By Evelyn Cairns
Wyandotte will kick off Independence Day celebrations in the Downriver area with a huge parade starting at 10 a.m. July 4 on Biddle at the Police/Court Building, continuing along Biddle and ending at Eureka Road.
Stepping off will be more than 100 units, including marching bands, pipe and drum corps, schools and or-ganizations from throughout Michigan and Canada.
In Trenton, a concert of patriotic songs at 8 p.m. July 4 by the Downriver Community Band will precede fireworks at dusk at Rotary Park, One Harrison at Riverside Drive.
Greenfield Village’s unparalleled celebration of Inde-pendence Day, “Salute to America,” which began on Saturday, will resume on July 1 and continue on July 3 and 4 with an awesome conclusion each night as fireworks light the sky and a cannon roars while the Detroit Symphony performs Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”
Tito Munoz will conduct the orchestra on July 1, and Leonard Slatkin on July 3 and 4. Anthony Lucas of The Henry Ford will be the narrator on July 1 and 3, and U.S. Senator Carl Levin on July 4.
Throughout the day, visitors will gather for picnics and enjoy the village’s many attractions before the concert.
Tickets are $27, adults, and $17.50, youths (children 4 and younger are free). For additional information, call 313-982-6001 or go to www.thehenryford.com.
51st art fair to open soon
More than 200,000 art enthusiasts are expected to visit the 51st annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair, July 11 through 14 along Biddle Ave.
The fair will open at 10 a.m. each day with entertainment until 11 p.m.
One of the largest art fairs in Michigan, Wyandotte’s will feature 300 fine artists and crafters from across the state, region and nation who will showcase their works; 25 restaurants, a wide variety of food vendors, local bands and street performers.
In addition, a children’s emporium will allow youngsters 12 and younger to purchase art donated by participating fair artists for $1 to $5, and the Detroit Institute of Arts will host a hands-on creative workshop for children.
Food offerings will include tempting elephant ears, butterfly chips and freshly squeezed lemonade, while a Live Green Fair will feature vegetarian and healthful foods and earth-friendly products and services.
Among the entertainers will be the bands Larry Lee and Back in the Day, Fifty Amp Fuse, and Rushmore. On July 14, Wyandotte and other Downriver-area bands will take the stage.
For additional information, go to www.wyandottestreetartfair.org.
New season’s plays listed
Looking ahead to fall, the Fisher Theatre announces that tickets are on sale for “Billy Elliot the Musical,” winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, which will be staged Sept. 4 through 16 at the Fisher.
The story follows Billy from the boxing ring to a ballet class as he discovers an unexpected talent that inspires his family and community and changes his life.
Based on the movie by the same name, the play, which also has won 81 national and international awards, features the music of Elton John. Tickets range from $39 to $89, with parking included. For tickets, go to www.BroadwayinDetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 313-872-1000.
The lineup of additional plays for the season is out-standing. The productions include “La Cage Aux Folles,” Sept. 25 to Oct 7; “Mary Poppins,” Oct. 23 to 28; “Jekyll & Hyde,” Nov. 27 to Dec. 2; “Jersey Boys,” Dec. 12 to Jan. 6; and “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” Dec. 18 to 30.
Others are “The Lion King,” Feb. 13 to March 10; “The Book of Mormon,” March 12 to 24; “Memphis,” April 9 to 21’ and “Catch Me If You Can,” May 7 to 19.
All are subject to change. “The Lion King” and the Dr. Seuss production will be staged at the Detroit Opera House; the others at the Fisher Theatre.
The Broadway in Detroit subscription series for 2012-13 offers six of the plays starting at $289, for more infor-mation, call 313-872-1000, Ext. 0.