's largest free LGBTQ+ festival.
Official site ↗Ferndale Historical Museum
A small local history museum at 1651 Livernois with old photos and hometown stories; as of 2026 it was open Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Official site ↗
06 / History
Ferndale through the years
- 1908
The name Ferndale first appears in print, in the June 12 Royal Oak Tribune.
- 1918
Ferndale incorporates as a village.
- 1927
Voters approve a city charter and Ferndale becomes a city.
- 1995
The first Woodward Dream Cruise rolls on August 19, drawing about 250,000 people.
- 2007
Affirmations opens its new building, and Ferndale elects Michigan's first openly gay mayor.
- 2011
Motor City Pride moves to Detroit and Ferndale launches its own festival, Ferndale Pride.
07 / Born here
2 people in our lexicon were born here
08 / People
Famous names from here
- Ron Carter Jazz bassist, born in Ferndale in 1937.
- James Blanchard Governor of Michigan from 1983 to 1991, who grew up in Ferndale.
Sources
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Ferndale city).
- 2020 Census, Michigan (PL 94-171)
- Census Bureau population estimates: cities and towns
- ferndalehistoricalsociety.org/history_ferndales_birth.html
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferndale,_Michigan
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodward_Dream_Cruise
- ferndalehistoricalsociety.org/history_Ferndale_Theatre.html
- cinematreasures.org/theaters/2910
- themagicbag.com
- ferndalepride.com
- ferndalehistoricalsociety.org
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carter
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Blanchard
- ferndalemi.gov
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: +0.2 percent.
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