Two children eat pizza after having their faces painted at Melvindale Days last year. Activities at this year’s festival, June 10 to 13 include a Classic Car Show, Little Miss and Junior Little Miss pageants and live bands.
By CHRIS JACKETT
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – Summer weather is out in full force, and that can mean only one thing: It’s time for Melvindale Days.
The four-day event, which has been a staple in the community for decades, is adding something new this year while returning another event that was new last year.
“This year, doing the food in the hall is new. The car show is new,” Melvindale executive secretary Yvonne Kollmorgen said.
Providing attendees with several tasty treats will be themed dinners from 4 to 8 p.m. June 11 through 13, at the Community Center Banquet Hall. Friday is Mexican dinners, Saturday is barbecue dinners and Sunday is Polish dinners.
Returning for a second year is the Classic Car Show, which will showcase 30 to 40 classic vehicles from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 12. Registration occurs 5 to 8 p.m. June 10, at White Castle, 17431 Dix Road. All car show participants will receive a goodie bag.
“Last year was free, so this year they’re doing it as a fundraiser,” Kollmorgen said.
All proceeds from the car show will go to the Angel Tree Project, which consists of National Honor Society students from Melvindale High School taking about 150 underprivileged children on a shopping trip to Wal-Mart and lunch at Old Country Buffet in Taylor later in the year.
In addition to the usual amusement rides and midway that will be available 4 to 10 p.m. June 10 and 11 and noon to 11 p.m. June 12 and 13, the Masons of Michigan is sponsoring a free child identification program at the Community Center. Parents will be able to have contact ID cards created for their children in case they get lost or have an emergency.
Another child-focused event is the Little Miss Pageant for girls ages 5 to 12, which takes place from noon to 1 p.m. June 12 before crowning a Little Miss and Junior Little Miss noon-1 p.m. June 13 at the tent stage.
“It’s really cute,” Kollmorgen said. “They go up on stage and do a little speech and get judged.
While friends and families enjoy the festivities on South Dearborn Street, near Allen and Greenfield roads, there also will be several bands performing throughout the weekend. Most are cover bands, playing the top hits from the past 40 years.
Slated to perform 7 to 11 p.m. June 11 is Knock-Out, with Undecided and Waco performing in respective 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. slots June 12. The final day of festivities will feature three bands before a firework display lights up the sky at dusk. The Taylor Band will perform 2 to 3:30 p.m., Blues Brothers Review at 5 p.m. and The Killin Time from 6:15 to 10:15 p.m.
The entire Melvindale Days event is supported by donations from sponsors such as Marathon Petroleum; MichCon & DTE Foundation; Darling International; Pentiuk, Couvreur & Kobiljak, P.C.; and more. No taxpayer dollars were used in the funding, organizers say.
(Contact Chris Jackett at [email protected])