By EVELYN CAIRMS
The 53rd annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair, one of the largest and most popular fine art fairs in Michigan, will open Wednesday and continue through Saturday along Biddle Avenue between Eureka and Oak streets in downtown Wyandotte.
Taking part in the event will be more than 300 artists, 25 restaurants and many local merchants.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with entertainment until 11 p.m.
Among the performers will be the Mega 80s, July 9; Boogie Dynamite, July 10; Larry Lee and Back in the Day, July 11; and Rushmore’s, July 12.
Vendors will tempt with such favorites as elephant ears, butterfly chips, gyros, corn dogs, stuffed pizza, sliders, funnel cakes, pulled pork sandwiches, popcorn and jumbo turkey legs.
Shuttle service will be provided by the Downriver Community Conference from Wyandotte High School, 540 Eureka.
Uncle Sam Jam slated
Camel rides and a monkey/dog banana derby will be two of the highlights of the fifth annual Uncle Sam Jam, scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at the Woodhaven Civic Center Park, near West Road and I-75.
The event also will feature former “America’s Got Talent” contestants the Fearless Flores, as well as the Motorcycle Globe of Death and aerial trapeze acts.
Carnival rides, games, interactive displays and a petting zoo also are scheduled.
Hours are 2 to 11 p.m. Thursday; 2 p.m. to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday.
Fireworks are planned for dusk on Friday. There is no charge for admission to the event. Discount vouchers for wristbands (for carnival rides) are available at the Woodhaven Community Center, with half off for Family Day, Thursday.
Summer camp Program set
The Downriver Council for the Arts Summer Camp Program for children aged 6 through 15 will begin July 14 and continue through Aug. 25 with a variety of fun and educational classes.
Classes for children 8 through 10 include drawing, painting, mixed-media arts, puppet mania, slimy arts and science, theater and vocal music.
Among classes for those 11 through 15 are doll workshop, creative sewing, social media, drawing graffiti, jewelry making, fashion, photography and printmaking.
The sessions cost $82 per week for nonmembers of the DCA, and $70 for members. Lunch supervision is available for $5 per day for those who enroll in both morning and afternoon classes and bring their own lunches.
For additional information or to register by phone with a credit card, call 734-720-0671. Class schedules and descriptions are listed on the DCA website, www.downriverarts.org (click on education).
Transportation to DIA is free
The Detroit Institute of Arts will provide free transportation to the institute for residents of Wayne County on July 26 in celebration of Wayne County Day at the DIA.
Buses will be boarded at the following locations and times:
DCA headquarters at the James R. DeSana Center for the Arts & Culture, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte — 10 a.m., departing the DIA at 2:30 p.m.
Brownstown Civic Center, 23345 King Road — 9:30 a.m., departing the DIA at 2 p.m.
Visitors will be able to browse the museum’s collections, participate in a free drop-in art-making workshop or visit one of the exhibitions. There is no admission charge to Wayne County residents.
Bus reservations (required) are being accepted at 313-833-4005 or online at www.tickets.dia.org (click on July 26).
Coming up . . .
July 9 — Taylor Conservatory Foundation Music & Art in the Gardens concert by Girls’ Night Out; 6:30 p.m. at the Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, 22314 Northline Road; admission, $5; for updates on weather and indoor concert rain-out locations, call 888-383-4108 or go to www.facebook.com/taylorconservatory.