Jennifer Giering
By Jennifer Giering
President
Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce
This summer, Dearborn was bustling with community events providing citizens numerous options to enjoy food, festivals and music, specifically along the Michigan Avenue corridor. These events were made possible through public and private partnerships between the city of Dearborn, the downtown development authorities, Dearborn Community Fund, the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and others to enhance the quality of life in Dearborn.
Music filled the air with the annual Music Under the Stars concert series featuring various artists throughout Dearborn. Friday Nights in the Park brought live music to Muirhead Plaza near the Bryant Library and the popular Jazz On the Ave. concert series hosted by the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority brought hundreds of music enthusiasts to the lawn of City Hall each Wednesday.
More than 700 foodies enjoyed the annual Taste of Dearborn West event in June. Michigan farmers and artists came together for the annual Farmer’s and Artisan Market where children participated in fun activities, aspiring chefs watched regular cooking demonstrations, and shoppers had access to fresh produce, picked that morning. Each summer more than 18,000 people visit the market.
Food truck rallies hit Dearborn in July, August and September bringing more than 1,500 people to each rally. With the help of the Michigan Mobile Food Vendors Association, “restaurants on wheels” featuring gourmet fare pulled into Dearborn where families enjoyed food, camaraderie and live music.
There were no shortage of popular festivals including the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s Mutt Strut, and Homecoming including the Cruisin’ Dearborn Car Cruise and Special All-Stars Day, an event designed for adults and children with special needs. The Block Party in west Dearborn and Oktoberfest are also new to the lineup. Both are sponsored by the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority and are a great way to bring the community together through live entertainment, food and spirits in an outdoor venue. Oktoberfest will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday on West Village Drive between the parking decks and will feature outstanding bands, food trucks, spirits and a Vegas tent.
Opinions and debates are heating up as we approach election day in November. But locally, we can all agree that working together for the greater good of Dearborn is the only way to move forward.