Photo courtesy of the city of Dearborn
A spaghetti eating contest is one of the free wacky contests available at Homecoming. The contests are for children of all ages Aug. 2 and 3.
Buy carnival tickets online now for best deal
DEARBORN – Families looking to have fun without breaking the bank can find plenty to do at Dearborn’s Homecoming festival Friday through Sunday, including carnival rides, children’s games, wacky contests, inflatable rides and live entertainment all weekend long.
Fireworks displays on Saturday and Sunday cap off these days.
A tradition for 35 years, Homecoming is an event coordinated by the city and the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund. This year’s presenting sponsor is Oakwood Healthcare. The festival is at Ford Field Park, 22051 Cherry Hill.
Homecoming features several events that are free:
• Giant inflatable rides for bouncing noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Nickel & Saph Inc.
• Children’s games from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by Village Community Credit Union.
• Wacky contests like the apple sauce slurp, pie-eating, hula-hoop and kick the shoe contest, for children of all ages Saturday and Sunday.
• The “top of the hill” will feature an Art Area from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, including a children’s activity tent.
• Home Depot provides a children’s wood workshop from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• The Dearborn Rotary Club again offers a Children’s Fishing Derby at the Ford Field Pond from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
• Back this year is the popular Special All-Stars Day from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. This event is for children and adults with special physical, intellectual or emotional needs. Free rides for the Special All-Stars will be offered 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with other free activities lasting until noon. Pre-registration is required by Thursday at www.dearbornareachamber.org.
Visitors to Homecoming can enjoy two dozen carnival rides all three days from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Carnival values are available online for those who purchase wristbands in advance. Wade Shows Inc., the carnival operator, offers a three-day Mega Pass for unlimited rides for $40 plus a $1 service fee if purchased in advance by 11:55 p.m. Thursday. Go to www.cityofdearborn.org to purchase in advance.
Also online for advanced purchase is the popular all-day wristband, which costs $13, plus a $1 service fee if purchased through 11:55 p.m. Thursday at www.cityofdearborn.org.
The wristbands allow one day ridership of all carnival attractions and can be used on any one day, Friday through Sunday.
Wristbands also can be purchased on site during the carnival for $15 for a half-day band (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and $20 for a full day (11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.)
A $10 companion wristband is available for parents to ride with their children (restrictions apply). Individual tickets also can be purchased at Homecoming.
There is no refund for carnival ride tickets, wristbands or the Mega Pass.
Go to www.cityofdearborn.org for more information about Homecoming.
Photo courtesy of the city of Dearborn
Giant inflatable rides for bouncing will be available for free from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 2 and 3. The rides are sponsored by Nickel & Saph Inc.