What to do When You’re in Flint & Genesee

Festival and events season is coming up in Flint & Genesee and some of the area’s favorites are coming back this year.

The Crim Festival of Races is back on in 2021 at full capacity on August 28 welcoming thousands of runners to the area. Car enthusiasts will be back in Flint & Genesee for Back to the Bricks for the main event week from August 16 – 21. Downtown Flint will be filled with music lovers on August 14 for Drop Fest. And golf-lovers will head to Grand Blanc for the Ally Challenge from August 23 – 29 with a concert featuring Little Big Town on August 28.

Those planning to come to the area may be asking, “What else is there to do in Flint & Genesee?” Well, Explore Flint & Genesee has the answer with many great attractions, restaurants, bars and shopping experiences to make your trip here one to remember.

Here’s what you can do when you’re in Flint & Genesee:

Dine Out

Flint & Genesee is home to some amazing restaurants. Downtown Flint is lined with places to get a great meal. For an upscale dining experience, Sauce Italian Kitchen at the Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown and the Cork on Saginaw are great options. For craft beer and cocktail lovers, Churchill’s Food & Spirits, home to the area’s largest whiskey bar, and Soggy Bottom Bar are your best bet. Burger lovers should check out the Torch Bar for its award-winning Torch burger and taco lovers should dine at XOLO, which serves various Latin-inspired street food.

Outside of downtown Flint, there are plenty of places that have a great dining experience. In Grand Blanc, Little Joe’s Tavern is a local favorite located right downtown. In Fenton, there are plenty of places within walking distance from downtown including the Laundry, the Fenton Fire Hall, Andiamo Fenton and Ciao. In Flint Township, Blondie’s Food & Spirit on Hill Road has been voted best restaurant in Genesee County for multiple years.

Experience Nightlife

Looking for a place to unwind with some drinks and fun? There are plenty of places to do that in Flint & Genesee. The area is home to craft breweries, wineries and cideries great for those who love to drink local. In Fenton, the Fenton Winery & Brewery has a wide selection of craft beer and wine in their taproom along with a selection of pizza and sandwiches. Right outside of downtown Flint, Tenacity Brewing serves great beers and ciders. Flint City Hard Cider in Carriage Town right outside of Flint serves amazing hard cider and cider cocktails and hosts live music on Friday and Saturdays.

For those who like unique experiences, the Eberson in downtown Flint is an arcade bar with a variety of vintage arcade games, craft beverages, beer and snacks. Flint & Genesee is also home to two speakeasies. In Fenton, the Relief & Resource Co. located in the back of El Topo serves craft and tiki-inspired cocktails and has outdoor seating in its Rhum Alley. In Flint, the X is located in Brush Alley and accessed through a bookcase located in Xolo.

Those who love to dance can find live music and DJs at local establishments. Barley & Vine in Flint has live entertainment during the weekends. Cobblestone Bar & Grille in Grand Blanc hosts Marlow the Entertainer every Saturday for dance and karaoke.

Fun for the Family

There are plenty of family-friendly activities in Flint & Genesee. The Flint Children’s Museum has monthly rotating exhibits and over 40 hands-on educational and fun experiences. The Flint Institute of Arts in the College and Cultural Center is the second-largest fine arts museum in the state and has rotating exhibits and live glassblowing demonstrations.

For outdoor fun, Flint & Genesee is home to the largest county parks system in the state. A local favorite, For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum in Burton has miles of walking trails, butterfly gardens and a barrier-free treehouse. In Davison, right next door to Flint, Lake Callis has a manmade lake and splash pad which is fun for kids and families.

Flint & Genesee is also home to a variety of bowling alleys, a trampoline park in Flint Township  and Rollhaven Skate & Fun Center. And for some late-night fun, the US 23 Digital Drive-in Theater plays each night at dusk with double features on three screens.

Looking for more fun in Flint & Genesee, check out our Things to Do section on ExploreFlintandGenesee.org.