LIVONIA (WWJ) -- A longstanding festival in Livonia will look a bit different this year with fees, a curfew for teens, and added security.
The City of Livonia is defending its decision to add a fee for the popular Livonia Spree.
Entrance to the city's annual birthday bath is usually free, but some in the community are upset that, for the first time ever, the city will be charging a entrance fee on Sunday, June 26 — the day of the fireworks show — beginning at 4 p.m.
It'll be $5 for per person for residents and $10 for non-residents to enter the event.
Spree Executive Director Kayleigh Reid said last year's event, which includes a carnival over several days, got so crowded that they knew they needed to do something.
"We've going to be charging an entrance fee, just to kind of keep away the people that aren't there to rides or play games or eat any food — just the people that are walking around adding to the crowd size," Raid told WWJ's Taylor Dietz. "We're hoping that the admission fee will keep them, you know, at their vehicles to watch the fireworks, or in their homes from the surrounding neighborhoods."
Reid said funds from the entrance fee will be used to pay for extra security that's also new to the event this year: All Spree-goers will be met with metal detectors.
"The cost of added security with the metal detectors is a large number. It's about another $40,000, on top of our Livonia Police bill," Reid explained. "So, we had to somehow make up that money."
The fee is only for Sunday. The rest of the week there is no entrance fee.
Also for the first time, a curfew will be in effect for kids under 18. Anyone age 17 or younger must have a parent or guardian with them starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
One last thing: They're capping capacity for the event this year.
Reid said fewer than 15,000 people will be allowed in each day.
"Livonia Police and Livonia Fire have the ultimate say. Even if we have not hit that capacity number, if things are starting to look too crowded and are feeling unsafe, they have the call, they have the authority to say we're cutting off entrance until we get some people out of here before we add new people in."
The festival dates/hours for the 2026 Livonia Spree are:
- Tuesday, June 23: 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 24: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Thursday, June 25: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Friday, June 26: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Saturday, June 27: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Sunday, June 28: 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.
