Once upon a time—back when Hudson’s ruled Woodward Avenue and elevators had actual operators—there was a magical week in Detroit that turned downtown into a retail wonderland. Welcome to Downtown Detroit Days, the Motor City’s original shopping-palooza.

It all kicked off in 1954, thanks to a woman named Diane Edgecomb, who clearly knew that the best way to fix a slow downtown was a party. As president of the Central District Business Association, she dreamed up a week where shops would slash prices, sidewalks would buzz with music and deals, and suburbanites would rediscover that, yes, Detroit was worth the drive.

Imagine this: streets filled with people hunting for bargains, live music floating between buildings, department store windows dressed like they were going to prom, and shopkeepers smiling like it was Christmas in July. Downtown Detroit Days happened twice a year and gave stores the perfect excuse to clear out stock and charm customers all at once. It wasn’t just a sale—it was an event.

Even during tough times—like the upheaval of the late ’60s—Detroit kept the Downtown Days spirit alive. In 1976, in a move to rekindle confidence and optimism, the festival hosted a public wedding for a Detroit couple, with local businesses donating everything from rings to cakes. That symbolic event wasn’t just a publicity stunt, but a heartfelt reminder that Detroiters stick together through thick and thin.

Though the festival eventually came to a close, the spirit of Downtown Detroit Days lives on in today’s efforts to reimagine and revitalize the downtown experience. From modern markets and art fairs to food truck rallies and city-wide festivals, echoes of DDD’s community-first energy still pulse through the city’s streets.