The post Have Fun this Labor Day with the Hamtramck, Michigan Labor Day Festival and Parade appeared first on Fairlane Woods Apartments Blog.
]]>Welcome to Hamtramck, Michigan.
For the past 40 years, we've had a celebration on Joseph Campau's Main Street to mark Labor Day weekend. This is one of the best Labor Day events in Michigan!
This year's festival, which is sponsored by HATCH, includes the Hamtramck tradition of boat races along Jos. Campau as well as a variety of activities for all, such as wrestling on Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5. The Hamtramck Labor Day Parade will be on Monday, September 5.
There will be a ton of entertainment, food, and music as always. The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival never has a dull moment with its single stage, numerous restaurant booths, and long lineup of carnival attractions.
Hamtramck Labor Day Festival in 2022
The 42nd Hamtramck Labor Day Festival will take place on September 3, 4, and 5, 2022.
As always, entry is free!
History of the Volunteers Festival, Hamtramck, and Labor Day Festival History: 42 years of enjoyment at the Hamtramck City Festival
When the Hamtramck City Festival was initially suggested in 1980, it was the worst possible moment.
The greatest crisis the city had ever experienced was at its height. The plant at Dodge Main had just shut down. The plant, which produced tens of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in income, had characterized Hamtramck for seven decades.
The city was in a depressing frame of mind as it faced an uncertain future. At the time, former Mayor Robert Kozaren came up with the idea of holding a sizable municipal festival to uplift people' spirits and demonstrate to the rest of the world that Hamtramck was a resilient community that could grin in the face of adversity.
The inaugural event was soon scheduled for late September. It was a cool Friday as the bands at the festival on Joseph Campau, just north of Caniff, started to set up.
With over 100,000 attendees, it was a big success right away. The ability to party is one thing Hamtramck residents excel at. But it wasn't limited to residents of Hamtramck. The event attracted attendees from all around the metro region who came to enjoy the entertainment, food, and crafts.
The celebration was shifted to Labor Day the following year to take advantage of the nicer weather and extended vacation weekend. Additionally, the annual Polish Day Parade on Labor Day began to be connected with it.
The Festival has evolved throughout time, adding new merchants and performers, but it has remained surprisingly consistent in its capacity to provide a good time for everyone.
(City Historian Greg Kowalski)
History of Hamtramck
As a dusty farming village on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, Hamtramck, which was established in the years after the American Revolution, went virtually unnoticed for more than a century. With the debut of John and Horace Dodge's auto manufacturing in 1910, the town underwent a major transformation. Ten years later, Hamtramck was a thriving metropolis. It was one of the most densely inhabited cities in the US in 1930 with 56,000 inhabitants in a 2.1 square mile area.
The majority of this expanding population was made up of Polish immigrants. It was, in a way, the classic immigrant tale. Typically, these "Huddled masses" brought only what they were wearing and a steamer box filled with their possessions when they immigrated to the United States. They quickly accumulated enough savings to purchase houses on small lots. They arrived looking for a better life, just like so many others. The Polish immigrants yearned for democracy after years of oppression by the Russians, Prussians, Austrians, and Germans. They accepted democracy and started running for office right away. By the time Hamtramck became a city in 1922, the Poles had taken over and had transformed it into a place of raging politics, gritty urbanization, wild entertainment, and an intense sense of living. They were accompanied. Hamtramck retained its reputation as an immigrant neighborhood even after the noises of heavy industry receded and the Polish Americans were drawn away from the city by the allure of the expansive suburbs. African Americans have contributed to the community's fabric's consistency from Hamtramck's founding. Today's Arabs, Bangladeshis, Bosnians, Serbians, and other nationalities still find the city to be a desirable location to dwell, just as it did over a century ago when it drew hordes of immigrants.
Between then and today, it's been a crazy voyage. Big commercial tycoons, Communist schemes, infamous criminals, labor goons, corruption of mind-boggling dimensions, and devastating political feuds are all dramatized in the narrative of Hamtramck. But just as avarice and a quest for power motivate certain "Hamtramckans," so does the desire to construct sturdy homes in a respectable neighborhood. Hamtramck is driven by industry as much as intense emotions.
