Smoke from Canadian and Minnesota wildfires swept across Michigan on Thursday morning, prompting an air quality alert that has been extended through Friday.
With hazy skylines and a strong burnt smell, this morning Detroit was ranked the most polluted city in the world.
Ranked hazardous on the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale, Metro Detroit is facing extremely poor air quality that “poses serious health risks to the entire population.” As officials urge residents to limit time outdoors, the smoky conditions are also testing the resilience of Michigan’s summertime economy. From golf courses and festivals to outdoor concerts, organizers and businesses are weighing whether to press ahead as poor air quality lingers.
Major concerts and festivals monitor conditions
One of the state’s largest outdoor events, the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, is scheduled to begin Friday at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti. As of Thursday midday, organizers are continuing to monitor air quality and have not yet decided whether any schedule changes will be necessary.
Another major festival, the Ann Arbor Art Fair, is also staying open for now, though conditions are still being monitored closely.
As for national tours, John Mellencamp’s “Dancing Worlds Tour” featuring his greatest hits is set for Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston Thursday night, and country singer Hank Williams Jr. is at the venue Friday. As of Thursday morning, neither concert has been canceled or postponed.
A concert featuring a Led Zeppelin tribute act scheduled at the LaFontaine Family Amphitheatre in Milford Township has been canceled “due to the dangerously poor air quality and extreme heat.” The Farmington Concert Band’s show at Heritage Park is also canceled, as is the outdoor music programming at Royal Oak’s Centennial Commons. A public jazz concert set for outdoors at Kercheval and St. Clair in Grosse Pointe is being postponed.
The annual, free Concert of Colors taking place through Sunday at various venues in Midtown has made changes to Thursday’s schedule. Performances previously scheduled to be outside the Detroit Historical Museum will be inside the museum in the Gallery of Culture. The Arts & Scraps activities will be inside the Michigan Science Center.
Outdoor recreation slows
The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society expects to cancel its Friday rides because of the unhealthy conditions.
“With the way it’s showing today, really, nobody should be bicycling,” Board Member Cheryl Cunningham said. “When you’re cycling, you’re basically intaking a lot more air than if you’re just walking, which isn’t safe. The rider leaders are pretty good about canceling rides if conditions aren’t safe.
The city of Pleasant Ridge closed its municipal pool on Thursday.
For the Rackham Golf Course in Huntington Woods, golfers have not been deterred by the looming smoke, said associate Mark Santa Maria.
“Smoke has been pretty heavy,” Santa Maria said. “We are still open, though. There have been a few people canceling, but it’s still pretty full and play has been steady.”
With outdoor exercise discouraged, some indoor businesses are also responding to the smoky conditions.
Planet Fitness is offering free gym access at locations in Michigan, Indiana and Ontario while poor air quality persists.
atisch@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wildfires disrupt Michigan concerts, festivals and other activities
Reporting by Alyssa Tisch, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alyssa Tisch, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
