By CHRIS JACKETT
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – The downtown area will be lined with artists this coming weekend as the 29th annual Street Fair takes place along Allen Road.
More than 20,000 people are expected to come out for the arts and crafts-focused event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday along the half-mile stretch of Allen that stretches between Southfield and Roosevelt roads.
“We have over 400 crafters and food vendors,” said Terri David, administrative assistant to the mayor and City Council. “All of our stuff is hand made, no premade stuff.”
Artists have traveled from Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Florida to be part of the event, which also features dozens of primarily local food vendors, although David noted that one was from Florida.
The beer booth and entertainment tent will be in full swing during the late afternoon and evening hours both days.
Friday will feature line dancing with the Step in Line group from 5 to 6 p.m. before Blackberry Brandy plays classic rock cover songs from 7 to 11 p.m.
The second day of the fair will get the entertainment going a little earlier, with Little Davy and the Diplomats playing tunes from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The group’s set will be followed by a scholarship and city Sports Hall of Fame award ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
Every year, 10 $1,000 scholarships are given to community youth.
“(The event has) raised $450,000 for Allen Park since 1985,” David said. “All the money goes to support city things.”
The money raised last year was spent on a walking track at the Leo Paluch Senior Apartments, bike helmets for the Safety Town youth program, the 10 scholarships, $15,000 to get the Fire Department a new fire truck and funding for the city fireworks, lighted Christmas parade and scarecrow contest.
The festivities will wrap up with country band Annabelle Road from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
(Contact Chris Jackett at [email protected])