Shelby Township: Shelby Township Art Fair Moves To New Location, Offers Same Great Fair Experience

Press release from Shelby Township:

08/10/2021 4:29 PM

Mark your calendar for Aug. 14-15 to visit Shelby Township’s River Bends Park for the 38th Annual Shelby Township Art Fair.

In addition to fabulous art from more than 100 national, regional and local artists and artisans, the fair features crafts and products from Michigan-based businesses. The festivities include family-friendly entertainment. Entry is free. The new location at River Bends Park at 5700 22 Mile Road has free parking and a free shuttle between River Bends Park and Woodall Park at 4101 River Bends Drive off of Ryan Road.

“I’m very excited to welcome art enthusiasts from around the state to the best park in the entire state of Michigan,” Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis said. “I am biased, but it’s exciting to host the state’s best art fair at the state’s best park.”

Highlighting the entertainment is the live music at the stage located near the Bittersweet pavilion. There are also crafts and activities with the Kid’s Corner and Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center at the Bittersweet pavilion. Fairgoers can also enjoy great food vendors throughout the park.

After shopping, stroll more than 720 acres of parkland at River Bends Park and enjoy amenities such as playscapes, horseshoe pits, a 27-hole disc golf course, a barrier-free playground, and hike and bike trails.

This event is presented by the Shelby Township Art Fair Committee and hosted by the Shelby Township Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department. Generous sponsors at Christian Financial Credit Union, Genisys Credit Union and Dr. Ban R. Barbat support the fair. Fair hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 14 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 15.

The art fair also offers two ways for attendees to get in the fun and showcase their masterpieces.

Residents of Shelby Township and neighboring communities can participate in a friendly competition to promote recycling and "green" living with the Recycled Art Competition. Instead of tossing away single-use, everyday items, we want you to think creatively about reusing them for beauty and new purposes. Judging covers three categories, Youth (12 & under), Teen (ages 13-17) and Adult (18 & Older), with prizes in all categories. First place earns $50, second place earns $40, third place earns $30, fourth place earns $20 and fifth place earns $10.

“The Recycled Art Contest is a great way for our Solid Waste and Recycling Committee to raise awareness for reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills,” DPW Director Dave Miller said. “The creations we see always get more creative and more impressive, so I am excited to see what we get this year.”

All entries must be "family-friendly" and be made entirely of recycled items, except for glue, tape, nails, paint, etc. Tabletop pieces must measure no larger than 2’6” deep by 3' wide by 3' tall. Administrators will place any pieces larger than 3' tall on the grass. One entry is permitted per person. Artists must submit a completed entry form with a photo of the finished work and card listing the entry title, recycled materials used, and other comments to the Department of Public Works by Aug. 10.

Pieces will be accepted at the Department of Public Works on Friday, Aug. 13, before 4 p.m. or delivered to River Bends Park by 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 to be exhibited and voted on at the Shelby Township Art Fair Aug. 14-15. Winners are judged by fairgoers and awarded at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. Entries can be picked up 4-5 p.m. Aug. 15 or before Aug. 20 at the Department of Public Works. Entries not picked up by Aug. 20 will be discarded. For more information, contact the DPW at 586-731-5990.

Bakers can take part in the Better Pie Baking Contest. Bakers can submit pies at 1 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the art fair. The top pie walks away with a cover feature in the holiday edition of the township newsletter, "Fountain," a segment on the "Living in Shelby Township" show and one free pavilion rental at any of our parks. Entries are welcome from all communities with one entry per person. Crusts can be pre-made, but fillings must be homemade. Because of hot August temperatures, frozen and cream pies are not eligible. The top three pies receive ribbons and a "youth" prize for the best baker under 16.

Get more information at shelbytwp.org/summer or shelbyartfair.org. You can also find the Shelby Township Art Fair at facebook.com/shelbytwpartfair or call the Shelby Township Parks, Recreation and Maintenance Department on weekdays at 586-731-0300.

###

This press release was produced by Shelby Township. The views expressed here are the author’s own.