This is a tale of steadfast principles, profound convictions, kind and ground-breaking educational initiatives, and a very complex social system. Intriguing and wealthy individuals, both noble and lofty, corrupt and charismatic, may all be found in this narrative. It is mostly a tale of amazing individuals.
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]]>The post Dearborn’s Best Places to See Fireworks this Fourth of July appeared first on Fairlane Woods Apartments Blog.
]]>A Picture Perfect Day
The breeze cools your skin as you reach into an ice-cold cooler for a drink. It's a beautiful day in Michigan.
Hot dogs sizzle, watermelon drips, and potato salad is served in bowls.
All of the senses are stimulated by the sights and sounds, aromas and feelings. The rides, games, and booths exude joy, and laughter echoes throughout the park, reflecting off the lake. Baseballs collide with gloves, and frisbees fly until dusk. Then, as if the day couldn't get any better…
The dark, open sky explodes with color over the trees, showering sparks in stunning red, blue, yellow, and green hues.
The crowd lets out "oohs" and "ahs," and the rockets whistle, whizz, and swirl, creating a vibrant atmosphere of light overhead. People are staring in awe as the energy level reaches an all-time high.
Take in the beauty of this moment, this wondrous holiday –
Fourth of July Fireworks!
Fairlane Woods understands that 2021 was a difficult year and that you are eager to see the shows. We put together the best fireworks shows near Dearborn, Michigan, despite the fact that they were somewhat limited last year. For more information, click on the following links:
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Salute to America: Summer Stroll
With a limited number of free local shows this year, Salute to America is one of the best ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in Dearborn. This event is held annually by the Henry Ford and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and while tickets are not free, they are well worth the price. During the four-day event, three Detroit Symphony Orchestra performance areas with rotating ensembles will be on stage. Street food, cold beer, treats, and more, as well as a spectacular fireworks display, round out the festivities. Tickets are on sale for the festival, which runs from June 30 to July 3rd Here.
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The Huron-Clinton Metroparks fireworks display
The Huron-Clinton Metroparks fireworks displays are one of Southeast Michigan's favorite traditions, bringing together so much fun and excitement. Tens of thousands of our neighbors gather – over picnics and under the stars – to celebrate our country's independence. You can be a part of it. The Rick Lieder Trio will provide live entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. At 10 p.m., there will be a fireworks display.
Ages: Suitable for all ages.
From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
To enter the park, you must have a Metroparks daily or annual pass.
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or know of other shows!
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]]>The post A Brief History and Information on America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit appeared first on Fairlane Woods Apartments Blog.
]]>Detroit’s Thanksgiving parade is as much a part of the city’s history as Motown and the automotive industry. Next to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, America’s Thanksgiving Parade is arguably the country’s most famous, well-attended, and historical.
It began in 1924 and draws hundreds of spectators every fourth Thursday in November. It’s the parade’s world-famous vintage, papier-mâché heads and specialty performers that keep attendees interested and engaged along Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit each year.
Imaginative Beginnings
The story of how Detroit became a parade destination is as colorful and exciting as the spectacle itself. Detroit’s parade shares the title for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States, along with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
It all began in 1924 when the display director of the J.L. Hudson Company department store, Charles Wendel, learned of the Eaton’s Santa Claus Parade in Toronto and thought a similar parade would make a great addition to Detroit, which at the time was at the forefront of the auto industry boom.
Interestingly, it was the American department store that catapulted the Thanksgiving parade tradition into cities throughout the country. Department stores like Macy’s drew in patrons through exciting holiday window displays. Philadelphia’s Gimbels started the tradition in 1920, with Macy’s and Detroit’s Hudson’s following suit just four years later.
Wendel had a reputation for creating unique, European-inspired department store window displays. After his initial idea for the parade gained support in the community, he collaborated with some Italian puppeteers to create papier-mâché heads, dubbed Big Heads.
