Dearborn's 2019 Summer Calendar: 13 Not-To-Miss Events

DEARBORN, MI– Downtown Dearborn is poised to be destination for fun, family and cultural events all summer long, thanks to a robust calendar of family-friendly activities taking places. From catchy tunes and stellar cinema to fresh tastes and unique market finds, Downtown Dearborn will have activities for all ages to enjoy.

Here are 13 summer events not to miss this year:

Music in the Park

Downtown Dearborn is proud to announce a brand new five-week music series located at City Hall Park, 13615 Michigan Avenue. We invite all to come and enjoy the local music entertainment, including techno, jazz, hip-hop and reggae, happening every Wednesday, June 5 – July 10, 7-9 p.m.

Wagner Park Opening Day Celebration
Friday, June 7, marks the official opening of Wagner Park, located just off West Village Drive between Monroe and Mason, one block south of Michigan Avenue. It is also the new home of the Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market.

Wagner Park is the green space associated with Wagner Place, the $60 million, 150,000 square foot mixed-use redevelopment of the historic Wagner Hotel on Michigan Ave. Explore the new space and enjoy music, food, car display and family fun from 2-9 p.m. City of Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., will offer remarks and preside over a ribbon cutting ceremony with representatives from Ford Land at 3 p.m.

Kid’s Days
These days are about family fun. From 2-7 p.m. on June 7, July 12 and Aug. 9, enjoy family-friendly activities, including lively music, an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house, balloon sculptures, face painting and airbrush tattoos, comedy, magicians, jugglers, clowns and more at Wagner Park. Brought to kids by Downtown Dearborn, West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority and Kenwal Steel Corporation.

Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market
A seasonal favorite, the Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market runs June 7 – Sept. 27, taking place every Friday at Wagner Park from 2-7 p.m.

Carefully selected vendors sell only seasonal, local Michigan-produced farm products and goods, including fresh flowers & produce, artisan baked goods, cheeses and meats, soaps, woodworking, pottery and other items, organizers said.

In line with this year’s Kid’s Days, the POP (Power of Produce) Club allows kids to shop and interact with the growers and farmers, and learn about variety, best practices, and value. Children can register for this program at the beginning of the market season and will receive a “POP CLUB” Badge, Reusable Shopping Bag and a Passport to Health. Each time a child visits the market he/she can stop by the Kid’s Tent and receive a stamp on their Passport to Health as well as two $1.00 tokens to spend at the market on fresh fruits & vegetables. Field Trips are welcome all season.

The Dearborn Farmers & Artisans Market is produced by Downtown Dearborn and the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority, presented by Beaumont and Jack Demmer Lincoln, Andrea Fitzgerald, Keller Williams, and supported by Kiwanis Club, Dearborn Heights Rotary, Glass Academy, City of Dearborn, Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, EssentialIT, Westborn Agency and edible WOW.

Trenchtown Festival
New this season will be DJ Kalette Shari, a resident artist at Artspace City Hall Lofts, bringing rhythm and the sweet sounds of the Caribbean, Reggae, Dancehall and Afrobeats to City Hall Park from 7-9 p.m. on Fridays, June 14 - August 30.

Movies in the Parks
Kids and adults of all ages are welcome to enjoy Downtown Dearborn’s free Summer Movie Series located at Wagner Park (June 14, Aug. 16) and City Hall Park (July 19, Sept. 13). Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and settle in for a fun night. Movies begin after dusk, around 8:30 p.m., or as soon as the night sky allows.

This year’s showings: “Bumblebee” at Wagner Park on June 14, “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse” at City Hall Park on July 19, “How to Train Your Dragon” at Wagner Park on Aug. 16 and “Aquaman” at City Hall Park on Sept. 13. Brought to kids by the East and West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority and Kenwal Steel Corporation.

Farm-To-Table FUNDinner
Dearborn’s first Farm-to-Table FUNDinner event will showcase premiere Dearborn restaurants and chefs during a lovely five-course meal with complementary wine pairings on June 15. Celebrating Dearborn’s 90th anniversary, enjoy locally sourced food on West Village Drive between Mason and Monroe, adjacent to the amazing new greenspace backdrop of Wagner Park. Ticket purchase is required and 1920’s attire is encouraged.

Taste of Dearborn
Guests can hop aboard a shuttle to various restaurants and cafes throughout Dearborn to sample Dearborn’s finest culinary delights as Jim Thorpe Ameriprise Financial presents Taste of Dearborn on June 19. Attendees will get wristbands as their “ticket” into the restaurants from 6-9:30 p.m., available at check-in on day of event from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Fairlane Town Center or Bryant Branch Library, or online, prior. VIP attendees can experience wine tasting and jazz by Henry Ford College’s Blue Fusion at the Les Stanford Cadillac Showroom from 5-7:30 p.m.

Friday Nites Music & Foodie Rallies
Friday Nites Music & Foodie Rallies welcomes the entire gang to come out to Wagner Park, 5-10 p.m., to listen to The Square Pegz (June 28), Kaleido (July 26) and Fun House (Aug. 23). Take in the sights and sounds of summertime fun and enjoy the cuisine of local restaurants and food trucks, craft beer garden, corn hole games, kids’ activities and more. The event is open to the public, and free parking is available.

Jazz on the Ave
Music-lovers rejoice! Jazz on the Ave guests can bring their favorite lawn chair or coziest picnic blanket to City Hall Park and listen to free jazz concerts on Wednesday evenings throughout July and August from 7-9 p.m. Enjoy a long-time favorite or snap along to a new tune this summer. Sponsored by the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority and Beaumont.

The line-up includes: Alexander Zonjic & Friends (July 17), Four80East (July 24), Dave McMurray (July 31), Jeff Kashiwa (Aug. 7), Urban Jazz Coalition (Aug. 14) and Malanie Rutherford (Aug. 21).

Tunes @ Noon
Take a work break and dance on over to Wagner Park on Tuesdays in July and August from 12-1 p.m. to enjoy free lunchtime concerts. Guests can bring their lunch or carry-out and listen to a wide selection of acoustic performers free of charge, presented by Jack Demmer Lincoln.

This year’s lineup includes: Dearborn School of Music (July 16), Gia Warner (July 23), Robin Harlock (July 30), Steven Tyler (Aug. 6), Aj Lynn (Aug. 13), and Free2B Music Ministries (Aug. 20).

Dearborn Homecoming
The City of Dearborn's 40th annual Homecoming Festival is held Aug. 2 - 4 at Ford Field Park from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. In addition to three days of live music, the festival features great food, free and affordable family activities, car cruise, high school reunions, carnival and spectacular fireworks displays on both Saturday and Sunday night. For the 8th year, Special All-Stars Day, a free event catered to children and adults with special needs will be held on Aug. 3, 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Dearborn Homecoming is an event presented by the City of Dearborn and the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund. Presenting sponsor is Beaumont Health. The festival allows more than 30 Dearborn-based nonprofit groups to raise money for good causes that support the community.

Dearborn Sculpture Fest
Dearborn Sculpture Fest is an intense two-week sculpture competition in which teams of artists, welders and enthusiasts utilize recycled scrap materials to build unique sculptures. After collecting materials from Red Metals Recycling in Dearborn, teams get two-weeks to build their masterpieces, which will then be displayed and auctioned during the Dearborn Sculpture Fest.