Memorial Day parades and animatronic dinosaurs: 5 things to do in metro Detroit
Brendel HightowerMemorial Day weekend is a time to remember and honor military personnel who died while serving the nation. It's also a time to celebrate the unofficial start of summer, and metro Detroit has plenty to offer on both fronts.
Several communities will have parades with patriotic displays and floats this holiday weekend, including one of Michigan's oldest Memorial Day parades. Metro Detroiters can also get out and experience the aroma of barbecue in the air at the Novi BBQ fest, stroll a lakefront art fair in Milford; or catch some live music and get free health screenings in a southwest Detroit community fair.
Here are 5 things to do for the weekend of May 26.
Kensington Art Fair
This juried art fair combines a lakefront setting and the work of more than 100 artists from Michigan and across the country, spread out in Kensingston Metropark’s natural setting. A variety of mediums will be featured including paintings, sculpture, functional art, jewelry, mixed media, metal, fiber, clay, wood, photography and more.
The Detroit Institute of Arts and the Huron Valley Council for the Arts will be onsite to help with art projects for guests. Musicians will play unique world music throughout the event and food trucks and specialty food will be onsite.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday at Kensington Metropark, Maple Beach in Milford. Admission to the air fair is free, but a Metropark pass is required to enter the park. Daily admission is $10.
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Parades
This parade returns for its 97th year and is hosted by the city of Dearborn and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council.
The event features more than 80 regional officials, marching bands and community groups and concludes with a Remembrance Ceremony in honor of the fallen.
The parade will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday with a military funeral procession. Grand Marshal and parade groups to follow.
Due to planned road construction, the parade route will be moved to west Dearborn, along Michigan Avenue. The parade will begin at Nowlin Street and end at the Dearborn Historical Museum's McFadden Ross House at 915 S. Brady St., where a Remembrance Ceremony will be held on the lawn at noon.
Festivities for this 44th annual event begin with a 9 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony in the courtyard between City Hall at 40555 Utica Road and the Police Department.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., authentic Tuskegee Airmen WWII airplanes will fly over the event.
The parade has more than 60 entries that include floats, veterans, community organizations and high school marching bands. The Moslem Shriners and their team of clowns, cowboys, musicians, motorcyclists and more will make an appearance.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday from Dodge Park and ends at Heritage Jr. High, at Metro Parkway in Sterling Heights.
2nd Annual Eden Park Memorial Day Community Weekend & Music Fest
This festival in southwest Detroit, put on by Tri-City Community Development Corporation, will include live music, food, a petting zoo, free health screenings, a salute to veterans, dance lessons, a chef competition and more.
Free health screenings will be offered both days by Hygienist on Wheels, the University of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Clinic, Wayne State University Sight Savers and Authority Health.
Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Eden Park, 12001 Gleason in Detroit.
Novi BBQ Fest
Local and national BBQ trucks, live music, a variety of craft beer (about 300 to choose from), face painting, magic shows and more are expected at this fest.
5-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; Noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at 12 Mile Crossing, 44175 W. 12 Mile in Novi. Free admission and free parking.
Dino and Dragon Stroll
Interact with life-size dinosaurs and dragons that have been produced with advanced animatronics and sound technology that brings these creatures to life at this walk-through experience throughout Canterbury Village.
Dinosaurs range from babies to a huge brachiosaurus that stands 20 feet tall and 36 feet long, a mamenchisaurus that stands over two stories high and 60 feet. long, the mammoth spinosaurus, also over two stories high and over 45 feet long, the T-Rex at 28 feet tall and over 60 feet long and the apatosaurus at 24 feet tall and 65 feet long, to name a few prehistoric creatures that will be at this outdoor experience.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Canterbury Village, 2357 Josyln Court in Lake Orion. $24.99 for adults and children ages two and up.
Brendel Hightower is an assistant editor at the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bhightower@freepress.com.