Discover Brighton

Brighton brings together art in the city center and places connected to the city’s history, with waterside trails and green spaces. If you’re considering a stay in Brighton, you can plan your trip around these different highlights: sculptures and cultural venues, a self-guided cemetery tour, walking trails along Mill Pond, or parks with playgrounds. This can help you decide which aspects of the city interest you most.

Art and culture in the city center

The Brighton Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit features more than 30 outdoor sculptures throughout the city center; 19 of them are permanently installed. The BACC Sculpture Garden on East Main Street displays artworks by local artists. A map is available for a walk through the sculpture garden. Both offer different starting points for exploring public art.

Built in 1879, the CoBACH Center is Brighton’s center for art, culture and history. Visitors can experience changing historical exhibitions, concerts, artistic presentations and events there. Since exhibitions and programs may change, it’s a good idea to check current dates before visiting. At Brighton Mill Pond, The AMP hosts musical events year-round; this program may also change.

Local history at Old Village Cemetery

Brighton’s Old Village Cemetery offers insight into the city’s historical development. The first burial there took place in 1838. The cemetery preserves the graves of notable local and state figures, as well as well-known political figures. It also contains the graves of 45 Civil War veterans and two World War II veterans. A self-guided tour leads to the graves and offers a direct way to explore the cemetery’s history.

Trails along Mill Pond and in the nature area

A half-mile nature trail runs along Mill Pond in the city center. The AMP also includes a paved promenade around Mill Pond. Together, these provide two different points of reference for a waterside walk: the nature trail and the promenade. The walking area around Mill Pond is part of the Downtown Social District; district designations may change.

The Charles and Albert Parker Families Nature Preserve is a 4.5-acre natural area along Charles Orndorf Drive in Brighton. A permanent conservation easement protects the area. Work at the Preserve included the existing Hillside Trail and the new Woodland Loop Trail. This makes the site a protected landscape with two named trails, but does not provide information about their lengths or whether either forms a loop.

Parks, playgrounds and farmers’ market

Brighton Imagination Station is a 10,000-square-foot playground in downtown Brighton and a free attraction. Check current access details before visiting. Kissane Park has a climbing structure, swings, a slide and seating areas; it also has an open green space. These two places offer different park features: a large downtown playground, and play equipment, seating and open space at Kissane Park.

The Brighton Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday from May through October in the city center. Local vendors sell fresh produce, baked goods and handcrafted products there. Since market dates may change seasonally, check the current schedule in advance if a visit is part of your plans.

The wider region

In the wider region, Island Lake Recreation Area includes four inland lakes, the Huron River and 4,000 acres of state land. Activities there include mountain biking, paddling, hiking, swimming and fishing. A paved out-and-back trail is four miles long and connects with the Kensington Metropark Bike Trail and the Huron Valley Trail; these trails are also paved. This provides a separate regional nature and recreation focus, distinct from the attractions in downtown Brighton.

Discover more destinations: Howell, Fowlerville, Whitmore Lake.

Go to the main travel overview: Livingston.