Wayne Downtown Days Full of Family Fun

The city of Wayne in conjunction with the organization Wayne Main Street, will be hosting its Second Annual Downtown Days event. The fun starts Thursday, July 12 and runs through Saturday, July 14. Activities will be held in venues around the downtown area with the emphasis on art, sales and shops, and live music.

During all three days, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will be holding a Drop-In Workshop for kids on the lawn next to the Knights of Columbus Hall at 3144 S. Wayne Road. Kids will participate in an Uchiwa art project, a type of paper fan common in Japan. Hours for the workshop are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The Second Annual Windows on Wayne Photography Contest will also be part of the event. "This year, the photo contest is focused on mobility," says Maxwell Cameron, Executive Director of Wayne Main Street. Entries are now posted on facebook@windowonwaynephotocontest . There are 19 entries, each one emphasizing some aspect of the city. The public is invited to vote by clicking on their favorites. The top ten entries which receive the most votes will be on display Thursday through Saturday for in-person voting. A reception and awards ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at Karma Coffee and Kitchen, located at 35634 Michigan Avenue. The event is sponsored by Helium Studio Artisans Market.

New to the event this year is the Art-O-Motive Hood Design Contest. Local artists have spent the past few weeks designing works of art from car hoods, using whatever type of media they choose. "So basically, we've salvaged a number of hoods," Cameron explains, "then the artist gets to select the hood they want to take and then it's a blank canvas for them to create whatever they want to do with it."

Most shops in the downtown district will be holding sidewalk sales or will feature special promotions for shoppers. On Saturday, the Knights of Columbus will be holding their Second Annual Rusty Trike Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also on Saturday, Helium Studio will be hosting a Makers Market featuring local artisans from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot behind their store, located at 3127 S. Wayne Road.

The Friends of the Wayne Public Library will be holding a Tote Sale on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers can purchase a tote for $2 and fill it with as many books as it will hold. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Wayne Public Library and its programs.

The three-day long event promises plenty of entertainment as well. The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a tribute concert each night of Downtown Days. Concerts will take place at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The lineup includes Elvis, Buddy Holly, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

The Rotary Club of Wayne will be kicking off their Summer Concerts in the Park series with Steve King and the Dittlies performing from7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The concert is free and will be held at Goudy Park, which is located at 3366 S. Wayne Road.

On Saturday, Wayne's Annual Cruisin' US-12 car cruise and show will be happening from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The cruise will be accompanied by live entertainment from the patio of US-12 Bar and Grill, located at 34824 W. Michigan Avenue.

No festive event is complete without food, and Wayne Downtown Days has that covered as well. A free Strawberry Shortcake Social will be held Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Northside Hardware will offer hot dogs and pop for 25 cents. On Saturday, Harry J. Will Funeral Home will be hosting a Hot Cakes and Hot Cars Pancake Breakfast from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A donation of $5 is requested and will benefit The American Diabetes Association StepOut Walk. For more details on the pancake breakfast, call Barry Burnham at 586-703-4435.

More than 25 individual events will make up the fun at Wayne Downtown Days. To assist attendees in getting from venue to venue, a shuttle service will be available all day Saturday. More information and a full schedule of events can be found at http://www.downtownwayne.org/downtowndays. The organization Wayne Main Street can be reached at 734-629-6822.