The director got the idea for the oversized, wearable heads after seeing Italians wear them during Carnival in Italy. These iconic antiques have been well-preserved over the years and are still worn during the parade today.
With the exception of 1943 and 1944, there has been an America’s Thanksgiving Parade every year since 1924. During these years, the parade was suspended due to material shortages caused by World War II.
Hudson’s officially closed its flagship store on Woodward Avenue in 1998 and the rest of its stores by 2001. Luckily, Hudson’s turned operations over to the Detroit Renaissance Foundation — which later became the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation — much earlier, in 1979.
The Parade Today
In 1990, the organization founded The Parade Company as a division to oversee operations and marketing of the parade. This non-profit still runs the annual parade today, as well as a summer fireworks show and two other Thanksgiving-themed events.
Curious parade-lovers can actually get up-close and personal with America’s Thanksgiving Parade on a parade studio tour, which includes the world’s largest collection of papier-mâché heads that resemble local icons and famous characters.
These original Big Heads are still a major part of the Thanksgiving parade today. In fact, some parade-goers and participants will note that some original Italian newsprint is still visible on the papier-mâché masks.
Now, a group of Detroit’s young professionals dons the masks — which include animals, flowers, and depictions of famous Detroiters like Rosa Parks, Bob Seger, and Diana Ross — as part of the Big Heads Corps. The heads that make their way down Woodward Avenue every Thanksgiving Day are still made in Viareggio, Italy.
How to Watch the Parade
The annual Detroit Thanksgiving parade takes place at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The parade route begins at Kirby and Woodward Ave. and culminates at Congress and Woodward Avenue. Visitors are welcome to watch the parade in real-time along the street. The introduction of Santa Claus, who appears to signify the start of the Christmas season, marks the end of the parade.
Some famous Grand Marshals of the parade include Keegan-Michael Key, Jessica Simpson, Mickey Mouse, and The Rockettes. You can watch the live broadcast on WDIV-TV Local 4 from 10 a.m. to noon. According to The Parade Company, over 65 million households will be able to watch it via WDIV.
For more information on America’s Thanksgiving Parade, be sure to pick up a copy of Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to learn more about this iconic holiday tradition.
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]]>The post Shop Small this Holiday Season and Support Local Business with these Great Deals appeared first on Fairlane Woods Apartments Blog.
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Kick off your holiday shopping by supporting small, local businesses in Dearborn starting on Saturday, Nov. 27, Small Business Saturday, through Sunday, Dec. 5. Community partners, including the East and West Dearborn Downtown Development Authorities and the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, have assembled a wide selection of retailers and restaurants to offer great in-store deals and a chance to win amazing, local gifts.
Before hitting the shops, patrons are invited to download and print the Passport to Savings, a pamphlet outlining more than 30 businesses’ in-store deals, to get stamped and returned for a chance to win prizes provided by local retailers. The Shop Small Downtown Dearborn Passport is also available in participating stores and restaurants.
SHOP SMALL PASSPORT
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2020 DEARBORN SHOP SMALL PASSPORT (PDF)
CLICK HERE TO USE THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE PASSPORT (Google Form)
The more you shop and dine, the better your chances are of winning. For every Passport stamp received when you patron any one of the participating businesses listed below during Shop Small Downtown Dearborn, you’ll be entered to win local prizes!
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Shop and dine at as many participating businesses as possible throughout the Shop Small promotion.
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Get your passport stamped each time you make a purchase at any of the participating businesses.
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For every stamp received, you are then entered into a drawing to win prizes provided by participating businesses.
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Take a selfie at any of the participating places of business and share it with Downtown Dearborn on Instagram to get extra enter-to-win opportunities. #ShopSmall #DowntownDearborn
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Passport prize winners will be notified via email and/or phone by Dec. 16.
Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce DDA Office
22100 Michigan Ave., West Downtown Dearborn 13615 Michigan Ave., Suite B-2, East Downtown Dearborn
Green Brain Comics STEP Thrift Store & Donation Center
13936 Michigan Ave., East Downtown Dearborn 23830 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights
Village Picture Frame & Art Gallery
22191 Michigan Ave., West Downtown Dearborn
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES FOR 2020 INCLUDED:
EAST DOWNTOWN
RETAIL + SERVICES
Al Wissam, 13354 Michigan Ave. Blick Art Materials, 14339 Michigan Ave.
