By EVELYN CAIRNS
A roaring good time is in store for those who attend the 64th annual PNC Bank Roar on the River Friday through Sunday on the waterfront at Elizabeth Park in Trenton.
Presented by the Trenton Rotary Club, the event will open with a gala Pirate Party featuring food, fun and entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.
More than 30 restaurants and food merchants will offer their specialties at a Taste of the Races Tastefest to the music of Passport to Nowhere and Fifty Amp Fuse.
“Pirates” and their “wenches” will vie for prizes in a costume contest, while others will demonstrate their flexibility in a limbo competition. Pirate gear and eye patches will be available throughout the weekend.
Among the restaurants providing their specialties will be Café West, Famous Dave’s, Pitmaster Barbecue, The Rhapsody, The Roundhouse, Savannah’s, Smokies, Sharkey’s Riverfront Tavern, Sibley Gardens and TV’s Grand Event.
There is no charge to attend the party, but Tastefest tickets are $25. They are available at the Trenton City Hall, 2800 Third St.; Jocks & Associates, 3630 West Road; Dot Com Web Productions, 2826 W. Jefferson; and Mans Lumber, 3300 W. Jefferson.
Boat races and Jet-Ski shows will get under way Saturday and continue on Sunday, when an awards ceremony will be conducted at 5 p.m.
Boy Scout Troop 1721 will host pancake and sausage breakfasts from 7 to 11 a.m. both days. A children’s fun fair is planned for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and free concerts from 5:30 to midnight by Remedy, Justine Blazer and Category 5.
Volunteer committee members for Roar on the River include directors Paul Jocks, Ronnie Jacek Ruelle, Bruce Diven, Linda Francetich, D. Brad O’Connor, Rick Williams, Ed Shenton and Fred Miller.
Other directors are Jane Dunn, Bruce Jocks, Bill LeFevre, Noel Jackson, John Allen, Jean Wloszek and Bill Ruelle.
For additional information about the event, go to www.trentonroarontheriver.com or call
734-675-4438.
Sokol planning ethnic festival
The Sokol Detroit Cultural Center, 23600 W. Warren in Dearborn Heights, will be the setting for the annual Czech & Slovak Festival Saturday and Sunday.
Among the attractions will be live music, ethnic dancing, authentic Czech and Slovak foods, imported beer and wine, crystal, art works, crafted items and beaded jewelry.
Hours will be 1 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission will cost $5 a day, adults (children under 14, free). For additional information, call James Mack at 734-542-4820 or 586-924-9233.
Keller quintet will perform
The Paul Keller at Sundown Quintet will perform at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Taylor Conservatory Foundation Music & Art in the Garden concert to be held at the Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Garden, 22314 Northline.
A cash bar will open at 5:30 p.m., with appetizers and weekly specials available for purchase. The cost of admission is $5.
For updates on weather and indoor concert rainout locations, call 888-383-4108 or go to www.facebook.com/taylorconservatory.
Coming up . . .
July 20 — Concert on the Commons; 7 p.m. at the corner of Macomb and Meridian, Grosse Ile Township, featuring Nick Marinkovich, Brenden Lamb and Lara Semetko; no charge.
July 26 — Wayne County Day at the Detroit Institute of Arts; free admission and free bus transportation from the James R. DeSana Center for Arts & Culture, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte, and the Brownstown Event Center, 23345 King Road; for pickup and return information and reservations (required), call 313-833-4005 or go to www.tickets.dia.org and click on “July 26.”
Aug. 1, 2 — Allen Park Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Allen Road, between Southfield and Roosevelt; featuring more than 200 juried art and craft vendors, food and live entertainment.