10% off purchase of $100 or more 20% off items priced at $50 or less
Coco Divine, 4353 Schaefer Road Dearborn Fresh, 13662 Colson
$5 off purchase of $50 or more $5 off any purchase of $30 or more
Factory Finish, 4425 Schaefer Road Green Brain Comics, 13936 Michigan Ave.
10% off merchandise Buy one graphic novel, get one half off (equal or lesser value)
Instacare Pharmacy, 14300 Michigan Ave. T-Mobile, 14216 Michigan Ave.
Free 30-day multivitamin with any in-store purchase $5 off any accessory purchase
Retro Image Antiques & Vintage, 14246 Michigan Ave.
20% off items priced $50 or less
RESTAURANTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Alano’s Pizza & Subs, 14216 Michigan Ave.
Free small pizza with any food purchase
Habib’s Cuisine, 14316 Michigan Ave.
Purchase any two entrées and receive a free appetizer.
Carryout only. Only valid on select appetizers. Call for details.
JB Bamboozles Pub & Grill, 14323 Michigan Ave. M Cantina, 13214 Michigan Ave.
$2 off any entrée or $1 off any alcoholic beverage 20% off with purchase of M Bar juice or halal cocktail
WEST DOWNTOWN
RETAIL + SERVICES
Black Box Gallery, 1034 Monroe St. Dearborn School of Music, 22031 Outer Drive
10% off purchase of original art priced more than $100 25% off first month’s tuition
The Great Escape Spa, 22266 Michigan Ave. Lolly by Golly Sweet Shoppe, 1903 Monroe St.
$10 off any $50 retail purchase Raffle entry for a children’s birthday party
My Moroccan Spa, 930 Mason St. #101 Nichols Ski and Snowboard, 21938 Michigan Ave.
$15 off deep cleansing facial, 10% off skincare products 20% off regular-priced items
Nigosian Carpet, 21919 Michigan Ave. Sneaker Legends, 1033 Howard St.
$50 off rug cleaning certificate $50 off any purchase of $300 or more
Dearborn Music, 22501 Michigan Ave.
15% off regular price CDs & vinyl though 11/29. 10% off all T-shirts & accessories 11/30-12/6.10% off all used CDs, LPs, videos & books 12/7-12/15. Excluding sale items.
The Glass Academy, 25331 Trowbridge St.
Spend $75+ and get a $20 gift card to spend in the gallery Jan. 1-30, 2021
Manno Clothing & Tailoring, 23810 Michigan Ave.
$100 off the purchase of any suit, sport coat or outerwear garment
Steven Bernard Jewelers, 22266 Michigan Ave.
20% off in-stock finished jewelry (loose, unmounted diamonds and gemstones excluded)
Village Picture Framing and Art Gallery, 22191 Michigan Ave.
20% off handmade gallery art or 20% off custom framing
Yoga Shala and Wellness Center, 22213 Michigan Ave.
15% off boutique items
RESTAURANTS + ENTERTAINMENT
The Biergarten, 22183 Michigan Ave. Biggby Coffee, 22445 Michigan Ave.
Free appetizer with the purchase of two meals Buy one, get one regular-priced drink
Brome Modern Eatery, 22062 Michigan Ave. Common Grace Coffee Co., 22225 Michigan Ave.
10% off entire purchase 20% off order
Dearborn Brewing, 21930 Michigan Ave. District 12, 1002 S. Military St.
Buy one, get one drink Nashville Hot combo w/fries & drink special for $8.99
Famous Hamburger, 22207 Michigan Ave. Gateaux Patisserie, 1004 S. Military St.
10% off your bill Free coffee or tea w/any purchase from 8a.m.-noon
Lue Thai Cafe, 22215 Michigan Ave.
20% off entire purchase
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